RD109 - Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund and the Cooperative Nonpoint Source Pollution Program and the Federal Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program


Executive Summary:
This report fulfills the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) legislative requirement under § 10.1–2134 of the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997 (WQIA) and § 319(h)(8) and (11) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 USC 1329). This report describes the nonpoint source pollution management program activities undertaken by DCR and cooperating agencies during 2006. These activities include nonpoint source pollution management program implementation, submission of project proposals and selection of grant awards, agricultural cost-share funding allocations and BMP implementation, support for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), FY 2006 grant awards for nonpoint source programs and projects, and planned use of recent funding.

Section 10.1-2127.D., Chapter 21.1 of Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia also directs DCR to report each year to the Governor and the General Assembly on the implementation of cooperative nonpoint source pollution programs in Virginia. In order to accomplish this charge, DCR assists local governments, soil and water conservation districts, and individuals with technical and financial assistance made available through WQIF and 319 grants and other funding sources. As required by the WQIF this report includes a report on the cooperative nonpoint source program activities.

There were no deposits to the Water Quality Improvement Fund for fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004. In fiscal year 2005 a deposit of $9,417,500 was made to the fund. Additional funding became available through WQIF for nonpoint source implementation in FY 2006. The General Assembly amended budget included $7,500,000 and a General Assembly 2005 action allocated an additional $22,664,600 for a total of $30,164,600. The General Assembly allocated another $39,608,800 in FY2006 Supplemental funds as a mandatory budget surplus deposit. According to statutory language and guidance from the Secretary of Natural Resources, the majority the majority of funds have been directed to the Agricultural BMP Cost Share and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs. Implementation funds are also being used to support competitive grants for cooperative nonpoint source programs with localities, strategic nonpoint source water quality initiatives, and programs offered by the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. As part of the implementation of these programs, DCR reaffirmed existing partnerships and pursued new relationships through cooperative watershed initiatives.

In continuing to provide assistance to cooperative watershed roundtables, DCR staff has been working closely with key partners to arrange a statewide meeting of watershed roundtable chairs and other invited guests. A statewide watershed roundtables meeting was held in conjunction with the Environment Virginia Conference in Lexington, Virginia in April 2006.

Estimating future funding needs is a complex endeavor that requires extensive information about the health of waters throughout the Commonwealth. Within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Virginia tributary strategies offer a guide to implementation efforts, as well as a best available estimate of implementation costs. In concert with the Tributary Strategy efforts, another significant funding need will be the implementation of TMDL projects to remove waters from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's impaired waters list. A cooperative nonpoint source pollution control program, with a watershed-based approach, is expected to increase interest from localities to apply for grant funds to implement water quality improvement projects.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has made progress in protecting and restoring the health of its rivers, streams, lakes, and the Chesapeake Bay through a substantial infusion of state and federal funding resources. With improving budget forecasts of potential increases being provided to the Water Quality Improvement Fund, significant water quality improvements can be achieved. In order to meet the difficult challenge of restoring the health of impaired waters and the Chesapeake Bay, the Commonwealth will have to dramatically expand on the progress made in recent years.