The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released the Draft 2020 Virginia State Water Resources Plan (State Plan) on June 28, 2021 for public comment. DEQ received a request for an extension of the public comment period. An extension of the public comment period through September 13, 2021 has been granted.

The State Plan, as required by section 62.1-44.38 of the Code of Virginia, is published at five-year intervals and compiles information provided to DEQ by localities on water sources, demand projections, water use data, as well as information collected through annual withdrawal reporting and withdrawal permit reporting into a central document. DEQ analyzes this information by completing Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) modeling of surface water and groundwater resources. The first State Plan was published in 2015. The draft 2020 State Plan includes advances in CIA modeling, updated current and future water use and discharge data, and the addition of several new modeling scenarios that evaluate the impacts of climate change. The draft 2020 State Plan also includes 20 distinct regional analyses conducted at river basin scale which will allow evaluation of results beyond the statewide trends. The draft 2020 State Plan will be available beginning June 28, 2021 through September 13 on the DEQ website at: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quantity/water-supply-planning/virginia-water-resources-plan

A free public informational webinar summarizing the draft 2020 State Plan was held on July 8, 2021 at 2PM.  During the webinar, DEQ provided an overview of the draft 2020 State Plan’s purpose and key results. A recording of the webinar can be viewed at the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/3311445765057734156

Written comments on the draft 2020 State Plan can be sent to: Hannah Somers, VA DEQ, Office of Water Supply, at P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, Virginia 23218, or via e-mail at hannah.somers@deq.virginia.gov. Please include your name, (US mail) address, telephone number, and e-mail address.  Responses to public comment received will be included as an appendix to the final draft of the 2020 State Plan.