 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.
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