|
 Virginia
Governor Mark Warner visited The Elizabeth River
Project's new waterfront facility to deliver
good news. He announced the formation of a major
new trust fund for the restoration of the
Elizabeth River.
Despite state budget constraints, the Governor
committed significant state funding to start The
Elizabeth River Restoration Trust.
"The Governor is taking a hero's step despite
Virginia's cash-strapped times," said Marjorie
Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director of The
Elizabeth River Project.
The new fund is being established by agreement
of the US Army Corp of Engineers, the Virginia
Department of Environmental Quality and The
Elizabeth River Project. The fund will provide
"a better mitigation option" for development
projects required to offset impacts to natural
resources in the Elizabeth River watershed.
Where impacts to the river cannot be avoided and
all due process has been followed, the Trust
will allow developers' mitigation dollars to
remain in the watershed, and to be spent to
implement a state-approved Watershed Action Plan
for the Elizabeth River.
The non-profit Elizabeth River Project has
established an independent organization to serve
as the Trust, with an independent board being
appointed by The Elizabeth River Project.
School children who study the river as River
Star Schools, officials of the four river
cities, staff and supporters of The Elizabeth
River Project (ERP) and others joined Governor
Warner in a symbolic ferry ride across the river
before touring ERP's new waterfront facility
next to the ferry dock. (Click on thumbnails
below to see photos.)
FAQs about the new Elizabeth River Restoration
Fund. |
