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Boone water intake focus of meeting
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Published: June 24, 2009
WEST JEFFERSON - Boone Town council members and Ashe County commissioners met jointly last night to hear concerns and take questions from the public about Boone's proposed water intake along the New River in the Brownwood area.
The river forms the border between Ashe and Watauga Counties there, although the project site is in Watauga County.
No votes were expected last night and none were taken, but this was the first time that the two government groups have met publicly on the issue, which has been controversial in Ashe County. The event drew about 100 people, mostly people opposed to the project and concerned about the river.
Boone has been looking for a new water source for at least five years. A 2004 water study concluded the town was reaching its capacity to supply water. Engineering and environmental assessment are pending on the proposed site.
Without that data, some of the answers still aren't clear.
The town is applying for a permit to draw up to 4 million gallons of water a day. Officials say that the actual amount of water pulled out of the river would be about 1. 5 million gallons a day.
Tests have shown that an average of 33 million gallons a day flow past the proposed intake site, said project manager Brian Tripp, of WK Dickson, a Hickory-based engineering firm.
He said that the town of Boone has historically returned 99 percent of the water it takes out.
The quality of the treated wastewater returned to the river was an issue, as residents and town officials discussed the level of pharmaceuticals which are left in treated wastewater -- a topic that is becoming a national focus of people concerned about drinking water.
Mia Hartsook, of Fleetwood, is part of the New River Stewardship Committee, a group that has formed in response to the water-intake plan. The group has outlined positions on about 12 issues regarding the project, including Boone's water needs and alternative options. Their position papers may be viewed at their Web site: www.newriverstewards.blogspot.com.
"We all know the New River is a very special river," she told officials. "It's not just any river.... What consideration is being given to the historic nature of the New River?
Boone officials assured her that they recognize the special status of the New River, and the project would meet all required state and federal standards.
"That still doesn't specifically answer the question," she responded. "… We don't see any special consideration being given to the New River as an American Heritage River."
That's the way the evening went, with people in the crowd opposed to the project and not satisfied with answers.
Linda Foulsham of Todd told officials that she feels disenfranchised, even if people in Boone support the project.
"What do you say to the rest of us who are not in favor of this project, who did not have a chance to vote?" she said.
One of the frustrations people in Ashe County have is that they feel like they are getting little if anything from the plan while risking the quality of the river in Ashe County.
Jim Lewis of Todd asked what impact the water withdrawal would have on getting enough water to meet future growth in Ashe County.
Ashe County Manager Dan McMillan told him that the county doesn't see an impact on its future growth.
"We have not seen there would be an effect in the amount of water if it's put back in," he said.
During a break in the meeting, Lewis said he still needs hard facts, citing differences that he has heard from officials about whether the town would return 99 percent of the water, or 98 percent, or most of the water.
"Where's the communication?" he said. "Where's the transparency?"
During the meeting, Judy Porter Poe, the chairwoman of the Ashe County Board of Commissioners, said that county officials have asked questions and worked with town of Boone officials since the project started.
Ashe County has the same legal rights of any property owner along the river, but does not have government oversight or control of votes related to the project since the proposed intake plant would be in Watauga County.
■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.
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