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Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay
Virginia is one of six states that directly impact the health of the
Chesapeake Bay. The other states are Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New
York and West Virginia. Virginia has 15.3 million acres of land, or
approximately 62 percent of the state, in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Over half of Virginia's streams and rivers flow to the Bay. Two-thirds of
the state's 7.5 million residents live within the watershed.
Agriculture accounts for more than half of the land use in the Bay watershed. Eight of Virginia's top ten agricultural counties are located in the Bay
watershed- Rockingham, Augusta, Page, Accomack, Shenandoah, Amelia, Southampton
and Fauquier. The type of agricultural operations vary widely throughout
the watershed. In the Shenandoah Valley, there are small to medium
dairies, poultry farms and grass-based beef operations. Central Virginia’s
Piedmont region features a mix of beef and cash grain operations. The Coastal
Plain is dominated by corn and soybeans, small grains, some vegetable production
and an expanding nursery stock industry.
NRCS conservationist reviews conservation plan with farmer. |
Conservation Assistance in the Chesapeake Bay
NRCS provides technical assistance to farmers in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed to plan and apply conservation practices to improve water
quality, restore wetlands, and enhance wildlife habitat. Financial
assistance is provided through Farm Bill programs to help implement these
practices.
How can NRCS help me help the Bay?
...Explore NRCS'
programs in Virginia
...Prior Year Funding
...Use
USDA's Service Center Locator to identify your local NRCS contact |
Buffer along stream in Eastern Shore |
What Farmers are doing in the Chesapeake Bay
Farmers are doing their part to reduce pollutants to the Bay. They
have planted more than 2,000 miles of stream buffers for cleaner water.
They are also fencing cattle out of streams, properly managing manure,
and installing other conservation practices. In 2005, these
practices prevented nearly half a million tons of sediment from entering
the Bay.
NRCS 2006 Conservation Activities within the Bay Watershed
...Success Stories in the Chesapeake Bay |
Chesapeake Bay Maps
Chesapeake Bay in Virginia
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Acreages by County
Chesapeake Bay Estimated Farm Acreage
Partner Links
Other Chesapeake Bay watershed States
Contacts
Robert McAfee
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Management Specialist (Acting)
Phone: (443) 482-2953
Email: robert.mcafee@wdc.usda.gov
Ken Carter
Assistant State Conservationist, Programs
Phone: (804) 287-1663
Email: ken.carter@va.usda.gov
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