A Citizen's Guide to the 50-year Water Supply
BREAKING NEWS
THE RED HERRING REPORT released
Red Herring is a statement that is misleading or that has been falsified, intended to divert attention.
Charlottesville ... we have a problem!
Red Herrings are being spawned to discourage debate about the Community Water Supply Plan. They have become so pervasive that any fair evaluation of the plan is severely compromised.
In this document is a list of what we believe are Red Herrings -- deliberate deception used to force an unsustainable water plan on the rate payers of Charlottesville/Albemarle. Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan want to focus the public debate about the Community Water Plan on reliable facts and remove these foul fish from the discussion.
A NEW POSITION :
The Piedmont Chapter of the Sierra Club releases a new position
Rethinking Our Water Plan
The Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club believes that new information requires the Charlottesville/Albemarle Community to take a fresh look at our water needs for the decades ahead. Our community should consider a new water plan with different priorities that draws on the resources of our local watersheds. This plan should emphasize the following:
- Water conservation
- Preservation of ecosystems and other natural resources
- The potential for capacity restorative dredging of the Rivanna Reservoir
MORE NEWS
Water use at record low for July
Listen to recent radio spots with Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan
Betty Mooney on WINA - Rick and Jane Morning Show
Richard Lloyd and Dede Smith on WINA - August 10, 2009 Shilling Show
Richard Lloyd and Dede Smith on WINA - Charlottesville Right Now
Richard Lloyd and Dede Smith on WINA - Oct 12, 2009 Schilling show (hour 1)
Richard Lloyd and Dede Smith on WINA - Oct 12, 2009 Schilling show (hour 2)
DEAR CITIZENS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ALBEMARLE:
The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) has formulated a 50-year proposal to increase our water supply for future residents and businesses. This very expensive proposal will make drastic changes to the storage of our water and the community's natural resources.
DID YOU KNOW. . .
- The plan now costs $200,000,000 (and rising)- water bills will skyrocket.
- The plan destroys 180 acres of mature forest (~50,000 trees!)
in a Charlottesville park. - The plan abandons two of our three reservoirs.
- The plan threatens downstream flow in the Rivanna River.
- The plan puts public safety at risk.
CITIZENS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WATER PLAN is a local group of citizens concerned about these unproven changes to our water supply.
We believe that there has been insufficient information and debate concerning the plan. We are dedicated to helping bring factual information to the public. This website is part of our effort. We welcome your questions, interest and support.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
The true costs of the water supply plan
Common Myths about the Water Supply Plan: How they talked them into it.
Timeline: A not-so-public planning process.
READ ALL ABOUT IT IN THE NEWS:
News articles, podcasts, blogs, and MUCH MORE!
CITIZENS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WATER PLAN WHITE PAPER:
In this analysis, the Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan explain the current water supply debate and offer three alternative scenarios that are less environmentally damaging and less expensive.
Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan release paper on problems with the "conceptual pipeline"
LOOK WHO'S IN SUPPORT OF DREDGING:
Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District
Sierra Club - Piedmont Chapter
Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population
Five city neighborhood associations
William Crutchfield, Jr., a business perspective(pdf) (in Word)
William Crutchfield, Jr. calls for re-evaluation of the water supply plan
Dennis Rooker, a politician's perspective
You will find the following information on this website:
Information about the Current and Future Water Supply
The True Costs of the Future Water Supply Plan
Nature Lost in the Future Water Supply Plan
Loss of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area
Loss of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir
What You Can Do
Contact Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
Contact The Nature Conservancy
Photo by Victoria Dye: November walk at Ragged Mountain Natural Area