Virginia's eight coastal planning district commissions (PDCs) play an integral role in the Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. (See What is a "planning district commission"? on the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions Website.) Coastal PDCs provide an important link between the state agencies and 87 localities that constitute Virginia's network of coastal resource managers. 
A representative from each PDC serves on the Virginia CZM Program's Coastal Policy Team and all eight coastal PDCs meet quarterly with Virginia CZM staff. In addition, each PDC holds quarterly meetings for its local coastal resource managers.
The Virginia CZM Program supports each coastal PDC with an annual technical assistance grant and has provided assistance for a variety of regional and local coastal resource management projects sponsored by the PDCs.
With this funding support, Virginia's coastal PDCs have been instrumental in the planning and implementation of many key environmental programs including:
- The Chesapeake Bay Agreement and the Preservation Act
- Virginia's Tributary Strategy Program
- Wetlands Protection
- Erosion and Sediment Control and Storm Water Management
- Virginia's Ground Water Management Program
- Watershed Planning
The Coastal PDCs and the Virginia Coastal Program have provided the technical assistance, research and guidance needed to establish many environmental programs considered highly valuable as regional solutions to environmental concerns including:
- Accomack-Northampton PDC:
Involvement in the establishment of the Eastern Birding and Wildlife Trail.
- George Washington Regional Commission (formerly RADCO) and Northern-Neck PDC:
Support for the Rappahannock River Basin Commission's many efforts in water quality improvement and water supply planning.
- Crater PDC:
Assistance in the establishment of the Friends of the Lower Appomattox and in obtaining funding for riparian tree planting.
- Northern Virginia Regional Commission:
Key player in the development of the successfully implemented Potomac Tributary Strategy.
- Middle Peninsula PDC:
Assistance in the establishment of the region's Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority.
- Hampton Roads PDC:
Coordination of programs for water conservation, water supply protection, drinking water quality, storm water management.
- Richmond Regional PDC:
Establishment of a Storm Water Management Task Force to enhance public participation in NPDES permitting.
- Accomack-Northampton PDC:
Staffing of the Eastern Shore Public Service Authority.
- The Hampton Roads PDC:
Coordination of the Hampton Roads Regional Water Program, a comprehensive regional water planning effort.
- Northern Virginia Regional Commission:
Played a key role in a number of Chesapeake Bay Program initiatives, including the Metropolitan Area Workgroup, Watershed Commitments Task Force and Local Government Participation Action Plan.
- Coastal PDCs Geographic Information System capabilities were developed initially through the Coastal Program.
Coastal resource management efforts and projects in the PDCs are highlighted in the Virginia Coastal Zone Management magazine in a regular feature titled "News Around the Zone". The Summer/Fall 2003 issue included an article on the coastal PDCs - go to this article (PDF)
Coastal Planning District Commission Technical Assistance Accomplishments Report 2003 (PDF).
Photo right: Virginia's eight planning district, or regional, commissions meet together on a quarterly basis to share their coastal zone management experiences and information. The group alternates its meeting location so that the host PDC can also provide a field excursion to project sites. In the photo above the group met on Virginia's Eastern Shore in the Accomack-Northampton PDC area.