BELOW IS THE STATES EFFORT TO HAVE A LONG RANGE PLAN FOR SWVA AND OUR WATER NEEDS. This is a good thing. It is encouraging that the gov has started to nuge localities toward thinking regionally.

MEMORANDUM
TO: Watershed Groups
FROM: Lou Ann Johnson
Regional Planner II
DATE: October 19, 2006
SUBJECT: Kick-Off Meeting for LENOWISCO Regional Water Supply Plan
_____________________________________________________________________________________
LENOWISCO is assisting its 19 member localities in complying with The Local and Regional Water
Supply Planning Regulation (9 VAC 25-780). The regulation requires all counties, cities, and towns in
the Commonwealth of Virginia to submit a local water supply plan or to participate in a regional planning
unit in the submittal of a regional water supply plan to DEQ.
The Virginia General Assembly passed this regulation in 2003 in response to the 2002 drought, which
caused some eastern localities to experience a significant decrease in water supply. The regulation
requires localities to under go a comprehensive planning process to ensure there will be an adequate water
supply to serve the future needs of a locality. A water supply plan must include eight specific sections.
These sections include: (1) an evaluation of existing water sources; (2) an examination of existing water
use; (3) a detailed listing of existing environmental conditions that may affect a current water supply; (4)
a projected future water demand based on population growth, economic/commercial development, and
agricultural demands; (5) a determination of the adequacy of existing water sources to meet current and
projected demand; (6) an identification of alternative water sources; (7) the establishment of water
conservation measures; and (8) the preparation of a contingency plan for drought response.
LENOWISCO has received funding from DEQ for completion of sections 1 and 2. We have selected the
engineering team of Thompson & Litton with Lane Engineering to help us through this planning process.
Our “kick-off” meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 24 at 1:30 PM in the Pioneer Center Room 304.
Ms. Tammy D. Stephenson, DEQ’s SWVA Water Supply Planner, will explain the regulation and detail
the information that will be required from each locality. In addition, we will discuss the proposed
completion schedule.
Your group may have information that we will need during this planning process; therefore I encourage
you to attend on the 24th and/or pass this invitation along to others in your group that may assist us. Please
let me know how many will be attending by Monday, October 23 so that we can plan accordingly. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 276-431-2206 or ljohnson@lenowisco.org.