ADVOCACY

Friends of the Rappahannock works at the local, state, and federal level to ensure the maximum protections for the Rappahannock River.

This includes a wide range of programs, issues, and campaigns that takes us across the watershed and beyond.

-Review and comment of local ordinances, comprehensive plans, general development plans, permits, and more.

-Active presence at the Virginia General Assembly fighting for continued funding for clean water programs, agricultural and stormwater best management practice funding, living shoreline program development, fishery protection, and a variety of other issues.

-Federal advocacy to maintain a strong Chesapeake Bay Program and associated agency funding at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and more. Federal advocacy to protect the Clean Water Act and other federal regulations that impact the Rappahannock River.

-Membership and participation in regional advocacy partnerships with the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) and Choose Clean Water Coalition (CCWC).

-Annual leader at Virginia Conservation Lobby Day and Bay Day on the Hill.

Click Here for the full 2018 Environmental Policy Briefing Book published by our partners at the Virginia Conservation Network.

Fracking

Rappahannock Report Card

Healthy Rivers Initiative

Federal Water Policy

Rappahannock Advocacy Blog

Governor’s Proposed Budget Includes Major Funding for Water Quality and Commitment to Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Governor Ralph Northam just announced his proposed budget which is slated to include major investments in conservation and water quality protections. The governor’s funding strategy would accelerate Virginia’s progress towards its 2025 targets for pollution reductions...

Lame-duck Congress must protect farms, waterways

THE final two months of this lame-duck Congress needs to focus on protecting our nation’s farms. Friends of the Rappahannock and countless partners are asking our legislators to get numerous pieces of legislation passed, including a new farm bill. The Agriculture...

Breaking News: Violations at Fones Cliffs now under review by Attorney General’s office

Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) is pleased to share the news that the Virginia Office of the Attorney General is joining the discussion on enforcement of violations by Fones Cliffs’ developer, Virginia True Corporation. FOR staff is standing by to assist the...

Giving Farmers the Tools They Need to Protect our Rivers and Streams: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by many metrics — economic impact, jobs, and area. There are approximately 46,000 farms covering 8.2 million acres (32%) of Virginia. Agriculture is also the largest source of nutrient and sediment...

Supporting a Healthy Menhaden Population to Ensure Viability of Local and Regional Economies: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) manages Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) along with numerous other coastal migratory species through an Interstate Fisheries Management Program. In November 2017, ASMFC adopted...

Protecting Water, Health, and Communities from Fracking: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION Virginians have always treasured and relied on our waters to provide fresh drinking water, support healthy ecosystems, and sustain our economy — from the productive, historic Chesapeake Bay; its mountain headwaters; and the Clinch and Powell...

Protecting our Wildlife and Waterways from Plastic Pollution: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION The health of Virginia’s rivers and streams is paramount to a strong economy and environment. The Commonwealth is blessed with natural aquatic wonders such as the James River and the Chesapeake Bay and has a storied history of responsible...

Reconnecting and Restoring Stream Habitat to Increase Fish Populations: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION The eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) — the official freshwater fish of Virginia — is valued by conservationists and sportsmen alike for its beauty and as an indicator of high water quality. Once widespread, the native brook trout...

Rebuilding Virginia’s Oyster Population Through Restoration and Replenishment Efforts: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION The native oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is one of the Chesapeake Bay’s keystone species and of great ecological, economical, and historical importance in the Commonwealth. Fortunately, during the 2018 legislative session, the Virginia...

Meeting Virginia’s Growing Need to Tackle Polluted Runoff: OUR COMMON AGENDA

INTRODUCTION Virginians rely on local waterways in a variety of ways: clean drinking water, seafood production, and recreational tourism. Virginia is the largest seafood producer on the East Coast and the third largest in the United States — this is an...