Submit Supplemental Environmental Project Ideas to DEQ Read more
	New Application Procedures for Projects Impacting Surface Waters Read more
	Enhanced Aquatic Resource Delineation Reporting Read more
	2024 Integrated Report Now Available Read more
	DEQ Website Renovation Project Update Read more
	Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Grant Solicitation Read more
	Electronic Meetings Procedures Read more
	Food Rescue and Composting Subaward Information Session Read more
	Last Call: Take Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Survey by Aug. 28 Read more

Submit Supplemental Environmental Project Ideas to DEQ

New Application Procedures for Projects Impacting Surface Waters 

On August 1, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced two new resources to enhance consistency of aquatic resource delineations and reviews.

• Recommended Minimum Standards for Aquatic Resource Delineation Reports: This document provides recommended standards for documenting aquatic resource delineations. An accompanying Aquatic Resource Delineation Report Template is included to assist practitioners in standardizing report format for more efficient USACE verification.
   
• Guide for Recording Aquatic Resource Delineations Using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): This guide offers recommendations for using high-accuracy GNSS receivers and GIS to accurately map aquatic resource boundaries electronically. Consistent application of these guidelines will support accurate data collection, quantification of aquatic resource extent, and spatial assessment of potential project impacts. One notable caution is: “…While maps or sketches of aquatic resource delineation can be generated using GNSS sensors with lower accuracy (>50cm), this data may not be suitable for accurately calculating the size of aquatic resources and associated impacts or determining requirements for compensatory mitigation. In situations where high-precision GNSS data is unavailable, impacts to waters of the United States should be measured using other reliable methods, such as a field tape measure, a professional survey, or other such reliable means. …”

2024 Integrated Report Now Available 

DEQ has released the Final 2024 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report (IR), which provides a comprehensive evaluation of the status of surface waters across the Commonwealth. It is produced every even numbered year and submitted to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. The report, which received EPA approval on July 18, indicates whether Virginia’s waters fully support their designated uses (fish consumption, recreation, etc.), or are impaired for one or more uses. If a water body is impaired, DEQ develops and implements plans to address the pollutant(s) causing the impairment(s) with a goal of returning the waterbody to ‘fully supporting’ status. To date, the agency has completed 1,044 watershed studies and nearly 100 clean-up plans across the state. Waters are removed from the impaired list when an evaluation in a subsequent IR shows attainment of all applicable water quality criteria.  

For the 2024 IR, DEQ staff collected data from 3,421 sampling locations between 2017 – 2023, resulting in hundreds of thousands of water quality data points for measurements such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, etc. Based on the results of the 2024 IR, DEQ was able to remove 735 water segments from Virginia’s Impaired Waters List. 

Every six years, DEQ assesses trends in water quality over time by collecting data from 400 fixed stations where data has been collected since the 1960s. Using this rich dataset, DEQ can identify whether water quality is improving or degrading. The 2024 IR includes an analysis of water quality trends for the 20-year period from 2003-2022. Results indicate that Virginia’s overall water quality is improving.  

The cyclical nature of the IR allows the Commonwealth to track water quality conditions over time, determine the effectiveness of corrective actions to meet water quality goals, and gain insights into health of the state’s aquatic resources.  

The final report, public comment-response document, and GIS data are available on the DEQ website. 

DEQ Website Renovation Project Update  

The DEQ website is going through an update, including a revised homepage, a navigation (menu) redesign, a new translation service and an enhanced website search function.

DEQ’s new homepage launched on August 11, with reorganized content for optimal user interface and experience. We reduced excess space on the homepage while adding additional shortcut buttons for highly trafficked pages. We implemented a new website translation service that improves accessibility and transparency, as well as a new website search function that makes it easier than ever to find the information you’re looking for. Check it out now.

In mid-September, we will launch the new navigation. This means all DEQ website URLs will change and all external links to DEQ’s website will break. Although URLs are changing, we will be implementing best practices to manage the navigation change by utilizing webpage redirects and creating a custom ‘404 page not found’ error page with information on how visitors can find what they’re looking for. We will also be undertaking an internal effort to update existing internal documents and platforms that contain links to DEQ’s website.

We used a data-driven approach to the navigation revision phase of the project, developing a revised navigation structure based on feedback and testing from more than 1,000 survey responses from internal and external stakeholders.

We understand that smooth access to DEQ’s website and information is paramount to the regulated community and the public. We encourage all users to stay informed with the most up-to-date website renovation information by bookmarking our Website Renovation Project webpage (don’t worry, this page will be redirected after the transition), following DEQ on social media, and subscribing to email updates on the project. DEQ will continue to share important project timeline updates via these channels.

Thank you for supporting DEQ’s digital modernization efforts.

Stormwater Local Assistance Fund Grant Solicitation 

Localities may now submit applications for the annual Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) grant program. The SLAF program provides matching grants to assist localities in their efforts to install efficient and effective stormwater pollution control measures. Grant funds are used for the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) that address cost efficiency and commitments related to reducing water pollution. $22.6 million will be available for SLAF grants this solicitation cycle.

SLAF grants can fund the purchase of permanent, certified non-point source nutrient credits as well as capital projects, which can include:

• New stormwater BMPs
• Retrofits of stormwater BMPs
• Stream restoration
• Low impact development projects
• Buffer restoration
• Pond retrofits
• Wetlands restoration

Since 2013, DEQ has provided more than $260 million for almost 400 projects through SLAF grants.

Completed SLAF applications must be submitted via the myDEQ Portal or mailed to DEQ. Applications for SLAF grants must be received or postmarked by Oct. 1, 2025.

Electronic Meetings Procedures

DEQ has developed new procedures for electronic meetings to facilitate greater participation by members and the public in stakeholder groups such as Regulatory Advisory Panels, Stakeholder Advisory Groups, and Technical Advisory Committees. The procedures will enable any stakeholder group to utilize a provision in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act that allows a public body that has adopted the appropriate policy by a recorded vote at an in-person meeting to hold up to half of its meetings in a calendar year as all-virtual public meetings, provided that no two consecutive meetings are all-virtual public meetings. The Electronic Meetings Procedures provide DEQ staff with the steps for these stakeholder groups to adopt the Electronic Meetings Policy and to conduct virtual meetings. The agenda and meeting announcement for any all-virtual public meetings will clearly state that the meeting is an all-virtual public meeting and include a link to the meeting.

Food Rescue and Composting Subaward Information Session