Publications

The following is a list of DCR's Bay Act related publications. Clicking on the item will lead you to the document or to order information. Some older publications are not available online. DCR intends to provide all future publications in electronic format for download. Please call 1-800-CHESBAY or email kim.seckman@dcr.virginia.gov to request a hard copy of any of these documents.

• Costs of Complying with the Bay Act
• Chesapeake Bay Program Study Group Report
• Board Determination of RMA Consistency
• Board Determination of RPA Consistency
• A Guide to the Bay Act
• Virginia's Bay Act Program
• Polecat Creek Watershed Land Use
• NVPDC BMP Maintenance Handbook
• Better Site Design
• Better Site Design Brochure
• Better Land Use Planning for Coastal Virginia
• Resource Protection Area (RPA) Fact Sheet
• DCR Bay Act Brochure - Working Together to Protect Streams, Rivers, and the Bay
• Got Buffer? (brochure)
• Riparian Buffers Modification and Mitigation Manual
• Local Wetlands Board - CBPA Coordination Fact Sheet
• Publications by others

Bay Act Status Reports

Beginning in December 1991, the Department has prepared an annual summary of the activities undertaken by the Department the previous year. Topics include local government Bay Act program development and Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board review activity, Department financial assistance program update, special project summary (such as Polecat Creek Watershed Project), and other Department activities such as interdepartmental cooperative efforts (Tributary Strategies, stormwater reconciliation, interstate Bay Program activities, etc.) as well as such things as Regulatory review activity.

The Bay Act Status Report (Report) is provided to all local governments in Tidewater and is included in general informational mailings for interested parties. The annual Report began as a summary for the General Assembly, but replaced the quarterly reports prepared by the Department for the Local Assistance Board and the general public until mid-1992.

Study of the Costs of Complying with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Regulations

This study, published in February 1992, was conducted to evaluate the additional costs associated with meeting the requirements of the Bay Act Regulations. There were two components to this study; agricultural and urban development. Copies of this study were mailed to all Tidewater local governments and provided to interested parties upon request.

Final Report of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Program Study Group

This report was published and distributed to all Tidewater local governments and other interested parties in July 1992. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Program Study Group (Study Group) was convened by the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board for the purpose of revisiting the regulations and examine the effectiveness of program implementation at that time. The Report includes recommendations made by the Study Group.

Board Determination of Consistency Regarding Local Designation of RMA

This policy, dated July 24, 1991, was prepared by the Department and endorsed by the Board in order to clarify the Board's interpretation on the composition of an appropriate RMA designation.

Local governments in Tidewater had requested that the Board provide technical assistance in designating RMAs because the regulatory language establishes broad parameters rather than precise requirements. The policy clarifies the Board's interpretation of the appropriate methodology and requirements for RMA designations.

All Tidewater local governments were mailed a copy of this policy in early September 1991 and the policy is included in information packets made available to citizens and other interested parties.

Board Determination of Consistency Regarding Local Designation of Resource Protection Areas

This policy was prepared and endorsed by the Board in February 1992. Some localities had proposed to expand various portions of their RPAs and were looking for guidance from the Board on the appropriateness of an expanded RPA based on the broad guidelines in the Regulations.

All Tidewater local governments were provided a copy of this policy in the spring of 1992 and it is included in the information packet sent out to citizens and other interested parties.

A Guide to the Bay Act

This 16-page multi-color booklet was printed in late 1995. Developed by the Department, it provides an overview of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Program for general informational purposes. Copies of the Guide were provided to all Tidewater local governments for distribution to local citizens and a copy is included as part of the general information packet sent to citizens and other interested parties.

Virginia's Bay Act Program

This 4-page multi-color brochure was printed in late 1995 and contains a synopsis of the information available in the Guide discussed above. Copies of the Guide were provided to all Tidewater local governments for distribution to local citizens and a copy is included as part of the general information packet sent to citizens and other interested parties.

Polecat Creek Watershed Project
Land Use Land Cover

• Gupta, R. and D.M. Glover. 1998. Land Use Land Cover 1997, Polecat Creek Watershed.

Better Site Design

• An Assessment of the Better Site Design Principles for Communities Implementing Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (3.5MB)

The total file size is around 3.5MB, and may take some time to complete the download, so please be patient. The manual was prepared with the assistance of the Center for Watershed Protection.

• BSD Brochure Only (900KB)
• Better Site Design Case Studies: James City County and Richmond County(3.9MB)

CBPA brochure - Working Together to Protect Streams, Rivers and the Bay. - An informational brochure about the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Local Programs.

• Working Together brochure (1.13 MB)

Riparian Buffers Modification and Mitigation Manual - This Manual provides guidance and clarification for Tidewater local governments on the section of the Regulations describing buffer exemptions and modifications. (To download separate chapters, click here.)

• Riparian Buffers Modification & Mitigation Manual (3 MB)

Better Land Use Planning for Coastal Virginia - These publications provide a brief introduction to the development pressures facing coastal Virginia with background on some of the coast's most critical natural resources; and, they explore how regional, neighborhood, and site planning can help reduce the impacts of coastal development.

• Better Land Use Planning for Coastal Virginia (exploratory paper)
• Better Land Use Planning for Coastal Virginia (booklet)

Local Wetlands Board/CBPA Coordination Fact Sheet- This two page document describes the overlapping jurisdiction of the Virginia Wetlands Act and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and the need for coordination between the wetland board members and local Bay Act coordinators to assure effective implementation of the two complementary acts.

• Local Wetlands Board/CBPA Coordination Fact Sheet (color, 228 KB)
• Local Wetlands Board/CBPA Coordination Fact Sheet (B&W, 316 KB)

Publications of interest by others

The Stream Restoration and Stabilization Best Management Practices Guide is available here. It is a technical resource for those involved in permitting, designing or constructing streambank or stream channel restoration and stabilization projects.

Chesterfield County Resource Protection Area Fact Sheet - This fact sheet, prepared by Chesterfield County under a grant from the state, describes the reasons for, and management of Resource Protection Areas. Fact Sheet (440KB)

NVPDC BMP Maintenance Handbook - Download a copy of the maintenance handbook for private citizens and property owners for Urban Best Management Practices. This manual was prepared by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission under a Water Quality Improvement Fund grant from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

BMP Maintenance Handbook

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay - various publications
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has numerous publications on conserving, restoring and caring for buffers, conservation landsacaping, Bayscaping, monitoring, stewardship, removing invasives, rain barrels and much more information homeowners and concerned citizens can use to help with protecting the Cheasapeake Bay watershed. Just click on the following link to go to their publications page: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.