News
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Planning Continues in 2020
Additional funding has been granted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to the CSPDC and 14 other Bay PDCs to continue the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan efforts in 2020. The CSPDC will continue to provide technical and administrative assistance to local governments and stakeholders as they discuss and determine how to implement watershed best management practices to help ensure pollution control measures needed to fully restore the Bay are in place no later than 2025. The DEQ and CSPDC have worked together to develop a scope of work to guide the initiative’s efforts through 2020.
All Hazard Mitigation Plan Completed
CSPDC staff recently completed the 2020 update of the Central Shenandoah Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is the second update of the original 2005 Plan. Local jurisdictions are legally required to have a current Hazard Mitigation Plan in place in order to be eligible to receive certain federal mitigation funds. The purpose of the Plan is to identify natural hazards and other vulnerabilities that affect the Region and offer mitigation strategies that will lessen the negative impacts of these hazards on people, homes, businesses, and communities.
The next steps are review of the Plan by Virginia Department of Emergency Management staff and then approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once the Plan has been approved by FEMA, it will be adopted by the 21 jurisdictions in the Planning District. It is hoped that the local adoptions will be completed in the Spring of 2020.
New CSPDC Finance Director Hired
Lee Bell has been hired as CSPDC’s new Finance Director and started work in October. Lee is a native of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Most recently Lee worked as a financial consultant at Ryzing Technologies in Staunton. Before that he was with several investment firms in Nashville including Ironside Investments which he founded. Lee earned a BA degree from Furman University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University. Lee and his wife Anne and their two sons, Gus and Gray, live in Staunton.
Project Impact Calendars Available
The 2020 Shenandoah Valley Project Impact Preparedness Calendar will be available for pick-up in December at local government buildings and libraries across the region. This year, the calendar celebrates the 20th year of Shenandoah Valley Project Impact which began in 2000. The publication contains preparedness tips and mitigation strategies for dealing with severe weather, emergencies and disasters as well as historic photographs and fun holidays for each day of the year. Contact the CSPDC to obtain your copy.
Farmers Market Conference Held
The Virginia Farmers Market Association hosted their 7th annual Farmers Market Conference in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel on November 13-15. This three-day event featured workshops, presentations, and social networking events including tours of Fields of Gold member farms – Project Grows, Overlook Farm and Bluestone Winery. This year’s theme focused on agritourism, a popular path for connecting customers to farmers and farmers markets. CSPDC Agritourism Coordinator, Rachel Salatin, presented on the Fields of Gold Farm Trail and participated as a vendor. In attendance were over 150 market managers, vendors, farmers, and agricultural leaders.