Project Task:
6
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Center for Coastal Resources Management
Project Title:
Tidal Wetlands Management Technical Support
Project Description:
The project provides operational support for tidal wetlands management technical support provided by Virginia Institute of Marine Science Wetlands Program staff. The project will specifically support:
1) Advisory service to VMRC, shoreline property owners, VIMS and local government staff, including maintenance and web service of historical permit records. In addition, we will continue to maintain two databases to track advisory service; one for provision of technical advice and the second to track permit data and decisions. We are enhancing the database by creating a georeferenced location for all historical permits.
2) Educational/ Outreach efforts to include a workshop on the VIMS campus, as well as the production and distribution of CCRM E-News, and Rivers and Coast publications.
Federal Funding:
$42,000
Project Contact:
Dawn Fleming, 804.684.7380; dawnf@vims.edu
Project Status:
10/1/17 - 9/30/18; Project Completed
Final Product:
Tidal Wetlands Management Technical Support (PDF)
Project Summary:
Through this grant, the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) staff provided routine advisories; produced materials for outreach education and newsletters; hosted a website for joint permit application records; and maintained two databases all supporting tidal wetlands management.
Technical advisory activities encompassed everything from site visits to verbal communications and written environmental assessments, handling information requests on a variety of coastal management issues. Center personnel provided input to the shoreline management process via face to face meetings, phone calls and emails rather than a VIMS/ CCRM Report. A CCRM Advisory Database was maintained to track advice provided within and outside of Virginia. The final report will include the number and type of requests, who is requesting information and in what localities. Pre-application and follow-up visits for living shorelines remain a priority. CCRM’s Shoreline Permit Database was updated with Virginia tidal shoreline erosion control projects and permit information, location (including geo-reference), approved decisions, recommended preferred management approach and more to support various CCRM coastal resources management activities such as research needs, site selection for field investigation, surveys and analyses, and program assessment. CCRM continued to maintain and serve complete historical records for Joint Permit Applications with VMRC assigned numbers for years prior to 2010, searchable here http://ccrm.vims.edu/perms/newpermits.html.
The Center for Coastal Resources Management was responsible for organizing, hosting and presenting its annual Tidal Wetlands Workshop held at VIMS on June 14, 2018. This year’s event on “Shoreline Best Practice Case Studies” had 109 participants representing local governments (13), Wetlands Boards (7), state agencies (4), NGOs (7), private consulting & engineering firms (6), and other private individuals. The program included case study review presentations followed by concurrent indoor and outdoor experiences. http://www.vims.edu/ccrm/outreach/workshops/index. CCRM annually produces the Rivers & Coast newsletter; it covers one relevant topic in detail through the use of charts, graphs, maps and photos in an 8-page color publication. The Summer 2018 issue, Forecasting Coastal Water Levels in Virginia explored sea level forecast tools available on the AdaptVA.org web site, including suggestions for using these forecasts for short and long-term infrastructure planning. It is available online https://scholarworks.wm.edu/reports/1843/ and is announced through the Center’s quarterly e-newsletter to approximately 2500 email addresses which include local and state agency personnel, General Assembly members, and interested private citizens. CCRM e-News, a quarterly newsletter, summarizes and communicates a variety of issues that support integrated management of coastal zone resources, announces pertinent publications, programs and events, and points the reader to more detailed information on the CCRM website (and others).
Although not a final product deliverable, CCRM continued to offer training on its Comprehensive Coastal Resource Management Portal and Coastal Best Management Practices to coastal planners, shoreline managers, and volunteer educators.
To view any of the previously mentioned items, please see CCRM’s website (http://www.vims.edu/ccrm/).
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 or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.