Virginia lawmakers made some of the strongest investments in recent years when it comes to flood protection, cleaner rivers and streams, and more hands-on outdoor learning in the compromise budget proposal announced Thursday.
The budget conference report released Feb. 20 by Virginia state legislators proposed investments in climate resiliency, environmental education, and significant investment in pollution reduction.
This House and Senate compromise on the state budget will now head the full House and Senate then Governor Youngkin for final approval.
Creating a Climate-Ready Commonwealth
- The proposed budget commits an additional $50 million dollars in general funds to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which is Virginia’s only dedicated climate change adaptation program. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund has helped communities around the Commonwealth begin to adapt to sea level rise and the costliest natural hazard: flooding.
Advancing Environmental Education
- The proposed budget includes an investment of $500,000 to support statewide competitive environmental education experiences grant program: This ensures that Virginia's youth meet state education standards and stay on par with neighboring states. The state’s current investments of just 30 cents per student in environmental education lags significantly behind neighboring states, falling 89.2% below Maryland ($2.78 per student) and 48.3% less than Pennsylvania (58 cents per student).
Protecting Keystone Species
- The proposed budget includes $250,000 to reduce the predatory pressure of the invasive blue catfish in Virginia waters: The invasive species are known to feed on native species like menhaden, striped bass, shad, and blue crabs, straining these critical fisheries populations.
- The proposed budget does not include funding for a critical study intended to answer long-standing questions about the Bay’s menhaden and the Commonwealth’s largest fishery.
Cleaner Water for Everyone
- The proposed budget includes a significant $40 million investment in the state’s Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF): Runoff from roofs, sidewalks, and roadways is a major source of harmful pollutants reaching our waterways. SLAF provides matching grants to localities for projects that reduce polluted runoff, such as stream restoration, rain gardens, and other retrofits.
- The proposed budget commits an additional $31 million to fully fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and $26 million to ensure we can fund agricultural best management practices in the years ahead: This is one of the highest investments for cleaner water in recent years in the state budget. Practices like fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and many others are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Chesapeake Bay and local streams. At the same time, many of Virginia’s sewage treatment facilities have made important progress in nutrient reductions in recent years due to investments made by the General Assembly.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford released the following statement:
“Virginians are speaking clearly. They want clean rivers and streams for their kids to enjoy, stronger defenses against devastating storms, and a healthy environment that supports our economy. Investing in these priorities isn't just good environmental policy, it's smart economic sense. A thriving natural environment means a thriving Virginia."
"These are investments that pay off for generations. We can't afford to wait until the next major storm hits or another waterway is polluted. Reactive measures are costly and often insufficient. We need proactive investments in climate change adaptation, pollution reduction, and environmental education.”
"The budget is a reflection of our priorities. We are grateful to see a proposed budget that invests in a sustainable future for Virginia—a future with clean water, resilient communities, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. This is what Virginians want, and it's what our future demands."
Virginia Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
[email protected]
804-258-1567
