Dear Supporter,

We’re almost to the halfway point of this year’s General Assembly session and things are moving fast. Today, I wanted to focus your attention on the fight to fund critical land conservation and water quality programs in Virginia.

The fate of the budget is currently being hashed out in house and senate subcommittees. Legislators from both parties have introduced amendments to correct a severe lack of funding for natural resource protection. But those amendments need support in order to reach the Governor’s desk.

Elected officials need to hear from people who care about conservation. This is where you come in.

Take Action

Please call or email delegates and senators in the relevant subcommittees!

Take Action for Conservation I spend a lot of time meeting with legislators in Richmond and know first-hand that even a few calls and emails can make a difference.

Make Phone Calls:
We’ve pulled together a list of legislators’ phone numbers, the budget amendments to support and a sample script to use. Contact info >>

Or… Reach Out by Email:
There are two subcommittees, so it’ll take two emails. We’ve created a form letter so it requires just a few quick clicks to let elected officials and their aides know you care:

1) Send an Email – Senate Side >>

2) Send an Email – House Side >>

More About the Programs

Agricultural Best Management Practices (Ag BMPs)

Culpeper farmer Terry Ingram. Photo by Katherine Vance.

The state’s cost share program for Ag BMPs includes funding for farmers to fence cattle out of streams, plant riparian buffers, use cover crops and reduce fertilizer use. They are vital to protecting the water we drink and also help ensure a sustainable agricultural industry in Virginia.

Estimated funding needs:
$80-$100 million per year.

Funding in introduced budget:
$22 million

Conservation Grant Programs

The Rapidan River winding its way through Orange County, VA. Photo by Will Parson, Chesapeake Bay Program.

The most important grant funding mechanisms for preserving historic, cultural and natural resources come from these three programs – the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, Farmland Preservation Fund and Battlefield Preservation Fund. PEC provides matching funds under all of these programs, working with landowners, counties and other conservation partners.

Estimated funding needs:
$20 million per year

Funding in introduced budget:
$5.75 million per year

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

VCAP-funded public bioretention garden. Photo by VASWCD.

VCAP is an urban cost-share program that provides financial and technical assistance for landowners to install Best Management Practices – helping control and minimize erosion and poor drainage, promote native habitat and improve water quality.

Estimated funding needs:
$500,000 per year

Funding in introduced budget:
$0

Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF)

SLAF-funded stream restoration project. Photos by the Center for Watershed Project (top) and Ecosystem Services (bottom).

SLAF is another important statewide program that helps localities protects water quality that we are working hard to support. Unfortunately, the budget amendments for SLAF are being heard in different subcommittees from the other programs listed above. We encourage you to contact the chairs of the subcommittees to express support for this program as well:

House Appropriations Subcommittee: General Government & Capital Outlay
Delegate Luke Torian, Chair
(804) 698-1052 | delltorian@house.virginia.gov

*Support budget amendments C-45 #2h (Bulova) and C-45 #1h (Landes).

Senate Finance Subcommittee: Capital Outlay & General Government
Senator Thomas Norment, Chair
(804) 689-7503 | district03@senate.virginia.gov

*Support budget amendment C-45 #1s (Hanger).

Here’s a link to talking points provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Thank you for all you do to support conservation in Virginia. To learn more about legislation that PEC and our partners are working on related to pipelines, Metro funding, coal ash, etc., visit the Virginia Conservation Network’s website.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you have. And here are the links to take action one more time:

1) Send an Email – Senate Side >>

2) Send an Email – House Side >>

Sincerely,

Dan Holmes
Director of State Policy
The Piedmont Environmental Council
dholmes@pecva.org

The post Time to Act - VA General Assembly appeared first on Piedmont Environmental Council.