King William Reservoir (VA)
Background
The city of Newport News and several other localities want to build a water supply reservoir in King William County. The project entails the withdrawal of up to 75 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the tidal, freshwater portion of the Mattaponi River. It would also involve building a 78-foot high, 1,700-foot long earthen dam on Cohoke Creek, a tributary of the Pamunkey River, resulting in the creation of a 1,526-acre reservoir. Pipelines would be constructed to transfer water from the Mattaponi River to the reservoir, and from the reservoir to Newport News' existing water supply system in New Kent County.
The reservoir would destroy at least 437 acres of wetlands, and inundate 21 miles of free-flowing streams, wiping out the unique Cohoke Creek watershed. In addition, 187 acres of wetlands located below the dam would be severely degraded due to reduced flow in Cohoke Creek. The proposed reservoir would also threaten recovery efforts for the fragile shad fishery.
All of these impacts could be avoided. All of the expert reports show that Newport News has greatly inflated its future water needs. The city can meet its legitimate water needs by alternative means that do not involve construction of a reservoir.
SELC is representing several groups who oppose the project, including the Alliance to Save the Mattaponi, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Mattaponi-Pamunkey Rivers Association, the Sierra Club, and two citizens. We are also working with the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law School, which is representing the Mattaponi Tribe to oppose the project.
