Frank Herrin,
Robert Gibson (King and Queen); Jack Miller, Davis Wilson (Middlesex); David
Birdsall (Resource Management Service, Inc.); Will Smith (U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service); Prue Davis (Essex); Anne Ducey-Ortiz (Gloucester); Mike
Anderberg, Mary Ann Krenzke (Friends of Dragon Run); Julie Bixby (VA Coastal
Program); Pat Tyrrell (Tidewater Resource Conservation and Development); Willy
Reay (Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia); David
Fuss (MPPDC)
David Fuss welcomed
everyone and began introductions.
David Fuss provided
the group with an update on the Special Area Management Plan. Topics included:
1) press release concerning the Memorandum of Agreement in the four local
papers; 2) production of a SAMP brochure; 3) presentations at civic group
meetings; 4) informational materials mailed to landowners along the Dragon Run
in Gloucester, King and Queen, and Middlesex; 5) delay of grant start date for
award from Dept. of Conservation and Recreation.
Willy Reay explained
that the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in VA had acquired
121 acres near Mascot/New Dragon Bridge in King and Queen County. This land
will be used mainly for people in the watershed and will focus on research and
education. For example, it will be used for school group trips and as a
research platform for scientists. Education programs may include canoe trips
and technical training, such as wetland identification certification course.
Research will focus on wetland science and water quality and weather monitoring
stations. Fecal coliform testing may be performed in coordination with the VA
Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Mike Anderberg
provided an update on beaver dams in the Dragon Run. He noted that this year’s
drought had produced more than 100 days with no or barely measureable flow in the
non-tidal river. He also observed that after heavy rain this fall, at peak
flow, only one beaver dam from Rt. 602 to Rt. 603 was visible above the water
level.
Anne Ducey-Ortiz
mentioned a rezoning request in Gloucester County that would rezone Rural
Countryside as Industrial along Rt. 33 for the C.W. Davis Paving Co. asphalt plant
that would allow the company to make improvements to the site.
David noted that
there the Advisory Group had made excellent progress towards the development of
a management plan for the Dragon Run watershed. Now, it is time for the Group
to address the difficult issue of land use.
David distributed a
list of potentially controversial permitted uses within zoning districts in each
county within the watershed to stimulate discussion on local land use policies.
It was noted that reservoirs were a permitted use in the Conservation District
in Gloucester. This sparked a spirited discussion about the possibility of a
reservoir in the Dragon Run, given the potential for increasing demand for
water in the Middle Peninsula. For instance, the King William reservoir was
approved, water withdrawal from the paper mill in West Point forms a cone of
depression in the aquifer, and a Dragon Run reservoir was Alternative #4 in
Gloucester County’s water supply plan. Possible protection mechanisms against a
reservoir in the Dragon Run are: 1) zoning; 2) Virginia Outdoors Foundation
easements that carry immunity from the state’s power of eminent domain; and 3)
Exceptional Waters designation that bars reservoir development.
A question arose
about the reasons for differences between permitted uses in different counties
and how they came to be in the zoning ordinance.
There was a brief
discussion about adding extra costs and services to the cost of development,
rather than on existing taxpayers. For example, counties can include requirements
for provision of water and sewer in new development and building streets to
VDOT standards. This reduces the demand for developments. In addition, zoning “low”
allows for rezoning requests and the possibility of proffers to provide public
services for new developments.
Discussion then
shifted to the “test of success,” or monitoring the effects of land use
policies on water quality. For example, buffers maintain water quality and
zoning for agriculture and forestry can be compatible with deeper buffers than
the 100-foot Chesapeake Bay Act buffer. Studies are needed to determine the effects
of land use and special exceptions on water quality. For example, cattle in a
stream can be a source of fecal coliform contamination. Some view cattle in the
stream as “natural” and maintain that a bigger problem is the use of chemicals
(e.g. fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides). What is needed is a solid water
quality baseline. Factors like septic systems and hardening (or increasing
impervious surfaces) can lead to degradation of water quality and quantity.
It was noted that one
of the reasons that the Dragon Run exists in such a high quality condition is
that it has a low level of development and largely intact riparian buffers.
The December 2002
issue of Virginia Wildlife is a joint effort of the Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Forestry that focuses on the
benefits of forest stewardship and forest management planning. It also speaks
about Dept. of Forestry certification for Forest Stewards. Mike Anderberg
suggested that the SAMP could promote the use of forest management plans with
conservation elements.
David Birdsall
mentioned that becoming a Tree Farm member offers certain programs, such as
certification and a list of inspectors who operate for nominal fees. He also
described the Sustainable Forestry Initiative that is geared towards industrial
owners, but the ultimate goal is to extend the program to small landowners. The
program focuses on forestry practices that sustain the industry over the
long-term. Mr. Birdsall noted that the VA Dept. of Forestry is short-staffed
for dealing with large increases in demand for stewardship plans and that fees
are often charged and are likely to increase in light of state budget cuts.
Therefore, it may be necessary to find a funding source for the development of
forest stewardship plans. Mr. Birdsall mentioned that this is very similar to
The Nature Conservancy’s proposal for the Dragon Run to be chosen under the
U.S. EPA Watershed Initiative funding program. The proposal outlined the
concept for a Forest Stewardship Program with a Conservation Forester that
would aid landowners in developing forest stewardship plans.
Pat Tyrrell
announced that the Tidewater Resource Conservation and Development Council is
sponsoring a Forestry Short Course on February 8 that is aimed at offering professional
guidance to forest landowners in managing their land.
David Fuss showed a
copy of a new publication from the University of Virginia’s Institute for
Environmental Negotiation called A Stream Corridor Protection Strategy for
Local Governments. He offered to make copies for anyone who was interested.
It is also available online.
Willy Reay
mentioned that CBNERR-VA will be offering a Buffer Workshop for working
professionals that focuses on water quality and wildlife. It will be no or low
cost and will be held by next December.
David noted that
the topics addressed tonight will likely be revisited at the next meeting. The
next SAMP Advisory Group meeting will be held from 7-9 PM on January 14, 2003
at the MPPDC offices. The meeting was adjourned.