Saturday, May 7, 2011

Changing city council may tip water plan

07 May 2011

By: Graham Moomaw
The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, VA)


"In 2006, both the City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved a $142 million plan to ensure an adequate water supply to the area for the next 50 years by building a concrete dam at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir that would raise its pool by 45 feet. A bloc of city residents insisted that dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and making incremental improvements to existing infrastructure would accomplish that goal without the need for a costly new dam. The roiling controversy came to a head early this year when, in a set of split votes, the council approved a plan for an earthen dam that would raise the existing reservoir by 30 feet. Construction on the new dam could begin as early as mid-October, but the political battle over the issue doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon. Self-described Socialist Party candidate Brandon Collins, running as an independent, lists his position as 'Dredge the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir now, don't dam' on his campaign website...."

Click Here to View/Listen to the Forum Recording