What We Do
The Secretary of Natural Resources advises the Governor on natural resources issues and works to advance the Governor's top environmental priorities. The Secretary oversees six agencies that protect and restore the Commonwealth’s natural and historic resources. The Secretary's office and all of the natural resources agencies work together to uphold the provisions of Article XI of the Virginia Constitution:
To the end that the people have clean air, pure water, and the use and enjoyment for recreation of adequate public lands, waters, and other natural resources, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to conserve, develop, and utilize its natural resources, its public lands, and its historical sites and buildings.
Further, it shall be the Commonwealth's policy to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for
the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.
Virginia's Drought Status —
The Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan establishes thirteen drought evaluation regions across the Commonwealth. The plan identifies four drought indicators for each drought evaluation region: precipitation deficits, streamflows, ground water levels and reservoir levels. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality uses these indicators along with information from the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force to make a declaration of a drought stage for each region.
Click on the link below to view the latest drought status throughout the State of Virginia.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Drought Status
I want to congratulate all of the newly elected members of the General Assembly and the new leaders of each caucus. Thank you for your service to Virginia and her people.
Over these past two years we have shown that while we hail from diverse regions, align with different political parties and subscribe to competing philosophies, we can still come together to make progress on the issues important to our eight million people.
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