1. Commonwealth of Virginia
Local Government Engagement and Communication Strategy
Presented by: Joan Salvati, Manager, Local Government Assistance Programs (LGAP)
October 5, 2017
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2. Jurisdiction-specific Considerations
Local governments will play a key role in the Phase III WIP
Other key partners will include Soil & Water Conservation Districts; Health Districts and local stakeholders
Engagement of local partners likely through regional entities (Planning District Commissions; Soil & Water Conservation District Areas)
Challenge in gaining participation of non-MS4 localities
Need BMPs and implementation strategies from localities, Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), Health Districts
What are the unique characteristics of your jurisdiction as it relates to the challenge of effectively engaging local governments in your Phase III WIP development? For example,
What is the relative importance of local government in achieving pollutant reduction targets in your jurisdiction?
What do you need from local governments during WIP development and implementation?
What information do local government officials and staff need to be effective partners in WIP development? Implementation?
What is your timeline for communication and engagement?
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Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy

3. Appendix C
Draft DEQ Phase III WIP Development Timeline – based on EPA Revised WIP III/Midpoint Assessment schedule
New Administration
2017
2018
General Assembly Session
Key Tasks
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Local engagement & outreach events – includes elected official round tables conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Program Local Govt. Advisory Committee
Virginia Association of Counties/Virginia Municipal League Regional Meetings for elected officials
Kick off elected Official Round
Table
Phase III WIP Workshop for local & regional staff & stakeholders to discuss process, examples
Elected Official Round
Table #2
1st round regional work session to discuss local area goals
2nd round regional work sessions
Elected Official Round
Table #3
Elected Official Round
Table #4
Elected Official Round
Table #5
Model “fatal” flaw identification & resolution; DEQ assesses appropriate scale of local planning goals; Phase 6 model approved
Tentative
Tentative
Jun – Sept, 2017
Release of draft Planning Targets, DEQ review of targets & development of methodologies to convert planning targets to local area planning goals
Tentative
Oct 31, 2017 – Feb 28, 2018
Release of final planning targets; DEQ subdivides planning targets to local area planning scale
Mar 30 – Apr 30
Seek input from Chesapeake Bay SAG on local planning goals – Oct., Dec., Feb.
Oct
Dec
Feb
CAST training for local/regional entities & stakeholders
CAST training for State agency staff & local entities that choose to receive CAST training
CAST training for State agency staff
Oct - Nov
Feb – Mar
Local/regional entities & stakeholders review BMPs & develop implementing strategies for Phase III WIP
Feb – Oct
On-going drafting of Phase III WIP document
Feb - Oct
DEQ builds Phase III WIP input decks from local BMP info and implementing strategies
Aug - Oct
Submit draft Phase III WIP for Executive Review
Nov
Submit draft Phase III WIP
Dec

4. Virginia DEQ Phase III WIP Development Timeline Notes
Based on EPA’s adjusted WIP III/MPA timeline
Timeline accounts for adjustment of date for receipt of final planning targets from December, 2017 to March, 2018
Includes key tasks DEQ has to undertake once final planning targets are received in March, 2018:
subdivision of planning targets to local area planning goals
review of local goals by SAG
building input decks once local strategies/BMPs are received
executive review of draft Phase IIII WIP
Allows for the development of local/region implementation strategies to begin before the receipt of the Planning Targets
Includes drafting of the Phase III WIP concurrently with other key tasks

5. Engagement and Communication Goals
Update local governments, regional entities, federal agencies and stakeholders on key EPA & State decisions
Convey specific EPA expectations for the Phase III WIPs
Provide suite of tools to promote development of new local implementation strategies
Engagement = 2-way exchange; Communication = 1-way
What does your jurisdiction hope to achieve by implementing this local engagement strategy?
Examples may include:
Satisfy EPA Expectations regarding local engagement.
Increase public conversation about the need for reduced pollution.
Communicate key policy and technical decisions related to the WIPs, including timing and impact of model
Raise public awareness of WIP development and Bay restoration efforts
Identify what pollution reduction is already being done
Identify gaps and strategies to fill gaps that might yield multiple benefits
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Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy

6. Target Audiences Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)
Local governments
Planning District Commissions (PDCs)
Health Districts
Virginia Association of Counties; Virginia Municipal League; Association of SWCDs; Association of PDCs
Stakeholder groups: Farm Bureau; Homebuilders Assoc.; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Chesapeake Bay Commission; James River Assoc.; local stakeholders
Describe the specific audiences you need to target, e.g. local leaders (officials and other leaders), local government staff (practitioners), associations of municipalities and counties, technical service providers, soil and water conservation districts)
Briefly explain the role of each target audience in your process.
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Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy

7. Key Messages Why you? Why now?
Nutrients and sediment from urban, agricultural, and septic sources contribute to water quality problems in the Chesapeake Bay AND to local waters within your jurisdictions
Opportunity to build on local programs currently underway or under design to improve the quality of local waters
Opportunity to address local water quality issues and other community issues at the same time
What are the topics that are most important to communicate in your jurisdiction?
Examples may include:
Communities benefit economically and environmentally when local waterways are clean
Local governments should be actively involved in Phase III WIPs so they can tie-in their own local priorities and constraints
Local governments need to identify what resources they need so the Bay Program partnership can help
Local governments can take credit for practices and programs they are already doing
The Bay Model has improved, reflecting more refined local land use data
Tools are available to help implementation planning and decision-making processes for BMP funding, targeting, and implementation
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Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy

8. Key Messengers/Trusted Sources
Virginia Association of Counties (VACo)
Virginia Municipal League (VML)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Commission
Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
Departments of Environmental Quality, Conservation & Recreation, Health & Forestry
Federal agencies
List the entities that you will enlist to help you implement this strategy and note whether they’ve committed to assisting with communication and engagement or not.
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Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy

9. Roles, Resources, and Capacity
“Identify, verify, report, and develop”
Engage in WIP Planning effort – participate at meetings
Identify, verify and report implemented practices - BMP warehouse, Construction General Permit data base, DCR agricultural BMP data base
Meet permitting and program requirements
Identify what pollutant reductions are already being achieved/planned for in various programs
Develop local water quality strategies that yield multiple benefits
Take advantage of funding opportunities
Localities and SWCDs report inadequate capacity for both Phase III WIP Planning & Implementation
Briefly describe the role of federal, state, regional and local partners in the development and implementation of your WIP
Identify any gaps in resources available to you to implement your local engagement strategy
Enter jurisdiction name
Commonwealth of Virginia Local Government
Engagement and Communication Strategy