2000 Coastal Needs Assessment and Strategy
Virginia's 2000 Assessment of Coastal Needs
(see Strategies for Addressing High Priority
Needs below)
The Virginia CZM Program's FY2000 Coastal Needs Assessment Report (pdf) --- identifies the following priority enhancement areas for improvement (each area is ranked as high, medium or low):
- Aquaculture (high priority)
- Cumulative and Secondary Impacts (high priority)
- Coastal Hazards (high priority)
- Energy and Government Facility Siting (low priority)
- Marine Debris (medium priority)
- Ocean Resources (medium priority)
- Public Access (high priority)
- Special Area Management Planning (SAMP) (high priority)
- Wetlands (high priority)
Strategies for Addressing High Priority Needs
The 2000 Virginia Coastal Needs Assessment and Strategy focuses on five of the six identified high priority areas. Eight strategies have been underway to address these priority needs (summary of strategy provided as well as a link to the complete strategy):
Aquaculture
Aquaculture Management Strategy --- (pdf)
Many people love to eat clams and oysters and these animals have been harvested from the coast for years. As shellfish resources have dwindled, aquaculture has become more popular. But managing this developing field still faces several challenges. The first is development of all the tools necessary to guide aquaculture activities to the most appropriate locations and then ensure that the activity is sustainable. The second is integrating the various aquatic and terrestrial management programs in the Commonwealth to preserve opportunities for aquaculture into the future. Thus, the policy changes in this strategy are directed at these challenges.
Program Partners: VMRC, VIMS, DEQCumulative and Secondary Impacts
(Includes these strategies: Shorelands Management Strategy, Clean Marina Program Strategy, and an Integration Strategy)
Shorelands Management Strategy --- (pdf)
Many land use decisions allowing for development in the coastal zone are made without the benefit of complete information on the suitability of the shorelands for development or of the coastal resources that will be affected. As a result, the cumulative and secondary impacts of this development are not typically considered. In this multi-year project, CBLAD will create a suitability index to classify the development potential of land, based on physical constraints to development and proximity to sensitive coastal resources. It is expected that local implementation of these policies through the comprehensive planning process will result in changes in land use designations and zoning densities, as well as in recommendations for controlling the impacts of other activities associated with shoreland development such as shoreline erosion control and recreational boating.
Program Partners: CBLAD, DCR, VIMS, DEQ, Tidewater Local GovernmentsVirginia Clean Marina Program
Enhancement Strategy --- (pdf)
One of the consequences of increased development in coastal areas is the rapid growth in the number of recreational boaters using Virginia's waters and the corresponding growth and expansion of marina facilities. As a result, we've seen unintended impacts on the very resources that bring people to our coastal waters. In 1999, the Virginia Coastal Program initiated a Marina Technical Advisory Program and Clean Marina Program to help prevent and mitigate nonpoint source pollution from marinas and boating operations. Activities will focus on providing technical assistance to Virginia marinas and boaters on key environmental issues, and best management practices to control nonpoint source pollution. Marinas that go beyond basic compliance with environmental laws and voluntarily adopt a significant level of best management practices will be designated as Virginia Clean Marinas. Virginia Clean Marina website.
Program Partners: DCR, VIMS Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, DEQ, VDH, VMRC, DGIFCoastal Hazards
Dune Management Strategy --- (pdf)
Hurricanes and other coastal storms can cause millions of dollars worth of damage in a short time. Dunes, a natural feature in the landscape, can help to ameliorate damage that is caused by storms. Locating and characterizing the remaining dunes in the Chesapeake Bay is critical to coastal hazards planning and sound resource management. This project will characterize most of the dunes in the Bay watershed and recommend changes to Virginia's management program based on the study's findings. Changes to management may include: alternative jurisdictional definitions that would more accurately describe and delineate the functional limits of natural dune systems; enumeration and classification of resources in non-jurisdictional localities to be included in the regulatory program; and inclusion of beaches and their supporting dune systems in designated essential fish habitat areas, with particular emphasis on horseshoe crabs.
Program Partners: VIMS, VMRC, CBLAD, DEQ
Special Area Management Planning (SAMP)
(Includes these strategies: Southern Watershed Area Strategy, and Dragon Run Area Strategy)
Dragon Run Strategy --- (pdf)
Many activities occur within the Dragon Run watershed including timbering, farming, hunting and trapping. The primary problem this watershed facesis encountering is how to balance these traditional uses of the land while maintaining bio-diversity and managing public access. The strategy will address this issue by developing new ordinances, modifying existing ordinances and creating innovative management programs. For example, Memoranda of Understanding between state, local, regional and private user groups will be developed to address public access and use issues.
Program Partners: Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, VIMS/CBNERRS, DEQ, DCRSouthern Watershed Area
Management Strategy --- (pdf)
This project is heading into it sixth year. Over the lifetime of this program, the primary coastal management challenge facing the Southern Watershed Area (SWA) has been the need to preserve its significant natural resources in the face of increasing development pressures. The project has worked towards several policy changes and is in the last stages of getting many of these adopted. The monies provided in FY '02 will be directed towards implementation of these changes, which include: (1) adopting new zoning ordinance changes and educating developers concerning conservation tools and open space requirements; (2) implementation of the Waterway Use Conflict MOA; (3) identifying specific mitigation sites; (4) implementation of a strategic agricultural plan and (5) setting up a range of management and preservation tools for riparian corridors.
Program Partners: Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, Cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, DEQ, DCR
-
Wetlands
Nontidal Wetlands Regulatory Programs Strategy --- (pdf)
In order to protect the Commonwealth's wetland resources, nontidal wetlands regulations are being enacted. In order to enhance the effectiveness of this new program, two specific management tools are being developed. The first is a cumulative and secondary impact assessment protocol that will guide permit decisions and form a basis for coordination across regulatory programs. The second is an assessment and review protocol that provides the basis for periodic adjustments to the compensation ratios used to ensure no net loss of wetland acreage and function.
Program Partners: DEQ, VIMS, VMRC, CBLAD
In addition to these seven strategies, the 309 document also includes
the idea of an "integration
concept" (pdf) ---
based on the idea that the ultimate success of many of Virginia's
efforts to manage cumulative and secondary impacts depends on the
successful integration of its various regulatory and planning programs.
In the next several years, this concept will be developed into a
complete strategy that will lead to coordination of programs focused
on land use management, pollution abatement, water resource management,
fisheries management, and a reduction in conflicting management
actions. Specific program changes would include the development
of protocols for consensus management goals and the development
of individual agency policy guidance for inclusion of the consensus
management goals into any regulatory and programmatic actions. Once
in place, links among many of the coastal zone programs will help
to modify individual agency decision processes to ensure consistency.
Program Partners: many including VIMS, DEQ, DCR, VMRC, CBLAD
