Five-Year Plan

Virginia’s history is as much a story of its land and water as it is a story of the people and communities that its natural resources have sustained. In the past 50 years, the population of the Commonwealth has doubled to eight million citizens. As a result, the demands on our land and water have never been greater nor has the necessity to heed Virginia’s constitutional charge: “To protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of the Commonwealth.” VIRGINIAforever stands by this commitment.

In 2019, VIRGINIAforever developed a new edition of its Five-Year Funding Plan, The Path Forward. This plan sets forth investments needed to accomplish the Commonwealth’s land conservation and water quality improvement goals from 2021 through 2025. These investments, which are critical to ensure that our natural resources stay protected today, tomorrow and into the future, include the following:

Enabling land conservation and public access in the Commonwealth

• $20 million per year for land conservation grant programs
• $70 million bond for conservation agency land acquisition
• $75 million per year for Land Preservation Tax Credits
• $115 million in bonds for public access projects

Ensuring water quality in the Bay, its tributaries and other waterways

• $55 million per year for wastewater treatment plant upgrades
• $80 million per year for stormwater projects
• $100 million per year for Agricultural BMP cost share

Supporting resilience programs that benefit Virginia’s land and water

Increasing funding for natural resources-related state agencies to ensure efficient execution of all critical functions

Read our full report here. A sources list can be found here.