Pipeline would scar Albemarle

Martin D. Chapman Charlottesville
Published: May 2, 2008

Leaving Charlottesville by air, one becomes acutely aware of the disfigurement that would be created by a water pipeline from the Rivanna River to Ragged Mountain Natural Area - a 10-mile scar across the face of Albemarle. Is this what we want to leave for the next generation?

The pipeline would cause destruction of thousands of trees, hardly a “green” solution, and would deprive the community of clean mountain water that drains into current reservoirs.

Water is our most valuable resource, yet the alternative of dredging the Rivanna Reservoir has received scant consideration.

Recent press reports show that dredging is a viable option that could extend our water supply well into the future with minimal environmental impact.

A city like Charlottesville should embrace an entrepreneurial approach and make use of the fill removed by dredging. After all, “where there’s muck there’s money.” Let’s dredge!