Virginia Law

A. At a minimum, Resource Protection Areas shall consist of lands adjacent to water bodies with perennial flow that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts which may cause significant degradation to the quality of state waters. In their natural condition, these lands provide for the removal, reduction or assimilation of sediments, nutrients and potentially harmful or toxic substances in runoff entering the bay and its tributaries, and minimize the adverse effects of human activities on state waters and aquatic resources.

B. The Resource Protection Area shall include:

1. Tidal wetlands;

2. Nontidal wetlands connected by surface flow and contiguous to tidal wetlands or water bodies with perennial flow;

3. Tidal shores; and

4. Such other lands considered by the local government to meet the provisions of subsection A of this section and to be necessary to protect the quality of state waters.

5. A buffer area not less than 100 feet in width located adjacent to and landward of the components listed in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection, and along both sides of any water body with perennial flow. The full buffer area shall be designated as the landward component of the Resource Protection Area notwithstanding the presence of permitted uses, encroachments, and permitted vegetation clearing in compliance with Part IV (9VAC25-830-120 et seq.) of this chapter.

C. Designation of the components listed in subdivisions 1 through 4 of subsection B of this section shall not be subject to modification unless based on reliable, site-specific information as provided for in 9VAC25-830-110 and subdivision 6 of 9VAC25-830-140.

D. For the purpose of generally determining whether water bodies have perennial flow, local governments may use one of the following methods as long as the methodology is adopted into the local program and applied consistently: (i) designation of water bodies depicted as perennial on the most recent U.S. Geological Survey 7-1/2 minute topographic quadrangle map (scale 1:24,000) or (ii) use of a scientifically valid system of in-field indicators of perennial flow. However, site-specific determinations shall be made or confirmed by the local government pursuant to 9VAC25-830-110.

E. A locality is not required to designate a Resource Protection Area adjacent to a daylighted stream. However, a locality that elects not to designate a Resource Protection Area adjacent to a daylighted stream shall use a water quality assessment as identified in subdivision 6 of 9VAC25-830-140 to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to the daylighted stream do not result in the degradation of the stream. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that practices on properties adjacent to daylighted streams are effective in retarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source pollution.