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Protecting, restoring, and strengthening our coastal ecosystems and economy


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2007 Virginia Coastal Zone Partners Workshop

PRESENTATIONS

 
"Introduction to Global Climate Change: Science, Impacts, Solutions"  (PDF, 4.8 KB)

Dr. Jay Gulledge

Senior Scientist, Pew Center on Global Climate Change

 

"As Virginia's Population Increases, Do We Each Know Our Own Ecological Footprint?"

Ann Regn 
Director, Office of Environmental Education/Department of Environmental Quality

Go to Ecological Footprint exercises...

 

"Virginia Seaside Heritage Program – Restoring Coastal Resources and Accommodating Multiple Human Uses Within Virginia’s Most Pristine Coastal Area”  (PDF, 2.3 KB)

Laura McKay,

Virginia CZM Program

In 1999, the Virginia CZM Program decided to discontinue its competitive grants process and focus funding on a resource or special geographic region for three-year increments.  This would enable the program to more effectively concentrate its efforts.  The first focal area was the Virginia Oyster Heritage Program which brought various partners together to establish large scale oyster reefs in the lower Rappahannock River.  The second was the Seaside Heritage Program which began in 2002 and was so successful that it was extended through September 2008.  This session included a slide show on the accomplishments of the Seaside Heritage Program.  That was followed by a panel of the partners who discussed the importance of preserving the Seaside of Virginia's Eastern Shore in the face of climate change and increasing population and offered insights into their experience working on a focal area.

Panelists

  • Ruth Boettcher, Biologist, Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
  • David Burden, Supervisor-elect for Northampton County and President, Southeast Expeditions
  • John Davy, Division of Planning & Recreation Director, Department of Conservation & Recreation
  • Dot Field, Biologist, Department of Conservation & Recreation
  • Rick Myers, Stewardship Program Manager, Department of Conservation & Recreation
  • Art Schwartzchild, Site Director, Long-Term Ecological Research Station, University of Virginia
  • Barry Truitt, Chief Conservation Scientist, Virginia Coast Reserve, The Nature Conservancy

Workshop attendees were encouraged to think about ideas for the next focal area throughout the workshop.  Ideas were discussed and voted upon at the end of the workshop.

 

 Coastal Hazards Planning

As global warming creates more frequent and severe storms, what can we expect in Virginia and how prepared are we?

Moderator:

Lewie Lawrence

Director of Regional Planning

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

"Expected Changes in Weather and Climate" (PDF of PP available soon)

Ron Gird, NOAA National Weather Service

"Mapping Hurricane Storm Surge Risk" (PDF, 4.0 KB)

Michelle Hamor, Corps of Engineers

"How Prepared Are We?" (PDF, 1.4 KB)

Patricia Chappell, Virginia Department of Emergency Management

 

Land Conservation

Both state and local governments have a role to play in achieving the Governor’s 400,000 acre conservation goal.  What existing or new land conservation prioritization tools can help us achieve this goal in a coordinated and effective way?  What are the benefits of coordinated conservation planning, and what services are available to localities striving to meet this goal? 

Moderator:

Sarah Richardson

Department of Conservation and Recreation


Kelly Price, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program


Chris Burkett , Department of Game and Inland Fisheries


Jason Bulluck, Department of Conservation and Recreation

Joe Weber, Department of Conservation and Recreation


Eric Walberg, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission


Karen Firehock, Green Infrastructure Center

 

Integrated Shoreline Management -

Preparing for Sea Level Rise

As sea level rises, can we maintain wetlands, beaches and other ecologically and economically important shoreline features?

Moderator:

Tony Watkinson

Deputy Chief, Habitat Management

Virginia Marine Resources Commission


Skip Stiles, Wetlands Watch

Scott Hardaway, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Carl Hershner, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

 

Land Conservation Panel Discussion

As population increases and open space diminishes, are we setting aside enough land and the right types of land for sufficient ecosystem functions?  What do we need to change at the local, state and federal levels in order to ensure we meet the 400,000 acre goal by 2010? Is there something in addition to fee simple acquisitions or conservation easements that would help?

This panel addressed various topics such as the value of conservation easements especially where related to prioritizing lands for conservation/acquisition, encouraging land conservation through social marketing, strategies for obtaining a dedicated funding source for statewide conservation, implementing prioritization tools, and effective strategies for meeting the Governor’s 400,000-acre goal. 

Moderator and Speaker:

Nikki Rovner

Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia

"Progress on the Governor’s 400,000 acre goal" (PDF, 235KB)

Panelists:

 

Primary Ecosystem Impacts of Climate Change and Potential

Solutions

What will be the impacts on water quality (temperature and precipitation), plants (underwater grasses, harmful algal blooms, wetlands) and animals (oyster disease, birds, fish, mammals, etc.) as Virginia’s climate warms?  Are there actions we can take to address these impacts?

Moderator:

Chris Burkett , Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Roger Mann, Virginia Insitute of Marine Science


Joe Lerch, Chesapeake Bay Foundation


Doug Inkley, National Wildlife Federation

Population Increases, Water Quality Declines and Shellfish

Production - Challenges and Solutions

As population has increased, water quality has declined and wild fisheries have begun to collapse. The collapse of wild fisheries (particularly oysters and clams) has led to the need for innovative shellfish management plans and for cultivation of these animals both for human consumption and their water filtering benefits. As Virginia begins to delve into this activity in earnest, the need for clean water and for more organized approaches to which waters should be used for what purposes become paramount concerns. How can we have our shellfish, our recreational water uses and our coastal views?

Moderator: Ellen Gilinsky

Director, Water Division

Department of Environmental Quality


Jim Wesson, Virginia Marine Resources Commission


Marcia Berman, Virginia Institute of Marine Science


Elleanore Daub, Department of Environmental Quality


Lewie Lawrence, Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

 

Alternative Energy Options Affecting Coastal Resources

As we look for alternatives to fuels that increase CO2, what are the implications for our coastal resources and how can we minimize impacts on them?

Moderator: Sharon Baxter

Manager, Pollution Prevention Program

Department of Environmental Quality


Steve Walz

Senior Advisor for Energy Policy, Commonwealth of Virginia

George Hagerman

Director of Research for the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, Virginia Tech


Al Christopher

Director, Hampton Roads Clean Cities Coalition

 

Preserving & Enhancing Waterfront Access

The historical balance between working waterfronts and residential development is changing to predominantly residential waterfront.  As coastal population increases, particularly along the shoreline, how can we conserve space for uses other than high-dollar residential development?  How do we balance the rights and privileges of all Virginians to access common public trust areas with private property ownership rights?

Moderator:

John Davy

Director, Division of Planning & Recreation   

Department of Conservation and Recreation

John Davy, Department of Conservation and Recreation

 

Lewie Lawrence,

Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority

 

 

Closing Plenary Session

Michael Murphy, Director, Division of Environmental Enhancement, Department of Environmental Quality (introductions)

L. Preston Bryant, Jr., Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources (no PP)

The Secretary commented on Governor Kaine’s announcement about establishing a Climate Change Commission and what that Commission’s goals will be.

                                 

Next Virginia CZM Program Focal Area

A new focal area, to begin in October 2008, needs to be developed.  Should Virginia CZM’s next big investment be in preparing for climate change or dealing with increasing coastal population? Is there some other pressing need that Virginia CZM should address with about $1.5M in NOAA funds (matched by the same amount in non-federal funds) over the next 3 years? Ann Regn of DEQ’s Office of Environmental Education helped CZM staff facilitate this session - a "Coastal Cafe".  Attendees visited tables formed by

grouping focal area ideas, table hosts provided a brief description of the general idea for a focal area and attendees than voted on their top three choices for a new focal area.