Va. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Funds Stormwater Management Programs

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Cleaner water is a step closer to making its way to communities that need it in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is providing state and federal funds to develop local stormwater management programs.

There was a legislation passed in the 2012 session of the General Assembly requiring Virginia counties, cities and towns to create these local stormwater management programs.

A total of $1.62 million will fund these programs, and any county, city or town receiving one can expect anything from $10,000 to $100,000.

While some communities in the state already have these programs, there are actually some that do not have them but cannot receive these grants.

One of these includes Bridgewater.

According to Bridgewater Zoning Administrator David Nichols, if you have some type of program in place already, you cannot be eligible to receive the funds.

Nichols said the town could be using the money elsewhere because of its existing program.

The changes people can expect to see will be on their way.

“The first deadline is actually July 1, 2013, but as long as we’re making significant progress as far as implementing ordinances and implementing the program itself, then that deadline will be extended to July 1, 2014, so we have about a two-year window to get everything up and running,” said Nichols.

Preliminary applications for the grant must be postmarked by midnight on Sept. 7.

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