Virginia
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Creating a Green Corridor in the Fulton Business District (VA)
Create an accessible, park-like corridor in the Fulton Hill Business District in Richmond, Virginia. Project will improve water quality in this urban area by implementing green storm water infrastructure practices to treat and capture storm water runoff and reduce urban heat island impacts while improving Fulton’s climate resiliency and implementing the Launch Fulton Green Jobs Initiative.
$500,000
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Accelerating Conservation Action through Clean Water Partnerships (VA)
Assist farmers with developing conservation plans that prioritize installing agricultural best management practices on dairy farms such as: livestock exclusion from streams, riparian forest buffers, rooftop runoff controls, manure management and nutrient management plans. Project will leverage existing partnerships to engage the corporate community in incentivizing their dairy producers to implement these practices and promote sustainably sourced dairy products.
$1,000,000
American Bird Conservancy
Restoring Forest Age-Class and Structural Diversity in Two Forest Blocks in the Blue Ridge Focal Geography (VA)
Restore forest habitat age-class and structural diversity to benefit multiple focal bird species by implementing treatments on two large forest blocks in Bath and Rockbridge counties in Virginia. Project will engage consulting foresters to write comprehensive forest management plans for more than 5,000 acres of public and private forest, implement best management practices on at least 130 acres for golden-winged warbler, cerulean warbler and wood thrush and monitor population response of target species.
$114,509
American Forests
Leveraging Urban Forests for Climate, Health and Tree Equity Scores (MD, VA, DC)
Build a deep-dive Tree Equity Score Analyzer tool for use across the greater Washington metropolitan region. Project will provide a way to set urban forestry narratives, plan strategies and focus resources on communities of highest need to improve tree canopy where its benefits are most needed.
$49,911
Canaan Valley Institute
Coordinating Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Strategies and Goals (multiple states)
Continue the activities of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture in the historic range of the species. Project will refine the strategic objectives and key conservation priorities of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture using the results of the recently completed status assessment of wild brook trout at the catchment scale.
$74,999
Center for Natural Capital
Planning to Remove the Rapidan Mill Dam (VA)
Complete planning and assessment work necessary to remove the obsolete Rapidan Mill dam in Rapidan, Virginia, which is currently an obstruction to species such as shad, American eel, sea lamprey and blueback herring. Project will address pre-project data collection including fish assemblage studies, engineering bathymetry, sediment analysis and community concerns in order to support the work needed to remove or greatly modify the dam and promote fish passage.
$49,627
City of Manassas, VA
Developing a Watershed Resources Master Plan for the City of Manassas (VA)
Complete a Watershed Resources Master Plan to consolidate management approaches and guide implementation of water quality improvement strategies. Project will survey citizens regarding water resources, inform elected officials and professional staff on strategies to improve water quality, inventory improvement opportunities and produce a long-term implementation plan to guide future decision making.
$50,000
City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Works
Designing a Network of Marsh Terrace Ridges to Achieve Restoration and Flood Resilience (VA)
Develop design plans and secure permits for a network of marsh terrace ridges and perimeter breakwaters to restore at least 260 acres of marsh island and aquatic vegetation habitat that has historically provided both environment and flood reduction benefits to the surrounding community. Project will result in a community-supported, shovel-ready project that demonstrates the efficacy of the first-ever application of marsh terraces in the Mid-Atlantic region.
$135,124
College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
RecFish: Engaging Recreational Anglers as Community Scientists Using a Mobile App (MD, VA)
Develop a smartphone application, called RecFish, that allows recreational anglers in Maryland and Virginia to automatically identify, measure and log their catch to enhance their fishing experience while contributing data to the RecFish database as community scientists. Project will engage 10 vessels in testing the application along with relevant government entities and supplement existing data collected through fisheries surveys allowing for enhanced analysis.
$323,163
College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Living Shoreline Design on Monroe Bay (VA)
Design a living shoreline for a critical area of erosion along 1,500 feet of shoreline in Monroe Bay in the Town of Colonial Beach, Virginia. Project will create a design to protect infrastructure for the Town including a main road and utilities, provide habitat through marsh restoration, reduce sedimentation by stopping erosion of the upland bank and reduce nutrient runoff to the Bay by creating a buffer along the shore.
$39,000
Conservation Innovation Fund
Accelerating Agricultural Conservation in Virginia through Pay-for-Performance Procurement Systems
Develop a pay-for-performance, outcomes-based approach to agricultural conservation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Project will focus on the Shenandoah Valley and position the state to accelerate and expand pay-for-performance approaches to agricultural conservation in order to address the immediate objectives of The Commonwealth under its Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan.
$50,000
Evergreen SWCD
Restoring Water Quality and Nesting Habitat for Eastern Hellbender in Middle Fork Holston River (VA)
Restore aquatic habitat for eastern hellbender and freshwater mussels and their host fish species by installing nesting rocks for hellbender, stabilizing the riverbank and enhancing riparian habitat on the Middle Fork of the Holston River in Southwest Virginia. Project will install 50 nesting rocks, stabilize 2 miles of riverbank to reduce erosion, restore 11 acres of riparian forest buffer and monitor nest box occupancy while refining the design to meet conservation practice standards.
$99,134
Greene County
Developing a Green Infrastructure Master Plan for the Greene County Visitor Center (VA)
Develop a green infrastructure master plan to address water quality concerns at the Green County visitor center in Ruckersville, Virginia. Project will lay the groundwork for addressing impervious surfaces at the Center, improving water quality in the upper Rapidan River and providing a high-quality stormwater demonstration site.
$23,500
James River Association
Stewarding Riparian Buffers and Conservation Workforce through a Resilient Collaborative Model (VA)
Restore riparian habitats through forested buffers and explore streambank erosion solutions in the Middle and Upper James River watershed. Project will develop innovative solutions towards the following goals: 1) build a resilient collaborative model to sustain consortium, 2) accelerate riparian buffer implementation in the James River Watershed and 3) increase local competency in streambank erosion and stabilization.
$1,000,000
Manomet
Managing American Oystercatchers and Minimizing Coastal Engineering Impacts Along the Atlantic Coast (multiple states)
Coordinate the American oystercatcher recovery initiative, implement best management practices for disturbance and predation management along the U.S. Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast of Florida and develop long-term improvements in coastal engineering protocols to restore habitats critical to focal shorebird species. Project will support the goals of the Atlantic Flyway Business Plan by creating a framework for long-term protection, restoration and creation of shorebird habitat at key sites.
$189,999
North Carolina State University
Expanding Prescribed Fire Delivery to Restore Southeast Forests (multiple states)
Expand and accelerate the implementation of prescribed fire to restore and enhance longleaf pine habitat and other fire dependent forest and grassland communities within the Southeast. Project will engage landowners, including underserved landowners and fire practitioners through technical assistance, training and outreach to increase the use of prescribed fire.
$180,000
Richmond Hill
Designing Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Richmond Hill (VA)
Develop a site assessment and concept plan for green stormwater infrastructure improvements to be developed for Richmond Hill and the City of Richmond’s downslope Taylor’s Hill Park. Project will engage a workforce development program to design and develop a plan to guide implementation of future stormwater improvements at Richmond Hill aimed at increasing onsite filtration and diminishing the impact of stormwater in the area.
$38,803
Ridge to Reefs
Implementing a Spring Bioreactor and Creating and Enhancing Wetlands (MD, VA)
Construct a denitrifying bioreactor on a spring in Lacey Springs, Virginia, design a second spring bioreactor on a springhead draining into a tributary of Smith Creek and construct wetlands on a farm in Worton, Maryland. Project will reduce nitrogen and benefit in-stream conditions for brook trout and provide habitat for American black duck.
$246,142
Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Designing Rivanna River Restoration in Riverview Park (VA)
Conduct engineering design and outreach for stream, outfall and riparian buffer restoration within Riverview Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. Project will accelerate on-the-ground restoration to improve the health and function of the urban corridor of the Rivanna River through capacity building, public engagement and engineering design.
$50,000
Tazewell Soil and Water Conservation District
Improving Soil Health and Water Quality for Eastern Hellbender and Freshwater Mussels (VA)
Improve soil health and water quality for aquatic species including freshwater mussels, eastern brook trout and eastern hellbender by reducing bacteria and sediment runoff on the Holston and Clinch rivers in Tazewell County, Virginia. Project will engage agricultural producers in utilizing no-till seeders, increasing forage and biomass plantings, expanding cover crop use and installing livestock exclusion fencing on 600 acres of croplands and pasturelands.
$148,890
The Conservation Fund
Protecting Upland Forest Habitat on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Permanently protect 8,654 acres of forested uplands along the Eastern Shore of Virginia to provide critical habitat for resident and migratory birds. Project will mitigate for the future loss of the Eastern Shore’s coastal marsh due to sea level rise, create a sustainable management plan for wildlife habitat, provide connectivity to other conserved lands, expand public access for recreation and create economic development through conservation tourism.
$600,000
The Longleaf Alliance
Coordinating Local Implementation Team Capacity and Landowner Technical Assistance and Outreach – V (multiple states)
Improve and sustain coordination and exchange of information among 18 multi-partner local implementation teams that organize, plan and deliver conservation actions to restore and enhance the longleaf pine ecosystem. Project will support strategic on-the-ground restoration through conservation planning, as well as tracking and communication of longleaf pine restoration accomplishments.
$250,000
The Nature Conservancy
Restoring Longleaf Pine Habitat in Virginia
Advance longleaf pine habitat restoration on 11,860 acres of private and public lands in southeastern Virginia through longleaf seedling planting, prescribed burning, selective timber thinning and groundcover restoration. Project will benefit savanna-dependent bird species, including northern bobwhite and also will support red-cockaded woodpecker recovery through translocation of birds to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
$204,949
The Nature Conservancy
Managing and Mitigating Sea-level Rise Impacts on American Oystercatcher (VA)
Develop a plan that identifies and prioritizes American oystercatcher habitat restoration opportunities in Virginia’s coastal lagoon system. Project will result in critical guidance for management strategies to build the resiliency of American oystercatcher populations into the future, increasing reproductive output and population growth within the most important breeding area along the Atlantic Coast.
$48,517
The Piedmont Environmental Council
Installing and Restoring Riparian Buffers in the Upper Rappahannock and Potomac watersheds (VA)
Restore 80 acres of riparian buffers on private land in the Upper Rappahannock and Upper Potomac watersheds in Virginia. Project will plant and maintain native tree buffers on stream-side properties, expedite implementation of livestock exclusion fencing and other agriculture best management practices and assist landowners in completing 10 new conservation easements with protected riparian buffers.
$263,802
Trout Unlimited
Restoring and Reconnecting Brook Trout Strongholds in the South Branch of the Potomac (VA, WV)
Mitigate a large barrier to fish migration on the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River, reconnecting and restoring two of the largest brook trout strongholds in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project will reconnect 150 miles of headwater sources, improve water quality and habitat through agricultural best management practices and help to create a 239-square-mile brook trout stronghold super patch.
$492,619
Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe
Synthesizing Data from the Middle York River Watershed for Region-Wide Planning (VA)
Explore and prioritize end-user needs in the middle York River Watershed to inform the most relevant development of a regional data synthesis and the creation of an integrated watershed-wide report on watershed management. Project will create a comprehensive regional report that can be integrated into a future watershed product, focusing on information such as water quality, flooding, land use, habitat vulnerability, social vulnerability, cultural resources and community science monitoring.
$50,000
Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Providing Cost-Share Funding to Implement Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Improvements (VA)
Guide individual stormwater best management practice implementation by providing cost-share funds in targeted sub-watersheds of Virginia. Project will review and vet applications to maximize impact of funds.
$500,000
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Accelerating Living Shoreline Implementation in Rural Coastal Virginia
Develop a cache of shovel-ready projects with engineering designs, provide financial incentives to construct 1,373 feet of new living shorelines and document installation of recently implemented shoreline management projects. Project will grow and enhance existing partnerships and measurably accelerate both the geographic scale and the rate of implementation of living shorelines across rural coastal Virginia, a priority best management practice in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan.
$1,000,000