The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will release the draft 2020 Virginia State Water Resources Plan (State Plan) on June 28, 2021 for public comment. The 45 day public comment period will end August 13, 2021.

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 August 13, 2021 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 is scheduled for July 8, 2021 at 2PM.  During the webinar, DEQ will provide an overview of the draft 2020 State Plan’s purpose and key results. Questions submitted during the webinar will be answered via a FAQ document to be posted subsequently on the DEQ website. To register for the webinar please use the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1705437508121133328’

Note that questions asked during the webinar will not be considered public comment. Written comments on the draft 2020 State Plan can be sent to the contact person below. 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.