LIS

Virginia Law

Administrative Code

Creating a Report: Check the sections you'd like to appear in the report, then use the "Create Report" button at the bottom of the page to generate your report. Once the report is generated you'll then have the option to download it as a pdf, print or email the report.

Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 20. Marine Resources Commission
Chapter 337. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) Transplantation Guidelines
11/23/2024

4VAC20-337-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission" means the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

"Donor bed" means a naturally occurring area of SAV growing on state-owned subaqueous bottom.

"Enhancement" means the increase in areal coverage or improvement in habitat quality of existing SAV beds.

"Mitigation" means activities such as enhancement and restoration that are undertaken to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects on SAV by permitted projects.

"Restoration" means the return of SAV to unvegetated bottom that historically supported SAV.

"Submerged aquatic vegetation" or "SAV" means any of a diverse assemblage of underwater plants found in the shoal areas of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, coastal bays and river tributaries, primarily eelgrass (Zostera marina) and widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima), and including but not limited to Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), redhead grass (Potamogeton perfoliatus), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), common elodea (Elodea canadensis), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), water-weed (Egeria densa), muskgrass (Najas minor), pondweeds (Potamogeton sp.), and naiads (Najas sp.).

"Test plot" means a small area where transplanted SAV can be monitored to demonstrate the likelihood of success of larger-scale planting efforts.

"Transplantation" means the removal of SAV from a donor bed or nursery-grown location in order to relocate the plants to other areas that historically supported, or have the potential to support, SAV populations for enhancement or restoration purposes.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 5, eff. November 1, 2000.

Website addresses provided in the Virginia Administrative Code to documents incorporated by reference are for the reader's convenience only, may not necessarily be active or current, and should not be relied upon. To ensure the information incorporated by reference is accurate, the reader is encouraged to use the source document described in the regulation.

As a service to the public, the Virginia Administrative Code is provided online by the Virginia General Assembly. We are unable to answer legal questions or respond to requests for legal advice, including application of law to specific fact. To understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult an attorney.