Virginia's Role in Bank and ILF IRTs

Virginia is among 23 states that have authority over dredge-and-fill activities in nontidal wetlands and streams. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ’s) authority is independent of the Clean Water Act. In 2000, the Virginia General Assembly enacted laws that gave the Commonwealth the authority to regulate excavation and fill in wetlands and streams, with the requirement that impacts must be mitigated to meet no net loss of wetland acreage and function and no net loss of stream function.