IN THE MEDIA:
The Latest News on the Fight for a Sustainable Water Plan
BREAKING NEWS:
The Hook: Water surprise: Reservoir halted after price doubles
Daily Progress: Rising price halts plan for dam
Ch 29: on Dam to Cost More than Originally Expected
Ch 19: on Water Supply Plan Problems
WINA: on A huge increase in the estimated cost of a new Ragged Mountain dam
Kevin Lynch talks with Coy Barefoot about problems with the plan
Charlottesville Tomorrow podcast on Cost estimate for Ragged Mountain Dam construction increases to $70 million; RWSA seeks second opinion
Read our thoughts on why Rivanna’s Pipeline Plan Doesn’t Hold Water
SUPPORT FOR DREDGING:
Sierra Club throws support to dredging
ASAP urges that a study of the feasibility and costs of dredging be done before any work on the new dam.
William Crutchfield, Jr. in support of dredging: A business perspective
Dennis Rooker calls for dredging South Fork Rivanna Reservoir
READ ALL ABOUT IT
IN THE HOOK:
Follow the brilliant investigative journalism of Hawes Spencer as he continues to uncover new information about the feasibiility and cost of dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir.
Be prepared to be shocked!
- February 28, 2008:
" Reservoir dogged: A $142 million boondoggle?" - March 6, 2008:
"Higher and higher: Frederick claimed dredge cost $225 million" - March 13, 2008:
"Trickling away: A dam develops amid missed chances?" - March 13 follow-up:
"Surprise! Dredge meets 115% of 50-year demand" - March 20, 2008:
"Case studies: Will new dredge view go entrepreneurial?" - March 23, 2008:
" Is Conservancy impeding dredge options? " - March 27, 2008:
'Full steam ahead': Emails suggest O'Connell, Conservancy blocking dredging."
Check out the Nature Conservancy's response! - April 3, 2008:
"Conservative's tale: When a single Mud Cat just won't do" - April 17, 2008:
"Revealing docs: Dredging foes run up the tab" - April 20, 2008:
" Sierra Club throws support to dredging"
Letter to members from the Piedmont Chapter of the Sierra Club - April 24, 2008:
"Sierra missed: Club urges dredging, O'Connell soldiers on" - April 28, 2008:
"Hook raises Authority spending questions" - May 1, 2008:
"Open tap: Dam firm continues to drain city coffers" - May 1, 2008:
"Rooker rains on Frederick’s parade" - May 5, 2008:
"Dredging 101: $25-$30 million" - May 7, 2008:
" Keno, Lynch dredge up divergent views" - May 9, 2008:
"County water rates to spike 20%" - May 11, 2008:
"P.E.C. opens new fronts in war on dredging" - May 14, 2008:
"Crutchfield: I’m no dredging expert" - May 15, 2008:
"Money pit: Quarry offered as dredging base" - May 22, 2008:
"Competing visions: Citizens unveil alternate 50-year plan" - May 29, 2008:
"Empty file? State has no record of water plan" - June 1, 2008:
" Hamilton: reject ‘pig in a poke’ water scheme" - June 5, 2008:
"Hamilton 'pokes': Council issues demand for dredging" - June 5, 2008: blog...
"Schilling blasts water project, O’Connell’s ‘fiefdom’" Includes podcast - June 12, 2008:
Duped councilors? Three now slam O'Connell's water leadership" - June 12, 2008:
Albemarle to water authority: study dredging" - June 15, 2008:
Dredge Fans Take to the Streets - June 23, 2008:
Waterworks seeks scopeless dredge proposals - August 4, 2008:
Stacked deck? Dredge foes outnumber fans on force - August 8, 2008:
CHO work confounds, excites dredge fans - August 29, 2008:
Reservoir logs: 4? rain erases 4' reservoir gap - Sept 2, 2008:
Water leak: Another group jumps ship? - September 22, 2008
Water surprise: Reservoir halted after price doubles - September 29, 2008:
Pipe dream: Mega-reservoir tied to moribund Bypass - October 1, 2008:
Gannett Fleming: Firm settles in death, dodges questions
READ ALL ABOUT IT
IN THE DAILY PROGRESS:
February 3, 2008: Locals Object To Water Plan
April 29, 2008: Water authority hires firm to field questions
April 27, 2008: Plan dredges up old arguments
April 23, 2008: Sierra Club wants officials to reconsider reservoir dredging
May 6, 2008: Consultant questions dredging estimate
May 7, 2008: Water plan takes heat
May 20, 2008: Water war moves to City Hall
May 20, 2008: Conflict of interest raised on RWSA Board: City cut off from vote.
May 21, 2008: Critics offer water options
July 1, 2008: Task force to examine need for dredging study
RECAP OF IMPORTANT MEETINGS:
May 5 Dredging Meeting / podcast
May 6 Worksession with City Council - with podcast
.. on the Charlottesville City Community Water Supply Page
May 19 public hearing at City Hall / podcast
LETTERS AND STATEMENTS
June 1, 2008: "Water controversy all too predictable"
April 8, 2008: Pursue dredging option for water" / Daily Progress
May 2, 2008: Pipeline would scar Albemarle / Daily Progress
May 21, 2008: Ragged Mountain plan too pricey / Daily Progress
Written comments from Dede Smith to City Council Nov 19, 2007
Written comments from Betty Mooney to City Council Nov 19, 2007
READ ALL ABOUT IT:
On Cvillenews.com (lots of community comments!)
February 12, 2008: Citizen Group Opposes Reservoir Plan
May 15, 2008: Quarry Owners ISO Dredged Soil
Scroll down for more articles and comments
READ ALL ABOUT IT:
In C'ville Weekly
February 19, 2008: Green Groups Splinter Over Water Plan
May 13, 2008: What happened to a cherished water supply plan?
May 20, 2008: Saturation point: When will we have enough of this water-supply debate?
May 20, 2008: City Council hears “final” comments on water supply
READ ALL ABOUT IT:
Charlottesville Tomorrow provides a stream of articles about water.
HEAR ALL ABOUT IT ON PODCAST:
November 19, 2007: Public hearing before City Council on the water plan.
February 7, 2008: Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan on the Radio on WINA's Charlottesville Right Now.
February 13, 2008: Brian Wheeler on WINA's Charlottesville Right Now sums up water controversy
February 21, 2008: "Water Supply Hotly Debated" at the ASAP meeting with a debate among a panel of four, representing both pro- and con- positions on the 50-year water supply proposal. Kevin Lynch and Rich Collins represent the position of Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan; Tom Frederick and Jeff Werner represent those that support implementing the proposed plan now.
Dueling podcasts on dredging of the SFRR
March 10, 2008: Hawes Spencer on Charlottesville Right Now offers an alternative community water supply plan.
March 12, 2008: Tom Frederick, RWSA Director, on Charlottesville Right Now responds to water supply plan debate
March 24, 2008: Hawes Spencer on Charlottesville Right Now with Coy Barefoot: On the controversy about the water supply plan. Fast forward to 21 minutes to hear about the water supply.
April 24, 2008: Hawes Spencer offers a summary and update on efforts to revisit the community water supply plan
April 30, 2008: Hawes Spencer at the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority Board meeting
May 9, 2008: Hawes Spencer faced Jeff Werner of PEC to discuss both sides of the water supply debate on the Schilling Show.
Information Resources for CvilleWater.info
This website is intended to educate citizens of Charlottesville and Albemarle about a plan to expand the local water supply. You can find out more about the past, present, and future water supply in the following resources.
- Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority website
The RWSA Community Water Plan webpage has information on community meetings as well as documents and reports on various aspects of the planning process. Specific information is difficult to find. - "2006 Community Water Supply Project Permit Support Document." This was the most informative document on the website above, but is now dated June 2006 on the RWSA website. It is copied here for your reference. The Table of Contents will help narrow down the information you may want.
- "Ragged Mountain Expansion" excerpted from the RWSA permit document
- What the Water Supply Plan Means for City Residents
- November 19, 2007 memo from Tom Frederick, Director RWSA
May 2006
This is the memo, as prep material for city councilors' for the November 19 public hearing on the water supply plan. It appears to be a direct attack on the flyer above. - RWSA Summary of the Community Water Supply Plan
A Summary by Tom Frederick of how the water supply plan came to be, written after the November 19, 2007 public hearing. - South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and Watershed: Reflecting on 36 Years, Anticipating 50 years by Stephen Bowler, Spring 2003
Everything you always wanted to know about the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. - 125 years of public water: A Brief History of the Local Water Supply
A MUST READ: The 2002 Water Supply Plan
This plan was approved, then abandoned. Core principles include conservation, preservation, watershed management and phasing.