{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/29.1-579.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/29.1-579.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/29.1-579.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/29.1-579.html"}],"law_id":86267,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86267,"structure_id":16100,"section_number":"29.1-579","catch_line":"Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; adoption","history":"2020, cc. 323, 672; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 401, 498.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, shall create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.B\n\nThe Plan shall:1\n\nIdentify wildlife corridors, existing or planned barriers to movement along such corridors, and areas with a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The Plan shall list habitat that is identified as of high quality for priority species and ecosystem health; migration routes of native, game, and migratory species using the best available science and Department surveys, including landscape-scale data from the ConserveVirginia database or a similar land conservation strategy database maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation; lands containing a high prevalence of existing human barriers, including roads, dams, power lines, and pipelines; areas identified as of high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions; habitat identified by the Department as being occupied by rare or at-risk species; and habitat identified as Critical Habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, P.L. 93-205, as amended.2\n\nPrioritize and recommend wildlife crossing projects intended to promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity. The Plan shall describe each such project and include descriptions of wildlife crossing infrastructure or other mitigation techniques recommended to meet Plan goals.3\n\nContain maps utilizing the ConserveVirginia public portal, or a similar land conservation strategy public portal maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and other relevant state databases that detail high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure and any other information necessary to meet the goals of the Plan.C\n\nThe Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly submit the Plan to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than September 1, 2022, and shall jointly submit an updated version of the Plan every four years thereafter.D\n\nThe Department shall assist state agencies and political subdivisions, and by request any federal agency, in considering and incorporating, where applicable, wildlife corridors and the recommendations of the Plan when developing any governmental strategic plan, map, or action. The Department shall publish the plan and any subsequent updates on its website.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":308965,"text":"The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, shall create a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":308966,"text":"The Plan shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":308967,"text":"Identify wildlife corridors, existing or planned barriers to movement along such corridors, and areas with a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The Plan shall list habitat that is identified as of high quality for priority species and ecosystem health; migration routes of native, game, and migratory species using the best available science and Department surveys, including landscape-scale data from the ConserveVirginia database or a similar land conservation strategy database maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation; lands containing a high prevalence of existing human barriers, including roads, dams, power lines, and pipelines; areas identified as of high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions; habitat identified by the Department as being occupied by rare or at-risk species; and habitat identified as Critical Habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, P.L. 93-205, as amended.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":308968,"text":"Prioritize and recommend wildlife crossing projects intended to promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity. The Plan shall describe each such project and include descriptions of wildlife crossing infrastructure or other mitigation techniques recommended to meet Plan goals.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":308969,"text":"Contain maps utilizing the ConserveVirginia public portal, or a similar land conservation strategy public portal maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and other relevant state databases that detail high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure and any other information necessary to meet the goals of the Plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":308970,"text":"The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly submit the Plan to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than September 1, 2022, and shall jointly submit an updated version of the Plan every four years thereafter.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":308971,"text":"The Department shall assist state agencies and political subdivisions, and by request any federal agency, in considering and incorporating, where applicable, wildlife corridors and the recommendations of the Plan when developing any governmental strategic plan, map, or action. The Department shall publish the plan and any subsequent updates on its website.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife Corridors","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13513,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:06:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:06:00","permalink":{"id":193385,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16100,"identifier":"8","token":"29.1\/5\/8","url":"\/29.1\/5\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13513,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife and Fish Laws","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12934,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:06","permalink":{"id":192967,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13513,"identifier":"5","token":"29.1\/5","url":"\/29.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12934,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating","identifier":"29.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":192277,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12934,"identifier":"29.1","token":"29.1","url":"\/29.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63536,"structure_id":16100,"section_number":"29.1-578","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/29.1-578\/","token":"29.1\/5\/8\/29.1-578","metadata":false},{"id":86267,"structure_id":16100,"section_number":"29.1-579","catch_line":"Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; adoption","url":"\/29.1-579\/","token":"29.1\/5\/8\/29.1-579","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63536,"structure_id":16100,"section_number":"29.1-578","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/29.1-578\/","token":"29.1\/5\/8\/29.1-578","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/29.1-579\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 323<\/a> and 672<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63451,"section_number":"10.1-207","catch_line":"Cooperation of other departments, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-207\/"},{"id":71190,"section_number":"33.2-353","catch_line":"Commonwealth Transportation Board to develop and update Statewide Transportation Plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/33.2-353\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":193391,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86267,"identifier":"29.1-579","token":"29.1\/5\/8\/29.1-579","url":"\/29.1-579\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/29.1-579\/","token":"29.1\/5\/8\/29.1-579","dublin_core":{"Title":"Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; adoption","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 29.1-579","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span>, in collaboration with the Department<\/span> of Transportation<\/span>, the Department<\/span> of Forestry, and the Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation, shall create a Wildlife Corridor<\/span> Action Plan<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Plan<\/span> shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Identify wildlife corridors<\/span>, existing or planned barriers to movement along such corridors, and areas with a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The Plan<\/span> shall list habitat that is identified as of high quality for priority species and ecosystem health; migration routes of native, game<\/span>, and migratory species using the best available science and Department<\/span> surveys, including landscape-scale data from the ConserveVirginia database or a similar land conservation strategy database maintained by the Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation; lands containing a high prevalence of existing human barriers, including roads, dams, power lines, and pipelines; areas identified as of high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions; habitat identified by the Department<\/span> as being occupied by rare or at-risk species; and habitat identified as Critical Habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, P.L. 93-205, as amended. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Prioritize and recommend wildlife crossing projects intended to promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity. The Plan<\/span> shall describe each such project and include descriptions of wildlife crossing infrastructure or other mitigation techniques recommended to meet Plan<\/span> goals. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Contain maps utilizing the ConserveVirginia public portal, or a similar land conservation strategy public portal maintained by the Department<\/span> of Conservation and Recreation, and other relevant state databases that detail high-priority areas for wildlife corridor<\/span> infrastructure and any other information necessary to meet the goals of the Plan<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Secretary of Transportation<\/span> shall jointly submit the Plan<\/span> to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than September 1, 2022, and shall jointly submit an updated version of the Plan<\/span> every four years thereafter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall assist state agencies and political subdivisions, and by request any federal agency, in considering and incorporating, where applicable, wildlife corridors<\/span> and the recommendations of the Plan<\/span> when developing any governmental strategic plan<\/span>, map, or action. The Department<\/span> shall publish the plan<\/span> and any subsequent updates on its website. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWILDLIFE CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN; ADOPTION (\u00a7 29.1-579)\n\nA. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, the\nDepartment of Forestry, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, shall\ncreate a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.\n\nB. The Plan shall:\n\n 1. Identify wildlife corridors, existing or planned barriers to movement along\n such corridors, and areas with a high risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The\n Plan shall list habitat that is identified as of high quality for priority\n species and ecosystem health; migration routes of native, game, and migratory\n species using the best available science and Department surveys, including\n landscape-scale data from the ConserveVirginia database or a similar land\n conservation strategy database maintained by the Department of Conservation\n and Recreation; lands containing a high prevalence of existing human barriers,\n including roads, dams, power lines, and pipelines; areas identified as of high\n risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions; habitat identified by the Department as\n being occupied by rare or at-risk species; and habitat identified as Critical\n Habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, P.L. 93-205, as\n amended.\n\n 2. Prioritize and recommend wildlife crossing projects intended to promote\n driver safety and wildlife connectivity. The Plan shall describe each such\n project and include descriptions of wildlife crossing infrastructure or other\n mitigation techniques recommended to meet Plan goals.\n\n 3. Contain maps utilizing the ConserveVirginia public portal, or a similar\n land conservation strategy public portal maintained by the Department of\n Conservation and Recreation, and other relevant state databases that detail\n high-priority areas for wildlife corridor infrastructure and any other\n information necessary to meet the goals of the Plan.\n\nC. The Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Secretary of\nTransportation shall jointly submit the Plan to the Chairs of the House\nCommittee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate\nCommittee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than\nSeptember 1, 2022, and shall jointly submit an updated version of the Plan every\nfour years thereafter.\n\nD. The Department shall assist state agencies and political subdivisions, and by\nrequest any federal agency, in considering and incorporating, where applicable,\nwildlife corridors and the recommendations of the Plan when developing any\ngovernmental strategic plan, map, or action. The Department shall publish the\nplan and any subsequent updates on its website.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, cc. 323, 672; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 401, 498.","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}}