The
following were set at the August 9, 2003 Conference to serve on the Steering
Committee for the New River Watershed Roundtable (a one-year term): Ron
Powers-Friends of Claytor Lake, Patrick Burton-New River Planning District
Commission, Cynthia Hancock-Skyline Soil and Water Conservation District, Gary Boring-New River-Highlands Resource
Conservation and Development, Darla Tucker-Friends of Claytor Lake, Rachel
Havens-Big Walker Soil and Water Conservation District, Karita Knisley-Citizen,
Jerry Moles-Organizational Consultant, Rick Roth-Radford University, Mike
Harvey-Friends of the New River, Llyn Sharp - VT Science Outreach Co-Op and
Museum, Charles Maus-Citizen, Kelly Miller – Virginia Department of
Conservation and Recreation.
There
have been regular meetings of the Steering Committee, leading to the seating of
the
The
Bylaws
were adopted by the Board at their inaugural meeting in July 2005.
Still
not complete. The New River Planning
District Commission has also looked into providing this information.
With
organizational development starting to take form, Board meetings are beginning
to include education and capacity-building.
With
the seating of the Board, DCR has provided funding for a part-time watershed
field coordinator to assist with facilitation of the Roundtable.
Under
our new organizational structure, the development of a business plan will now
fall to the Executive Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Finance and
Grants Committee.
ongoing
Under
our new organizational structure, the development of a marketing plan will now
fall to the Executive Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and Public
Outreach Committee.
We
have Board representation from local government,
however we still need an elected official on the Executive Committee. Local government has been our biggest
challenge to get involved.
The
Forestry focus group has remained active with the support of the
The
Education Group continued to provide watershed education, but will need to more
closely identify with the Roundtable. As
the organizational identity develops, this will be easier.
Some
of the other focus groups stopped meeting after the strategic plan was
developed and agency support went to Board development and other areas. These will need to be re-energized.
Participants
from the
Focus
group reports follow:
Agriculture
Contact: Richard Guthrie at crg@i-plus.net or Patrick Burton at pburton@nrvdc.org
Report
2004-05
Challenge 1: (Information/Communications)
Many stakeholders are not
adequately informed about the full range of how agriculture and
water quality issues affect one another.
There is a feeling that program policies and best management practices
may sometimes be established without gathering enough information from affected
stakeholders.
Progress: The SWCDs and RC&D as well as Cooperative Extension Service all have significant programs going, there still seems to be a need for gap analysis.
Action: Develop a legislative directory to facilitate
communication with representatives in the General Assembly.
The
web now serves this function: <http:// legis.state.va.us/> The Farm Bureau
also provides information on key committees.
Development
Contact: Tom Miller at 540-921-1010
Report
2004-05
Challenge
1: Education Forum
Action: Develop and present a Low-impact
Development Seminar.
Progress: The
Education Focus Group
of the
Contact: Llyn Sharp at llyn@vt.edu
Report
2004-05
Challenge 1:
Science Based Information Summary of the New River Watershed needed
Action
·
Develop a series of fact sheets by topic, level of detail
and audiences focus
Task
was begun by Llyn Sharp and Mike Harvey from Friends of the
·
Expand into brochures
Not
done.
·
Research a ‘State of the River’ report from other watersheds
We
have gathered many examples of reports with quite different approaches. Work continues.
·
Utilize university scientists better
Still
needs work, website would help
Challenge 2:
Materials for K-12 Teachers
Action
·
Outline materials and experiences that are available to
teachers, to include workshops, field sites, etc.
Not
complete. Virginia Tech and Skyline SWCD
have strong outreach programs in this area.
We need to find out what other SWCDs and organizations are providing and
help link teachers to them.
contacted
Forestry Focus Group for their report.
Forestry
Annual Plan of Work
2004-2005
Contact: Kelly Miller at kmiller@dcr.state.va.us
Challenge 1: Generally, throughout the Basin, there is a lack of appropriate forest management that improves and sustains water quality and provides for critical wildlife habitat.
Strategy 1: Increase and improve the implementation of forestry best management practices (BMPs).
Action items: 1) Approach purchasers of raw materials to require logger training for suppliers
Timeline: ______________________
Partners: VDOF, VCE, Industry, SWCDs, TNC,
Other-__________________
Funding: ____________________
Encourage & promote SHARP Logger
Training.
Timeline: On-going and investigate another campaign
Partners: VDOF, VCE, SWCDs, Industry,
Other-_______________________
Funding: ____________________
3)Encourage the development of a low impact stream-crossing course.
Timeline: Preliminary planning=Spring 2004 with a possible Fall 2004 class
Partners: VDOF, VCE,
Funding: ______________________
4) Explore tax credit program for forest management planning.
Timeline: Jan. 2004 begin research with a recommendation for Jan. 2005 General Assembly session
Partners: New River Highlands RC&D, TNC, Sustainable Development Council, SAF, Other Roundtables Other:____________
Funding: None required, only man hours
Work with Area IV SWCDs to include forestry BMPs on the agenda at the spring meeting.
Timeline: March 2004
Partners: SWCDs, DCR, and VDOF
Funding: None required
6) Identify and prioritize critical species and unique ecosystems by compiling already existing information on flora and fauna
Timeline: ___________________
Partners: USFS, DCR-NH, EPA, VDGIF, Other:________
Funding: ____________________________
7) Promote conservation easements to protect critical wildlife habitat
Timeline: On-going
Partners:
Funding: State & Federal Programs, possibly grants for publicity
8) Publicize state and federal wildlife programs through available media (newspapers, public announcements, displays, etc.). Encourage agencies to actively market programs.
Timeline: Spring 2004 (or when federal budget approved)
Partners: USDA-NRCS, New River Highlands RC&D, DCR, VDGIF, Other:____________
Funding: Some media will be free, other spots will need small amounts of funding—possibly mini-grants or donations
Challenge 2: While it is known that properly functioning riparian
areas provide substantial water quality protection and
enhancement in adjacent water bodies, land use in much
of the riparian areas in the Basin has reduced proper
riparian functioning substantially and not enough
riparian areas are being restored and/or protected.
Strategy #1: Increase
the amount of riparian buffers in the
Action Items: 1) Review, simplify, and revise the state forestry Riparian Buffer Tax Credit program.
Timeline: Spring 2004 preliminary work,
Fall 2004 draft proposal & seek General Assembly sponsor,
Jan. 2005= Final draft with Assembly patron ready for introduction.
Partners: ____________________________
Funding: None
Support perpetual easements through Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Forest Legacy program, and Farmland Security Act.
Timeline: On-going
Partners: USDA-NRCS, VDOF, USDA-FSA, TNC,
Other:______________________________
Funding: State & Federal programs
3) Promote riparian buffers in urban areas by meeting with PDCs, Board of Supervisors, and assisting with planning conferences.
Timeline: On-going
Partners:______________________________
Funding: None
Challenge 3: Generally in the Basin, there is a lack of alternative forest management and utilization of forest resources
Strategy #1: Explore alternative uses for forest land and forest products.
Action Items: 1) Increase awareness of white pine roping industry and potential markets for white pine tips.
Timeline:____________________
Partners: VCE, New River Highlands RC&D, Christmas Tree
Growers Associations, Others:__________________
Funding: ___________________
Assist New River Highland RC&D with tipping initiative.
3) Partner with manufacturing industry to demonstrate and promote.
Timeline:_____________________
Partners:_____________________
Funding:______________________
Strategy #2: Promote timber stand improvement (TSI) and alternative harvesting methods.
Action Items: 1) TSI demonstration workshops throughout the
watershed.
Timeline:_______________________
Partners: VCE, VDOF, VDGIF, Others:________
Funding: ___________________________
Again, explore a tax credit program for forest management planning. (See above)
Strategy #3: Convert marginal pastureland to forested.
Action Items:
1) Develop Agroforestry information (brochure, demo)
Timeline:___________________
Partners: VCE, Other:________________
Funding:_________________________
Increase selling of current program to landowners. Promote programs that encourage conversion.
Timeline:______________________
Partners: ALL
Funding:______________________
Research, gather information, and publicize alternative income sources for forest land.
Timeline:___________________
Partners:___________________
Funding:__________________
Groundwater,
Surface Water and Waste Water Focus Group
of the
Contact: Mike McLeod at dmmcleod@deq.state.va.us
Report
2004-05
Challenge
1: Protection of Karst lands within
the watershed.
Action: * Identify a group
working on a “cave” karst project and support the project.
* Promote and Market “cave” projects.
DCR
Natural Heritage Karst Office developed workshops for “Living on Karst”.
Challenge 2: Monitoring
Action: Provide a workshop to teach interested
individuals about water quality monitoring.
Utilize Save Our Streams, Va. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),
Va. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Friends of
Although
water quality monitoring training by Roundtable members has continued, it has
not been specifically identified as part of the Roundtable’s effort. Organizational identity like logos etc will
help with this.
Challenge 3: Waste Management
Action: Explore the pros and cons of Zoning. What communities are considered zoning in
the watershed? Do any communities
already utilize zoning?
·
Support the use of sound and good science. Know who and where.
Not
sure what this means.
Recreation
and Tourism Focus Group
of the
Contact: Karita Knisely at karita_knisely@yahoo.com
Report
2004-05
Challenge 1:
Recreation Resources Inventory
Action:
Identify inventories already compiled
Work
with National Committee for the
Challenge 2:
Recreation Usage & Activities Coordination
Action:
Develop strong regional tourism coop (liason with new State Tourism Director)
Action:
Develop presentation for board of supervisors and other local governing or
interested parties
Not
done yet.
Solid
Waste Management, Reclamation Focus Group
of the
Contact: Cynthia Hancock at cynthia-hancock@va.nacdnet.org
Report
2004-05
Challenge 1: Reduce solid waste in streams through out
the watershed.
Action: Promote the Adopt–A–Stream Program
(Department of Conservation and Recreation – DCR)
Adopt-A-Stream
has continued and there were stream cleanups in the watershed during
“Stewardship Virginia/Fall River Renaissance”.
Challenge 2: Work with local government and legislators
to promote recycling and consumer reduction.
Action: Utilize Public Service Announcements (PSA)
and support other established education programs.
Litter
and recycling education continues at the county level, but support has
decreased, so there is room for the Roundtable to help.