This could be VA’s biggest investment in clean water ever!

For decades, we’ve worked together to restore the James River and the Chesapeake Bay by preventing pollution from reaching our waterways. However, reports show that the Commonwealth is not on track to meeting our clean water goals by our target date of 2025. We must accelerate our progress by investing in the pollution prevention programs that protect our rivers and streams.

As the General Assembly prepares to take up the 2023-2024 State Budget, we have the opportunity to make this the biggest investment in clean water that we’ve ever seen. And it comes at a critical time. To meet our goals for a healthier James River and a restored Chesapeake Bay, we need to invest in the programs and practices that will make a difference for clean water throughout our watershed:

-$137 million for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program to fully fund the program and help farmers protect their local streams through conservation practices.
-$237 million wastewater treatment upgrades to fulfill the requirements of the Enhanced Nutrient Reduction Certainty Program;
-$80 million per year for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to help communities reduce runoff pollution and prevent flooding;
-$100 million to end polluted overflows from Richmond’s combined sewer system;
-$2 million in FY2024 to improve Harrison Lake Fish Hatchery and increase its capacity for freshwater mussel restoration;
-At least $200 million equitable distributed across the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund and the Community Flood Preparedness Fund for resilient planning and projects across the Commonwealth;
-As well as full funding for multi-use trails and land conservation, including farmland, battlefields, and lands and cultural sites significant to BIPOC communities and Virginia tribes.