How collaboration replaced conflict in Roanoke basin

Comment: The Computer Models need to add the polluation and water usage of the Roanoke River Basin from uranium mining & Milling!

Sunday, April 5
( updated 3:00 am)
By BILL HOLMAN AND RICHARD WHISNANT

From 1984 to 1991 -- for seven years -- North Carolina sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in federal court to block a permit that enabled the city of Virginia Beach to transfer 60 million gallons of water per day from Lake Gaston on the Roanoke River 76 miles to Virginia Beach. North Carolina ultimately lost.

For the last 10 years, Virginia and North Carolina, as well as the Corps of Engineers and Dominion Resources (a power company), along with The Nature Conservancy have been working together to develop a computer model to predict how water supply and water demand will interact in the future.

The model uses data about water withdrawals, water returns (wastewater discharges), and historic flows of the Roanoke River in both states. It has facilitated a common science-based understanding of the river system by users in both states.

The model has also brought water users and public agencies together to share information and to manage competing demands, including drinking water, industry, power generation, recreation, wildlife conservation and ecological needs.

It has forged a partnership between two states and many users that recognize their common interest in scientific management of a shared resource and in assuring water supplies in the future.

North Carolina shares both surface and groundwater resources with Virginia and other neighboring states.

Increasing demands for water resources driven by increased population will increase both interstate and intrastate demands for scarce water resources.

For example, both the Research Triangle region and Virginia Beach are looking at the Roanoke River as a potential source of future water supply.

Science-based river models are the platform for future interstate and intrastate cooperation, collaboration and conflict resolution.

Millions of dollars are currently being spent on litigation between South Carolina and North Carolina over an interbasin transfer dispute in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin and among Georgia, Alabama and Florida over use of the Chattahoochee River Basin.

Developing river basin models costs a fraction of what litigation costs.

Shouldn't we apply sound science to managing our water resources before we file lawsuits?

About The Writers
Bill Holman is director of state policy at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
Richard Whisnant is a professor at UNC-CH's School of Government