HomeMy WebLinkAboutCPA200800001 Legacy Document 2008-09-09COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AGENDA TITLE:
CPA 2008-00001 Water Supply Planning Update
S U BJ ECT/PROPOSAL/REQU EST:
Work session on the proposal to amend the Natural
Resources and Cultural Assets and the Land Use
sections of the Comprehensive Plan.
STAFF CONTACT(S):
Ambler, Benish
LEGAL REVIEW: NO
BACKGROUND:
AGENDA DATE:
July 22, 2008
ACTION: INFORMATION: X
CONSENT AGENDA:
ACTION: INFORMATION:
ATTACHMENTS: YES
The Water Resources component of the Natural Resources and Cultural Assets section of the Comprehensive Plan,
which was originally adopted in 1999, contains substantial discussion regarding surface drinking water sources,
watershed management planning, water conservation, and analysis of alternative water supplies. The Utilities
component of the Land Use Plan, which was originally adopted in 1996 contains information regarding the yield of
existing surface drinking water sources, estimated future demand of water, and also discusses future water supply
alternatives. Since the adoption of these sections of the Comprehensive Plan, numerous studies have been
completed regarding water use, yield, and demand in preparation of a water supply plan for the Urban Service Area.
These studies are referenced in the proposed text amendments and are available at the Rivanna Water and Sewer
Authority website under "Community Water Supply Plan". In addition, significant effort has been expended to analyze
and select an alternative to increase the amount of water available for the Urban Service Area through a 50 year
planning period — 2055.
On June 7, 2006 the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved the Ragged Mountain Reservoir expansion as
the preferred alternative for water supply to the Urban Service Area, and on May 14, 2008 the Board reaffirmed
support for this project. Water quality permits have been issued for this project by the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in February 2008 and June 2008, respectively
Separate from, but in addition to this plan for the Urban Service Area, the County has also begun preparation of a
County -wide water supply plan as mandated by the Code of Virginia §62.1-44.38:1 and the attendant Local and
Regional Water Supply Planning Regulations (4VAC25-780).
DISCUSSION:
Changes in these sections of the Comprehensive Plan are necessary to reflect new studies and community decisions
regarding needed water supply for the urban service area, new state requirements for County -wide water supply
planning, and new County initiatives that relate to drought response. Text amendments are also necessary to
eliminate redundancies between the two sections and provide a streamlined discussion of watershed management
and water supply planning.
The proposed amendments to the Natural Resources and Cultural Assets component of the Comprehensive Plan are
contained in Attachment A and are summarized below:
• Removes detailed discussion of outdated water supply studies from the section titled "Watershed Management
Planning"; transfers detailed discussion of Urban Service Area water supply to the Utilities section of the
Comprehensive plan.
• Updates and simplifies the list of major watershed management planning actions taken by the County.
• Adds a section titled "Comprehensive Water Supply Planning" which discusses the County -wide water supply
planning mandated by the State, and differentiates this process from the water supply planning process recently
completed only for the Urban Service Area.
• Removes the section titled "Planning for Future Water Supply" because it refers to planned studies that have now
been completed, and water supply planning is now discussed in the Utilities section.
• Removes the section titled "Developing a Water Conservation/Efficiency Program" and moves this discussion to
the Utilities section.
• Removes the section titled "North Fork Water Supply/Chris Greene Lake" to eliminate the redundancy in
addressing Urban Service Area supply alternatives in the Utilities section.
The proposed amendments to the Utilities component of the Comprehensive Plan are contained in Attachment B and
are summarized below:
• Updates section titled "Water Service to the Development Areas" and deletes old water demand figures.
• Updates section titled "Future Water Demand" by deleting old yield and demand figures. Adds language regarding
the outcome of the Urban Service Area community water supply study and the selected alternative, and lists the new
studies that need to be referred to for detailed information. Rather than including significant text on current water
supply yield, demand, and alternatives analysis the revised text is simplified by referencing the eight (8) stand-alone
documents that fully discuss these topics.
• Recognizes the issue of maintenance dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and adds a recommendation
supporting the County's role in determining the need and feasibility of maintenance dredging.
• Adds a section titled "Water Conservation/Drought Response" that reflects the County's participation in an
organized drought Response Committee and the adopted Drought Response and Contingency Plan. Addresses the
need to incorporate groundwater information into drought planning and management
RECOMMENDATIONS:
This work session is to provide the Commission an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed draft
amendments. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the Resolution of Intent which will be provided at
the work session. The proposed language will be brought back to the Commission for a public hearing at the next
available date.
ATTACHMENTS:
EXHIBIT A: Proposed Amendments to Natural Resources and Cultural Assets component
EXHIBIT B: Proposed Amendments to the Utilities component
Exhibit A
This is an excerpt from the Albemarle County Natural Resources and Cultural
Assets Plan — Water Resources section pages 39-49, within the Albemarle County
Comprehensive Plan
Watershed Management Planning
Surface water supply protection has been a special concern in Albemarle County since 1972 when
the City and County adopted a joint resolution forming the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
In November 1973, the Authority appointed an advisory committee to study the reservoir
pollution problem. In 1975 a study of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir was undertaken by Betz
Environmental Engineers, Inc. for the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. This study
recommended the implementation of a comprehensive watershed management plan that included
reservoir management, water treatment modifications, point and non -point source controls, and
routine watershed monitoring.
Staff Note: The following section was significantly edited by removing references to water
supply planning and by condensing major watershed management planning action items
into bullets.
Since that time the County has taken numerous proactive steps to protect water quality through
land use management, which are bulleted below:
1977 Albemarle County Board of Supervisors adopted a Runoff Control Ordinance
applicable in all water supply impoundment watersheds (see Map 2 — 3: Water Supply
Watershed). The purpose of this ordinance was to protect against and minimize the pollution
and eutrophication of the public drinking water supply impoundments resulting from land
development in the watershed areas
• 1978 Albemarle County Board of Supervisors rezoned all publicly owned properties except
school sites within water s amply watersheds to a conservation district designation.
• 1979 South Rivanna Reservoir Watershed Management Plan was prepared by F. X. Browne
and Associates Inc. and the Watershed Management Plan Committee.
■ 1980 amendments to the 1977 Comprehensive Plan removed all land from the Urban Area
also located in the South Fork Rivanna Watershed.
■ 1980 comprehensive rezoning of the County placed major limitations on development in the
Rural Areas. Special use permit criteria addressed proposed developments located within
water supply watersheds
■ 1982 revisions to the Comprehensive Plan removed watershed properties from Growth Areas
in Crozet Scottsville Earlysville, and Ivy, These properties, containing over 1,000 acres,
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were rezoned to Rural Areas the following year. Crozet and Ivy, both located entirely in water
supply watersheds, were scaled back in size.
■ 1982 Section 208 Watershed Management Study of the South Rivanna Reservoir was
completed by F. X. Browne and Associates, Inc. The study concluded that the watershed Plan
developed in 1977 and refined in 1979 was still valid and should be fully implemented.
■ 1988 Crozet Sewer Interceptor goes on-line to alleviate point source discharges and failing
failing septic systems
■ 1993 Lickinghole Creek Sedimentation Basin completed in Crozet to alleviate impacts from
nonpoint source discharges from the Crozet community.
■ 1998 Water Protection Ordinance adopted, which consolidated and streamlined the existing
stormwater, erosion and sediment, and stream buffer ordinances. These changes included
strengthening the stream buffer requirements, updating�stormwater removal criteria, and
strengthening the relationship of water quality protection in relation to land use issues.
■ 2007 Water Protection Ordinance amended to include the watershed of the North Fork
Rivanna River public water supply intake in the definition of "water supply protection areas"
which extended the requirement of stream buffers to all intermittent streams in that watershed.
■ 2008 Water Protection Ordinance amended to expand the stream buffer requirements to all
intermittent streams in the Rural Areas, providing the entire Rural Areas the same protection
previously afforded only to specific water supply protection areas. The 2008 amendments
also clarified the ability for development projects to impact buffers with stream crossings and
set specific design criteria for those crossings.
40
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Staff Note — The following new section has been added.
Comprehensive Water Supply Planning
In 2003 the Code of Virginia was amended to require the development of a comprehensive
statewide planning process As part of this requirement localities are required to submit a water
supply plan either independently or as part of a region to the Virginiapartment of
Environmental Quality (DEQ,) DEQ will review all local and regional plans and localities will
need to review their plans every five years to assess adequacy. Albemarle County elected to join
the City of Charlottesville and the Town of Scottsville to develop a regional plan, and each
locality passed a resolution in May 2006 authorizing the Rivanna Water and Sewer authority to
develop the regional plan, which is due to DEQ in November 2011.
Reauired elements of the plan include a detailed description of all existing water sources and all
existing water use for the entire locality, including b, othpublic systems and individual private
wells The plan requires an assessment of the projected water demand and future need for the
entire locality and an analysis of potential alternatives for identified deficits. The plan must also
include a description of the condition of all existing water resources, a description of any water
management actions a copy relevant plans or ordinances a resolution approving the plan
from each locality that is part two the plan, and proof of a local public hearing.
Some of these required plan elements have already been completed during the water su
planning process for the Urban Service Area and are discussed in the Utilities component of the
County's Land Use Plan. Analysis of the remainder of the County, including Beaver Creek and
Totier Creek Reservoirs the County's numerous community wells, and the segment of the County
served by private wells is underway to complete the plan by the 2011 deadline.
42
.. •
Staff Note — The following new section has been added.
Comprehensive Water Supply Planning
In 2003 the Code of Virginia was amended to require the development of a comprehensive
statewide planning process As part of this requirement localities are required to submit a water
supply plan either independently or as part of a region to the Virginiapartment of
Environmental Quality (DEQ,) DEQ will review all local and regional plans and localities will
need to review their plans every five years to assess adequacy. Albemarle County elected to join
the City of Charlottesville and the Town of Scottsville to develop a regional plan, and each
locality passed a resolution in May 2006 authorizing the Rivanna Water and Sewer authority to
develop the regional plan, which is due to DEQ in November 2011.
Reauired elements of the plan include a detailed description of all existing water sources and all
existing water use for the entire locality, including b, othpublic systems and individual private
wells The plan requires an assessment of the projected water demand and future need for the
entire locality and an analysis of potential alternatives for identified deficits. The plan must also
include a description of the condition of all existing water resources, a description of any water
management actions a copy relevant plans or ordinances a resolution approving the plan
from each locality that is part two the plan, and proof of a local public hearing.
Some of these required plan elements have already been completed during the water su
planning process for the Urban Service Area and are discussed in the Utilities component of the
County's Land Use Plan. Analysis of the remainder of the County, including Beaver Creek and
Totier Creek Reservoirs the County's numerous community wells, and the segment of the County
served by private wells is underway to complete the plan by the 2011 deadline.
42
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43
Map 2 — 3: Water Supply Watershed
Staff Note: An updated graphic will be provided
44
(space intentionally left blank)
Staff Note: The following sections have been deleted because discussions of water supply
and drought response have been moved to the Utilities section. The Utilities section is more
appropriate for the actual discussion of the provision of the community's water supply,
whereas this section should be focused on the elements of water resource and supply
protection.
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Exhibit B
This is an excerpt from the Albemarle County Land Use Plan — Utilities section
pages 116-123, within the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan
Water Service to the Development Areas
Staff Note: This section has been edited by deleting outdated figures and expanding the
description of the Urban Service Area
The geology of Albemarle County makes it necessary to rely on surface water sources for sizeable
water supply. All existing water supply facilities are operated by the RWSA. The RWSA Urban
Service Area includes the Development Areas Neighborhoods 1-7, Hollymead, Piney Mountain,
and Rivanna. In addition, the Urban Service area also encompasses the City of Charlottesville
and the University, oVirginia.
The RWSA Urban Service Area is supplied by finished water from the following three water
treatment plants (WTP): (1) South Rivanna WTP, (2) Observatory WTP, and (3) North Fork
Rivanna WTP. These water treatment plants receive raw water from four reservoirs and one river
intake. The South Rivanna WTP is served by the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. Water from the
Sugar Hollow Reservoir can be released into the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir via the Moormans
River, a tributpa to the South Fork Rivanna River. The Observatory WTP is supplied by water
from the Upper and Lower Ragged Mountain Reservoirs via an 18 -inch diameter pipeline and
from Sugar Hollow Reservoir via another 18 -inch diameter pipeline. Excess water from Sugar
Hollow Reservoir can also be transferred to the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The North Fork
Rivanna WTP treats water pumped from an intake on the North Fork Rivanna River.
The towns of Crozet and Scottsville are not a part of the Urban Service Area, but are still served
by reservoirs and facilities managed by RWSA. The Beaver Creek Reservoir serves as the source
of water for the Town of Crozet, and the water from the Reservoir is treated at the nearby Crozet
Water Plant. The Town of Scottsville is served by the Totier Creek Reservoir, where water is
treated at the Scottsville Water Plant.
116
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118
MAP I: COMMUNITY UTILITIES
Staff Note: An updated graphic will be provided
119
Staff Note: This section has been updated by deleting outdated figures and information,
and providing current information on the community water supply.
Future Water Demand
Urban Service Area — The safe yield available from the RWSA Urban Service Area source water
system is diminishing with time due to the significant loss of storage capacity from its primpa
source the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. Since the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir was
constructed in 1966 approximately 40 percent of the total reservoir storage has been lost due to
sedimentation. Projected water demand for a 50 -year planning horizon (2055) is 18.7 mgd, which
will exceed the system's safe yield.
In planning for the provision of additional water supply within the Urban Service Area, RWSA, in
coordination with Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the Albemarle County
Service Authority explored 32 possible alternatives, then narrowed those alternatives using
federal and state environmental impact criteria to a final four alternatives. The four alternatives
included a short bladder on the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Dam, dredging of the South Fork
Rivanna Reservoir, a new intake and pipeline from the James River, and a new dam at Ragged
Mountain. After significant public input it was determined that an expansion project of the
Ragged Mountain Reservoir and the construction of a pipeline between South Fork Rivanna
Reservoir and Ragged Mountain Reservoir was the least environmentally damaging practicable
alternative available for expanding the water supply to the Urban Service Area. The Albemarle
County Board of Supervisors voted to endorse this plan for the Urban Service Area at the June 7,
2006 regular Board meeting_
Numerous studies and reports have been completed that fully document demand analysis, safe
yield of the existing resources, and alternatives analysis and selection. These studies are listed
below and include as appendices other historical studies. The suite of documents is housed at
RWSA and should be referenced for detailed information.
• Safe Yield Study, Gannett Fleming, JDgM 2004
• Demand Analysis for the Urban Service Area, Gannett Fleming, May 2004
• Safe Yield Study Sy
gplement No. 1, Gannett Fleming, July 2004
• Joint Permit Application, Gannett Fleming and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., June 2006
• Permit Support Document, Gannett Fleming and Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Ma. 2006
• Conceptual Stream and Wetland Mitigation Plan, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., December
2006
The long term viability of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir as not only a water supply, but also
as an important recreational and natural resource continues to be of paramount concern to the
County. In June 2008 the County endorsed a separate cooperative study with the City of
Charlottesville and RWSA to study the merits of maintenance dredging, siltation prevention, and
other appropriate initiatives to protect and enhance the aquatic health and water quali , of the
reservoir as a long-term resource for the community.
For both Crozet and Scottsville the projected average daily demand for a 30 -year planning
horizon (2035) is within each system's safe yield, and no expansion to these systems is projected.
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The following studies have been performed, are also housed at RWSA, and should be referred to
for more detailed information:
• Beaver Creek Reservoir Safe Yield Study, Gannett Fleming, June 2008
• Totier Creek Reservoir Safe Yield Study, Gannett Fleming, June 2008
121
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Staff Note: The following section has been added
Water Conservation/Drought Response
In 2004 a Rivanna Regional Droueht Response Committee was formed to work cooperatively to
provide a coordinated response to drought in the community. Members of the Committee include
staff representing the County, the City, RWSA, and ACSA. The Committee developed a Drought
Response and Contingency Plan to define a method for predicting and identifying drought
conditions and specify drou hg t stages that correspond to Virginia's Local and Regional Water
Supply Planning Regulations. The plan identifies appropriate use restrictions for each drought
stage, and clearly defines the process of public notification and information dissemination.
Drought stages are derived from the use of software that analyzes statistical probabilities as to the
rate at which the water supply levels would diminish, using the historical period of record, current
operating procedures, and existing water demand projections.
The software model currentiv utilizes stream flow as an indicator of stress or reservoir levels.
Stream flow and rain gage data can be graphed to clearly depict past drought cycles. Staff
analysis of County monitoring wells has also shown a direct correlation of groundwater levels to
this stream and rain gage data. At this time the County does not possess sufficient well
monitoring data to predict drought, but it is clear that the water depth in the wells represents in
real time the cumulative recharge that drives the drought cycle. It will be important for the
County to continue acquiring additional well monitoring data so that a more complete picture of
hydrologic conditions can be utilized when predicting and managing drought conditions.
125
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Staff Note: The following section has been added
Water Conservation/Drought Response
In 2004 a Rivanna Regional Droueht Response Committee was formed to work cooperatively to
provide a coordinated response to drought in the community. Members of the Committee include
staff representing the County, the City, RWSA, and ACSA. The Committee developed a Drought
Response and Contingency Plan to define a method for predicting and identifying drought
conditions and specify drou hg t stages that correspond to Virginia's Local and Regional Water
Supply Planning Regulations. The plan identifies appropriate use restrictions for each drought
stage, and clearly defines the process of public notification and information dissemination.
Drought stages are derived from the use of software that analyzes statistical probabilities as to the
rate at which the water supply levels would diminish, using the historical period of record, current
operating procedures, and existing water demand projections.
The software model currentiv utilizes stream flow as an indicator of stress or reservoir levels.
Stream flow and rain gage data can be graphed to clearly depict past drought cycles. Staff
analysis of County monitoring wells has also shown a direct correlation of groundwater levels to
this stream and rain gage data. At this time the County does not possess sufficient well
monitoring data to predict drought, but it is clear that the water depth in the wells represents in
real time the cumulative recharge that drives the drought cycle. It will be important for the
County to continue acquiring additional well monitoring data so that a more complete picture of
hydrologic conditions can be utilized when predicting and managing drought conditions.
125
Staff Note — The following section has been updated.
Recommendations
• Support construction of Ragged Mountain Reservoir expansion and connecting pipeline from
the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir
• Support and participate in evaluating the need and feasibility for maintenance dredgingof f the
South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to preserve its integrity as a water supply and a recreational
resource.
• Continue participation in the Rivanna Regional Drought Response Committee, and implement
Drought Response and Contingency Plan in cooperation with the City, RWSA, and the
ACSA.
• Promote the collection and inclusion of groundwater data in water conservation planning and
drought response.
126