Project Task:
94.01
Grantee:
Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
Project Title:
Land & Water Quality Protection in Hampton Roads
Project Description as Proposed:
Growth and development in Virginia’s coastal zone continues to increase at a rate that is greater than the rest of the Commonwealth. Water quality impacts associated with urban growth are further magnified by development trends characterized by increasing impervious cover. To address these impacts, recent regulatory changes and program developments, specifically the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and revised Virginia stormwater management regulations, have resulted in the creation of nutrient reduction goals for Virginia localities. These changes require new land use approaches and development policies that will help localities reduce the impacts of land development on water quality. During the FY 11 project, HRPDC staff analyzed the local consequences of these water quality requirements for urban and transitional communities and identified available tools to enable localities to meet these requirements while avoiding negative impacts on natural resources.
Two pilot localities were selected in FY 11. This project will focus on working closely with these localities to identify the most appropriate tools and test their application. The project will result in a coastal plain BMP guidance document, recommendations for changes to plans and ordinances in the pilot localities, and a modeling effort to evaluate the water quality impacts of various growth scenarios. Upon request, HRPDC staff will make a presentation regarding the outcome of this project to representatives of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program.
Should additional funding be available for FY13, HRPDC staff will work with additional localities within the Region to apply the tools identified in FY 11 and tested in this project.
Federal Funding:
$90,000
Project Contact:
Jimontanae McBride; 757.420.8300, jmcbride@hrpdcva.gov
Project Status:
10/1/2012 - 9/30/2013; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Land and Water Quality Protection in Hampton Roads Phase II (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
This report describes the HRPDC’s Land and Water Quality Protection Section 309 Grant Project work for FY 2012. This project falls under the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program’s Section 309 2011-2016 strategy addressing Land and Water Quality Protection. Two pilot localities, Norfolk (urban) and Suffolk (suburban/transitional), were selected to be the primary subjects of this grant. This project consists of three components that build upon previous work completed in FY 2011:
1) Identification of Coastal Plain Stormwater BMPs
2) Implementation of Plan Evaluation Tool
3) Modeling of Development Impacts on Water Quality
The first component provides information on state regulations and obstacles to using traditional stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) in the coastal plain. It assesses the suitability of many common BMPs for use in coastal areas. It also provides guidance for developers on how environmental site design can be used to reduce stormwater loads and treatment costs.
The second component is a review of two localities’ development regulations using the Center for Watershed Protection’s Code and Ordinance Worksheet to identify potential opportunities for changing existing policies or developing new policies to promote thinking about water quality and greater flexibility in development decisions. The section also describes policy recommendations developed on the code review and discussions with local staff.
The third component describes a geographic information systems (GIS) analysis of stormwater impacts from different development scenarios, such as traditional suburban and cluster developments. One site was selected from Norfolk and one from Suffolk. The analysis assessed how the various alternatives performed in terms of nutrient loads using the Runoff Reduction Method/GIS methodology developed in the previous grant year.
A downloadable PDF version of the report is available at http://www.hrpdcva.gov/news/index/category/id/11/.
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov