{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/28.2-1103.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/28.2-1103.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/28.2-1103.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/28.2-1103.html"}],"law_id":71667,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71667,"structure_id":15964,"section_number":"28.2-1103","catch_line":"Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System created; purpose; Virginia Institute of Marine Science to administer","history":"1999, c. 553; 2005, c. 41; 2020, c. 958.","full_text":"A\n\nThere is hereby created the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System (the System) for the purpose of establishing a system of protected sites representative of the Commonwealth’s estuarine and coastal lands in which research and long-term monitoring will be conducted in support of the Commonwealth’s coastal resource management efforts.B\n\nThe System shall be established and administered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary in Virginia. The Institute shall consult with and seek the advice of the Virginia Coastal Program and of those state agencies responsible for administering programs of the Virginia Coastal Program; the Marine Resources Commission; the Department of Wildlife Resources; the Department of Conservation and Recreation; the Department of Health; and the Department of Environmental Quality.C\n\nSites included within the System shall be within any jurisdiction included in Tidewater Virginia as defined in § 62.1-44.15:68.D\n\nThe Institute may accept the dedication, by voluntary act of the owner, of areas it deems suitable for the System. Dedication may include transfer of fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth or may be in the form of voluntary agreement with the owner to include the area within the System. Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites may also be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.E\n\nThe instrument of dedication may:1\n\nContain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article;2\n\nDefine, consistent with the purposes of the article, the respective rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restriction;3\n\nRecognize and create reversionary right, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and4\n\nVary in provisions from one System site to another, in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.F\n\nPublic departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions may enter into agreements with the Institute to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdictions as Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites.G\n\nSubject to the approval of the Governor and the Attorney General, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area that is inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If a fee simple estate in the Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System is not held by the Institute under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein.H\n\nThe Institute is empowered to enter into agreements with federal agencies holding title to lands within Tidewater Virginia to include suitable portions of agency holdings in the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System.I\n\nAll lands within the system shall be used primarily for research and education. Other public uses such as hunting and recreation on those research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be allowed, consistent with these primary uses. Improvements and alterations to research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be limited to those consistent with these uses.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258232,"text":"There is hereby created the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System (the System) for the purpose of establishing a system of protected sites representative of the Commonwealth’s estuarine and coastal lands in which research and long-term monitoring will be conducted in support of the Commonwealth’s coastal resource management efforts.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":258233,"text":"The System shall be established and administered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary in Virginia. The Institute shall consult with and seek the advice of the Virginia Coastal Program and of those state agencies responsible for administering programs of the Virginia Coastal Program; the Marine Resources Commission; the Department of Wildlife Resources; the Department of Conservation and Recreation; the Department of Health; and the Department of Environmental Quality.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":258234,"text":"Sites included within the System shall be within any jurisdiction included in Tidewater Virginia as defined in § 62.1-44.15:68.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":258235,"text":"The Institute may accept the dedication, by voluntary act of the owner, of areas it deems suitable for the System. Dedication may include transfer of fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth or may be in the form of voluntary agreement with the owner to include the area within the System. Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites may also be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":258236,"text":"The instrument of dedication may:","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"E1"},"5":{"id":258237,"text":"Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article;","type":"section","prefixes":["E","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"E1","prefix_anchor":"E1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"E2"},"6":{"id":258238,"text":"Define, consistent with the purposes of the article, the respective rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restriction;","type":"section","prefixes":["E","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"E2","prefix_anchor":"E2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"E1","next_prefix":"E3"},"7":{"id":258239,"text":"Recognize and create reversionary right, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and","type":"section","prefixes":["E","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"E3","prefix_anchor":"E3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"E2","next_prefix":"E4"},"8":{"id":258240,"text":"Vary in provisions from one System site to another, in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.","type":"section","prefixes":["E","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"E4","prefix_anchor":"E4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"E3","next_prefix":"F"},"9":{"id":258241,"text":"Public departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions may enter into agreements with the Institute to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdictions as Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E4","next_prefix":"G"},"10":{"id":258242,"text":"Subject to the approval of the Governor and the Attorney General, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area that is inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If a fee simple estate in the Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System is not held by the Institute under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"11":{"id":258243,"text":"The Institute is empowered to enter into agreements with federal agencies holding title to lands within Tidewater Virginia to include suitable portions of agency holdings in the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"12":{"id":258244,"text":"All lands within the system shall be used primarily for research and education. Other public uses such as hunting and recreation on those research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be allowed, consistent with these primary uses. Improvements and alterations to research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be limited to those consistent with these uses.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15964,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":15259,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:02:46","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:02:46","permalink":{"id":190737,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15964,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2","url":"\/28.2\/II\/11\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":15259,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Institute of Marine Science","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12814,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:24","permalink":{"id":190721,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15259,"identifier":"11","token":"28.2\/II\/11","url":"\/28.2\/II\/11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12814,"edition_id":1,"name":"Tidal Fisheries","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12813,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12814,"identifier":"II","token":"28.2\/II","url":"\/28.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12813,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190589,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12813,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71667,"structure_id":15964,"section_number":"28.2-1103","catch_line":"Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System created; purpose; Virginia Institute of Marine Science to administer","url":"\/28.2-1103\/","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2\/28.2-1103","metadata":false},{"id":62185,"structure_id":15964,"section_number":"28.2-1104","catch_line":"Coordination","url":"\/28.2-1104\/","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2\/28.2-1104","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":62185,"structure_id":15964,"section_number":"28.2-1104","catch_line":"Coordination","url":"\/28.2-1104\/","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2\/28.2-1104","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-1103\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 553<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2005, chapter 41<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 958<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":190739,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71667,"identifier":"28.2-1103","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2\/28.2-1103","url":"\/28.2-1103\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-1103\/","token":"28.2\/II\/11\/2\/28.2-1103","dublin_core":{"Title":"Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System created; purpose; Virginia Institute of Marine Science to administer","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-1103","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> There is hereby created the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System (the System) for the purpose of establishing a system of protected sites representative of the Commonwealth’s estuarine and coastal lands in which research and long-term monitoring will be conducted in support of the Commonwealth’s coastal resource management efforts. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The System shall be established and administered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of The College of William and Mary in Virginia. The Institute shall consult with and seek the advice of the Virginia Coastal Program and of those state agencies responsible for administering programs of the Virginia Coastal Program; the Marine Resources Commission<\/span>; the Department of Wildlife Resources; the Department of Conservation and Recreation; the Department of Health; and the Department of Environmental Quality. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Sites included within the System shall be within any jurisdiction<\/span> included in Tidewater Virginia<\/span> as defined in § 62.1-44.15:68<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Institute may accept the dedication, by voluntary act of the owner, of areas it deems suitable for the System. Dedication may include transfer of fee simple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth or may be in the form of voluntary agreement with the owner to include the area within the System. Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites may also be acquired by gift, grant, or purchase. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The instrument of dedication may: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use, development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the purposes of this article; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Define, consistent with the purposes of the article, the respective rights and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be followed in case of violations of the restriction; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Recognize and create reversionary right, transfers upon conditions or with limitations, and gifts over; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Vary in provisions from one System site to another, in accordance with differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Public departments, commissions<\/span>, boards, counties, municipalities, corporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and instrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions may enter into agreements with the Institute to dedicate suitable areas within their jurisdictions<\/span> as Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Subject to the approval of the Governor and the Attorney General<\/span>, the Commonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon finding<\/span> that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or development of the area that is inconsistent with the provisions of this article. If a fee simple estate in the Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System is not held by the Institute under this article, no amendment may be made without the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> The Institute is empowered to enter into agreements with federal agencies holding title to lands within Tidewater Virginia<\/span> to include suitable portions of agency holdings in the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> All lands within the system shall be used primarily for research and education. Other public uses such as hunting and recreation on those research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be allowed, consistent with these primary uses. Improvements and alterations to research reserve lands owned by the Institute shall be limited to those consistent with these uses. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIRGINIA ESTUARINE AND COASTAL RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM CREATED; PURPOSE;\nVIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE TO ADMINISTER (\u00a7 28.2-1103)\n\nA. There is hereby created the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve\nSystem (the System) for the purpose of establishing a system of protected sites\nrepresentative of the Commonwealth’s estuarine and coastal lands in which\nresearch and long-term monitoring will be conducted in support of the\nCommonwealth’s coastal resource management efforts.\n\nB. The System shall be established and administered by the Virginia Institute of\nMarine Science of The College of William and Mary in Virginia. The Institute\nshall consult with and seek the advice of the Virginia Coastal Program and of\nthose state agencies responsible for administering programs of the Virginia\nCoastal Program; the Marine Resources Commission; the Department of Wildlife\nResources; the Department of Conservation and Recreation; the Department of\nHealth; and the Department of Environmental Quality.\n\nC. Sites included within the System shall be within any jurisdiction included in\nTidewater Virginia as defined in § 62.1-44.15:68.\n\nD. The Institute may accept the dedication, by voluntary act of the owner, of\nareas it deems suitable for the System. Dedication may include transfer of fee\nsimple title or other interest in land to the Commonwealth or may be in the form\nof voluntary agreement with the owner to include the area within the System.\nEstuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites may also be acquired by\ngift, grant, or purchase.\n\nE. The instrument of dedication may:\n\n 1. Contain restrictions and other provisions relating to management, use,\n development, transfer, and public access, and may contain any other\n restrictions and provisions as may be necessary or advisable to further the\n purposes of this article;\n\n 2. Define, consistent with the purposes of the article, the respective rights\n and duties of the owner and of the Commonwealth and provide procedures to be\n followed in case of violations of the restriction;\n\n 3. Recognize and create reversionary right, transfers upon conditions or with\n limitations, and gifts over; and\n\n 4. Vary in provisions from one System site to another, in accordance with\n differences in the characteristics and conditions of the several areas.\n\nF. Public departments, commissions, boards, counties, municipalities,\ncorporations, and institutions of higher education and all other agencies and\ninstrumentalities of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions may enter\ninto agreements with the Institute to dedicate suitable areas within their\njurisdictions as Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System sites.\n\nG. Subject to the approval of the Governor and the Attorney General, the\nCommonwealth may enter into amendments to the instrument of dedication upon\nfinding that the amendment will not permit an impairment, disturbance, use, or\ndevelopment of the area that is inconsistent with the provisions of this\narticle. If a fee simple estate in the Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve\nSystem is not held by the Institute under this article, no amendment may be made\nwithout the written consent of the owner of the other interests therein.\n\nH. The Institute is empowered to enter into agreements with federal agencies\nholding title to lands within Tidewater Virginia to include suitable portions of\nagency holdings in the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Research Reserve System.\n\nI. All lands within the system shall be used primarily for research and\neducation. Other public uses such as hunting and recreation on those research\nreserve lands owned by the Institute shall be allowed, consistent with these\nprimary uses. Improvements and alterations to research reserve lands owned by\nthe Institute shall be limited to those consistent with these uses.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, c. 553; 2005, c. 41; 2020, c. 958.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}