On December 9, 2009, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (SWCB) unanimously adopted the final stormwater management regulations (see Governor Kaine's press release), which will be effective on July 1, 2010. One significant change was made relative to the version approved on October 5, 2009 (see Field Notes Vol. 17 No. 7) – raising the baseline pollutant load from 0.28 to 0.45 pounds of Total Phosphorus (TP) per acre per year for stormwater runoff from new development activities.

On November 6, 2009, Loudoun County introduced to the public a draft of its proposed Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance (see Field Notes Vol. 17 No. 7) for public review and discussion at the second Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Stakeholders Roundtable on December 3, 2009. The first Planning Commission hearing is tentatively scheduled for January 28, 2010.

On December 9, 2009, the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board (VSWCB) unanimously adopted the final stormwater management regulations, which will be effective on July 1, 2010. (See "DCR Adopts Stormwater Regulations" article.) The new regulations mandate a statewide maximum total phosphorus (TP) loading rate of 0.45 lb/ac/yr. Prince William and Fairfax Counties have historically managed TP by reducing the post-development load on a percentage basis (40% in Fairfax County outside the Occoquan watershed and 50% elsewhere in Fairfax and Prince William Counties) using the "Occoquan Method" (vs. the VSMH method that most other localities use). Interestingly, this new statewide maximum load will require greater stormwater control at higher development densities but less control at lower densities.

Property managers, homeowner associations, builders, park managers, and public works officials often are faced with the problems of resident Canada geese – landscape defoliation, geese excrement covered walkways and lawns, and algae blooms from high pollutant loadings. On January 19, 2010, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, WSSI will host a seminar on how to deal with this problem.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission is seeking input from stakeholders regarding proposed revisions to the County's Environmental Quality Corridor (EQC) Policy. Since February, the Planning Commission Environment Committee has met several times to review how best to modify the EQC policy to allow for encroachments in certain cases (see Field Notes Vol. 17 No. 2, and Field Notes Vol. 17 No. 5 for additional background). A revised strawman draft Plan Amendment is available for review and comment.

The update of the Prince William County Environment Chapter is in process (see Field Notes Vol. 17 No. 5) but not expected to be completed until early summer 2010 due to the need to finalize the land use chapter and the extent of public comments. To better understand the implications of the proposed changes, the Planning Commission invited the Northern Virginia National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA) to a joint work session on November 12, 2009, which was very productive for all parties. Hopefully, a second workshop will occur this spring.

In light of the recent changes to the Virginia stormwater management regulations and the upcoming Chesapeake Bay TMDL regulations, WSSI is pleased to announce that it has added site sustainability consulting and design to its palette of natural and cultural resources services. The creation of WSSI's Sustainability Department formalizes over five years of providing consultation on various aspects of low impact development, green building, and stormwater design.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) is now an approved rating system with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED-ND combines green building and smart growth principles into a nationally recognized system for neighborhood design. LEED-ND certification documents that a development's location and design have met the national standards set for an environmentally responsible and sustainable development. Through this certification process, LEED-ND will recognize those development projects that define smart growth, protect the natural environment, provide efficient energy and water use, and enhance the community's overall quality of life.

Wheelin' Sportsmen Event December 10, 2009 On December 10, 2009 WSSI joined forces with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to help sponsor a Wheelin' Sportsmen deer hunt. The hunt was held at Conway-Robinson State Forest, which is located on Route 29 in Gainesville, Virginia. Wheelin' Sportsmen, an outreach program of the NWTF, provides people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and shooting.

At a November 12th award luncheon at the Hilton Washington D.C./Rockville Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, SmartCEO Magazine named WSSI President Mike Rolband as the 2009 EcoCEO in the Mid-Sized Implementer category. SmartCEO is a regional publication focused on educating and inspiring local business leaders, and the EcoCEO award honors CEOs of companies who are catalysts for change toward environmental excellence.