Acquiring fee simple or other interest in land is one of the effective tools that CZM programs can use to protect coastal resources.  Through Section 306A of the CZMA, the Virginia CZM Program has been acquiring lands since 1991 by setting aside a portion of its annual grants from NOAA for this purpose.  Between 2002 - 2011, Congress made available through NOAA, funding to CZM programs through the federal Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.  Currently, Congress is making available IIJA funds through NOAA for land acquisition for five years from 2022 - 2026.     

Section 306A Land Acquisitions (1991 - 2018)

The Virginia CZM Program sets aside about $300,000 each year for land acquisition. Lands containing rare species and habitat types, and that afford climate resilience and passive public access, are prioritized.

Since 1991, Virginia CZM grants and match funds, totaling over $7.5 million have resulted in the acquisition of over 2,453 acres.  Below is a table of land acquisitions funded by the program, including match funding. 

Virginia CZM Program Land Acquisitions: 1991 – 2018

Grant

CZM

Match

Total

Year

Grantee

Parcel

Locality

Acres

Acres

Acres

CZM $

Match $

Total $

1991

Isle of Wight

Jones Creek

Isle of Wight

2

2

4

$40,000

$40,000

$80,000

1992

DCR

North Landing River Natural Area Preserve
(Kellam/Alton's Creek Tract)

Virginia Beach

24.29

20.71

45

$85,000

$95,787

$180,787

1992

 TNC

New Point Comfort

Mathews

95


95

$85,000

$85,000

$170,000

1993

DCR

Northwest River Natural Area Preserve
(McAlpine Tract)

Chesapeake

338.89

334.57

673.46

$183,000

$184,769

$371,456

1994

DCR

Northwest River Natural Area Preserve - timber rights
(Maxey Tract)

Chesapeake

70

415

485

$178,575

$192,881

$371,456

1995

DCR

Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve
(Fitchette Tract)

Mathews

35.63

392.81

428.44

$37,161

$259,256

$296,417

1997

ANPDC/DCR

Kiptopeke State Park Addition
(165 acres)

Northampton

11.22

11.22

22.44

$100,000

$100,000

$200,000

1998

DCR

Kiptopeke State Park Addition
(165 acres)

Northampton

20.48

19.99

40.47

$182,504

$178,114

$360,618

1999

DCR

Kiptopeke State Park Addition
(165 acres)

Northampton

22.45

22.45

44.90

$200,000

$200,000

$400,000

1999

VIMS/CBNERRS

Dragon Run

 

King & Queen County

121.12

0

121.12

$90,000

$15,200

$105,200

2000

Middle Peninsula CB Public Access Authority (MPPAA) /Dept. of Forestry (DOF)

Dragon Run (Browne Tract)

Essex

137

0

137

$200,000

0

$200,000

2001

MPPAA/DOF

Dragon Run (Browne Tract)

Essex/King & Queen County

137

0

137

$192,000

0

$192,000

2003

DCR

Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve
(285 acres)

Northampton

19.29

11.11

30.40

$260,347

$150,000

$410,347

2004

DCR

Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve
(285 acres)

Northampton

14.85

14.82

29.67

$200,444

$200,000

$400,444

2005

DCR

Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve
(285 acres)

Northampton

14,81

0

14.81

$200,000

0

$200,000

2006

DCR

Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve
(285 acres)

Northampton

14.37

0

14.37

$283,179

0

$283,179

2007

DCR

Kiptopeke State Park Addition
(Taylor/CZM Tract - 26 acres)

Northampton

10

4.24

14.24

$244,846

$70,000

$314,846

2008

DCR

Kiptopeke State Park Addition
(Taylor/CZM Tract - 26 acres)

Northampton

8

3.76

11.76

$200,000

$132,093

$332,093

2010

DCR

Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve

Accomack

83.20

20.80

104

$200,000

$55,073

$255,073

2012

DCR

Beautiful Woods (Lot 1) Picketts Natural Area Preserve

Northampton

.99

0

.99

$310,000

$0

$310,000

2012

DCR

Beautiful Woods (Lot 2 - 6.8%)
Picketts Natural Area Preserve

Northampton

1.145

0

1.145

$21,576

$0

$21,576

2013

DCR

Beautiful Woods (Lot 2 - 56.3%)
Picketts Natural Area Preserve

Northampton

 

 

 

$164,073

$15,000

$179,073

2014

DCR

Beautiful Woods (Lot 2 - 36.9%)
Picketts Natural Area Preserve

Northampton

 

 

 

$117,351

$0

$117,351

2015

DCR

Medlin Tract

Northampton

51.57

2.15

53.72

$264,807

$39,493

$304,300

2016

DCR

Spady Tract

Northampton

43.68

60.32

104.00

$235,664

$359,057

$594,721
2017 DCR Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve  Northampton 6.31  2.21  8.52 $254,178 $89,249 $343,427 
2018 DCR Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve  Northampton  10.03  2.21  12.24 $404,190  $89,249  $493.439

TOTALS

1,293.33

1,340.37

2,633.70

$4,933,895

$2,910,221

$7,484,116

 

 

Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Acquisitions (2002 - 2011)

The Virginia CZM Program developed a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Plan to be eligible for land acquisition funding under this program.  

Between 2002 - 2011, Virginia CZM distributed over $12 million in funds for acquisition.  See table below.

Go to Coastal & Estuarine Land Conservation Program for more details.

Year

Grantee

Parcel

Locality

CELCP Acres

Match Acres

Total Acres

VA CZM CELCP $ Request

Awarded
CELCP $

Match $

Total $

2002

VIMS

Taskinas Creek
(total Taskinas parcel
= 980 acres)

James City

44.54

-

44.54

$0

$273,900

$273,900

$547,800
2002

DCR

Widewater
(total Widewater parcel
= 1,200 acres for $7.1M)

Stafford

46.31

46.31

92.62

$0

$274,000

$274,000

$548,000

2005

Fairfax Co.
Park Authority

Cunigan

Fairfax

35

-

35.00

$0

$2,150,000

$2,150,000

$4,300,000
2005

VA CZM:
MPCBPAA/DOF

Dragon Run

King & Queen

565.54

70.10

635.64

$1,000,000

$989,477

$989,477

$1,978,954

Breakdown of Dragon Run Purchases:

Dragon Bridge, Jackson,
Haworth Tracts

King & Queen

356.54

-

356.54

-

$420,667

$420,667

Clay Tract

King & Queen

209.00

-

209.00

-

$568,810

$568,810

Batten

Middlesex

70.10

70.10

-

$989,477

$989,477
2005

VA CZM/ Fairfax

Potomac Gorge
Easements

Fairfax

tbd

tbd

tbd

$0

$2,968,432

$2,968,432

$5,029,428

Breakdown of Potomac
Gorge Purchases:

Timblin

Fairfax

5.03

-

5.03

-

$207,800

$242,200

$450,000

2006

VA CZM/DCR

Magothy Bay
Natural Area
Preserve
(total Magothy Bay NAP
parcel = 285 acres)

Northampton

38.13

38.13

76.26

$1,000,000

$514,714

$514,714

$1,029,428

2006

James City
County

Jamestown
Campground
& Yacht Basin
(total Jamestown parcel
= 198 acres for $12.5M)

James City

98.58

98.58

$0

$1,871,687

$1,871,687

$3,743,374

2007

VA CZM:
DCR

Southern Tip
Eastern Shore

Northampton

-

-

-

$2,825,000

$0

-

-
2007

VA CZM: MPCBPAA/DOF

Dragon Run

-

-

-

$1,157,500

$0

-

-
2007

VA CZM:
HR PDC

Green Sea
Conservation
Corridor

Virginia Beach
& Chesapeake

-

-

-

$1,000,000

$0

-

-

2008

VA CZM:
Isle of Wight

Blackwater River

Isle of Wight

-

-

-

$400,000

$0

-

-
2008

VA CZM:
Chesapeake &
Virginia Beach

North Landing River Conservation Corridor

Chesapeake
& Virginia Beach

-

-

-

$517,625

$0

-

-
2008

VA CZM:
Department
of Forestry

Dragon Run

-

-

-

$1,600,000

$0

-

-

2009

VA CZM:
DCR

Crow's Nest

Stafford

867.29

235.71

1,103.00

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

$6,000,000

TOTALS

1,695.39

390.15

2,090.67

$12,500,125

$12,042,210

$12,042,210

$23,176,984

Section 310 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Acquisitions (2022 - 2026)

The Virginia CZM Program will be submitting grant proposals to NOAA for possible funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enable approved coastal programs to protect and restore ecologically significant habitats, including conserving lands that play a critical role in helping communities become more resilient to natural hazards. 

Read more on the NOAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webpages.