In addition to the stories shared in the Virginia Coastal Zone Management magazine, the following semi-annual reports submitted to NOAA highlight the accomplishments of the Virginia CZM Program:

• Increasing Coastal Resilience
  
  
• Expanding Balloon Litter Reduction Efforts Across the Mid-Atlantic
   
• Removing Abandoned and Derelict Vessels from Virginia Waters
  
  
• Illustrating Economic and Environmental Benefits of Ecotourism
  
  
• Accrued Benefits to CZM Funding to Coastal Planning District Commissions

• Planned for the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia Ocean Human Uses and Marine Life

• Helped Localities Better Assess their Ability to Deal with Increased Flooding and to Build  Community Resilience by Determining First Floor Elevations

• Continued to Increase Use of Native Plants and Expanded Plant Virginia Natives Initiative

• Demonstrated the Value of Conserving Land in the Chickahominy Watershed
  
  

• Improved the Resilience of Virginia’s Coastal Communities

• Restored Eelgrass Habitat on Seaside of Virginia’s Eastern Shore
  
  
• Mapped Virginia’s Coastal Resources for Improved Protection and Management
  
  
• Used Community-Based Social Marketing to Reduce Balloon Release and Debris
  
  
• Studied Socio-economic Benefits of Conserved Lands on Virginia's Eastern Shore 
  
  
• Increased Public Access in Richmond, Isle of Wight, Norfolk and Port Royal
  
  
• Developed Virginia Working Waterfronts Master Plan
  
  
• Played Key Role in Developing Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan
  
  
• Established Revolving Loan Fund to Preserve Living Shorelines
  
  
• Increased Public-Private Collaboration on the Use of Virginia Native Plants
  
  
• Created the First Marine Debris Reduction Plan on East Coast
  
  
• Restored Migratory Bird Habitat on Virginia's Eastern Shore
  
  
• Helped Hampton Roads Region Identify Options for Adaptation to Increasing Sea Levels and Flooding
  
  
• Engaged Offshore Recreational Community in Mapping Shared Resources
  
  
• Leveraged Over One Million to Preserve Critical Shoreline Areas
  
  
• Created On-line Coastal Mapping and Educational Tool for Decision-Makers and the Public (Coastal GEMS)
  
  
• Restored Oyster Reefs and Increased Oyster Populations  
  
  
• Increased Public Use of Native Plants 
  
  
• Created an Ecological Value Assessment Tool for Land Managers
  
  
• Provided Guidance in Creation and Protection of Natural Shorelines
  
  
• Prioritized Blue and Green Infrastructure in the Hampton Roads Region
  
  
• Protected Migratory Songbird Habitat on Virginia's Eastern Shore

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducts a routine evaluation of the Virginia CZM Program.

NOAA has scheduled the next evaluation of the program in 2022.

Virginia’s most recent evaluation began in the fall of 2014 with the Virginia CZM Program responding to 36 evaluation questions regarding administration of the program, protection of coastal habitat, coastal hazards and sea level rise, coastal water quality, coastal-dependent uses, public access, governmental coordination, and descriptions of major achievements and challenges. NOAA then conducted an online survey of Virginia CZM Program stakeholders and partners, and in May 2015 conducted interviews of key partners on identified target areas.

The three target areas identified by the NOAA team to evaluate the Virginia CZM Program were:

Restoring and Protecting Coastal Habitats and Increasing Public Access

• Accomplishment: The Public Access Authorities are providing a new tool for public access acquisition and management through a local policy framework enabled by state legislation.
• Accomplishment: The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program’s place-based restoration efforts have been highly successful, leveraging significant funding from partners and resulting in “on the ground” coastal habitat improvements. Learn more about Virginia CZM Program’s public access and coastal habitat work.

Ocean Planning

• Accomplishment: The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program’s leadership in regional ocean planning has brought together diverse stakeholders to plan for the location of future offshore facilities while minimizing user conflicts and impacts to coastal resources. Learn more about Virginia CZM’s ocean planning work.

Coastal Resilience

• Accomplishment: The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program’s leadership in coastal resilience has enhanced the capacity of local partners for adaptation planning and promoted the use of living shoreline approaches to enhance community and ecological resilience.

Learn more about Virginia CZM Program’s coastal resilience work.

Read more in the Evaluation Findings for the Virginia CZM Program: June 2006 – May 2015

Every 6 months, Virginia CZM Program reports to NOAA on the program’s progress in addressing the recommendations made during its evaluation:

• October 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025 
• April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024 
• October 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024 
• April 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023
• October 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023 
• April 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022
• October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022
• April 1, 2021 - September 30, 2021
• October 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021 
• April 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020 
• October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020
• April 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019
• October 1, 2018 - March 31, 2019
• April 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018
• October 1, 2017 - March 31, 2018
• April 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017
• October 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017
• April 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016
• October 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016