Through partnership with the Local Leadership Workgroup (LLWG) and the Local Government’s Advisory Committee (LGAC) in which our very own HRPDC Chair, Andria McClellan is a member, a guide was developed to empower local decision making for Chesapeake Bay restoration. The major themes addressed include issues near and dear to Hampton Roads’ localities, Economic Development, Public Health and Safety, Infrastructure Maintenance and Finance, and Education. Through self-guided power point presentations, local leaders can be informed on the fundamentals behind the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and how to restore our local waterways and the Bay. There are seven educational modules that are designed to be easily customized and shared:

• Module 1: How Your Watershed Works - Overview of the connection between land uses within the watershed and Bay water quality
• Module 2: Foundations of Water - Explains environmental policies related to water starting with the Clean Water Act of 1972 up to the Bay TMDL and 2014 Watershed Agreement
• Module 3: Clean Water and the Economy - Explores the economics of a healthy Bay by making the connection between clean water and a thriving fisheries economy, home sales, and entrepreneurial endeavors
• Module 4: Capitalizing on the Benefits of Trees - Focuses on the benefits of natural landscapes, and in particular, trees, to improve quality of life, increase habitat, and help combat the effects of climate change (like increasing temperatures)
• Module 5: Preserving Local Character and Landscapes - Describes how local land use and zoning decisions can impact the watershed and the Bay
• Module 6: Protecting Your Infrastructure Through Stormwater Resilience - Discusses the details of stormwater runoff, and how a robust local stormwater program can help mitigate water quality impairments
• Module 7: Building the Workforce of Today and Tomorrow - Provides insight in how building a green economy can benefit a locality and the environment