Benefits of Citizen Science

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• Benefits of Citizen Science
• over Regulation

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Article XI, Virginias Constitution

• To the end that the people have clean air, pure
  water, and the use and enjoyment for recreation
  of adequate public lands, water and other natural
  resources, it shall be the policy of the
  Commonwealth to conserve, develop and utilize its
  natural resources, its public lands and its
  historical sites and buildings.
• Further, it shall be the Commonwealths policy to
  protect its atmosphere, lands and water from
  pollution, impairment or destruction for the
  benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of the
  people of the Commonwealth.

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Code of Virginia 10.1-2135

• Created by the 2005 General Assembly, the FVNR
  was charged to promote conservation education,
  pollution prevention volunteer monitoring by
• assisting to develop and encourage non-regulatory
  programs, and
• fostering collaboration partnerships.

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Trustees of FVNR

• From the perspective of watersheds, the citizen
  Trustees were selected from the 13 river basins
  of Virginia.

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Board of Trustees

• Tennessee (Edward H. Davis Emory)
• Big Sandy River (David T. Larimer II Tazewell)
• New River (open)
• Roanoke River (Kimberly H. Chiapetto Floyd)
• Shenandoah River (Agnes Dowdy Anderson
  Altavista)
• Potomac River (Laura McNichol Herndon)
• Rappahannock River (Roderic H. Slayton Orange)
• York River (R. Lee Stephens Jr. Irvington)
• James River
• Upper James River (Jay Gilliam Raphine)
• Piedmont James River (James W. Garner North
  Garden)
• Lower James River (Shelly S. Butler-Barlow
  Suffolk)
• Eastern Shore (Eleanor Weston Brown
  Pungoteague)
• Secretary of Natural Resources, Honorable Preston
  Bryant
• Secretary of Agriculture Forestry, Honorable
  Robert Bloxom

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Vision

• We envision enhanced natural resources
  conservation for the Commonwealth through
  complementary efforts by diverse sectors and
  collaboration through a strategic,
  watershed-based approach.

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Our Vision is that FVNR will

• facilitate citizens, businesses, conservation
  groups and governments to enhance natural
  resources
• provide opportunities to highlight positive
  environmental improvements
• provide a centralized entity for effective and
  efficient coordination of needs and available
  resources
• establish a sustained and flexible funding source
  for natural resource conservation.

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Mission Statement

• Facilitate
• Broker
• Celebrate
• A NATURAL RESOURCES PHILANTHROPY FOR VIRGINIA

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Mission

• This bold mission will change our culture from
  government dependence to community-wide
  partnerships. It will take us beyond monetary
  thinking to the empowerment of citizens,
  businesses, civic groups and localities as they
  are involved in our future natural resource
  efforts.

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Goals

• GOAL I We will invest in needed natural resource
  programs and projects that encourage
  private-public partnerships.
• GOAL II We will enable businesses, communities,
  and conservation organizations to match the needs
  and available resources necessary for positive
  results.
• GOAL III We will identify and highlight those
  businesses, communities, citizens and
  organizations which have effectively and
  efficiently supported the mission and purpose of
  the foundation.
• GOAL IV We will inspire trust by the way we
  operate and manage our resources.

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Objectives of FVNR Goals

• The goal structure will be dynamic and
  transparent. The Foundation will report to the
  Governor and the General Assembly biannually with
  the goals, accomplishments and progress.
• These goals were developed based on the principle
  that the Foundation is to enhance natural
  resource conservation not duplicate or compete
  with those successful ventures already underway.

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We Need You!

• Our goals should not be viewed as endeavors and
  responsibilities of the Foundation and Board of
  Trustees. They are an invitation to every
  citizen, business, community and organization to
  join this unprecedented opportunity.
• The Foundation for Virginias Natural Resources
  will target its services to those interested in
  the environment of Virginia, particularly focused
  on two groups those who wish to invest in
  Virginias environment and those who strive to
  provide services that will improve Virginias
  environment.

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Budget Rollercoaster

• October 2, 2007
• Dear Citizen Monitoring Grant Applicants for
  2008,
• As many of you may already know, the Virginia
  state government is facing over a 600 million
  dollar budget shortfall for fiscal year 2008. On
  Monday, Governor Tim Kaine released proposed
  budget cuts to make up part of this shortfall.
  Virginia DEQ Water Quality Monitoring Programs
  were cut a total of almost 900,000, including
  financial support for the Citizen Monitoring
  Grant Program.
• We regret to inform you that we are unable to
  provide grant awards for 2008. This is only the
  second time in the ten year history of the
  Citizen Monitoring Grant Program that funding has
  been unavailable. We hope and expect to be able
  to resume providing grant funding in future
  years. We shall keep all applications for 2008 on
  file until funding again becomes available.
• If there are any questions, please let me know.
• Sincerely,
• James Beckley
• Department of Environmental Quality
• Water Quality Data Liaison

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Governors Budget Request, 2008

• Development Consultants 75,000
• The Foundation needs professional expertise
  beyond what currently is available from the
  Trustees or from the Department of Forestry.
  These consultants are needed to plan and
  implement a development program, and to help
  market the Foundations purpose and goals. This
  position, if successful, would become self
  sustaining.
• Website (www.fvnr.org) 10,000
• Developing an interactive web based internet
  portal will require considerable start-up money
  and expertise. In addition to serving as a
  medium to communicate programs to citizen
  stewards and to collect donations, the website
  will be a critical link to the Foundations goal
  of matching donors and needy organizations.
• Basic operating expenses 10,000
• Trustee travel and meeting costs, outreach
  costs, memberships, advertising, printing,
  telephone, credit card fees, insurance, Trustee
  and staff training, report preparation, etc.

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Goal 1

• WE WILL INVEST IN NEEDED NATURAL RESOURCE
  PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE PRIVATE-PUBLIC
  PARTNERSHIPS.
• To accomplish this goal, we will
• Support at least one new outdoor classroom per
  watershed
• Fund a major conservation program in each
  watershed
• Support a conservation summit in each watershed
• Develop/support educational programs at state and
  local facilities

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Goal 2

• WE WILL ENABLE BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES AND
  CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO MATCH THE NEEDS AND
  RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR POSITIVE RESULTS.
• To accomplish this goal, we will
• Provide a source of expertise for those seeking
  resources
• Provide an inventory of existing programs at a
  central location
• Identify gaps between existing programs and
  local/watershed needs
• Use private sector input of resources to fill
  existing and future needs
• Post an interactive website to assist matching
  needs and resources

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Goal 3

• WE WILL IDENTIFY AND HIGHLIGHT THOSE BUSINESSES,
  COMMUNITIES, CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHICH
  HAVE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY SUPPORTED THE
  MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION.
• To accomplish this goal, we will
• Establish a program award of excellence
• Establish a high level recognition program for
  donor and sustaining members
• Consistently highlight successful programs
• Incorporate the Foundation into the conservation
  community

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Goal 4

• WE WILL INSPIRE TRUST IN THE FOUNDATION BY THE
  WAY WE OPERATE AND MANAGE OUR RESOURCES.
• To accomplish this goal, we will
• Include measurable results and accountability in
  the guidelines for grant Beneficiaries
• Be guided by the bylaws and business plan for the
  operation of the Board of Trustees
• Maintain a transparent financial system open to
  the public
• Establish sustainable funding for the Trust Fund
  through private-public ventures

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Citizen Scientists

• Share your expertise
• Environment Virginia 2008
• Watershed Roundtables, e.g., Pure Water Forum
• Monitor Streambeds
• River Stewards, e.g., James River
• Bottom Line regulators cant do it alone.

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Popular Culture
This Moment On Earth Talks about ways in which
individuals and organizations work to change the
environment for the better. This book looks at
the story of what one person can achieve and
shows how the more people gather together, the
greater their potential achievement will be. It
also looks at the scale of the environmental
menace we will face if we take no action.
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Outdoor Classrooms

• Goal to add one to every river basin
• Each would be tailored to its environment
• EE important
• FVNR supporting the North American Association
  for Environmental Education, meeting in Virginia
  Beach November 14-17, 2007.
• Virginia Office of Environmental Education

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Thank You

• Lee Stephens, 804-697-2085
• leestephens_at_spottsfain.com
• www.fvnr.org