Gov. Bob McDonnell announced this week the award of 59 Virginia Locality Stormwater Program Development grants totaling more than $2 million statewide. These grants, including one to the City of Waynesboro, will assist more than 100 local governments in developing locally run programs to reduce stormwater runoff from developed lands.
“Awarding these grants is an important step in developing programs that meet state and federal stormwater standards while keeping oversight of local projects in local hands,” said Governor McDonnell. “They help lessen the burden on local governments in developing programs that protect our local waters and streams statewide.”
Thirty-one projects totaling more than $1.23 million are located in areas that drain to the Chesapeake Bay, while 28 projects for more than $854,000 are located in the southern rivers, or non-bay portions, of the state. Grants range from $6,000 to $105,000. Awards reflect applicants’ requested funding and are proportional to the scope of each application. Most applications were submitted by individual counties or municipalities. There are also several grants awarded to planning district or regional commissions and soil and water conservation districts that will assist multiple local governments.
The grants are designed to help build local government programs and capacity that will result in the development of local storm water management programs consistent with the Virginia Stormwater Management Act and applicable state and federal regulations. The 2012 Virginia General Assembly passed legislation calling for all Virginia counties and municipalities to create local stormwater management programs.
“These grants are another example of this administration’s commitment to protecting water quality across the Commonwealth,” said Doug Domenech, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources.
Specifically, development of local stormwater management programs will include local adoption of water quality standards for development and redevelopment under the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP). Successful applicants submitted a proposed stormwater ordinance and an outline of proposed staffing levels and funding sources for their local stormwater management program.
Virginia Locality Stormwater Program Development grants are administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Funds are a combination of state Water Quality Improvement Act funding appropriated by the 2012 Virginia General Assembly and federal Clean Water Act §319, Non-Point Pollution funds and Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Act funds allocated to Virginia from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These are reimbursement grants meaning the recipient must be capable of financing the project in its entirety while requesting periodic reimbursement.
“This funding complements the training and other technical assistance DCR is providing localities in helping them develop these critical local stormwater management programs,” said DCR Director David Johnson.
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