Virginia Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP)
Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) serve as a roadmap for how the Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia, in collaboration with federal and local governments, will achieve the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Recently, the Bay states partnered with local stakeholders to develop the third phase of their WIPs.
The Phase III WIPs include updates to state and federal strategies and the identification of new pollutant reduction strategies, with a strong emphasis on sustained local engagement.
In Virginia, the TMDL mandates a 20.5% reduction in nitrogen, a 25.2% reduction in phosphorus, and a 20.8% reduction in sediment entering the bay. The goal is to implement cleanup practices, known as best management practices (BMPs), by 2025 in order to achieve a clean Chesapeake Bay and local waterways that meet established water quality standards. For additional information, you can access the Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP).
CVPDC Partners with DEQ to Advance Chesapeake Bay Phase III WIP
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has contracted CVPDC to coordinate the region’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The CVPDC is working in partnership with the Virginia DEQ and other stakeholders to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads affecting the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). This collaboration involves providing educational resources to the region and offering technical assistance to local governments and other stakeholders.
2025 Water Relief Mini Grant Program
The CVPDC Water Relief Mini Grant is a reimbursement grant program that offers up to $4,500 in funding for the completion of ready-to-implement Best Management Practices (BMP) projects to improve water quality and reduce runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding is available to localities and organizations within the four-county CVPDC region within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2025, or until all grant funds have been exhausted. Projects must be fully completed by December 31, 2025, to qualify for reimbursement.
The 2025 Water Relief Grant Guide: This guide details the grant's goals, requirements, eligible activities and timeline.
Download the 2025 Water Relief Grant Application:Submit the application and requested attachments to Deputy Planner Kelly Hitchcock at kelly.hitchcock@cvpdc.org. Important grant deadlines are below:
- Monday, June 30, 2025 – Final day to submit applications.
- Tuesday, December 31, 2025 – Project construction must be completed.
- Wednesday, January 7, 2026 – Project Completion Report submission deadline.
Grant Materials
2025 Water Relief Grant Application
2025 DEQ Webinar Series
The Virginia DEQ hosts free educational webinars throughout the year to share information about programs and resources available across the Commonwealth. Details and registration for each upcoming webinar can be found on the DEQ’s website under Education Series.
Upcoming Webinar
2019 CVPDC WIP Activities
DEQ Host BMP Warehouse Training Webinar – June 17, 2019
DEQ led a training webinar designed to introduce to local staff and citizens information on the DEQ BMP Warehouse, a tool that records programs, activities to reduce pollutant loads.
Region 2000 (PDC 11) WIP III Workbook - from CAST (August 2018)
2018 CVPDC WIP Activities
See Content Archives for Meeting and Presentation documents.
