Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
This article was originally featured in the Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP) Fall 2025 Quarterly newsletter published by the Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University.
Virginia’s rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay are some of the Commonwealth’s most treasured natural resources. Keeping them clean and healthy is imperative for not only the environment, but Virginia’s economy and farmers. That’s where the Water Quality Improvement Fund comes in.
Established in 1997, the Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) is a state financing mechanism originally designed to reduce nutrient pollution, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Since 1998, over $3.4 billion has been allocated to WQIF point and non-point source pollution reduction projects statewide.
One of the most impactful efforts funded by WQIF is the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program (VACS). Administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in partnership with Virginia’s 47 soil and water conservation districts, the VACS program helps farmers implement conservation practices including livestock stream exclusion fencing, planting cover crops, nutrient management and vegetated buffers that reduce runoff and keep nutrients and sediment out of rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
These best management practices, or BMPs, play a vital role in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment from reaching waterways. For small farms, these practices can sometimes feel out of reach due to limited budgets and acreage. Cost-share funding from VACS changes that equation. By covering up to 100% of project costs, VACS ensures that conservation is achievable for farms greater than five acres.
The benefits go beyond cleaner rivers and streams. Many operations that participate in VACS enjoy healthier soil and livestock, better yields, and reduced input costs over time. When local waterways are clean, the entire community benefits.
The Virginia State budget adopted in 2025 directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a working group to study the requirements for and historical implementation of WQIF.
This working group, comprised of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Environmental Quality, other government entities, nonprofits and trade groups, aims to understand the discrepancies between the Virginia budget language and code requirements and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness of the fund.
The group is also charged with reviewing improvements to the current funding needs assessment, the allocation of funding for mandatory and discretionary deposits between the point source and nonpoint source sectors and the allotment of funding between the Chesapeake Bay and Southern Rivers watersheds.
Be on the lookout for the working group’s preliminary report, scheduled for release in December 2025. A final report is due for completion by November 2026.
The Small Farm Outreach Program (SFOP), a part of Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University, educates and empowers small, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers to own, operate and sustain farms and ranches independently with agricultural training programs that improve farm management skills and quality of life. Reach out to the Virginia Small Farm Outreach Program directly at (804) 524-3292 or smallfarm@vsu.edu.
Categories
Soil and Water Conservation
