Virginia launches “green” travel website

"Green" travel information is available at VirginiaGreenTravel.org.

Virginia’s state tourism office launched VirginiaGreenTravel.org, a new website dedicated to environmentally friendly travel in Virginia, April 18.  The new travel site supports Virginia Green, a partnership between the Virginia Tourism Corporation and DEQ that promotes environmentally friendly practices in all sectors of Virginia’s tourism industry. 

VirginiaGreenTravel.org will serve as a gateway to the state’s certified green tourism businesses, including more than 140 lodging facilities as well as restaurants, attractions and more. Virginia Green launched in a pilot phase in 2006, with DEQ working with the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association to educate businesses such as hotels and inns about the benefits of green practices. Since then, the program has grown to include 140 lodging facilities, 23 restaurants, 20 conference centers, two convention centers and six attractions, and recently began certifying green events. The Virginia Green partners plan to expand into wineries, golf courses, welcome centers and “eco-tour” services this summer.  

Tom Griffin, Central Office

New Charlottesville-Albemarle air monitoring site opens

The new air monitoring site is located at Albemarle High School.

DEQ has opened a new ambient air monitoring site serving the Charlottesville-Albemarle County area. Located on the grounds of Albemarle High School, the site will test the air for ground level ozone and fine particles.

Meteorological instruments to measure wind speed and direction will be installed soon. An additional monitor for larger particles also has been installed. This monitor is to be used as a teaching tool and is classified as an educational demonstration monitor.

Working in cooperation with Albemarle County public schools, the DEQ office of air quality monitoring in Glen Allen installed and outfitted the equipment. Staff at the DEQ Valley Regional Office in Harrisonburg will be responsible for operating and maintaining the site.

Tom Jennings, Office of Air Monitoring

State agencies gear up for potential fish health issues

DEQ and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are directing numerous scientific studies and surveillance programs this spring in the western portion of Virginia in preparation for potential fish kills.

In 2007, DEQ contracted with fisheries experts Dr. Greg Garman of Virginia Commonwealth University and Dr. Don Orth of Virginia Tech to lead a research advisory committee of experts in chemistry, water quality, toxicology, soils science and agriculture. The committee is an independent advisory panel to DEQ and has recently completed a recommended work plan for 2008.

Based on recommendations from the committee and the Fish Kill Task Force, DEQ and DGIF have set priorities for available funds and are coordinating a number of investigations. Studies in 2008 will emphasize additional non-fish kill sites, expanded water quality chemical lists with a focus on storm flows, and multiple fish health investigations. Additional information is available on the DEQ website.

Bill Hayden, Central Office

DEQ, community partners improve two miles of stream banks

Graham Simmerman of the Valley Regional Office led the Massanutten Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Harrisonburg in two miles of stream bank planting the weekend of March 15. The chapter planted vegetation along eroding pasture stream banks along Beaver Creek in Rockingham County, a local spring creek adopted by the chapter. Graham arranged for the donation of dormant willow whips for the project through the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Members were trained how to prepare and property plant cuttings. The project was a great chapter activity and well-received by the surrounding farm community. The Massanutten Chapter is already planning for a similar event on another adopted stream next March. Thanks to Massanutten Chapter of Trout Unlimited, conservation district, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Mossy Creek Fly Shop for helping with the labor, materials and logistics to make this project a success.

Graham Simmerman, Valley Regional Office

Race jump-starts first Virginia Green event

The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon became the Commonwealth’s first certified Virginia Green event the weekend of March 15 in Virginia Beach. Virginia Green seeks to reduce the environmental effects of the tourism industry through voluntary pollution prevention efforts and raise environmental awareness. Organizers of the marathon had to certify that they would recycle and reduce waste to be considered a certified Virginia Green event.  

 

The race planners incorporated many waste-reducing ideas from recycling to electronic registration to a “soles for souls” shoe collection. Virginia Green partner TFC Recycling provided recycling for the event and processed 1,010 pounds of plastic bottles (about 22,230 bottles) and 970 pounds of cardboard. The “Virginia Beach Green Team” enlisted more than 30 runners who wore their Virginia Green t-shirts and ran together. More information on Virginia Green is available on the DEQ website.

Tom, Griffin, Central Office

South Central scientists judge Envirothon

Students from Halifax High School answer a question at the Envirothon on April 1.

Staff members from the South Central Regional Office judged the aquatics station for the regional Envirothon on April 1. The regional Envirothon was held at the Skelton 4-H Center on Smith Mountain Lake. The teams competing were from Nottoway, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Bedford and Amherst counties. Each team was sponsored by the corresponding Soil and Water Conservation District. The top three teams will go on to compete in the state Envirothon. DEQ staff members were responsible for generating the test used for the competition. Test your knowledge on the stumper question: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, D.C., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Commission were signatories on what agreement, which pledges to achieve more than 100 specific actions between 2000 and 2010 and is designed to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources? 

Amanda Gray, South Central Regional Office

Tidewater forms partnerships through environmental crimes task force

The Tidewater Regional Office staff actively participates in the Environmental Crimes Task Force in Hampton Roads. The task force enjoys a membership of more than 60 members, including federal, state and local government officials, as well as corporate representation from local and regional businesses. The group meets on a quarterly basis to discuss the identification, investigation and resolution of environmental violations. The task force also serves as a resource for training opportunities to local, state and federal members. The goals are to increase recognition of environmental crimes as a threat to public safety and to encourage and support enforcement of environmental statutes at all levels. The joint collaboration, communication and consolidation of resources and knowledge allow the task force to expedite required actions for improved enforcement consistency and efficiency. Members often work investigations jointly to maximize efforts and eliminate enforcement redundancy. The task force provides the forum for needed interaction at all levels of government to better address the environmental concerns for Tidewater and the Commonwealth.

John Settle, Tidewater Regional Office

DEQ celebrates Earth Day around Virginia

Opequon Watershed Riparian Buffer Establishment Project, March 29

Citizens plant native tree seedlings and native shrubs along an industrial stormwater floodplain in the Opequon Creek watershed.

More than 55 volunteers from the Winchester and Frederick County community came out in support of water quality on March 29. Citizens planted 350 native tree seedlings and 50 native shrubs along an industrial stormwater floodplain, which drains into Redbud Run, a tributary of the Opequon Creek. The Ft. Collier Industrial Park and Delco-Remy were essential partners in this effort for opening facilities, allowing access and providing water for trees and volunteers. The trees were provided free from Virginia Cooperative Extension, and funding for hole preparation was supplied by a Department of Forestry water quality improvement fund grant, while the Department of Conservation and Recreation and DEQ Valley regional staff members provided expertise, planning and time. This event is part of an ongoing effort to restore the Opequon Watershed through the practices identified in the Abrams/Opequon total maximum daily load implementation plan. Volunteers included students from local Handley High School, Shenandoah University, the Isaak Walton League, the Opequon Watershed, Inc., Master Gardeners and local residents. – Tara Sieber, Valley Regional Office

Annual Blacks Run and Downtown Cleanup Day, April 12

Several Valley Regional Office employees volunteered their time and energy at the 11th Annual Blacks Run and Downtown Cleanup Day on April 12. Blacks Run is a stream that flows through the city of Harrisonburg, making it highly susceptible to urban impacts. The staff members also were involved in organizing and planning the event, especially the “Green Scene” Educational Expo.  The “Green Scene” aims to educate Harrisonburg citizens about the local environmental community through a variety of activities and displays. Some of the features include: Blacks Run Jeopardy (hosted by VRO), rain barrel demonstrations (hosted by Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District), a macroinvertebrate touch tank (hosted by VRO), the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign, an alternative fuels car show, including a biodiesel car driven by Dave Forrer of VRO, an electric car and lawn mower, and a Recycle Relay (hosted by City of Harrisonburg). VRO looks forward to continuing its partnership with local governments and environmental organizations to promote a cleaner environment. – Tara Sieber, Valley Regional Office

Tidewater Community College, April 22

The Green Earth Society sponsored a campus-wide Earth Day celebration at the Tidewater Community College in Norfolk on April 22. The event included non-profit organizations and government agencies from the surrounding area. Tidewater Regional Office provided information regarding the agency and the role it plays to protect the health of humans and the environment. Several displays and handouts will be available to the public. – Jennifer Howell, Tidewater Regional Office

Blackwater Creek Lynchburg, April 24

Volunteers from the South Central Regional Office cleaned litter from Blackwater Creek in Lynchburg on April 24. This is the fifth year that South Central has participated in the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Adopt-A-Stream program. – Kelly J. Hazlegrove, South Central Regional Office

Office of Air Monitoring / Piedmont Regional Office, April 22 and April 23

The Piedmont Regional Office and the Office of Air Monitoring participated in the Innsbrook Earth Expo and an Adopt-A-Highway trash pickup on Broad Street on April 22, and a litter cleanup around Lake Rooty on April 23. – Alison Sinclair, Piedmont Regional Office

South Central Regional Office, April 21 to April 25

The South Central Regional Office Environmental Management System or EMS team planned a week of events for staff members in celebration of Earth Day 2008. – Amanda Gray, South Central Regional Office

Earth Day, Every Day Celebration, May 4

“Earth Day, Every Day,” an event sponsored by the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, will highlight environmental activities on May 4 at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach. Earth Day, Every Day is an unique opportunity to present an environmental message to the community on the small things that people can do every day to make a positive impact on the environment and our future. Volunteers from the Tidewater Regional Office will continue to participate in the annual celebration by providing the public with information on different programs within DEQ and how we can create awareness and education about the environment. Displays include a wetland diorama, a landfill model, an interactive underground storage tank diagram, a litter pizza, an Everyday Elemental Chart and an anti-litter campaign display. The ‘Environmental Jeopardy’ game is used to create an interactive approach to learning about environmental stewardship for people of all ages. Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program mascots, Omar the Oyster and Seacil the Seahorse, will be there to make the children smile. – Jennifer Howell, Tidewater Regional Office

 

Planning, conservation equal effective water management in Virginia

Having water flow from a faucet or garden hose is often taken for granted, especially on the water-rich East Coast. A drought, like the one most of Virginia is experiencing, helps many of us view Virginia’s water supply in a new way – as a limited resource that must be managed appropriately.

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David K. Paylor, DEQ Director