                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

GUIDING DEFINITION AND PRINCIPLES (§ 10.1-1196)

A. The Department, the Task Force and any advisory panels appointed by the Task
Force shall be guided by the following definition of watershed planning:
&#8220;Watershed planning&#8221; is the process of studying the environmental
and land use features of a watershed to identify those areas that should be
protected and preserved, measures to be utilized to protect such areas, and the
character of development in order to avoid and minimize disruption of natural
systems. Its focus is not on directing development to particular parcels of land
but rather to identify critical resources, and measures to protect those
resources, so that development, when it does occur, will not negatively impact
water resources. In so doing watershed planning uses and protects ecological
processes to lessen the need for structural control methods that require capital
costs and maintenance. By including consideration of a watershed and its
characteristics, cumulative impacts and interjurisdictional issues are more
effectively managed than when solely relying on single-site-permit approaches.
Watershed planning can be an important tool for maintaining environmental
integrity, economic development and watershed permitting.

B. The Department, the Task Force and any advisory panels appointed by the Task
Force shall be guided by the principles contained in the following statement:
Stream systems tend to reflect the character of the watershed they drain.
Unchecked physical conversion in a watershed accompanying urbanization leads to
degraded streams and wetlands. As urbanization continues to spread across the
state, natural vegetation, slope and water retention characteristics are
replaced by impervious surfaces disrupting the dynamic balance of the natural
hydrologic cycle. Poorly planned development can increase peak storm flows and
runoff volume, lower water quality and aesthetics, and cause flooding and
degradation of downstream communities and ecosystems.

HISTORY: 1995, c. 793.