A component of the Stream Assessment / Watershed Management Program is the Environmental Fund (Fund). The Fund was established to provide a funding source for the water quality projects conducted within the County in the James River and Chickahominy River watersheds. The County will administer the Fund and use the monies to finance projects such as streambank stabilization, stream restoration, removal of stream obstructions, buffer establishment, regional best management practices (BMPs), and constructed wetlands.
Depending on a project’s impervious percentages and the Watershed Management Area designation where the project is located, contribution to the Fund may be required in lieu of constructing an on-site best management practice (BMP). The contribution is based on a cost of $8,000.00 per pound of pollutant removal required to be achieved by the project. Pollutant loading and removal calculations are done in accordance with the Simple Method described in Chapter 3 of Henrico County Environmental Program Manual and must be performed using the worksheets included in Chapter 3.
Contributions to the Fund are based on a pro-rata share of the pollutant removal requirement expected over a year of development activity within the County. The current $8,000.00 per pound of pollutant removal requirement was derived from the annual cost of providing an equivalent level of pollutant removal based on the previous “site-by-site” approach. The $8,000.00 per pound cost may be adjusted periodically to allow for inflation and changes in construction costs. Although contributions resulting from development projects are expected to be the largest source of funding for the Fund, grants and other sources are possible and will be pursued. However, these additional funding sources will not affect the $8,000.00 per pound cost basis. When required, contributions to the Environmental Fund must be made according to the following:
- For subdivisions, contribution to the Environmental Fund is required prior to recordation of the subdivision. Contributions to the Fund must be submitted to the Department of Public Works and checks must be made payable to the County of Henrico.
- For other projects (PODs and road projects), contribution to the Environmental Fund is required prior to approval of the construction plans. Contributions to the Fund must be submitted to Department of Public Works and checks must be made payable to the County of Henrico.
In addition, contributions to the Environmental Fund are reduced if energy dissipators and a forested SPA are provided where appropriate. These adjustments are calculated on Worksheet 2.3.
