Virginia’s 40,000 miles of rivers and streams nourish the land - from the coastal Atlantic beaches to the mountains and Cumberland Gap. This diverse terrain creates an equally diverse array off habitats as Virginia is home to over 10,000 species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, including a special diversity of native mussels. This natural beauty and biodiversity also creates an impressive location for resource-based economic activity with hunters and anglers generating thousands of jobs and more than a million dollars a year for Virginia’s economy. To protect the ecological and economic health of the state, it is important to conserve priority habitats and species. The Virginia Wildlife Action Plan has identified 925 species of greatest concern and is focusing on their habitats by considering the health of the species, its ecosystem, and the needs of the people who share the space.

Virginia State Wildlife Action Plan

More about conservation in Virginia

SARP Contact:  Gary Martel, Regional Fisheries Manager, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Key Focus Areas:

AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS)
VIRGINIA ANS Management Project
Current Status of ANS Management Plan: Completed and in implementation stage.
SARP ANS Contact: Ray Fernald, Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries
For more information: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/vaisc
SARP ANS Coordinator:  Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary

Program Activity:

SOUTHEASTERN INSTREAM FLOW NETWORK (SIFN)
Virginia Instream Flow Project
Current Instream Flow Policy:  Although not well defined other than 7Q10 for water quality, state water permitting regulations require that all beneficial uses, instream and off stream be protected, including aquatic resources.  While there are exceptions, such as for agricultural operations, projects involving surface water withdrawals from state waters and related permanent structures and fill are permitted under the Virginia Water Protection Permit (VWPP) Program. The VWPP Program is administered by the DEQ Division of Water Quality Programs. For the full regulation concerning water withdrawals and structures permitted under the Virginia Water Protection Permit Program, please refer to: http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC09025.HTM#C0210 and http://www.deq.virginia.gov/wetlands/permitfees.html.  Surface water withdrawals regulated under the Surface Water Management Act of 1989, which establishes Surface Water Management Areas, require different permits from the Office of Surface and Ground Water Supply Planning.

SIFN State Team participant organizations:

• Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
• The Nature Conservancy

SARP Contact:  Bill Kittrell, Chief, Inland Fisheries Division, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

SIFN Coordinator:  Mary Davis

Instream Flow Update:

1. The VDEQ has developed a detailed hydrologic model of the Chesapeake watershed that informs state water supply and water quality permitting decisions.  Information from VDGIF on fish population dynamics in relation to seasonal flow rates has been used to determine instream flow requirements.
2. The economic downturn has limited funding for maintenance and updating of the hydrologic model.  Funds are being sought in the state budget.
3. In an effort to improve information about Virginia’s rivers for further development of instream flow criteria, state resource agencies and TNC have begun to develop a hydrologic classification system.  The process is similar to that used in Pennsylvania and Maryland and is based on the USGS HIP.