Coastal Needs Assessment and Strategies: 2000 - 2005

The Virginia CZM Program's FY2000 Coastal Needs Assessment Report (pdf) ranked the priority status of the 9 coastal enhancement areas as follows:

High Priority Coastal Assessment Areas:

• Aquaculture
• Cumulative and Secondary Impacts
• Coastal Hazards
• Public Access
• Special Area Management Planning (SAMP)
• Wetlands

Medium and Low Priority Coastal Assessment Areas:

• Marine Debris (medium priority)
• Ocean Resources (medium priority)
• Energy and Government Facility Siting (low priority)

Virginia CZM Section 309 Coastal Needs Strategies

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, DEQ

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 Governments

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, DGIF

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, DCR

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

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

For comments or questions concerning this program's web pages, contact the Web Author.

This web site is provided by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program through a federal Coastal Zone Management Act grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce.