Authored by Tiffany Smith, Water Resource Planner

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is conducting regional outreach meetings to support the implementation of local stormwater management programs authorized by the revised Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations, effective on Sept. 13, 2011. The DCR Stormwater Management Regulations Rollout Regional Outreach Meeting for Hampton Roads was held on July 12, 2012 in the HRPDC Board Room (meeting materials may be reviewed on HRPDC’s website). Approximately 115 people attended the meeting, which included presentations on regulatory updates, local program elements and tools, and the forthcoming training/certification program and e-permitting system. Speakers included Ginny Snead, DCR Office of Regulatory Programs Manager, John McCutcheon, DCR Training and Certification Manager, and Gerry Seeley, DCR Website Development Coordinator.
 
Stormwater Rollout Outreach Meetings in other parts of the state are scheduled as listed below. DCR is accepting registrations for these meetings via Eventbrite:

• July 24, 2012: 1:00 - 4:00  Olde Dominion Agricultural Foundation, Chatham, VA
• July 31, 2012: 9:30 - 12:30  VDOT Culpeper District Office, Culpeper, VA
• August 6, 2012: 1:30 - 4:30  Samuels Public Library, Front Royal, VA
• August 13, 2012: 1:00 - 4:00  Chesterfield County Government Complex, Chesterfield, VA
• August 21, 2012: 1:00 - 4:00  Hungry Mother State Park, Marion, VA
• August 30, 2012: 10:00 - 1:00  Southside VA Community College, Keysville, VA

Under the revised regulations, local stormwater management programs must be adopted and implemented by July 1, 2014. The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board and DCR are working with an advisory committee to assist with the statewide development and rollout of local programs. The Stormwater Local Government Advisory Committee’s (SWLGAC) charge is to “provide DCR with local government feedback in the development of tools we will be providing for localities as they begin to implement their own post construction stormwater programs based on the 2011 revised regulations.” Advisory committee meeting materials may be accessed on DCR’s SWLGAC web page.

The Virginia Stormwater Management Program includes erosion and sediment control as well as stormwater management. According to DCR’s website, the program was developed to protect citizens, property and natural resources from unmanaged stormwater runoff, which can cause erosion, flooding, and water pollution.