Tensions continue to mount in the ongoing debate concerning a new earthen dam at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. The closed-door negotiations between Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County authorities are the latest source of controversy for City officials and citizens alike.
The dam would supply water for the City of Charlottesville - the primary supplier of water to the University, said Gary O'Connell, executive director of the Albemarle County Service Authority.
The closed negotiations have been met with opposition from various citizens, including Rebecca Quinn, chairwoman of Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan.
"There [are] backroom negotiations going on outside the public view, and that's not appropriate," Quinn said.
Council passed legislation in February which set the new height of the dam at 30 feet above its current height.. The legislation, however, left open the possibility of adding an additional 12 feet to the dam if certain conditions related to demand for and usage of water are met, Council member Satyendra Huja said.
O'Connell described the negotiations as a "cost allocation discussion," a description similar to the one offered by both Huja and Council member David Brown.
O'Connell said the projected growth of the University is a significant reason for the adoption of the new water plan.
"[The supply plan] does show [demand] increasing significantly over time," O'Connell said. "[Additional capacity for the University is] part of the need for greater supply."
Mayor Dave Norris and Vice Mayor Holly Edwards have already voiced their opposition to the new dam, as evidenced most recently by their vote against a Council resolution related to the project.
Quinn said Council member Kristin Szakos and Brown are on the record in support of the 42-foot dam, indicating Huja could be the "swing vote."
"They must be pressing Mr. Huja to change his vote [in these negotiations]," Quinn said.
The new dam was proposed to address both demand and safety issues surrounding the water supply, said Tom Fredrick, executive director of Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. Frederick is not involved in the negotiations.
"The primary purpose of expanding the reservoir is to assure that there will be adequate drinking water for this community in the long term," Fredrick said. "The spillway is significantly too small for a major flood event," and this spillway safety issue will be addressed with the new plan.
The total costs will be less than $20 million and will give Rivanna, the City and the County 1.1 billion gallons of additional water storage capacity, Fredrick said.
Quinn opposes the dam altogether, noting that Council has recently reviewed studies which show a substantially lower than expected demand during the next 50 years.
"We don't even need a 30-foot dam," Quinn said. "We have abundant water for at least 40 years ... Nobody needs to pay for a big dam if we don't need a big dam."
Quinn said a new study projecting water supply needs in the area seemed to indicate the need for less water capacity and assumed "tremendous growth," which some feel is overestimated for the City.
Huja hopes to finish the negotiations within the next 30 days.
"We are trying to get the best rate for our customers," Huja said. "That is the deciding factor for us"
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