In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly created a statewide, comprehensive Virginia stormwater management program (VSMP) related to land disturbance activities greater than 1 acre, or 2500square feet in designated. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas (HB1065 - Stormwater Integration). This required all Virginia Communities to develop, adopt, and implement stormwater management programs by July 1, 2014 in conjunction with existing erosion and sediment control programs. Therefore in December 2012, the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) was funded through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to assist localities in creating regional and local stormwater management programs to comply with this state mandate.

Upon the start of this project a MPPDC Regional Stormwater Management Workgroup was created. MPPDC staff and Draper Aden Associates coordinated with the workgroup to develop tools specific to the region that were necessary for VSMP development and implementation, including a VSMP ordinance, a funding and staffing plan, as well as an administrative guidance manual that consisted of the program’s policies and procedures.  

In the midst of local VSMP development the stormwater management program was transferred from DCR to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on July 1, 2013. While localities continued to work in finalize local VSMPs by April 2014 before opening VSMP documents to public comment and then bringing it to the local Board of Supervisors and Town Councils for adoption, the 2014 General Assembly Session altered VSMP administration. Signed by Governor McAuliffe on March 24, 2014, SB 423 requires the DEQ to establish a VSMP for any locality that neither opts to establish its own program nor operates a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). 

The MPPDC Regional Stormwater Management Workgroup will continue to comply with stormwater regulations.

For more information please visit Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater Management Program website: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/stormwater