Section 10. Definitions

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission" means the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

"Donor bed" means a naturally occurring area of SAV growing on state-owned subaqueous bottom.

"Enhancement" means the increase in areal coverage or improvement in habitat quality of existing SAV beds.

"Mitigation" means activities such as enhancement and restoration that are undertaken to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects on SAV by permitted projects.

"Restoration" means the return of SAV to unvegetated bottom that historically supported SAV.

"Submerged aquatic vegetation" or "SAV" means any of a diverse assemblage of underwater plants found in the shoal areas of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, coastal bays and river tributaries, primarily eelgrass (Zostera marina) and widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima), and including but not limited to Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), redhead grass (Potamogeton perfoliatus), wild celery (Vallisneria americana), common elodea (Elodea canadensis), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), water-weed (Egeria densa), muskgrass (Najas minor), pondweeds (Potamogeton sp.), and naiads (Najas sp.).

"Test plot" means a small area where transplanted SAV can be monitored to demonstrate the likelihood of success of larger-scale planting efforts.

"Transplantation" means the removal of SAV from a donor bed or nursery-grown location in order to relocate the plants to other areas that historically supported, or have the potential to support, SAV populations for enhancement or restoration purposes.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 05, eff. November 1, 2000.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-203 of the Code of Virginia.