Resources for SWCD Employees
Please review this document for an important PY26 funding update
Program Year 2026 Application and Payment Forms
| Participating Districts and prospective applicants should use only official VCAP forms. |
|---|
| Application and Payment Request Checklists |
| VCAP Part I: Applicant Contract |
| VCAP Part II: Technical Determination |
| VCAP Part III: Payment Approval |
| VCAP Payment Request Spreadsheet |
| VCAP Assignment of Payment Form |
| VCAP Form 4: Transfer of Ownership |
| VCAP Form 5: Release Agreement |
| **NEW** VCAP Form 6: Ranking Sheet ** NEW ** |
| VCAP Form 7: Cost Share Adjustment |
Start-up Payment Program (SUPP)
*Only districts that have opted in to SUPP can offer this support program. Opt-in either by a board motion recorded in the minutes or by completing the MOU below between the Association and your district.
SUPP provides up to 50% of cost share as soon as an application is approved to allow participants to secure a contractor and relieve some of the financial burden of a fully-reimbursable program.
- SUPP MOU between SWCD and Association
- VCAP Form 8: Start Up Payment Program Opt-In (due with application)
- VCAP Form 9: Start Up Payment Program Start of Work Date (for district records and disbursement)
- Framework for SUPP
- FAQs for SUPP
Additional Application Materials
- VCAP General Approval Letter
- Volunteer Labor Record
- Living Shoreline Site and Design Review Cover Sheet
Guidance Documents
- Guidance on VCAP Assignment of Payment Form
- Guidance on VCAP Rainwater Harvesting Practices & VDH Rainwater Harvesting Regulations. *Please refer to the VDH Rainwater Harvesting Regulations webpage for the most up-to-date information*
Practice Sizing Calculators:
- VCAP Dry Well Calculator
- VCAP Rain Garden Calculator
- VCAP Permeable Pavement Calculator
- VCAP Rainwater Harvesting Calculator
- VCAP Bioretention Calculator
- VCAP Infiltration Calculator
- VCAP Vegetated Stormwater Conveyance Calculator
Other Resources
Practice-Specific Information
Permeable Pavement and Impervious Surface Removal
Vegetated Stormwater Conveyance
Native Planting & Misc. Training Items
Training Videos
From VASWCD Annual Meeting 2024 VCAP Technical Considerations (slides available here)
Speaker: David J. Hirschman, Principal, Hirschman Water & Environment, LLC
The session reviewed technical considerations when planning, designing, and installing VCAP projects. Topics included desktop assessment, collecting site information, honest assessment of site constraints and feasibility, essential design elements, working with contractors, the ever-important landowner communications, and designing with maintenance in mind. Several VCAP projects were used as case studies, as well as non-VCAP projects.
- VCAP Training Video 1: Intake & Desktop Analysis
- VCAP Training Video 2: Site Visit and Follow Up
- VCAP Training Video 3: Design-Build-Spot Check
- VCAP Training Video 4: BMPs
- VCAP Training Video 5: Infiltration Test Instructions NVSWCD *NEW*
- Soils & Water Table Chat with Dan Schwartz NVSWCD *NEW*
- Back to the Basics: How to Conduct a Site Visit/What BMP Goes Where (May 2022)
- VCAP BMP Maintenance & Inspection Policies (Aug 2021)
- Identifying Resource Concerns, FAQ, & Local Funding Discussion Webinar (Dec 2021)
- VCAP Overview Video – March 2021
- Site Visit Skills Training. -Feb 2021
Outside Resources
Basic Training:
- Piedmont Environmental Council’s June 2020 Webinar: “Capturing the Rain: Green Infrastructure Options for HOA Common Areas”
- Chesapeake Stormwater Network’s “Homeowners Guide for a More Bay-Friendly Property”
- Learn more about stormwater BMPs with the Watershed Stewards Academy, Rainscaping Manual or the Chesapeake Stormwater Network’s Training Library
- Helpful “Stormwater Basics” video series made by PennState Extension
- Virginia Native Plant Providers: If you’re a provider and want more information, please reach out to local district.
- NEW Curated VCAP Resources List: provided by Prince William SWCD.
Rain Garden and Planting Design Resources:
- Rain Garden Design and Construction (from Northern Virginia SWCD)
- Planting Design Templates for Rain Gardens (from Montgomery County Rainscapes Manual)
- VCAP Planting and Planning Resources-(from Prince Williams SWCD)
Living Shoreline Resources:
- Checklist for Designing a Living Shoreline (for contractors)–developed by the Shoreline Erosion Advisory Service as a resource, not a comprehensive design tool
Past VCAP Manuals
Manual Ninth Edition (7/2024 – 6/2025)
Manual Eighth Edition (7/2022-6/2024)
Manual Seventh Edition (07/2020 – 06/2022)
Manual Sixth Edition (07/2019 – 06/2020)
Manual Fifth Edition (07/2018 – 06/2019)
Program Update Webinars
PY26 Program Updates Webinar and Slides
PY25 Program Updates Webinar and Slides
PY24 Program Updates Webinar and Slides
PY23 Program Updates Webinar and Slides
PY21 Program Updates Webinar and Slides
Past VCAP Forms (PY25):
- VCAP Part I: Applicant Contract
- VCAP Part II: Technical Determination
- VCAP Part III: Payment Approval
- VCAP Payment Request Spreadsheet
- VCAP Assignment of Payment Form
- VCAP Form 4: Transfer of Ownership
- VCAP Form 5: Release Agreement
- VCAP Form 6: Ranking Sheet
- VCAP Form 7: Cost-share Adjustment
VCAP Steering Committee
- VCAP Steering Committee Members:
- Colonial SWCD
- Culpeper SWCD
- Hanover-Caroline SWCD
- James River SWCD
- Northern Neck SWCD
- Peaks of Otter SWCD
- Thomas Jefferson SWCD
- Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
- VCAP Technical Advisory Committee Members:
- Colonial SWCD
- Culpeper SWCD
- Friends of the Rappahannock
- Native Shorelines, A Davey Tree Company
- Northern Neck SWCD
- Northern Virginia SWCD
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Contact the VASWCD VCAP Coordinator Rachel DuVal at rachel.duval@vaswcd.org or VCAP Assistant Coordinator Hailey Cooke (hailey.cooke@vaswcd.org) with any questions or to join the VCAP discussion.