Bill Text: VA SJR75 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Clyde E. Cristman.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)
Status: (Passed) 2022-01-31 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ75ER) [SJR75 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-SJR75-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Clyde E. Cristman retired as director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in January 2022, after a long and distinguished career in state government; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman previously served the Commonwealth in various roles, including as a legislative fiscal analyst for both the Virginia House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, as director of the Virginia Department of Charitable Gaming, and as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman became director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in April 2014, and under his leadership, the department achieved numerous milestones in dam safety, flood resilience, land conservation, and outdoor recreation; and
WHEREAS, during Clyde Cristman's tenure as director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Commonwealth opened five new state parks at Clinch River, Machicomoco, Natural Bridge, Seven Bends, and Widewater and reopened Green Pastures; in addition, four state parks were designated as International Dark Sky Parks; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman also oversaw the establishment of five new natural area preserves including Bald Knob, Cave Hill, Dundas Granite Flatrock, Lyndhurst Ponds, and Piney Grove Flatwoods; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman helped the Department of Conservation and Recreation secure the permanent conservation of Falkland Farms, the largest land donation in Virginia history, and the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation awarded $50 million to protect more than 70,000 acres of land across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman and the Department of Conservation and Recreation also spearheaded the Project Harmony gravestone retrieval and memorial initiative at Chotank Creek Natural Area Preserve and Caledon State Park; and
WHEREAS, Clyde Cristman fostered strong, collaborative partnerships with many stakeholders, including the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and local districts across the Commonwealth and led efforts to expand and redesign programs to support agriculture best management practices; and
WHEREAS, under Clyde Cristman's leadership, the Division of Dam Safety and Floodplain Management launched the Community Flood Preparedness Fund and began extensive outreach and education efforts including the first Flood Awareness Week, Dam Safety Awareness Day, Dam Safety Awareness Month, and Hurricane Awareness and Preparedness Week; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Clyde E. Cristman on the occasion of his retirement as director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Clyde E. Cristman as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his outstanding contributions to the protection of Virginia's recreational and natural resources and work to enhance public safety in the Commonwealth.
