Skip to Content  |  Web Policy  |  Contact Us
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo

Protecting, restoring, and strengthening our coastal ecosystems and economy


What Is the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program?

All "Federal Actions" within Virginia's coastal zone must be consistent with Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program.  Please review the requirements on the Environmental Impact Review Program - Federal Consistency webpage.  If you still have questions, contact Ellie Irons.

Virginia Coastal Zone Boundary Map

Virginia's coastal zone encompasses 29 counties, 17 cities and 42 incorporated towns in "Tidewater Virginia" and all of the waters therein, and out to, the three mile Territorial Sea boundary, including all of Virginia's Atlantic coast watershed as well as parts of the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle - Pamlico Sound watersheds. The Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James.

Download a copy of the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Area Map - (JPEG, 3.46 MB)

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (Virginia CZM Program) was established in 1986 to protect and manage Virginia's "coastal zone." 

Although only 29 percent of Virginia's land area lies within the coastal zone, more than 60 percent of Virginia's citizens call it home.

Virginia's coastal zone includes 5,000 miles of shoreline, four tidal rivers reaching as far as 100 miles inland, the Chesapeake Bay and and Albemarle - Pamlico Sound watersheds, and the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Natural and cultural features range widely - from the wild, undeveloped beaches of the barrier islands to the "hard" shoreline of Hampton Roads' port facilities.

The Virginia CZM Program is part of a national coastal zone management program, a voluntary partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) and U.S. coastal states and territories authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act.

NOAA Office of Coastal Zone Management and (former) Council of Environment Commonwealth of Virginia - 1986. (Warning: this PDF is 20 MB and may take a while to download.)  Since 1986, the Virginia CZM Program has completed a number of Routine Program Changes.

The Virginia CZM Program was established through an Executive Order, which is renewed by each new governor.  The Program is a not a single centralized agency or entity, but a network of state agencies and local governments which administer the following enforceable laws, regulations and policies that protect our coastal resources:

Go to detail on laws, regulations, and responsible agencies...

Every 6 months, the Virginia CZM Program partner agencies provide the Virginia CZM Office at DEQ a summary report of their activities as they relate to managing the coastal resources above.  These reports are submitted to NOAA and are downloadable below:

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from April 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from October 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from April 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from October 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from April 1, 2007 - October 30, 2007

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program

Semiannual Section B Report on Core Agency Implementation Activities - For the Period from October 1, 2006 – March 31, 2007

 

Geographic Areas of Particular Concern

Go to detail on advisory policies protecting areas of geographic concern...

 

How Does the Virginia CZM Program Network Work?

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) serves as the lead agency for Virginia's networked coastal zone management program and helps agencies and localities to develop and implement coordinated coastal policies and solve coastal management problems.

Facilitating cooperation among these agencies is the Coastal Policy Team (CPT). The CPT, whose members represent all of Virginia's key CZM partners, provides a forum for discussion and resolution of cross-cutting coastal resource management issues.

Virginia CZM Program Staff at DEQ initiate, develop and coordinate the Program's activities and administer the program's annual grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management.

Together, Virginia's localities (represented by Virginia's 8 Coastal Planning District Commissions), state agencies and NOAA form an effective intergovernmental partnership.

Federal Consistency

Having a federally approved coastal zone management program also authorizes Virginia to require that federal actions are consistent with the state's CZM Program's laws and enforceable policies. For more information about federal consistency, go to Environmental Impact Review.

Program Changes

Periodically, the Virginia CZM Program needs to be updated to reflect changes made to coastal law and regulation. This process of updating the program, if it is a significant change is known as a "Program Amendment." If it is a less significant change, it is known as a "Routine Program Change." Because the laws and regulations incorporated into the Virginia CZM Program are used for Federal Consistency determinations, this process is a crucial part of maintaining a strong program.  A list and more information about these changes will soon be downloable form this site.  In the interim, please contact Shep Moon, Virginia CZM Program Planner, for this information.

Program Evaluation

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management conducts a routine evaluation of the Virginia CZM Program every three years.  An evaluation team meets with federal, state and local staff, academics and others to review how well the Virginia CZM Program is implementing its approved program, adhering to its federal financial awards and being consistent with the Coastal Zone Management Act.  A public meeting is held to solicit comments from the general public.  Written comments are also encouraged. 

The Virginia CZM Program was last evaluated in May of 2006.  NOAA will issue draft evaluation findings identifying porgram successes and areas needing improvement.  These finding will be available for public comment and available on this web site.

NOAA Evaluation Findings:

"Evaluation Findings for the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program - August 2003 through May 2006" (pdf)

"Evaluation Findings for the Virginia Coastal Management Program November 1999 Through July 2003" (pdf)

Virginia coastal communities:

Virginia's coastal counties

Virginia's coastal cities

Virginia's coastal incorporated towns

 

Go to the Coastal Planning District Commission Page for more information.

For More Information About Virginia's Natural and Human Coastal Communities...

Visit the Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of Natural Heritage and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for more information, descriptions and inventories, of Virginia's natural communities.

Visit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Virginia Institute of Marine Science for more information about Virginia's aquatic environment and communities.

Visit the Virginia Division of Legislative Services or the state's data center - the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service- for more information about Virginia's population.