| Rivanna
River focus of Nature Conservancy study
July 17, 2005
The Nature Conservancy program, funded by a donation from Nestle Waters, will investigate environmentally safe water management practices and find new approaches for storing and diverting river water. "This is a ubiquitous problem across the U.S. and we want to demonstrate ways to meet challenges and be an example to other places," said Brian Richter, director of the Sustainable Waters Program at the Nature Conservancy. The Rivanna was chosen because its watershed remains healthy despite serving many users. "Virginia has identified the Rivanna watershed as one of the most important," he said. The Conservancy has been working closely with the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority for two years to find ways to alleviate local water storage problems, Richter said. In April, the conservancy proposed an idea to build a pipeline from the Ragged Mountain Reservoir to the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. Ridge Schuyler, director of Piedmont programs at the local chapter of the Nature Conservancy, said the pipeline would allow for full recreational and environmental usage of the water. David Dadurka, media relations manager for the Conservancy, said the new study will provide more research to help the RWSA and other water officials find eco-friendly solutions for taking water from the Rivanna. "By providing science-based information and assistance to the RWSA, we hope to help them to understand how to achieve their water-supply needs, while protecting the environment," Dadurka said. Schuyler added that the research will help officials identify the amount of water that can be removed from the Rivanna without affecting the health of the river. Richter said he hopes the research will have global impact. "We have the potential to make a difference here," he said.
http://www.wvec.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8BD9PDG1.html |