CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION FUND PROJECTS CATALOG 2012 CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION FUND SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROJECTS CATALOG 2012 PROJECTS CATALOG 2012 Issue I The Division of Legislative Services of the Virginia General Assembly publishes this catalogue. The information contained in these pages is current as of May 2012. Thank you to all of our partners and to all grantees of the Foundation who have provided text and materials for this catalogue. This catalogue was developed for all agencies, organizations, and individuals interested in environmental education and restoration projects on the bay and its rivers. General Assembly Division of Legislative Services Compiled and Edited by Theresa Schmid Research Associate iv TABLE OF CONTENTS I. CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION FUND HISTORY II. CHESAPEAKE BAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE III. SUMMARY OF CBRF ACTIVITIES IV. APPLYING FOR A GRANT A. CRITERIA B. APPLICATION PROCEDURES GRANT ACTIVITIES FROM 2000-2012 V. GRANT PROJECTS LIST A. 2000 INDEX B. 2001 INDEX C. 2002 INDEX D. 2003 INDEX E. 2004 INDEX F. 2005 INDEX G. 2006 INDEX H. 2007 INDEX I. 2008 INDEX J. 2009 INDEX K. 2010 INDEX L. 2011 INDEX M. 2012 INDEX VI. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECTS A. SCHOOLS B. ORGANIZATIONS - EDUCATIONAL FOR: 1. YOUTH 2. COMMUNITY v VII. RESTORATION/CONSERVATION PROJECTS A. MONITORING B. EASEMENTS VIII. FINANCIAL SUMMARIES IX. INDEX vi I. HISTORY In 1992, the Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation, co-patroned by Senator Frederick Quayle and Delegate Harvey Morgan, which established the Chesapeake Bay preservation license plate. The design included drawings of bay grass, oysters and crabs, and read “Friends of the Chesapeake." The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began issuing the specialty plates in December 1992. The legislation also established the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. The Council of the Environment established the Fund within the Department of Accounts, for use or its successor agency, for environmental education and restoration projects related to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. For each plate sold or renewed at a cost of $25, the Fund receives $15 and the DMV gets $10. In an effort to ensure that allocations for Chesapeake Bay projects would be funded in an efficient manner, Senator Quayle sponsored a bill in 1995 that created the Chesapeake Bay Fund Advisory Committee to administer the Fund. The seven-member advisory committee is comprised of three legislative members and four private citizens. It chose to distribute the Fund money in the form of financial support grants to aid the Bay program. Recipients include state agencies, local governments, schools, or nonprofit groups. The Chesapeake Bay Fund Advisory Committee review grant applications and submits a list of recommended projects to the General Assembly for approval. Recommended projects fall into two categories: environmental education and restoration projects. Education projects include volunteer and teacher training, special school projects, and the development of education curricula and materials, and public information. Restoration projects include actions taken to preserve the Bay and its tributaries. The Restoration Fund has received in excess of $300,000 per year during this period. II. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act established the Advisory Committee within the legislative branch to advise the General Assembly on the expenditure of moneys received in the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund. [Va. Code § 10.1-2116 (Michie 1998)] The Committee consists of seven persons as follows: Legislators: two members of the House of Delegates and one member of the Senate. Citizens: two persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one of whom shall be a representative of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and two persons appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, one of whom shall be a representative of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Other requirements of the committee members include: All persons appointed shall be representative of all interests associated with restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. At least one citizen member shall be a current holder of the “Friend of the Chesapeake” license plate. Committee members serve for terms of four years. Legislators’ terms shall be concurrent with their elected terms of office. Members are not eligible to serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Committee elects a chairman and vice-chairman from among is legislative membership. The Committee shall develop goals and guidelines for use of the Fund, which may include but not be limited to cooperative programs with, or project grants to, state agencies, the federal government, or any not-for-profit agency, institution, organization, or entity, public or private, whose purpose is to provide environmental education and projects relating to the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay. The Committee is required to meet at least once a year. During this meeting, the Committee will review applications to form a list of recommended programs to receive grants, which is then presented to the Governor and General Assembly. The members of the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee as of May 2012 are: Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters (R - 8th District) Delegate M. Keith Hodges (R - 98th District) Delegate Margaret B. Ransone (R - 99th District) Terra Pascarosa Duff, Virginia Beach John W. Peterson, Burke Claiborne B. Roberts, Sandston Daniel G. Van Clief, III, Charlottesville Staff: Marty Farber, Senior Research Associate Gwen Foley, Senior Operations Staff Assistant Division of Legislative Services III. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund experienced continued growth by increased sales of the specialty license plate. Grant activity in 2000 - 2012 totaled $4.9 million. In 2004, the Committee distributed $468,000, the highest annual amount to date after receiving its highest number of grant applications to date, 109, from civic and community groups, environmental organizations, schools, and public agencies. The Committee awarded sixty-one grants, about thirty-six percent for amounts of less than $5,000. 2 Thanks to the generosity of Virginia citizens, revenues from the purchase of the popular Chesapeake Bay commemorative license plate totaled $300,000 each year. Sales have climbed to $1 million. The Fund is grateful for the generosity of the concerned citizens who have supported these initiatives. Number of Chesapeake Bay Plates sold over Fiscal Years FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 13,672 17,633 17,465 14,835 18,720 17,577 14,080 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 14,484 14, 502 15,702 13,182 12,471 12,306 Amount Received by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund by Fiscal Year FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 $341,811 $440,849 $436,643 $370,879 $468,000 $439,433 $352,021 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 $362,102 $362,562 $392,574 $329,574 $311,777 $307,662 IV. APPLYING FOR A GRANT Eligible groups: State agencies Local government Public or private not-for-profit agencies Institutions Organizations Types of projects: Environmental education and action-oriented conservation and restoration projects within Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Individuals are not eligible for grants. Activities that are NOT eligible for funding include: Capital construction Endowments Annual giving or fund raising Salaries or benefits (unless directly performing specific project activities) 3 Indirect costs Food items Lawsuits/litigation Political action programs/lobbying Grants are awarded for one year, except in special circumstances. Recipients are accountable for documenting how grant funds are used through the submission of a final financial and narrative report due upon the completion of the project’s activities. A. CRITERIA Will have a positive, tangible benefit to the Bay and Bay program; Presents clear objectives, including a plan for achieving these objectives (presents a specific, feasible plan of action to accomplish well-defined results); Demonstrates qualifications necessary to carry out the project, including technical and financial feasibility; Provides an opportunity for cooperation among diverse organizations; Utilizes existing resources and expertise from local businesses, industries, public agencies, academic institutions, and conservation and environmental organizations; Emphasizes the service of volunteers to minimize administrative overhead; and Demonstrates a realistic prospect for successfully completing the project. B. APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants should complete the grant application form available from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Advisory Committee. No application will be accepted after the 5:00 p.m., October 1, deadline. Proposals should be typewritten. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals in the areas of environmental education and restoration and conservation projects of the Chesapeake Bay. 1. Environmental Education Priorities The goal of environmental education is to increase public awareness and knowledge about the Bay eventually resulting in behavioral change. Proposals should: 4 supplement and enhance environmental training for educators. expand environmental educational opportunities and the use of existing educational resources (curricula, publications, and field studies) in schools and community programs for students,