By Katie Rider Cullipher
Senior Environmental Education Planner

This spring and summer, askHRgreen.org, your go-to resource for everything green in Hampton Roads, is going mobile! AskHRgreen.org is the public awareness program of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), that encourages environmental stewardship among all residents in the 16 cities and counties here in southeastern Virginia.

Look for the askHRgreen.org educational trailer at events throughout the region promoting earth-friendly tips about everything from bay-friendly landscapes to recycling tips and how to keep your pipes clear from grease buildup. Catch us on the southside and the peninsula at these great events:

• McDonald Garden Center Outdoor Show in Hampton – March 2-4, 2012
• TBA Home & Garden Show in Virginia Beach – March 9-11, 2012
• PHBA Home & Garden Expo in Hampton – April 13-15, 2012
• Virginia Living Museum Earth Day Celebration in Newport News – April 21, 2012
• Earth Day at Mt Trashmore in Virginia Beach – April 22, 2012
• Smithfield Olden Days – June 30, 2012

 
Dates are being added to the calendar all the time so check askHRgreen.org often to find an event near you and we’ll look forward to seeing you there!

By Whitney Katchmark
Principal Water Resources Engineer

The “Hampton Roads Regional Planning Framework, Scenario, and Strategies” final report  for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL was approved by the HRPDC at its Quarterly Commission Meeting on January 19, 2012.
 
The report was developed to help localities fulfill the request from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for locality input on the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan. DCR Director David Johnson, sent a letter to all localities on November 9, 2011, requesting that local governments provide the following information:

1) Develop a current BMP inventory – this information will be used to update implementation progress data in the Chesapeake Bay model;
2) Evaluate the land use / land cover information included in the model and provide more accurate land cover information you may have – this will be of tremendous assistance in ensuring that model revisions made in the future will more accurately reflect land use information in your locality;
3) Review the 2017 and 2025 BMP scenarios as identified in the Phase I WIP and develop preferred local BMP scenarios that provide a similar level of treatment – identified local BMP scenarios will be aggregated and incorporated into the Phase II WIP;
4) Develop strategies to implement the preferred BMP scenarios – strategies will also be aggregated and used in the development of Virginia’s Phase II WIP; and
5) Identify any resource needs to implement the strategies and BMP scenarios – this information will be used in drafting Virginia’s Phase II WIP and developing of cost estimates for the implementation of the WIP.

HRPDC’s regional report addresses many of these topics and focuses on item 3, providing a preferred BMP scenario for all cities and counties in the region. The deadline for localities to provide DCR input is February 1, 2012.

To read the report, click HERE.

By Julia B. Hillegass, Pubic Information & Community Affairs Administrator

The Commission took the following actions at the Quarterly Commission Meeting on January 19, 2012:

Chairman Shepperd opened the meeting by recognizing new Commissioners Delores “Dee Dee” Darden of Isle of Wight County; Ashley Chriscoe, Gloucester County and Mary Jones, James City County.
Executive Director, Dwight Farmer introduced new Emergency Management Administrator, Curtis Brown to the Commission.

Public Comments:
 
•    Ms. Christy Everett with the Hampton Roads office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) commended HRPDC staff on their work in developing the regional Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan Report.  She urged area elected officials to take active roles in advocating for these initiatives to enhance water quality and offered CBF’s assistance in reaching those goals. Ms. Everett did suggest that local-specific data would be needed to provide reasonable assurances that goals could be met.  Additionally, she urged localities to share this data and progress with residents.  CBF also remains open to further investigation on water quality improvements associated with installing oyster reefs and additional SAV beds.
•    Mr. Ellis James of Norfolk echoed comments given by Ms. Everett and also encouraged area elected officials to be vigilant in following efforts to end the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia.

Approval/Modification of the Agenda:  The agenda was approved as distributed.

Resolutions of Appreciation:  Chairman Shepperd recognized the service of Greg Woodard from Gloucester County with a resolution to be taken back by new representative, Ashley Chriscoe.  Mr. Shepperd also presented retiring HRPDC staff member Rob Jacobs with a resolution of appreciation commemorating his 44 years of service to the organization.

Consent Agenda

The following items were approved by Consent Agenda:
•    Minutes of the December 15, 2011 Executive Committee Meeting
•    Treasurer’s Report
•    Regional Reviews
o    PNRS Reviews
o    Environment Impact Assessment/Statement Reviews
•    Emergency Management—Jail Assessment Contract
•    Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI) Funding
•    Litter Control Funding Letter—HR Clean
•    Amendment—Legal Consultant—Legislative Representation

Chairman Shepperd commented on the importance of litter control funding for the region and the state and urged Commissioners to oppose elimination of the Litter Control and Recycling Fund Board and to support continued financial support for the Fund.
   
Regular Agenda:

Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL):  Principal Water Resources Engineer, Whitney Katchmark provided an overview of the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan prepared in conjunction with member localities. Key highlights of the plan include meeting or exceeding nitrogen and sediment reduction goals, as well as the potential to far exceed phosphorus reduction goals if best management practices such as sanitary sewer overflow reductions and street sweeping could be included in the scenario.  The inclusion of additional best management practices and recalibrating the model will likely change local targets, therefore it is recommended that the issuance of new stormwater permits be delayed as well to accommodate inclusion of more data and information.  Ms. Katchmark’s presentation can be found on the HRPDC website.  The Commission approved the plan for distribution.

2012 Economic Forecast:  Greg Grootendorst, Chief Economist, provided the annual economic forecast for the region.  Of particular note was the fact that regional employment has been declining for the past 4.5 years, with over 43,000 jobs lost in six major categories, including: local government, finance and insurance, information, manufacturing, natural resources and construction and retail.  Although job gains did not counter job losses, those industries with job growth included: federal, administrative and support, education and health services and transportation and utilities.  If the region were able to grow at its highest annual growth rate, recovery could be achieved in approximately two years.  At the average regional growth rate, it will take approximately ten years to recover from the effects of the recession.  Mr. Grootendorst’s presentation can be found on the agency’s website, www.hrpdcva.gov.  The Commission approved the report for distribution.

Other Items:  Chairman Shepperd reviewed the tentative topics for future meetings, highlighting that next month will the annual Commission Retreat.  Executive Director, Dwight Farmer explained that the HRPDC Retreat would be held on February 16, 2012 with a working lunch format from 11:30 – 1:30.  The Chairman also pointed out that the information provided in the Project Status Reports and Correspondence of Interest is very helpful and urged new Commissioners in particular to review these items.

By John Carlock
Deputy Executive Director

In December 2011, the HRPDC approved its 2012 Legislative Agenda.  The Legislative Agenda was developed to provide the Hampton Roads General Assembly Delegation a sense of regional priorities and concerns as the General Assembly works through the 2012 Legislative Session. Historically, the HRPDC has addressed legislative affairs on an ad hoc issue-specific basis.  This is the first comprehensive legislative agenda endorsed by the HRPDC in nearly twenty (20) years. The HRPDC 2012 Legislative Agenda can be found on the HRPDC website at www.hrpdcva.gov

The Legislative Agenda addresses a wide range of matters, including housing, funding, water quality and other environmental issues and state government administration.  Of particular significance is support for establishment of the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, water quality funding and enabling authority for local governments to use in addressing the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and protection of local waterbodies. The HRPDC also supports funding a new state study of sea level rise in the region, including appropriate measures to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of sea level rise. The HRPDC continues to support financial assistance to localities for land use acquisition programs to protect Naval Air Station Oceana and Langley Air Force Base, programs to enhance and expand recycling, and environmental education. The HRPDC opposes the proposed constitutional amendment on eminent domain in its current form, imposition of state fees on local government services and unfunded mandates.  The HRPDC Legislative Agenda is supportive of many of the initiatives contained in the legislative agendas of the region’s local governments.

By Whitney Katchmark
Prinicpal Water Resources Planner

The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission is working with Wetlands Watch, Inc. and the consulting firm, CH2M Hill, to investigate the feasibility, opportunities, and constraints of utilizing best management practices (BMPs) for nutrient reduction on existing residential and light commercial private property. This project, which is funded in part through a grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality through the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, will support localities’ efforts to develop Phase II Watershed Implementation strategies for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. The work builds on activities Wetlands Watch began in Spring 2011 including identifying watershed steward programs and activities and exploring the development of a Watershed Stewards Academy for Hampton Roads.  Preliminary results will be presented at the January 25, 2012 Hampton Roads Watershed Roundtable meeting.  The HRPDC facilitates the work of the Hampton Roads Watershed Roundtable with financial assistance from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The meeting will be held at the Virginia Zoo at 9:00 am. The HRPDC staff encourages citizens to attend and learn about ways to help improve water quality in the bay and local waterways.