Shoreline Buffer
In 1989, the Virginia General Assembly adopted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. The purpose of this law was to “protect and improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and other state waters by minimizing the effects of human activity upon these waters.” Chesterfield County adopted a local ordinance to carry out the requirements of the Bay Act in 1991.
One of the key components of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act was the identification of “lands adjacent to water bodies with perennial flow that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts that may result in significant degradation to the quality of state waters.” These lands are known as the Resource Protection Areas or RPAs.
The entire shoreline within the Brandermill Community lies within the Resource Protection Area (RPA), which is protected by the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance that Chesterfield County has adopted. Within this RPA, the land between the water’s edge and the property line of each homeowner is the shoreline buffer area that is owned by the Brandermill Community Association. This shoreline buffer is a restricted area around the reservoir and its purpose is to protect water quality. At least the first 100 feet of land from the water’s edge should be preserved in its natural state and should not be maintained in any way.
If a Brandermill, waterfront, homeowner would like to modify the buffer area in any way (clearing of vegetation, docks and other structures, etc), they are required to contact the BCA office at (804) 744-1035 ext. 3002 or email first so that the approval process may be reviewed with them.
No modifications to the buffer area may be made without prior written approval from the BCA.
BCA Shoreline Buffer Modification Policy
BCA Shoreline Buffer Improvement Application & Instructions
More information and forms from the County visit the County website at https://www.chesterfield.gov/291/Resource-Protection-Areas