Project Task:
83
Grantee:
Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Project Title:
Regional Collaboration to Build Community Resiliency in Northern Virginia
Project Description:
Northern Virginia is predicted to experience an increase in extreme precipitation events, more frequent and longer heat waves, and low-lying coastal areas are projected to see increased flooding from sea level rise and storm surge. These stressors combined with the staggering population growth and conversion of land from open to urban, pose a risk for vulnerable people, assets, economies and ecosystems. The economic consequences of extreme climate events make resiliency planning at the regional level imperative and urgent.
In response to these acute and chronic challenges raised above, NVRC formed the “Northern Virginia Climate Resiliency Team” (NVCRT) in November 2016 with funding from a FY16 grant from the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program. The purpose of the grant and team was to develop “Resilient Critical Infrastructure: A Roadmap for Northern Virginia”. The “Roadmap” https://www.novaregion.org/DocumentCenter/View/11835 identified the primary climate-related stressors facing the region, a series of objectives aimed at building resilience for critical infrastructure and a set of corresponding strategies that could be implemented to achieve the objectives.
The funding requested under this proposal would allow NVRC to continue this important work by sustaining the Northern Virginia Climate Resiliency Team for another year to develop an implementation plan. NVRC proposes to work with stakeholders to turn the diagnostics and assessments developed in Year Two into actionable initiatives and projects. Through continuing to convene the NVCRT, we can further explore and analyze the cost of major disruptions to critical infrastructure in the region, evaluate opportunities, and initiate workshops and closer study of areas such as financing or risk modeling.
The specific objectives that will be accomplished through this FY 18 scope of work are:
1) Sustain and coordinate a working group of stakeholders from across the region or another year; to inform implementation plan and share best practices from other regions;
2) Revise the Roadmap developed in Year One as needed;
3) Analysis of economic impacts of extreme weather; and
4) Resilience Roadmap Implementation Plan.
The funding requested in this proposal addresses the CZMP Goal of planning for Coastal Resiliency. Since Northern Virginia is in close proximity to the Washington Metropolitan Region, NVRC proposes to align this effort with parallel resiliency and climate adaptation planning efforts undertaken by the National Capitol Planning Commission, Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities Program, and Washington D.C. through coordination and technical transfers of information.
A regional approach for resiliency planning provides a greater platform for communication of best practices across communities and allows for leveraging of resources to build resiliency. The strategic planning approach of this proposal will assist in efforts reduce risk in Northern Virginia.
Federal Funding:
$59,223
Project Contact:
Corey Miles, 703.642.4625, cmiles@novaregion.org
Project Status:
10/1/18 - 9/30/19; Project Open
Final Product:
Project Summary:
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.