Q4 2013 Newsletter

Q4 2013 Newsletter

Upcoming event: VIRGINIAforever Annual Budget Briefing to be held December 18

VIRGINIAforever will hold its annual budget briefing meeting on Wednesday, December 18 at 3:30pm in Richmond. Presentations on the state budget submitted by Gov. McDonnell will be given by the Secretary of Natural Resources, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Conservation and Recreation. Space is limited. For more information, please contact Ginny Boland, gboland@mwcllc.com or 804-775-1907.

Government affairs update: Changes at the Capitol

With the 2014 General Assembly session less than a month away, Speaker of the House Bill Howell recently announced the appointments of seven new committee chairs. The House of Delegates committee chair appointments include:

  • Del. Edward T. Scott, R-Orange – Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
  • Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk – Appropriations
  • Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Augusta – Education
  • Del. R. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan – Finance
  • Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah – General Laws
  • Del. Barbara Comstock, R-Fairfax – Science and Technology
  • Del. Thomas D. Rust, R-Fairfax – Transportation

Considering these new appointments, alongside 14 new members of the House of Delegates, three new members of the Virginia Senate, a new Attorney General, Lt. Governor and Governor, it is clear that there will be noteworthy activity during the 2014 legislative session.

In advance of the upcoming session, VIRGINIAforever lobbyists, along with the government affairs committee, have been diligently meeting with General Assembly members and establishing new relationships with key leadership and members of the new administration. Stay tuned for updates from VIRGINIAforever on what we know will be a productive and exciting session.

Water feature: Update on Virginia’s oyster replenishment project

Native Virginia oysters are ecologically important to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. They filter algae, sediment and other pollutants, and oyster reefs provide habitat for fish, crabs, and other organisms. In early 2013, it was estimated that the Bay’s native oyster population was at as low as one percent of historic levels. Restoration has become critical to help improve the Bay’s water quality and increase its economic viability.

Using funds appropriated by the General Assembly, this summer Virginia began an operation to mine fossilized oyster shells from beneath the James River as part of the largest oyster replenishment initiative in state history. This year’s oyster replenishment program began with the spreading of an estimated 200,000 bushels of oyster shells obtained from oyster shucking houses on public oyster grounds in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers and in the Chesapeake Bay, including Pocomoke and Tangier sounds.

The Virginia Marine Resources’ Conservation and Replenishment Department is tasked with the management and replenishment of the public oyster grounds in Virginia. Restoration activities include the spreading of cultch as oyster setting substrate, rejuvenation of old oyster beds using dredges, creation of oyster reefs for optimal oyster habitat, and the movement of oysters from seed areas to grow-out areas.
According to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, every $1 spent by the state to plant oyster shells yields $7 in economic benefits in the form of larger harvests and increased jobs for oyster harvesters, shuckers, packers and shippers when the oysters reach market size in three years. The replenishment project is seen as helping to clean Virginia’s waterways, produce financial benefits for the seafood industry and enable consumers to enjoy more world-renown Virginia oysters.

VIRGINIAforever is proud of its advocacy work over the past several years to secure funding for oyster replenishment in the Commonwealth and will continue to support funds for this critical program.

Member news: James River Association moves headquarters, grows its Virginia presence

James River Association, a member organization of VIRGINIAforever, has officially moved its Richmond headquarters to a new riverfront location at Rocketts Landing. JRA, which serves as a guardian of the James River, is now located at 4833 Old Main Street, Richmond, VA 23231. Accessibility to the James River is a key feature for the new location. JRA frequently hosts educational trips on the river including canoeing and fishing trips. JRA also has an ecology school on the James River in the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. The new location enables JRA to be even closer to this treasured river. Additionally, JRA has also opened its first two regional offices – one in Lynchburg and one in Williamsburg. These offices allow JRA to truly serve the mission for the entire James river and its 10,000 square mile watershed. Learn more about JRA at http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/

Recent highlights

VF Event: In September, VIRGINIAforever hosted its annual signature event – The Bridge Builder Celebration. The event honored Jerry McCarthy, former executive director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment, for his environmental stewardship throughout his career. The event also featured remarks from gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe and The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli. More than 100 individuals from the corporate, nonprofit and outdoor communities joined for the festive occasion. Stay in touch with VIRGINIAforever to receive information on next year’s Bridge Builder Celebration.

Member Update: VIRGINIAforever congratulates our former vice chairman Bob Blue on his recent advancement at Dominion. Earlier this month, Dominion announced that the company promoted Bob from senior vice president of Law, Public Policy & Environment to the president of the Dominion Virginia Power business unit. Bob served as vice chair of VIRGINIAforever from 2009 to 2012.

Membership spotlight: The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia

The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV) became a member of VIRGINIAforever in 2013. WVF was founded in 1997 by a concerned group of sportsmen who recognized that, in order to conserve our hunting and fishing heritage in Virginia, the growing problem of diminishing public lands must be addressed. WVF works with landowners, other non-profit organizations and state agencies to identify areas throughout Virginia with inadequate public access; identify lands in these areas suitable for supporting outdoor recreation; raise funds to acquire these lands; and finally, provide for the management of these properties for public use.

According to Jenny West, WVF executive director and VIRGINIAforever executive board member, “Conservation, protection and enhancement of the wildlife and habitat resources in the Commonwealth is critical. WFV joined VIRGINIAforever to provide sportsmen in the Commonwealth with a voice to help shape important policies. Sportsmen are integrally tied to land conservation and water quality concerns in Virginia, and WFV is pleased to represent hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts through VIRGINIAforever’s advocacy efforts.”
To learn more about WVF, visit http://vawildlife.org/index.html

To nominate a member to be featured in our next e-newsletter, please email info@virginiaforever.org.

Very truly yours,
Robert L. Dunn
Chairman