Abandoned boats have big impacts on the environment, the economy and navigational safety. After 20-plus meetings over the last 18 months, the Virginia Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Work Group (ADVWG) Report has been published and was shared with the media. Waterway Guide Media is proud to have been among the participants in this vital effort.

Under the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) and Clean Virginia Waterways (CVW), the ADVWG convened in January 2021 with the goals of examining the issues surrounding ADVs in Virginia and developing solutions that would lead to the creation of a comprehensive, sustainable, and robust Virginia ADV Prevention and Removal Program.

The workgroup coordinated an examination of the issues surrounding recreational and commercial ADVs in VA, focusing on solutions that have been attempted or implemented in other states.

“Together, we made major strides in addressing this issue,” writes Executive Director Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University, Katie Register, Jefferson Flood, Coastal Planner
Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program. “Until the ADVSAC is named, we anticipate that some subcommittees of the Work Group will continue, especially the Prevention and Public Education Subcommittee which is committed to working with the VA Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to reach boaters with information about correct disposal of older vessels.”

Acknowledging the impact of ADVs on navigation, ecosystems, economies, and communities, this workgroup included representatives from pollution regulatory agencies, marine law enforcement, marinas, Tribes, nonprofit organizations, the boating community, coastal management, coastal policy and other interested parties, including Waterway Guide Media. The US Coast Guard, VA Department of Environmental Quality, VA Coastal Zone Management Program, NOAA, VA Department of Wildlife Resources, VA Marine Resource Commission, and many ​other key stakeholders contributed to this workgroup facilitated by Clean Virginia Waterways (CVW) of Longwood University and the VA Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program.

The following can be downloaded from the Work Group’s webpage:
·       ADVWG Report (Full report – 44 pages)
·       ADVWG Summary Report (4 pages)
·       Policy paper from the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC)

More exciting news
As you will see in the Report, the ADVWG recommended that the VA General Assembly provide the VA Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) with $3 million in funding to physically remove ADVs as well as create an ADV Prevention and Removal Program to be housed at VMRC. The budget recently created by the GA and signed by the Governor includes this $3 million in Fiscal Year 2022! VMRC plans to create and convene an ADV Stakeholder Advisory Council (ADVSAC) this fall.

The ADVSAC is expected to be composed of experts from state government, environmental groups, the boating community, and the marine salvage industry.

Later this month the group will be sending participants a short online survey to gather their thoughts about the progress made by the ADVWG, next steps and any on-going thoughts about addressing ADVs in Virginia.