Policy on the #NNK

Two oyster ground private lease apps are before the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Application number 2023029, 3.23 acres in Little Bay, Lancaster County Application number 2023027, 3.22 acres in Antipoison Creek, Lancaster County Notices and maps are available on the VMRC website . The public may submit comments about the applications ( online comment form ).

Register for Ask the Alliance - Turtles of the Chesapeake Watershed: Strategies for Turtle Conservation on Your Property , taking place Thursday, August 24 via Zoom. This free Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay session will present ways that landowners can best manage their property to encourage the conservation of turtles and their habitat.

Northumberland County, via ecode360, recently sent an email with updates to the county code. Part II: General Legislation (modified) Chapter 72: Firearms (modified) Article II: (Reserved) (modified) § 72-4: through § 72-6. (Reserved) (modified) Article III: Firearms on Public Highways (modified) § 72-7: Unlawful possession. (modified) Chapter 79: Golf Carts (modified) Article I: Operation on Public Highways (modified) § 79-2: Designation of public highways for golf cart operation. (modified) Chapter 148: Zoning (modified) Article I: General Provisions (modified) § 148-3: Definitions and word usage. (modified) Article IV: Residential General District R-1 (modified) § 148-45.1: Livestock. (added) Article XIV: Additional Regulations (modified) § 148-153: Recreational vehicles. (modified) § 148-155.1: Tent camping. (added) Disposition List (modified) Chapter DL: Disposition List (modified) § DL-1: Disposition of legislation. (modified) ...

The VIMS Shoreline Decision Tool recommends effective erosion control practices for shorelines based on a user’s answers to a series of questions about the conditions of their shoreline. The tool includes definitions, graphics, and photos to help explain suggested recommendations. Free.

On July 10, Gov. Youngkin announced the “establishment of the Virginia Security Corridor partnership and award of two federal Sentinel Landscape designations in eastern Virginia.” The two are the Potomac Sentinel Landscape to the west of the Rappahannock River and the Tidewater Sentinel Landscape. According to the press release, The designations will strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, and build working lands through integration of federal, state, local, and non-governmental partnerships. The partnerships advance mutually beneficial land-use initiatives that complement Virginia’s military, forestry, agriculture, and recreation economies by connecting landowners with voluntary conservation easement assistance programs. The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership was founded in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, and Department of the Interior. It seeks to prevent encroachment on military missions, increase working lands, build resil...

Tourism-oriented businesses are invited to the NNK250 Expanded Stakeholder Summit taking place July 21 to learn about two important elements of the commemoration. First, the co-branding opportunities with the themes to be used for the different years of the commemoration. Second, what grant opportunities are available at the state level. Deets below.

It’s hurricane season and you’re reading headlines and predictions and are confused as all get out. Which organizations should you trust? Who's got the chops to get it right? Which hurricane models should you trust in 2023? How the models did last year, what’s new this year – and why you should pay the most heed to the National Hurricane Center forecast. to your rescue. Article authors Jeff Masters and Bob Henson write: It’s always been the case that a particular forecast model may outperform the official NHC forecast in some situations. However, the 2022 NHC Forecast Verification Report reiterates a longstanding truth: overall, it is very difficult for any one model to consistently beat the NHC forecasts for track and for intensity.

VIMS Shoreline Assessment Tools 101 webinar , August 2 from 10a-Noon, is for shoreline professionals, but anyone interested, such as HOAs or environmental advocates, is more than welcome to participate. Writes VIMS, Learn how the best available science for shoreline and resilience assessments is delivered through desktop maps and models by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science VIMS. Watch and learn how these tools can be applied to different types of shoreline assessments. Hear why familiar tools are changed to new platforms as better user-friendly functions become available. Topics include finding data and maps and interpreting future shoreline condition forecasts. Free.

Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather & Climate Research Group On July 6, Colorado State University’s Tropical Weather & Climate Research Group released their updated forecast for 2023 hurricane activity ( July 6, 2023 2023 forecast (PDF)). The group is now anticipating above average activity. They write: We have increased our forecast and now call for an above-average Atlantic basin hurricane season in 2023, although uncertainty with this outlook is larger than normal. While we continue to anticipate a robust El Niño for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, most of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic now has record warm sea surface temperatures. . . The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be above the long-period average. The Tropical Weather & Climate Research Group has increased their predictions twice since the first of 2023 in April. The next CSU forecast will be released August 3. Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) Tropi...

More laws/changes went into effect July 1 than were summarized in New laws in effect July 1, links and highlights . Additional ones include: Financial institutions to furnish certain information as part of adult protective services investigation. Chapter 23.3. Common Interest Communities Article 1. Common Interest Community Board Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program.

Must read: New Laws going into effect tomorrow, July 1! Highlights: Notification of Bullying : Requires schools to inform parents within 24 hours if their child is involved in an alleged bullying incident. HB 1592 SB 1072 Absentee Ballots : Removes the witness signature requirement on mail ballots and instead requires those voting by mail to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number. HB 1948 Firearm Safety Tax Credit : Creates an income tax credit of up to $300 for the purchase of firearm safety devices, including gun safes and locks, for taxable years 2023 through 2027. HB 2387 FOIA Fees : Requires public bodies to list fee assessments and pricing for Freedom of Information Act requests, either on their website or in a written policy. HB 2007 Local Housing Policies : Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct a housing needs assessment for the state every five years, along with a housing plan. Also requires localities to...