Contacts, Comments, and Links

Contacts

The best source for information about the Virginia Water Protection Permit process, or specific project questions, is one of DEQ's Regional Offices (VWP Permit Program staff) in the geographic area of your interest or project.  See also the VWP Permit Program Staff List.

You may also contact Dave Davis, Director of the Office of Wetlands and Water Protection, for general questions regarding the administration and management of the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program (804-698-4105).

Michelle Henicheck may also be reached for questions on wetlands and the wetland monitoring and assessment program (804-698-4007).

Bettina Sullivan (804-698-4204) may be reached for information on wetland/stream mitigation and mitigation banking, and stream restoration and assessments.

Brenda Winn may be reached for questions on the technical aspects and VWP permitting requirements of surface water withdrawal projects, such as intake structures, reservoirs, dams, and hydroelectric generating facilities (804-698-4516).

Robert Burgholzer with DEQ's Office of Surface and Ground Water Supply Planning may be reached for questions related to cumulative impact analyses and modeling at the watershed level for surface water withdrawals (804-698-4405 and 804-698-4180, resp.).

Comments

The Virginia Water Protection Permit Program is interested in your experience in accessing information from our wetlands web pages and the customer service that you received from our staff.  Please take a moment to complete the customer service survey by clicking the link below.  Taking this survey is completely optional.

VWP Permit Program Survey

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Links & Information

The following links are provided as a courtesy to the public. With the exception of official DEQ guidance documents and State regulations, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program do not endorse any particular organization, methodology, or products that you may find at these sources.

Water Guidance & Policy

• 2006 VWP Permit Manual Sections 1 through 4 (October 27, 2006) and Guidance Memorandum 06-2015 
• DEQ Water Division Guidance Memorandums cover many regulatory topics related to DEQ water permit programs
• Virginia Water Protection Permit Guidance (pdf 10,349 kb) selected guidance pertaining specifically to VWPP 

Wetlands & Permit Data

• National Wetlands Inventory Maps developed and maintained by the United State Geologic Survey.
• Recent Wetland Trends in Southeastern Virginia, December 2005
• VWP permit applications received and processed

Wetland & Stream Restoration

• Information and resources for wetland restoration and other initiatives
• EPA's National Management Measures to Protect and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution
• National Association of Counties’ water program can help counties improve water quality and water resource management.
• The Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. Question and Answer Guides are designed primarily for local government, land trusts and members of the public wanting information pertaining to key wetland topics.

Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund

• Trust Fund is a mitigation program which acquires stream and wetland conservation projects throughout Virginia in order to compensate for impacts to streams and wetlands permitted by state and federal regulatory agencies. The Trust Fund is dedicated to replacing the greatest value in terms of acreage and function, while providing a specific emphasis on protecting Virginia’s rare plants, animals, and natural communities.  Click the link for more information: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/virginia/explore/the-virginia-aquatic-resources-trust-fund-home.xml
• Take an insider's look at The Nature Conservancy's work at: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/virginia/explore/index.htm

Soils

• USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Web Soil Survey application

Threatened and Endangered Species & Other Rare Resources

• DGIF Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service (VaFWIS) http://vafwis.org/WIS/ASP/default.asp
• DCR Natural Heritage Program http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/
• VDACS Regulatory Services http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant&pest/endangered.html
• § 29.1-564 and § 29.1-566, and § 62.1-44.2 et seq., of the Code of Virginia
• US Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
• US Environmental Protection Agency Endangered Species Act http://www.epa.gov/region5/defs/html/esa.htm
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, The Natural Communities of Virginia (Second Approximation, Version 2.1)

Streams

• Development and Analysis of Regional Curves for Streams in the Non-Urban Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia (Prepared in cooperation with West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Canaan Valley Institute; By Jefferson N. Keaton, Terence Messinger, and Edward J. Doheny)
• The Virginia Stream Restoration & Stabilization BMP Guide

Watersheds

• Summary of Comments December 2003 Low Impact Development Workshop
• Watershed Assessment of River Stability & Sediment Supply
• The Center for Watershed Protection's Wetlands Web Site

Professional Organizations & Citizen Groups

• The Association of State Wetland Managers
• Virginia Association of Wetland Professional
• Society of Wetland Scientists
• State Certification Regulations for Wetland Delineator

Other

• Public Guide to Wetlands Permitting in Virginia. (NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT WAS CREATED WITH GRANT FUNDS DURING 2003, AND NO FUNDS EXIST AT THIS TIME TO UPDATE THE DOCUMENT. THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES NOTED IN THIS GUIDE MAY HAVE CHANGED. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.)
• Regulatory Branch of the Norfolk District of the U.S. Artmy Corps of Engineers
• Virginia Marine Resources Division of Habitat Management permit information