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State ParksSoil and Water ConservationNatural Heritage Outdoor Recreation PlanningLand Conservation

Dam Safety and Floodplain Management

Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance

www.dcr.virginia.gov

Potomac Roundtable:

Urban BMP Incentives update; Important Regulatory Activities; State-level

Strategic PlanningJack Frye & Kelly Vanover , October 6, 2006

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Urban Best Management Practices

Incentives Program Study• Patrons: Bulova, Eisenberg and Wittman

• DCR committed to study (VASWCD)

• 9/29/06-met w/VASWCD Urban Comm.

• 1 TAC meeting before Jan. 1, 2007

• 3-4 TAC meetings during 2007

• Complete by late 2007

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Actions & Issues

• Evaluate other similar programs & their effectiveness.

• What practices to consider?• Who’s eligible to participate?• Cost/benefit of practices & program; cost-share

and/or tax credit approach.• Impact of achieving Bay goals (N,P & Sed.)?• How administered; state, local govt. & SWCD and

private sector roles ?

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Urban BMP Program Principles1. Recognize stormwater as a source water resource.2. Avoid destruction of water usefulness by pollution.3. Citizen education is the cornerstone of urban BMP

programs.4. Maximize individual & business stewardship of

water resources.5. Better development practices sooner means less

retrofitting later.6. Locally/regionally integrate water supply plans.7. All “structural practices” credited in a SWM control

system need long term care.8. State cost-shared practices should have a specific

required lifespan with maintenance and be locally recognized.

9. Consider local incentives.10. Urban BMPs absolutely needed to meet goals.

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Important Regulatory Activities:

Nutrient Credit Exchange • 9 VAC 25-820-10 et seq.• General VPDES Watershed Permit• Regulates TN & TP discharges and nutrient trading• Only in Chesapeake Bay• Nonpoint Source Offsets Framework

• Agricultural lands• Developed lands• Land conversion

•Establish baseline & beyond baseline

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Potomac Watershed Office Activities:

Virginia Stormwater Management Permit VSMP

• Construction sites and MS4s• Permit required and compliance inspections• VA DCR lead agency as of 2005• Intent for program to be self-supporting• 15 positions added statewide• DCR has issued 3,772 permits statewide• Conducted 148 inspections in Northern VA• Compliance improving

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Potomac Watershed Office Activities:

Erosion and Sediment Control• E&S programs implemented by local governments • DCR reviews local programs• Programs must be consistent and self sufficient• Necessary to meet goals of Tributary Strategies• Review process• Current status of programs in Northern VA• Program compliance

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Important Regulatory Activities:

Stormwater Mgmt Regs

• 4 VAC 50-60-40 et seq.• Part II – Water Quality & Quantity Criteria• Part III A & B – Local Programs• Part XIII – Fees• Drafting by TAC still underway• Soil & Water Conservation Board-Nov.• State 7 Federal review, public comment• In effect in about a year ~• Support Bay clean-up goals for developed areas

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State-level Strategic Planning:Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Waters Clean-up and Oversight Act (HB-1150)

• SNR has lead - July 21, 2006 Stakeholder meeting

• Asked 4 questions:

1. What should VA focus on?

2. What should we do for WQ that we are not & what is not working?

3. Roadblocks & how to mitigate them?

4. How do we set reasonable & achievable time frames for goals

Report due Jan. 1, 2007 & updated semiannually

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What’s in HB-1150?Shall address both point and nonpoint sources of pollution:

• 1. Measurable and attainable objectives

• 2. Strategies to be implemented to meet specific and attainable objectives

• 3. Time frames or phasing to accomplish plan objectives and the expected dates of completion;

• 4. Clearly defined, prioritized, and sufficiently funded program of work; both for PS and NPS

• 5. Disbursement projection plan detailing the expenditures for PS and NPS projects

• 6. Potential problem areas where delays in the implementation of the plan may occur

• 7. A risk mitigation strategy to reduce delays in plan implementation

• 8. A description of the extent of coordination between state and local governments in developing and achieving the plan's objectives (Roundtables?)

• 9. Assessments of alternative funding mechanisms

• 10. Recommendations for legislative action. 

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Potomac Watershed Office Activities:

Nutrient Management

• Staff works to manage both agricultural and urban nutrients

• Develop site specific plans and assist in implementation

• Northern VA Urban: 20 plans; 1,750 Acres

• Northern VA Agriculture: 19 plans; 4,108

• Outreach to fertilizer companies

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Potomac Watershed Office Activities:

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

• Key partners regarding non-point source pollution reduction

• Cost-share program

• Potomac Council

• Water Quality Improvement Fund