VIRGINIAforever Announces Officers, Welcomes New Executive Board Members

At the annual business meeting on December 18, VIRGINIAforever elected officers to serve on the organization’s leadership committee.  Kendall Tyree (Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts) was elected vice chair. This role was previously filled by Nikki Rovner (The Nature Conservancy).  Pamela Faggert (Dominion Energy) was elected secretary/treasurer.  This role was previously filled by Brooks Smith (Troutman Sanders). Matt Wells (WestRock) and Nikki Rovner were both elected to serve as at-large members of the leadership committee. Dennis Treacy (Smithfield Foods) will continue to serve as chair of VIRGINIAforever; this is his second year of a two-year term.  Bob Dunn also continues his tenure on the leadership committee as immediate past chairman. Congratulations to each of these members and thank you for your service to VIRGINIAforever.

VIRGINIAforever also elected two individuals to serve on the organization’s executive board. We welcome Ron Jefferson of Appalachian Power Company, who is new to VIRGINIAforever, and Katie Frazier of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, who has been involved with VIRGINIAforever for several years in her role as a member of the organization’s general board. Welcome, Ron and Katie!

VIRGINIAforever-supported Study Finds Virginia Spends About One Percent of Available State Revenues on Natural Resources

With support from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, VIRGINIAforever commissioned Fiscal Analytics to conduct a study of trends in Virginia natural resources funding over the last five years. The results are sobering. Even though there have been landmark investments in land conservation and water quality, those events were isolated to a few, certain years. The trend in overall natural resources spending is downward. The study found that Virginia has been spending about one percent of available state revenues on natural resources, ranking near the bottom when compared to other states. VIRGINIAforever’s summary and assessment of the report can be found here and the full report can be viewed here.

Legislative Update: Preview of VIRGINIAforever’s Priorities for 2018 General Assembly Session

Each year during the Virginia General Assembly session, VIRGINIAforever advocates for critical state funds to protect the land and waterways of the Commonwealth. In the case of FY19, we recognize the Commonwealth is facing significant budget demands. We are ready to work closely with the state’s policymakers to identify opportunities that balance the Commonwealth’s current financial needs with ongoing needs to protect our precious natural resources. To this end, VIRGINIAforever seeks to work with Virginia’s policymakers to identify a dedicated source of funding for land and water protection. In the short term, we are focusing on the following minimum FY19 appropriation goals:

• $50M for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) to restore streams and install practices to reduce urban runoff
• $62M for Agriculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) cost share and technical assistance to help farmers reduce agriculture runoff
• $20M for land conservation grant programs to conserve farmland, forests, wildlife habitat and historic places

Please consider how you can help support these important objectives. For more information on VIRGINIAforever’s advocacy activities, contact Preston Bryant at pbryant@mwcllc.com.

Congratulations to Delegate Cox, VIRGINIAforever’s 2017 Bridge Builder Recipient

Each year, VIRGINIAforever holds its Bridge Builder Celebration in Richmond to recognize outstanding stewards of Virginia’s natural resources.  The 2017 Bridge Builder Award was presented on October 11 to House Speaker-designee Kirk Cox for his leadership in the protection of natural resources.  The event, which was headlined by the two gubernatorial candidates and emceed by Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward, drew a crowd of more than 150 people including elected and appointed officials as well as members of the natural resources community. Congratulations to Delegate Cox on his much-deserved award!

VIRGINIAforever Hosts Receptions for Senate Finance & House Appropriations Committees

As part of our year-round advocacy efforts, VIRGINIAforever sponsored receptions during the Senate Finance Natural Resources Subcommittee’s retreat in Hampton Roads at Fort Monroe and the House Appropriations Committee retreat on the campus of Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk.  Legislators who serve on these committees are faced with important decisions on how to fund land conservation and water quality improvement projects in Virginia.  VIRGINIAforever appreciates the opportunity to have face-time with this important group of decision makers.

Chesapeake Bay Commission Releases Policy Report on Agriculture Technical Assistance

On November 9, the tristate legislative Chesapeake Bay Commission released its new policy report on agriculture technical assistance. Titled “Boots on the Ground: Improving Technical Assistance for Farmers,” the Commission’s report is the first Bay-wide effort documenting the escalating need for more technical assistance to guide farmers in planning and installing pollution control practices.  As noted by Commission Chairman State Representative Garth Everett (R-PA), “With the overwhelming amount of reliance on agriculture to help clean up the Bay, there simply aren’t enough ‘boots on the ground’ to provide the help needed to farmers to get the job done.”  For copies of the report, or for further information, please contact Ann Jennings at ajennings@chesbay.us or (804) 786-4849.

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ourlandourwater. “Like” our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth.  You are encouraged to “share” and “comment” on our content.

Natural Resources News Briefs

Governor McAuliffe Announces Nearly $12.5 Million in Land Conservation Grants. Governor McAuliffe announced nearly $12.5 million in grants from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) to nine projects. The awards will protect almost 4,000 historically significant acres and fund new interpretive tools at multiple sites. A grant to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe will support the acquisition of tribal lands along the James River, known to them as the Powhatan. This land, to be permanently protected under a conservation easement, will be the first held by the Chickahominy on one of its home rivers in centuries. Read more here.

James River Health Improves 10 Points in 10 Years. The James River Association’s biennial State of the James report, a comprehensive assessment of the health of the river, was released in late October, showing the overall health of the James at a grade of “B-“in 2017. The overall score for the river rose to 62%, which represents an increase of 10 points since the report was first published in 2007 and 3 points over the past two years. Read more here.

Governor McAuliffe Announces Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the convening of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC). The EJAC, established by Executive Order 73, will provide advice and recommendations to the Executive Branch on ways in which environmental justice should be incorporated in decision-making. Environmental Justice is the principle that no community or individual should bear disproportionate impacts from pollution.  Read more here.

Special Guest Column by Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward: The Administration’s Focus on Land Conservation Water Quality Improvement

There is no better way to turn citizens into stewards than through meaningful personal experiences with nature. That’s why Governor McAuliffe created the Virginia Treasures Program to recognize achievements in land conservation, environmental quality and public access. In May 2015, we set out to identify and protect 1,000 Virginia Treasures before the end of this administration, and we accomplished that goal more than a year ahead of schedule with more than 1,300 Treasures currently on the books. Among them is Werowocomoco where we worked with the National Park Service so that they could acquire one of the most historically significant sites in the nation while simultaneously protecting essential riparian buffers. We also added a new state park with the newly created Natural Bridge State Park. This iconic arch was surveyed by a young George Washington before it became the property of Thomas Jefferson. We also finally saw Fort Monroe actually become a national monument when the Governor signed the deed to the park service in August 2015.

The Governor successfully lobbied to have the Rivers of the Chesapeake initiative included on the list for Land and Water Conservation Funds, and put more Virginia Land Conservation Funding in the budget than any other governor in history. The Governor was also instrumental in bringing the DuPont mercury contamination case to a close, providing over 20 million dollars for land conservation for the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

These land conservation initiatives, and especially our State Parks, are a tremendous economic asset to Virginia. According to a recent report by Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, a record-setting ten million visitors spent time in our State Parks last year. They spent almost $225 million – $98 million of which came from outside Virginia. The economic activity stimulated by State Parks supported more than 3,500 jobs in communities across the Commonwealth and yielded more than $19.5 million in tax revenue. In fact, for every tax dollar they received, State Parks generated 99 cents in new or increased revenues for state government – and that’s not even factoring in their immeasurable contribution to our Commonwealth’s character and quality of life.

We have also prioritized water quality, including the considerable time, effort and resources that Governor McAuliffe has devoted toward our ongoing Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts. Until June of this year, Governor McAuliffe chaired the Chesapeake Executive Council which oversees the multi-state and federal Chesapeake Bay Program and led the program as it implemented the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement as the key pollution reduction goals it contains.  The Commonwealth is on track to achieve the water quality goals set for 2017 and we are making final preparations and plans for meeting water quality standards in the Bay and its tidal tributaries by 2025.  Improvements to water quality that academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and others are measuring demonstrate that Virginia’s ongoing commitment and investment in the Bay is yielding real results. The Chesapeake Bay is an estimated $1.1 trillion dollar asset to this entire watershed so this is good news for both the economy and Virginia’s environment.

Learn more about the Secretary of Natural Resources here.

Gubernatorial Candidates Headlining VIRGINIAforever’s Annual Bridge Builder Celebration

Each year, VIRGINIAforever holds its Bridge Builder Celebration in Richmond to recognize outstanding stewards of Virginia’s natural resources.  This year’s event will feature Ed Gillespie and Ralph Northam, candidates for Governor of Virginia.  The Bridge Builder Award will be presented to House Speaker-designee Kirk Cox for his leadership in the protection of natural resources.

The event is Wednesday, October 11 at WestRock.  The reception begins at 6 pm, followed by remarks, dinner and an awards presentation. Hope to see you next week!

VIRGINIAforever to Host Reception for Senate Finance Natural Resources Subcommittee

As part of our year-round advocacy efforts, VIRGINIAforever is sponsoring a reception during the Senate Finance Natural Resources Subcommittee’s retreat in Hampton Roads.  Legislators who serve on this committee are faced with important decisions on how to fund land conservation and water quality improvement projects in Virginia.  These decision makers are a particular important audience to VIRGINIAforever and the October 5th reception will allow board members an opportunity to have one-on-one conversations about the significance of state funds for natural resources.

VIRGINIAforever Welcomes New Members to General Board

VIRGINIAforever’s membership development is a year-round effort, as continuing to build our base of supporters helps to further extend the reach of our organization.

We are pleased to welcome the following new members our general board:

• T.J. Mascia, RES (Resource Environmental Solutions)
• Kristen Hughes Evans, Sustainable Chesapeake
• Ellen Gillinksy (serving as an individual member)
• Angie De Soto, Virginia Tech Sustainability Institute
• Bob Burnley (serving as an individual member)

We are also pleased to share these changes on our general board:

• Craig Toalson will now represent the Home Builders Association of Virginia
• Mark Williams will now represent Luck Companies

New Study Finds Economic Impact of Agriculture and Forestry is $91 Million

In a study commissioned by the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at University of Virginia released a 2017 report on the economic impact of Virginia’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries. The total economic impact of agriculture and forestry-related industries in Virginia was over $91 billion in total industry output in 2015, the base year for this study. The total employment impact was 442,260 employees, representing 8.7 percent of total state employment. The total value-added impact was $45.5 billion, which made up 9.5 percent of state gross domestic product. Read the full report here.

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ourlandourwater. “Like” our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth.  You are encouraged to “share” and “comment” on our content.

VIRGINIAforever Monitoring Federal Budget Process

VIRGINIAforever works closely with state environmental agencies whose missions are to advance water quality protections and land preservation, and we pay attention to their operations and budgets. Whenever possible, VIRGINIAforever advocates for staff and funding resources necessary for state agencies to carry out their responsibilities.

Two principal state environmental agencies – the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Conservation and Recreation – receive significant federal funds that combined with state appropriations enable them to effectively protect and preserve waters and lands. VIRGINIAforever met with DEQ and DCR directors to gain first-hand understanding of the role federal funds play in their departments’ budgets. DEQ, for example, received $50.4 million in federal funds FY18 (28% of its entire budget). DCR received $36.4 million from the federal government in FY18 (36% of its entire budget).

Other important natural and historic resources agencies – the Department of Forestry, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Department of Historic Resources – also receive significant federal dollars each year.

VIRGINIAforever learned in April and May the extent to which proposed federal budget cuts could impact Virginia environmental agencies. The EPA – the source for most of DEQ’s federal dollars – was proposed to be cut by some 31%. Included in the EPA cut was the Chesapeake Bay Program, zeroing out its $73 million budget. The Department of Interior, which sends funds to DCR, was to be cut by 12%.

While VIRGINIAforever’s mission is to focus on state funding for water quality and land preservation, the board of directors felt compelled to express its concerns to Virginia’s 13-member congressional delegation over proposed federal budget cuts’ potential impacts on state agencies. You can read VIRGINIAforever chair Dennis Treacy’s May 31, 2017, letter to Virginia’s delegation here.

 

VIRGINIAforever to Engage Agencies, Governor, General Assembly as Budget Planning Begins

Virginia agencies will prepare their budget plans for the 2018-20 biennium over this summer and fall and submit them to the Governor’s Office. Governor McAuliffe will submit his proposed state budget – likely to top $110 billion – to the General Assembly in December 2017. The legislature will convene in January 2018 to act on the governor’s proposed budget.

So it’s this summer and fall that VIRGINIAforever, quite naturally, engages with state environmental agencies and the Governor’s office – to not only express VIRGINIAforever’s own state budget recommendations (based on our 5-Year Strategic Plan) for funding water quality and land conservation, but also to better understand the agencies’ needs and how we can most effectively support them.

Virginians’ first glimpse on the next state budget will be in mid-December, when the governor unveils his proposed two-year budget blueprint.

 

Virginia Chamber of Commerce Presents at VIRGINIAforever Summer Board Meeting

VIRGINIAforever was pleased to welcome special guests from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce at our summer board meeting on June 14.  Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Chamber, shared information on Blueprint Virginia 2025, an updated version of the Chamber’s long-term statewide economic development plan. Brooks Smith, environmental industry council chair and VIRGINIAforever executive board member, encouraged members to share input on the document.  To do so, visit the Chamber’s website here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Welcomes WestRock to Executive Board

VIRGINIAforever welcomes WestRock to our executive Board.  Matt Wells, senior regional manager of state government relations, represents WestRock on the board. WestRock, a global consumer and corrugated packaging company, has a strong commitment to sustainability through responsible stewardship of natural resources and conscientious management of global manufacturing facilities. Their sustainability programs focus on water use, air quality, recycling and energy efficiency. Learn more about WestRock here.

 

Governor McAuliffe Honors VIRGINIAforever Member Johnny Finch for Steadfast Support of State Parks

Jo and Johnny Finch, who were instrumental in the formation of the Virginia Association for Parks and the Friends of Lake Anna State Park, were honored in April for their 30-year involvement with the Virginia state park system.  At a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Governor McAuliffe dedicated one of Lake Anna State Park’s new family lodges to the Finches, recognizing their long-time commitment to the state parks system and their involvement in developing many of the amenities at the park. “The Finch Cabin” is available for rent and sleeps 16 with a host of modern amenities in view of the lake.  Johnny is a member of the VIRGINIAforever executive board. Read more here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Awarded Grant for Natural Resources Funding Study

VIRGINIAforever was awarded a grant by the Virginia Environmental Endowment to conduct an updated study on how natural resources funding in Virginia’s state budget compares to other states. The last studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 and found that Virginia ranked 50th in per capita spending on the environment at that time. Stay tuned for the outcomes from this important research. Learn more about the Virginia Environmental Endowment here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Well-Represented at 2017 Environment Virginia Symposium

VIRGINIAforever was proud to have a high-profile presence at this year’s Environment Virginia Symposium, held in April at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.   A panel of VIRGINIAforever members, moderated by VIRGINIAforever lobbyist Preston Bryant, discussed the results of a recent study assessing the state’s ROI on land conservation. For more information on the study results, click here. Also at the event, VIRGINIAforever vice chair Nikki Rovner received the 2017 Captain Ron Erchul Environmental Leadership Award, a premier honor presented by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics to recognize a Virginian who has made significant efforts to better the environment. Nikki accepted the award from Dennis Treacy, chair of VIRGINIAforever.  Read more about the award here.

 

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ourlandourwater.   “Like” our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth.  You are encouraged to “share” and “comment” on our content.

VIRGINIAforever 2017 General Assembly Recap: A Balancing Act

In the 2017 General Assembly session, the Governor and lawmakers had a $1.5 billion budget shortfall to close. As a result, VIRGINIAforever’s expectations for funding increases were tempered, especially as the Governor proposed significant cuts to balance the budget, including cuts to VIRGINIAforever priorities.

During the session, VIRGINIAforever worked closely with the state’s policymakers to identify opportunities that balance the Commonwealth’s current financial needs with VIRGINIAforever’s advocacy efforts to ensure the protection of our precious natural resources. Our strategy was to set a longer-term vision to identify a dedicated source of funding for land and water protection over the next several years while meeting FY18 appropriation goals to ensure funding for the minimum requirements.

Click here to read our assessment of land conservation and water quality funding outcomes during the session.

What’s next? The legislature returns for one day on April 5 to act on the Governor’s proposed amendments and vetoes to both general legislation and the budget. Looking ahead, in order to prepare for a 2018 rebound, VIRGINIAforever will continue monitoring the State’s revenues, meeting with key legislators and preparing our case for the 2018 General Assembly session.

Thank you to everyone who advocated our priorities to General Assembly members even in – especially in – a tough budget year!

VIRGINIAforever to Present at Environment Virginia Symposium

VIRGINIAforever is very pleased and honored to be selected to make a presentation at Environment Virginia, the state’s premier annual conference for natural resources issues. The presentation will focus on the results of a 2016 study commissioned by VIRGINIAforever, The Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy that calculated the state’s return on investment in land conservation. The panel will also highlight return on investments for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, discuss why conservation matters to corporations in Virginia and how audiences can use ROI data when advocating for natural resources funding. The panel presentation will take place April 5 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. For more information on Environment Virginia, click here. See the land conservation ROI study results here and a related opinion article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by VIRGINIAforever executive board members Kendall Tyree and Lisa Kardell here.

VIRGINIAforever Chairman Dennis Treacy Named Chairman of Virginia Chamber of Commerce

In January, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced that it elected Dennis Treacy, chair of VIRGINIAforever and president of the Smithfield Foundation, as chairman of its board of directors. Dennis has held leadership roles with Smithfield Foods since 2002 and previously served as Virginia’s director of environmental quality and as an assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Virginia Attorney General’s office. He also currently serves as vice rector on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Dennis has served as chair of VIRGINIAforever since 2016. A Virginia Business article announcing the Chamber appointment mentions Dennis’ leadership of VIRGINIAforever; the article can be found here. Read more about the Virginia Chamber’s board here.

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ourlandourwater. “Like” our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth. You are encouraged to “share” and “comment” on our content.

Highlights from VIRGINIAforever’s Annual Legislative Reception

The 2017 VIRGINIAforever legislative reception was held January 24 at Rappahannock Restaurant in Richmond. We were joined by lawmakers, including majority leader Del. Kirk Cox, and several secretaries including The Honorable Molly Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources; The Honorable Basil Gooden, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; and The Honorable Karen Jackson, Secretary of Technology. VIRGINIAforever chair Dennis Treacy and vice chair Nikki Rovner outlined our legislative priorities.

VIRGINIAforever delivered custom made cookies to members of the Virginia General Assembly to remind them to attend our annual legislative reception and to highlight the need for additional funding for natural resources projects.

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s reception.

Natural Resources News from the Administration

Below find a compilation of recent natural resources news releases issued by the Governor’s office and the Secretary of Natural Resources.

• Governor McAuliffe Announces $500,000 in Farmland Preservation Grants. Read more here.
• Governor McAuliffe Announces $700,000 in Remediation Grants to Support Restoration of Brownfield Sites. Read more here.
• Governor McAuliffe Announces Virginia State Parks Stimulate More Than $224 Million in Visitor Spending in 2016. Read more here.
• Governor McAuliffe Announces Record Attendance for Virginia State Parks in 2016. Read more here.

Budget Briefing Draws Big Crowd

More than 60 people turned out for the annual VIRGINIAforever Budget Briefing at Dominion’s Tredegar offices this year.  Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden and Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward set a serious tone for the discussion as they outlined difficult reductions in FY17 and FY18 resulting from a state budget shortfall currently estimated at $1.26 billion. Each Secretary highlighted the strong financial support their agencies received from the General  Assembly in recent years and the focus they are placing on maintaining programs that directly impact water quality and land use.

They are eliminating vacant positions where possible to avoid layoffs but everyone is being forced to accomplish more with less. Both Secretaries also outlined success stories on projects that continue to occur despite financial constraints. Detailed budget reviews were provided by agency leaders at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. VIRGINIAforever was thanked for our consistent advocacy efforts and focus on funding at the General Assembly. The event also featured a special guest, former Secretary of Natural Resources Tayloe Murphy. Tayloe reminisced about efforts that led to the formation of VIRGINIAforever and emphasized that 10 years later the need for our commitment is as vital as ever.

 

VIRGINIAforever Legislative Preview

Anticipating Budget Challenges at the 2017 General Assembly Session

Each year during the Virginia General Assembly session, VIRGINIAforever advocates for critical state funds to protect the land and waterways of the Commonwealth.  In the case of FY18, we recognize the Commonwealth is facing significant budget challenges, and as such, VIRGINIAforever is prepared to work closely with the state’s policymakers to identify opportunities that balance the Commonwealth’s current financial needs with VIRGINIAforever’s advocacy efforts to ensure the protection of our precious natural resources.

To this end, VIRGINIAforever seeks to work with Virginia’s policymakers over the next several years to identify a dedicated source of funding for land and water protection while meeting FY18 appropriation goals that will ensure we fund the minimum requirements:

• $20M for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) to restore streams and install practices to reduce urban runoff
• $62M for Agriculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) cost share to help farmers reduce agriculture runoff
• $10M for the Virginia Land Conservation Fund to conserve farmland, forests, wildlife habitat and historic places

Please consider how you can help support these appropriation goals. Stay tuned for regular updates during the legislative session.

 

In the News

Richmond Times-Dispatch Op-ed: Lisa Kardell & Kendall Tyree: The business case for conserving land in Virginia

Lisa Kardell, director of public affairs at Waste Management, and Kendall Tyree, executive director of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are both executive board members of VIRGINIAforever.  They co-wrote an op-ed, published in the October 2nd issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, highlighting the business case for conserving land in Virginia. They refer to a study, conducted by Trust for Public Land, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and VIRGINIAforever, which found for every $1 invested in land conservation, $4 in natural goods and services is returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s economy. Read the op-ed here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Named Networking Partner of Businesses for the Bay

This fall, VIRGINIAforever became an official networking partner of Businesses for the Bay. Known as B4B, this membership association was formed as an extension of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and is designed by businesses, for businesses. Its mission is to encourage businesses throughout the Chesapeake region to find voluntary, innovative, and measurable solutions to improve water quality and the health of the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and to raise public understanding of the valuable role these business members play in environmental restoration. B4B provides businesses with a forum where they can make their voices heard, share best practices, facilitate environmental stewardship volunteer opportunities for employees, potentially save money, reach social and sustainability goals, and promote environmental efforts that are important to them, their customers and their communities. B4B opened for membership in February 2016, and already has over 30 members, accomplishing over 176 actions that help the local environment.  Learn more at http://businesses.allianceforthebay.org.

 

Chesapeake Executive Council Passes Resolution to Support Increased Funding for Stormwater Infrastructure

At the October meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council, six states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Commission agreed to adopt a resolution that, in part, calls upon the region to address the need for increased public and private funding for stormwater infrastructure.  The resolution states: “…We commit to speak out on behalf of clean water and help raise awareness about the economic and environmental benefits of investing public funds in watershed protection and restoration efforts and the importance of taking action at the local level, through the production and distribution of Public Service Announcements, and the use of social media and other public venues as appropriate.”  It continues, “…The Principals’ Staff Committee shall evaluate and pursue opportunities to increase public funding and private investment for local implementation of conservation and restoration activities that achieve local healthy streams, rivers and a vibrant Chesapeake Bay, particularly activities that reduce pollutants from stormwater runoff and address the problem of recurrent flooding.” Read the Chesapeake Executive Council’s resolution here.

In related news, Governor McAuliffe was re-elected to serve another year as Chairman of the Chesapeake Executive Council. The Governor was elected unanimously after he was placed into nomination by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and seconded by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

 

Welcome New Members

• Newport News Shipbuilding as a corporate member on the executive board. Jim Thornton who previously was an individual member on the general board represents Newport News Shipbuilding.
• The Louis Berger Group as a corporate member on the general board. Ginny Snead who was previously an individual member on the general board, represents The Louis Berger Group.
• The Virginia Forestry Association is a new general board member represented by their executive director Paul Howe.
• Maureen Matsen is a new general board member as an individual. Maureen is a former deputy secretary of natural resources and is currently with Christopher Newport University.

 

Get Social

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook!   Like our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth.  You are encouraged to share and comment on our content.

 

Natural Resources News from the Administration

Below find a compilation of recent natural resources news releases issued by the Governor’s office and the Secretary of Natural Resources.

• Dec. 15, 2016
  • Governor McAuliffe Announces Virginia Reaches Goal to Protect 1,000 Natural and Historic Treasures: Read more here.
  • Joint Press Release: Governor McAuliffe and Partners Announce the Largest Natural Resources Settlement in Virginia History: Read more here.
• Dec. 8, 2016
  • Governor McAuliffe Announces Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Planning Grants: Read more here.
• Nov. 30, 2016
  • Governor McAuliffe Celebrates National Park Service Purchase of Werowocomoco: Read more here.
• Nov. 2, 2016
  • Governor McAuliffe Announces November as Virginia Oyster Month: Read more here.
• Oct. 18, 2016
  • Governor McAuliffe Announces Chesapeake Bay Data Added to Virginia’s Open Data Portal: Read more here.

Annual Bridge Builder Celebration Honors Senator Emmett Hanger, Convenes Beer & Politics Lovers

VIRGINIAforever hosted its annual Bridge Builder Celebration on September 14, 2016 at NewMarket Pavilion, honoring Virginia Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr., for his leadership in the protection of Virginia’s natural resources.  With a “Beer & Politics” theme, the evening featured keynote remarks from Annie Tobey, a beer expert and freelance writer, and Dr. Bob Holsworth, a well-known political analyst. Guests also enjoyed sampling local craft beers from Virginia brewers including Hardywood, Stone, Center of the Universe, Ardent, Lickinghole Creek and Brothers Brewing. The Honorable Molly Ward, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources served as emcee for the evening.

Special guest Delegate Chris Jones shared remarks highlighting Senator Hanger’s accomplished career, which has included serving in the Senate of Virginia for 20 years. During his tenure, Senator Hanger has shown great leadership and fairmindedness, especially in his roles as co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee and chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. In these roles, Senator Hanger and his committee control the fate of a number of bills and budget amendments that impact land conservation and water quality improvement projects across the state.

Senator Hanger’s passion for protecting Virginia’s lands, water and open spaces has helped secure many victories on behalf of conservation, including:

• Leading the effort to recognize the first annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week on a farm in Augusta County;
• Championing setting the second week of June for Bay Awareness to bring attention to the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to Virginia’s economy and quality of life and to tell the stories of the many private and public organizations and individuals taking steps to reduce pollution;
• Sponsoring a resolution to create a task force on farmland;
• Playing an instrumental role in the development of farmland transition and agriculture vitality programs;
• Establishing the Office of Farmland Preservation; and
• Creating a cabinet level Secretary of Agriculture.

Congratulations to Senator Hanger on this well-deserved recognition! VIRGINIAforever extends a huge thank you to all of the generous sponsors of the 2016 VIRGINIAforever Bridge Builder Celebration. As this is an annual event, we encourage all VIRGINIAforever friends and supporters to stay in touch to learn more about future Bridge Builder events.

 

VIRGINIAforever Executive Board of Directors Assembles at Pocahontas State Park, Joined by Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver

Funding for the protection of land is a key priority for VIRGINIAforever, and state parks are an integral part of this conservation strategy. To this end, VIRGINIAforever convened its board of directors for its fall meeting at the Heritage Center at Pocahontas State Park, a popular state park in Chesterfield, Va., on September 21.

Virginia State Parks Director Craig Seaver welcomed the group and shared highlights related to the state’s investments in parks.  Seaver assumed the role of State Parks Director in early 2015, but is no stranger to Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, as he is a 30-year employee of the state park system.  In his role as director, Seaver oversees 37 parks, which include thousands of campsites, hundreds of cabins and more than 500 miles of trails, as well as beaches, picnic shelters, family lodges, meeting facilities, festivals, concerts, nature programs and cultural happenings.

Learn about Pocahontas State Park here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Building Foundation for 2017 Legislative Session

While the 2016 General Assembly session yielded a number of significant positive outcomes for land conservation and water quality improvement funding in the Commonwealth, we expect to face a number of fiscal challenges during the 2017 session.  In late summer, Governor McAuliffe announced a $1.5 billion projected shortfall, and these effects will be felt across nearly all sectors of the overall budget.

However, like with any business, one cannot assume we can sustain our natural resources assets without investing in a plan to protect them. VIRGINIAforever is committed to fighting for funding for land conservation and water quality improvement projects that will ultimately benefit all Virginians for generations to come.  To that end, VIRGINIAforever will focus on the following key areas:

• Land conservation through appropriations to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund (VLCF) to protect open space, battlefields and farmland
• Agricultural best management practices (BMP) funds to reduce agricultural runoff from animal operations and crop lands
• Stormwater Local Assistance Funds (SLAF) to assist localities with critical stormwater infrastructure projects

To help build the foundation for our advocacy efforts in January, members of VIRGINIAforever have been meeting with General Assembly members throughout the summer and fall, gaining insight on what to expect from budget decision makers and sharing information on our priorities.  Stay tuned for updates on VIRGINIAforever’s advocacy efforts.

 

New Study Finds for Every $1 Invested in Land Conservation, $4 in Natural Goods and Services is Returned to Virginia Economy

In September, VIRGINIAforever released results from a new economic analysis that revealed for every $1 invested by Virginia in land conservation, $4 in natural goods and services is returned to the state’s economy.  The study, conducted by The Trust for Public Land in partnership with VIRGINIAforever and The Nature Conservancy, quantifies and summarizes the significant economic benefits resulting from investments in state parks, natural areas, forests and working lands.

According to Nikki Rovner, vice chair of VIRGINIAforever and associate state director for external affairs of The Nature Conservancy, “Land conservation is critical for Virginia residents, our economy and for our future. VIRGINIAforever advocates for increased state funding for land conservation, and this study clearly shows that state appropriations made by the General Assembly each year benefit all Virginians and are truly providing a significant return on investment.”

Virginia’s business community is encouraged by the study’s findings. Virginia Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Barry DuVal stated: “Protecting and conserving Virginia’s natural, historic and recreational resources are key to the long-term goals for sustainable economic growth in Blueprint Virginia. This study supports the wisdom of that approach to making Virginia a terrific place to not only work, but also to live and visit.”

In the Richmond Times-Dispatch, outdoors columnist Tee Clarkson writes: “Whether you dive into the whole study or just take a look at the returns, it would appear that Virginia’s investment in conservation is generating significant yields.” Read Clarkson’s column here.

Dennis Treacy, chair of VIRGINIAforever, was interviewed by WHSV, a Harrisonburg TV station, and noted, “What this study shows is that it attracts jobs, it attracts tourism dollars. It attracts all sorts of economic development that surround the preservation of some of the most beautiful lands in Virginia.” Read the full WHSV interview here.

The Trust for Public Land’s study methodology included a thorough literature review of the natural goods and service provided by 15 ecosystems in Virginia that have been conserved with state funding and used the economic values of these ecosystems to estimate an economic return on the natural goods and services provided. Read the press release here and download a fact sheet and the full study.

 

Welcome New VIRGINIAforever Members: Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, and Maureen Matsen

VIRGINIAforever is pleased to welcome two new members:

• Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is the newest member of the VIRGINIAforever executive board. Jim Thornton, director of environmental health and safety strategy and regulatory affairs for Newport News Shipbuilding, serves as the company’s representative.  Jim was previously an individual member on VIRGINIAforever’s general board.

• Maureen Matsen, who served as deputy secretary of natural resources under Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration and is currently counsel for Christopher Newport University, has joined the general board of VIRGINIAforever as an individual member.

For more information on membership, please contact info@virginiaforever.org.

 

Reminder: “Like” VIRGINIAforever on Facebook!

VIRGINIAforever is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ourlandourwater.  “Like” our page to stay in touch about VIRGINIAforever announcements as well as natural resources funding news from across the Commonwealth.  You are encouraged to “share” and “comment” on our content.

 

Natural Resources News from the Administration

Below find a compilation of recent natural resources news releases issued by the Governor’s office and the Secretary of Natural Resources.

• On September 24, Governor McAuliffe announced the opening of Natural Bridge State Park in Rockbridge County, officially creating the Commonwealth’s 37th state park. During the ceremony, Governor McAuliffe designated Natural Bridge State Park the 925th Virginia Treasure. The Virginia Treasures program is central to the Governor’s strategy for conserving land and creating opportunities for outdoor recreation. He noted: “The dedication of this magnificent new park is a tremendous milestone for Virginia and an excellent tribute to the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s 80th anniversary. The Natural Bridge joins the ranks of Virginia’s inimitable natural Treasures and further establishes our park system as one of the best in the nation.” Virginia State Parks, a subdivision of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, will manage the 1,531 acres, including the bridge and Rockbridge Center. Read more here.
• On September 22, Governor McAuliffe announced 23 Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) grants, totaling $6.42 million, to support projects that will help shield 7,037 acres of at-risk land from development. VLCF grants are used by private land trusts, local governments and state agencies to protect and acquire significant lands in the following categories: farmland, forestry, historic resources, natural areas, parks and open space. Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward noted: “VLCF’s support is critical to conservation projects across the Commonwealth. These grants will help preserve Virginia’s special places for generations to come.” Read more here.
• Governor McAuliffe announced that Stewardship Virginia, a statewide campaign to encourage and recognize voluntary activities with a tangible impact on Virginia’s natural resources, continues this year with events across the state. The campaign features activities during spring and fall. The fall portion runs September 1 through October 31. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Clyde Cristman stated: “There will be many opportunities for volunteerism in parks and natural areas during Stewardship Virginia. We appreciate the many Virginians who have participated to date and hope many others join in. This year’s campaign will emphasize restoring habitats for pollinators, which have suffered dramatically in recent years and need our support to provide nectar, pollen, water and leaves for valuable insets and birds.” Read more here.

VIRGINIAforever Legislative Update: Building on Momentum

The 2016 General Assembly session yielded a number of significant positive outcomes for land conservation and water quality improvement funding in the Commonwealth. In total, there was more than $200 million invested in land conservation and water quality initiatives. To build on this momentum, VIRGINIAforever members and staff are working diligently throughout the summer months to identify potential budget challenges and goals for the 2017 session. We are putting forth considerable effort to meet with members of the administration, budget decision makers and a wide audience of state legislators during this “off-season” time. As we conduct these meetings, we will reiterate our appreciation for the hard work and negotiation that resulted in record appropriations for critical land and water projects during the most recent session. We are also beginning to preview our priorities for the 2017 session, which include renewed emphasis on money to be committed to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, Stormwater Local Assistance Fund and Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also want to continue to highlight our state parks’ needs. Stay tuned for a formal 2017 legislative agenda that will be released later this year.

VIRGINIAforever Chairman Appointed to Chesapeake Bay Commission

Dennis Treacy, chairman of VIRGINIAforever and president of the Smithfield Foundation, has been appointed to serve on the Chesapeake Bay Commission (CBC). The commission is a tri-state legislative commission created in 1980 to advise the members of the General Assemblies of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania on matters of Bay-wide concern. The commission serves as the legislative arm of the multi-jurisdictional Chesapeake Bay Program and acts in an advisory capacity to their respective General Assemblies. Twenty-one members from three states comprise the Commission. Fifteen of the members are legislators, five each from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Completing the ranks are cabinet secretaries from each state who are directly responsible for managing their states’ natural resources, as well as three citizen representatives who bring with them a unique perspective and expertise. Dennis will serve as the Virginia citizen member. Read the commission’s press release here and learn more about the commission here.

Welcome New VIRGINIAforever Member: Virginia Forestry Association

VIRGINIAforever is pleased to welcome the Virginia Forestry Association (VFA) as our newest member. Paul Howe, executive director of VFA, will serve on the VIRGINIAforever general board and participate in advocacy activities through our legislative committee. VFA was founded in 1943 and is a non-profit, privately supported organization with the purpose of encouraging wise use of forest resources in the Commonwealth for present and future generations. VFA members are forest landowners, foresters, forest products businesses, loggers, forestry consultants and a variety of individuals and groups who are concerned about the future well-being of Virginia’s forest resource. VFA is dedicated to sustaining, developing, protecting, and promoting the forests and related resources of Virginia. Learn more about VFA here.

Coming Soon: VIRGINIAforever to Go Live on Facebook

In an effort to tell the VIRGINIAforever story to a broader audience, a VIRGINIAforever Facebook page will be launched later this summer. The Facebook page, which will be our first social media property, will feature news and announcements related to natural resources funding in the Commonwealth as well as VIRGINIAforever member news, legislative updates and event information. Stay tuned for an announcement with a link to the page. We hope you will take time to “like” us and will share the page with your colleagues and friends.

Focus on the Bay: Marking the First Annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week

The legislatures of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia declared June 4 – 12 to be Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. To commemorate the week, people were encouraged to participate in events, activities and educational programs designed to increase awareness of the bay. The week began with Virginia’s Clean the Bay Day on June 4 and concluded on the second Saturday in June, with the annual Patuxent River Wade-in, begun decades ago by Bernie Fowler, former Maryland state senator and longtime Bay advocate. To read about activities that took place during the first annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week, including Virginia Senator Emmett Hanger’s efforts to keep livestock out of streams, see this article in Bay Journal.

VIRGINIAforever Chair and Vice Chair Co-author Op-ed on Earth Day

To commemorate Earth Day, Dennis Treacy, chair of VIRGINIAforever and president of the Smithfield Foundation, and Nikki Rovner, vice chair of VIRGINIAforever and associate state director for external affairs with The Nature Conservancy, co-authored an op-ed published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The op-ed, titled “The commonwealth contributes much to protecting the environment,” acknowledges the significant role that the state government plays in appropriating funds to protect our land and water. Nikki and Dennis also express appreciation to the Governor and state legislators for the significant funds allocated to land and water projects during the 2016 session, including $59 million for the Water Quality Improvement Fund so that the state can assist localities with upgrading wastewater treatment plants; $20 million for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to share costs with local governments for critical storm water projects; $60 million for agricultural best management practices to help farmers reduce runoff from animal operations and crop lands; $20 million for land conservation for preservation of open-space lands and parks, natural areas, farmlands, historic lands and battlefields; and $41 million in bonds for infrastructure Virginia state parks. Read the op-ed here.

Natural Resources News from the Administration

Below find a compilation of recent natural resources news issued by the Governor’s office and the Secretary of Natural Resources.

• On June 15, Governor Terry McAuliffe celebrated 80 years of Virginia State Parks and the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service at Westmoreland State Park, one of the original six Virginia State Parks opened on this date in 1936. According to Governor McAuliffe, “Virginia’s State Parks are some of the best kept and most beautiful parks in the country, and these anniversaries are a testament to the Commonwealth’s century-old commitment to our natural resources and the great outdoors.” Read more here.
• The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) announced on May 3 the purchase of over 2,600 acres of land in eastern New Kent County. This acquisition, approved by the VDGIF board for the price of $9.3 million dollars, includes more than 2 miles of frontage on the York River in addition to 5 miles along the Ware and Philbates creeks. The property contains substantial tidal and upland wildlife habitat and will be a significant addition to the VDGIF’s Wildlife Management Area system. Read more here.
• Governor McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe announced that the Executive Mansion received the Virginia Green Certification in recognition of its recently reduced environmental impact. The award was given by the Secretary of Natural Resources and representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at an Earth Day reception celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service, 80th Anniversary of the Virginia State Parks, and the 50th Anniversaries of the Virginia Outdoors Foundations and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Read more here.

Message from VIRGINIAforever Chairman Dennis Treacy

Friends and supporters,

The first few months of 2016 have been a busy and exciting time. Throughout the 2016 Virginia General Assembly session, VIRGINIAforever members and lobbyists put forth considerable effort to advocate for funding for land conservation and water quality improvement projects. I am pleased to say that we had a number of key successes, which you’ll read about in the legislative update below. I want to thank everyone for their steadfast support in talking with budget decision makers about the need for state funds for natural resources.

We are a coalition – meaning many voices – and we could not have accomplished this without the support of diverse parties coming together for an important cause. As we move into the “off-season,” VIRGINIAforever will not sit idle. Over the next few months, we will begin to shift to identifying budget short-falls and potential challenges and laying the groundwork for the 2017 session by meeting with members of the administration and budget decision makers. Furthermore, VIRGINIAforever is not simply a lobbying group. Throughout the year, we are involved in activities that aim to raise our profile among the environmental community and spread the word about the importance of state funds for natural resources. The newly-formed Virginia Outdoor Recreation Caucus is an example of our involvement within the natural resource community, and we hope to continue our involvement in activities that bring legislators and outdoor enthusiasts together.

With the weather turning warm, I encourage you to take advantage of getting outdoors and enjoying Virginia’s natural resources that we work year-round to protect.

Sincerely,
Dennis

 

Legislative Update – Water Quality, Land Conservation and Parks: Big Wins in 2016 General Assembly

VIRGINIAforever successfully pushed for more than $200 million in new funds

The 2016 General Assembly convened on January 13 and adjourned on March 11. The biggest issues facing legislators were crafting a new two-year state budget and preparing a record-setting $2.1 billion bond. And it was in these two actions where VIRGINIAforever focused its efforts to obtain new investments in water quality and land conservation.

In all, VIRGINIAforever worked in conjunction with others in the business and environmental community and successfully lobbied for more than $200 million in water quality, land conservation and state parks investments.

Water Quality

VIRGINIAforever worked diligently to secure new water quality funding for wastewater treatment plants, stormwater and agricultural BMPs. In each of these sectors, we were successful.

• For wastewater treatment plants, the Commonwealth has long partnered with local governments to invest in new pollution-reduction equipment for locally-owned treatment facilities. Many years ago, the General Assembly established the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) for this purpose. This year, Governor McAuliffe proposed $59 million in bonds for WQIF so that the Department of Environmental Quality could fund its part of certain locally-owned wastewater treatment plants.VIRGINIAforever supported the Governor’s $59 million WQIF proposal. The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee also agreed with it. The final budget included $59 million for the WQIF.
• For stormwater infrastrucutre, the Commonwealth has partnered with local governments since 2013 to share costs for critical stormwater infrastructure projects. The General Assembly established the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF), a competitive grant program, for this purpose. This year, the General Assembly – after much lobbying by VIRGINIAforever – included $20 million in bonds for SLAF. The Department of Environmental Quality manages SLAF, and it will now be able to conduct in 2016 (and maybe 2017) one or more competitive grant rounds.VIRGINIAforever supported at least $20 million being included for SLAF. The House and Senate budget-writers agreed, and the final budget included this amount for SLAF.
• For agricultural BMPs, the Commonwealth has long partnered with Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), local farmers and others in the agricultural community to share costs of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) designed to reduce agricultural runoff from animal operations and crop lands. For SWCDs, the State provides operational and technical support so that they may advise local governments, farmers and other landowners in conserving soil resources, controlling erosion and preventing flooding. For agricultural landowners and operators, the State provides cost-share funds for such BMPs including nutrient management plans, riparian buffers, fencing cows from streams and winter cover crops, among others.Governor McAuliffe recommended to the General Assembly that the budget include $61.7 million for agricultural BMP funding. VIRGINIAforever lobbied the House and Senate budget committees to support the Governor’s recommendation. The final budget included $61.7 million for various agricultural BMP funds. This represents the largest deposit ever into WQIF for agricultural BMPs.

Land Conservation

The Commonwealth has a publicly-funded land conservation program that many states envy, with its key components being the Land Preservation Tax Credit and the Virginia Land Conservation Fund (VLCF). The General Assembly established the VLCF in 1999.

This year, Governor McAuliffe recommended a record amount – $40 million – for VLCF, which, by law, is earmarked via percentages to preserve open-space lands and parks, natural areas, farmlands and historic lands and battlefields.

VIRGINIAforever lobbied the House and Senate to support the Governor’s recommendation. In the end, the final budget contained $20 million over the biennium for land preservation. Broken down, in each year of the biennium, VLCF will receive $8 million, and $1 million is appropriated for battlefield preservation and $1 million for farmland preservation.

State Parks

VIRGINIAforever joined with the Virginia Association for Parks and other park advocates to support significant new investment in our award-winning state park system.

Governor McAuliffe proposed some $140 million in bonds to support new infrastructure for state parks, including early development phases of Biscuit Run State Park (Albemarle County) and Widewater State Park (Stafford County).

The House and Senate budget-writers debated extensively the amount of park investments. In the end, the final state budget includes approximately $41 million in bonds for new infrastructure, including early development of Widewater State Park.

 

VIRGINIAforever News

Statewide polling data demonstrates public support for land and water investments

In 2015, VIRGINIAforever contributed funds to conduct a statewide survey in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The polling data was released at the end of January and was covered by the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an article titled “Clarkson: Conservation and clean water highly supported by Virginians.” Key findings of the poll included:

• Virginia voters recognize clean water and conservation projects as top funding priorities for the Virginia General Assembly. By nearly a 4 to 1 ratio (78% to 20%), over three-quarters agree that “even when the state budget is tight, investing in clean water and the conservation of Virginia’s natural areas and parks should be a top priority.”

• A plurality of Virginia voters (43% to 41%) would support $500 million in bond funding for natural areas and parks (16% are undecided) and a majority (52% to 34%) would support $250 million (14% are undecided).

• The survey results clearly illustrate that Virginia voters strongly support including projects that protect water quality. By greater than a 3 to 1 margin (72% to 20%), close to three-quarters would support funding projects to improve the water quality of Virginia’s lakes, rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

• Voters understand the economic benefits of investing in water and conservation projects. By an 8 to 1 ratio (88% to 11%), an overwhelming majority agrees that “investing in clean water and the conservation of natural areas and parks is important to Virginia’s economy.” This strong sentiment sweeps across all voter demographics, including Republicans (89%), Democrats (93%) and Independents (82%).

• Among a list of conservation and recreation projects, an overwhelming majority believes it is important for Virginia to invest in projects related to clean drinking water (96%), water quality of rivers and streams (94%), the Chesapeake Bay (91%), fish and wildlife habitat (89%), forests (88%), beaches and shoreline (88%), state parks (88%) and natural areas (87%).

 

VIRGINIAforever hosts legislative reception

VIRGINIAforever hosted its annual legislative reception at Rappahannock Restaurant in Richmond on February 2.  A number of General Assembly members and other elected and appointed officials attended. VIRGINIAforever chairman Dennis Treacy introduced Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who made remarks highlighting the abundance of natural resources in Virginia and the importance that the state plays in protecting the Commonwealth’s land and waterways.

 

VIRGINIAforever chairman pens letter to the editor

As part of VIRGINIAforever’s comprehensive advocacy efforts, VIRGINIAforever chairman Dennis Treacy authored a letter to the editor that was printed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The letter encouraged General Assembly members to give strong consideration to state investments in water quality improvements and land conservation. Read the letter here.

VIRGINIAforever  Names Dennis Treacy as Chairman

VIRGINIAforever is pleased to announce that Dennis Treacy has been named chairman of the organization. He has been elected to serve a two-year term, effective January 1, 2016. Dennis most recently served as Smithfield Foods’ Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, overseeing the pork producer’s government affairs, corporate communications, sustainability initiatives and the legal department. Through the end of 2016, he will serve as president of the Smithfield Foundation, the nonprofit organization that acts as the philanthropic wing of Smithfield. Prior to joining Smithfield Foods in 2002, Dennis was director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Dennis also served as assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Virginia Attorney General’s office. He completed his undergraduate degree in fisheries and wildlife at Virginia Tech in 1978, and currently serves on its Board of Visitors. Dennis succeeds Bob Dunn as chairman of VIRGINIAforever.

 

A Message from Outgoing Chairman Bob Dunn

Friends & Supporters,

After serving as chair of VIRGINIAforever for many years, the time has come to pass the proverbial torch. During my chairmanship, I’ve seen a number of exciting, significant changes for VIRGINIAforever. Most visibly, we have doubled the size of our membership with the creation of a new general board, adding to the diversity and strength of our advocacy efforts. We have also made great organizational strides with the development of our Five-Year Funding Plan that declares land and water funding goals for the state; a legislative plan that serves as a tactical road map to ensure we’re meeting incremental benchmarks toward our overall advocacy objectives; a communications plan that devises strategic approaches to reaching our key audiences; and most recently, a strategic plan for the organization that will guide the growth and overall direction of VIRGINIAforever for the next five years. I am pleased to report that I will be leading the implementation of the strategic plan and will continue to be an active participant on the organization’s leadership committee. I want to thank the board members of VIRGINIAforever for their invaluable contributions to our accomplishments during my tenure as chair.

I am incredibly pleased that Dennis Treacy agreed to accept the position of chair of VIRGINIAforever. Despite all that we have accomplished, we still have a great deal of work to do to fight for state fund for land conservation and water quality improvements, especially in a time when the Commonwealth faces so many other budget demands. I am confident the organization will make continued progress with new leadership. Best wishes in 2016.

Sincerely,
Bob Dunn

 

VIRGINIAforever  Annual Budget Briefing Held on December 17

VIRGINIAforever held its annual budget briefing meeting on Thursday, December 17 in Richmond. Presentations were given by the Honorable Molly Ward, Secretary of Natural Resource; Sam Towell, deputy secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; David Paylor, director of the Department of Environmental Quality; Clyde Cristman, director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; Bob Duncan, director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; and Rob Farrell, deputy state forester. These representatives shared details on the state budget as proposed by Governor Terry McAuliffe. There was also much discussion about the proposed $2.43 billion bond package that, if approved by the General Assembly, would include a natural resource component (read more below). The briefing also featured remarks from special guest Barry DuVal, president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. He shared information on environmental components of Blueprint Virginia, the Chamber’s comprehensive effort to provide business leadership, direction and long-range economic development planning for Virginia.

 

A Look at the Proposed State Budget & Bond Package

On December 9, Governor McAuliffe announced that the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budget he planned to introduce on December 17 would include a $2.43 billion bond package to support key capital projects. The following is a top-line assessment of how the proposed state budget and bond package may impact key land conservation and water quality improvement programs.

The Governor’s proposal designated $140 million in bonds for state parks infrastructure improvements, including early development of two undeveloped state parks – Widewater State Park in Stafford County and Biscuit Run State Park in Albemarle County. The proposal also indicated $59 million in bonds for locally-owned wastewater water treatment plant improvements, as well as $40 million for open-space preservation, including farmlands, historic sites and battlefields. Unfortunately, there was no money provided for the state support for locally-owned stormwater improvements. This is a departure from recent years, when the state has been consistently investing tens of millions of dollars.

Governor McAuliffe allocated $61.7 million from surplus funds to assist with Nonpoint Source needs, plus funding from the recordation fee. Of the amount generated from surplus, roughly $51.8 million will be deposited into the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund, where $26 million will be used for agricultural best management practices cost-share programming ($15.6 million in the Bay and $10.4 million in Southern Rivers/outside the Bay); $19.6 million will be allocated towards the SL6 pending backlog (funding split 50/50 between Bay and Southern Rivers/outside the Bay); and $6.2 million will be provided in technical assistance. This level of technical assistance indicates an increase to 12 percent from 8 percent. It’s important to note the technical assistance percent increase was calculated utilizing the information derived from budget template submissions. FY17 agriculture best management practices cost-share levels will include funding from recordation fees, derived from income collected from the fee which is dependent on real estate sales. Current collections run roughly $8 million a year though this amount could be higher if real estate sales increase, a trend which is projected to improve. Also, the budget restores $1.0 million each year that had been previously cut from the budget. Additionally, technical assistance from recordation funds for cost share will hold at $1.2 million. How much of this will be earmarked for SL-6 will be determined by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board.

While the budget and bond package include a number of important investments that VIRGINIAforever is pleased to see, there is significant work to be done to protect these proposed amounts and to advocate for adequate funding for stormwater, as outlined in our Five-Year Funding Plan.

Read the Governor’s remarks on the budget to the joint money committees here.

Read the Governor’s bond package announcement here.

 

VIRGINIAforever  Letter to the Editor Published

To recognize retiring environmental reporter Rex Springston, VIRGINIAforever chair Bob Dunn penned a letter to the editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch that was published on December 7. The letter, titled “Springston’s reporting protected environment,” noted that Springston reported on environmental issues of importance to all Virginians, with special attention paid to matters involving the Chesapeake Bay. Read the letter here.

 

Natural Resources News from Governor McAuliffe

Over the past several months, Governor McAuliffe made a number of announcements regarding important natural resources and agriculture-related programs.

Governor McAuliffe Launches New Virginia Oyster Trail – In partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Governor launched the Virginia Oyster Trail, a major tourism development project connecting travelers to Virginia oyster purveyors, raw bars and restaurants, and the watermen culture throughout Coastal Virginia, the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Read more here.

Governor McAuliffe Announces $2.25 Million in Virginia Land Conservation Grants – Fourteen Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) grants totaled $2.25 million and will help add 2,000 acres to Virginia’s conserved lands. Read more here.

Virginia Oyster Harvests Continue to Soar – Last year’s oyster harvest increased to the highest level since 1986. The dockside value of the oyster harvest increased to $33.8 million last year, up from $22.2 million in 2013. Read more here.

Governor McAuliffe Announces Three Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Planning Grants – Grant disbursements will enable three projects to receive state funds, and local matches will support agricultural development in six localities. Read more here.

VIRGINIAforever Bridge Builder Celebration to Honor U.S. Senator Tim Kaine on October 15

Each year, VIRGINIAforever honors an individual with the Bridge Builder Award recognizing leadership in the protection of natural resources in the Commonwealth. On October 15, VIRGINIAforever will present the Bridge Builder Award to U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. The event will feature keynote remarks by Virginia Senator Emmett Hanger, chair of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, as well as a special musical performance. Political followers won’t want to miss the popular Virginia state song performed by the original band accompanied by a skilled harmonica player who may also happen to be our honoree. For ticket and sponsorship information, please click here.

 

Governor Signs Memorandum of Understanding Expanding Recreational Water Access in Virginia

Governor McAuliffe recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that solidifies Virginia’s commitment to enhancing recreational water access throughout the Commonwealth. The MOU enhances the partnership among three state agencies to work together to identify new potential public-access projects, particularly at bridge crossings and roads. The three agencies included in the MOU are the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Gov. McAuliffe stated:

“Expanding public access to state waters is a concrete step we can take to help Virginians and visitors enjoy outdoor recreation here in our great Commonwealth. Water-based recreation encourages physical activity and appreciation for Virginia’s natural resources and it is an important driver of our tourism sector and with it, the new Virginia economy.” Read the announcement here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Executive Board Member Dennis Treacy Featured on GreenBiz.com

Dennis Treacy, chief sustainability officer of Smithfield Foods and VIRGINIAforever executive board member, was recently featured on GreenBiz.com for his leadership in sustainability. The article, written by the former sustainability officer for McDonald’s, highlights Dennis’ career and his success in “orchestrating one of the biggest sustainability turnarounds.” Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer, has implemented a number of significant sustainability practices thanks to Dennis. These include becoming the first in the industry to announce moving away for gestation stalls for sows; making a groundbreaking move in 2007 to report antibiotics usage; and making tangible progress in reductions of water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions and waste. To read the GreenBiz.com article, click here. Congratulations, Dennis, for this article recognizing your leadership in sustainability.

 

VIRGINIAforever General Board Member Nissa Dean Appointed to State Water Control Board

Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced additional appointments to his administration, including Nissa Dean to serve as a member of the State Water Control Board. This regulatory board, composed of Virginia citizens all appointed by the Governor, is responsible for adopting many of Virginia’s environmental regulations as they relate to water, including a variety of permits, permit fees, ground water management areas, ground water withdrawals and petroleum storage tanks. Nissa is the Virginia Director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and serves on the VIRGINIAforever general board. The State Water Control Board is currently chaired by Bob Dunn, chairman of VIRGINIAforever. Congratulations to Nissa on her appointment. Read Governor McAuliffe’s announcement here.

 

VIRGINIAforever Executive Board Member Ann Jennings Takes on New Role

Ann Jennings, a VIRGINIAforever executive board member who spent 18 years on staff at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, has begun a new role as Virginia Director at the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a tri-state legislative commission created in 1980 to advise the members of the General Assemblies of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on matters of Bay-wide concern. The commission serves as the legislative arm of the multi-jurisdictional Chesapeake Bay Program and acts in an advisory capacity to their respective General Assemblies. Twenty-one members from three states define the Commission’s identity and its work. Fifteen of the members are legislators, five each from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Completing the ranks are cabinet secretaries from each state who are directly responsible for managing their states’ natural resources, as well as three citizen representatives who bring with them a unique perspective and expertise. Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Commission here. We are pleased that Ann will continue to serve on the executive board of VIRGINIAforever. Congratulations to Ann on this new role. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will continue its participation with VIRGINIAforever by maintaining a position on our general board. Peggy Sanner, senior attorney for CBF, has been named to fill the general board position. We welcome Peggy to VIRGINIAforever.