FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2006

Contacts:
Bill Hayden
(804) 698-4447
wphayden@deq.virginia.gov

Virginia strengthens support of citizen monitoring

RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and four volunteer groups will sign a partnership agreement on Friday, October 20, 2006, in support of water quality monitoring by citizens.

“Citizen monitoring efforts have played an invaluable role in protecting water quality,” DEQ Director David K. Paylor said. “This agreement reaffirms Virginia’s support of citizens as they monitor waters in the Commonwealth by increasing our ability to assess the state of our rivers. The commitment of citizens to use their time and efforts on behalf of Virginia’s rivers is a model of collective responsibility.”

The partnership agreement defines the roles and shared goals of DEQ, DCR, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Citizens for Water Quality, Virginia Save Our Streams, and the Virginia Water Monitoring Council.

The partnership’s goals include improving coordination and communication among the volunteer groups and state agencies, and supporting the uses of collected information for educational, planning and water quality assessment purposes. DEQ will continue to provide technical expertise and information for citizen groups, and will develop an online database of water quality information.

The signing ceremony will begin at noon at Robious Landing Park located at 3800 James River Road in Midlothian, Virginia. It will follow water monitoring activities with about 250 Chesterfield County students in support of World Water Monitoring Day. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be rescheduled for Friday, October 27, 2006, at the same location.

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