From Impairment to Implementation: Virginia's Water Quality

This webinar is part of the Virginia Master Naturalist Continuing Education series.

Description: The Commonwealth of Virginia enjoys annual rainfall of around 43 inches.  Our natural land forms and water bodies reflect a diversity and beauty that many states don't enjoy.  There are many waters across the Commonwealth that are impaired for different uses, like swimming, fishing, or aquatic life.  One of the best assets Virginia has is its people.  We enjoy using the natural resources, and when and where impairments occur, we work to 'solve the problems' and restore the water.  There are several Federal and State Water Quality Management Programs that work together and with our stakeholders in these situations.  I will describe two of the programs we use to help assure that our waters will be available for all uses.  These are the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Total Maximum Daily Load Watershed Implementation Plan (IP) Watershed Programs. 

Presenter: Craig Lott, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.  Avid ecologist, father of three young ladies who help compost, garden year round, study our local waters, and take care of our pet wastes onsite.  Volunteer at local schools doing various environmental demonstrations.  My work is helping solve technical, regulatory, and social issues in watershed management of Virginia's waters.  Previously, I was educated in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia and hold degrees in Analytical Environmental Chemistry, and the Environmental Sciences.  My employment includes two private global environmental engineering firms in Alabama and Texas, and the energy industry here in Virginia.  Also, I have worked with the Department of Environmental Quality since 2001. 

This webinar was presented on 26 May 2015.