Regional Map - Richmond-PlanRVA

The PlanRVA region covers nine local governments with a population exceeding 1,000,000.  Of these nine local governments, seven are located in the coastal zone of Virginia, including the Town of Ashland, the City of Richmond, and Charles City, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and New Kent counties.

The region contains a mix of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes situated around the fall line and the upper tidal reaches of the James and Chickahominy rivers.

There is a long Native American history, with two federally recognized tribes, the Chickahominy and the Eastern Chickahominy, currently residing in the region.

The region is also home to the ecologically rich lower Chickahominy River watershed.

Virginia CZM has partnered with PlanRVA on a variety of efforts, including financial and technical support for habitat conservation and restoration.

What Role Has Virginia CZM Played in the Region?

From 1995-1997, Virginia CZM provided funding to support work in the Chickahominy River Watershed.  This investment began with three reforestation projects and a streambank restoration project in the first year, followed by four tree-planting projects, three streambank restoration projects, and one stream clean-up project in the second year.  In addition to these tangible benefits, Virginia CZM funding has helped PlanRVA build relationships with partner groups in the area, develop a localized educational presentation and lesson plan, and map the watershed to aid future planning efforts. 

In 2011 and 2014, Virginia CZM provided funds to PlanRVA for two projects in Richmond adjacent to the James River. 

The first was the installation of a canoe/kayak launch and interpretive signage at Chapel Island, which helped create a recreational amenity out of a formerly overgrown and underutilized area. 

The second project occurred during construction of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge in 2014.  Virginia CZM funds supported a habitat restoration project on the southern end of the bridge, creating a native plant demonstration area that also functions as a rain garden. Funds were used for the purchase and installation of 185 native plants including trees, shrubs, and ferns, along with the design, fabrication, and installation of an interpretive sign about the value of native plants and their importance. 

More recently, Virginia CZM supported PlanRVA on a five-year effort to develop new enforceable policies to support natural resource conservation and sustainable economic development in the Lower Chickahominy River Watershed (as a part of the FY2016-FY2020 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts of Growth and Development (CSI) Section 309 Strategy). This watershed has some of the highest ecological value in Virginia’s Coastal Zone per the Coastal Virginia Ecological Value Assessment (VEVA), viewable in Virginia CZM’s Coastal GEMS mapping tool. However, the Watershed is experiencing increased suburban land conversion and development pressure from the nearby urban centers of Richmond and Williamsburg. To support land conservation policies and sustainable economic development, with an emphasis on regional stakeholder engagement, Virginia CZM funding established the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative, composed of local governments, tribes, state agencies, universities, non-profits, and many others.

 

PlanRVA Projects Funded by Virginia CZM

 

The table below lists PlanRVA projects funded by Virginia CZM since fiscal year 2008.  This list does not include annual Coastal Technical Assistance grants from Virginia CZM to PlanRVA.  Virginia CZM funds are typically matched 50/50, but the table below only includes federal funds provided by Virginia CZM. Any Project Names that are linked in the table below will take you to the Project List for that fiscal year where you can open the Task Number at the bottom of the page to find more information on the corresponding project.

Fiscal Year, Task #  Project Name CZM Funding ($)  Description 
FY20, Task 93 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Leveraging Economic Benefits of the Natural Resources of the Lower Chickahominy - Year 5
 $161,500  Maintain an online project presence, build an online stakeholder engagement tool, coordinate with a project steering committee, assist in facilitation of a policy development process, and develop an ecotourism infrastructure plan.
FY19, Task 93 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Leveraging Economic Benefits of the Natural Resources of the Lower Chickahominy - Year 4
 $160,000  Maintain an online project presence, facilitate the project steering committee, coordinate with outreach contractors, and scope and begin work on an ecotourism infrastructure analysis for the area. 
FY18, Task 93.01 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Leveraging Economic Benefits of the Natural Resources of the Lower Chickahominy - Year 3  $30,630  Establish an online outreach platform, facilitate the project steering committee, and conduct targeted outreach to Lower Chickahominy watershed stakeholders. 
FY17, Task 93.01 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Leveraging Economic Benefits of the Natural Resources of the Lower Chickahominy - Year 2
 $25,000  Conduct an economic study of conservation in the lower Chickahominy watershed, and continue to engage the project steering committee.
FY16, Task 93.01 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Leveraging Economic Benefits of the Natural Resources of the Lower Chickahominy - Year 1  $30,000  Creation of a project steering committee, mapping and geographic analysis of the region, and development of a request for proposals for an economic study of conservation in the area 
FY14, Task 55 Brown’s Island Dam Walk South Bank Habitat Restoration and Native Plant Demonstration
 $31,988  Clearing of invasive plant species and habitat restoration with native plants and rain gardens, and the installation of interpretive signage.
FY11, Task 55 Chapel Island/James River Public Access Enhancement Project
 $49,839  Construction of a kayak/canoe access, development of a trails network, and installation of interpretive signage. 
FY10, Task 12.08 Central Virginia Blue and Green Infrastructure Protection Planning Project - Year 2  $42,834  A joint effort with CPDC to analyze costs and benefits of streamside areas for protection through green infrastructure, and to work with localities to provide technical assistance and education around blue and green infrastructure. 
FY09, Task 12.08 Central Virginia Blue and Green Infrastructure Protection Planning Project - Year 1  $50,134  A joint effort with CPDC to develop a blue and green infrastructure interim report, map blue and green infrastructure in the City of Richmond, develop an urban green infrastructure asset assessment process, and work with rural locality staff to highlight green infrastructure implementation measures. 
FY97, Task 56 Tributary Strategies Program
 $20,000  Work with member governments, the state, and others in the development of Chesapeake Bay tributary strategies. 
FY96, Task 64 Chickahominy Watershed Reforestation Partnership Year 2  $52,750  Eight habitat restoration projects, maintaining partnerships, and administering educational programs. 
FY95, Task 66 Chickahominy Watershed Reforestation Partnership Year 1  $44,976
 Four habitat restoration projects, developing educational programs and partnerships, and creating GIS data-layers.