Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority

Community Water Supply Mitigation Plan

Public MeetingNovember 2, 2006

AgendaAgenda

Impacts to Be MitigatedImpacts to Be Mitigated Stream Mitigation PlanStream Mitigation Plan Wetland Mitigation PlanWetland Mitigation Plan Mitigation Costs Mitigation Costs Schedule for Next StepsSchedule for Next Steps Public CommentPublic Comment

Impacts to be MitigatedImpacts to be Mitigated The Preferred Water Supply Alternative The Preferred Water Supply Alternative

includes ...includes ...

• Expand Ragged Mountain Reservoir with New Expand Ragged Mountain Reservoir with New DamDam

• New Pipeline from South Fork Rivanna Reservoir New Pipeline from South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoirto Ragged Mountain Reservoir

9.5 Miles in Length9.5 Miles in Length 36-Inch Pipeline36-Inch Pipeline

  Existing Proposed

Reservoir Pool Height at Dam (Feet) ~67 ~112

Reservoir Surface Area (Acres) ~70 ~212

Useable Water Storage (Million Gallons) ~514 ~2,190

Impacts to be Impacts to be MitigatedMitigated

StreamsStreams• 14,435 linear 14,435 linear

feet of rural feet of rural upland upland streams will streams will be inundatedbe inundated

• Small, high Small, high quality quality streams, but streams, but cut-off from cut-off from Moores Creek Moores Creek for over 100 for over 100 yearsyears

• Overall low Overall low impactimpact

Full presentation includes a picture here of

proposed Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The Picture highlights where

streams would be impacted.

Impacts to be Impacts to be MitigatedMitigated

WetlandsWetlands• Inundated Inundated

wetlands were wetlands were created by created by existing existing reservoirsreservoirs

0.81 Acres 0.81 Acres ForestedForested

0.07 Acres 0.07 Acres Shrub-ScrubShrub-Scrub

1.73 Acres 1.73 Acres EmergentEmergent

• Army COE Army COE requires 3.46 requires 3.46 Acres Wetland Acres Wetland MitigationMitigation

Full presentation includes a picture here of

proposed Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The Picture highlights where

wetlands would be impacted.

Pipeline Pipeline ImpactsImpacts

Temporary Temporary ImpactsImpacts• 668 Linear 668 Linear

Feet of Feet of Streams Streams

• 0.04 acres 0.04 acres emergent emergent wetlandswetlands

No Permanent No Permanent Impacts – No Impacts – No Off-Site Off-Site Mitigation Mitigation RequiredRequired

Full presentation includes a picture here of

proposed pipeline between South Fork

Rivanna Reservoir and Ragged Mountain

Reservoir. The Picture highlights where streams

and wetlands would be temporarily impacted during construction.

Stream Mitigation Stream Mitigation

Extensive List of Options ReviewedExtensive List of Options Reviewed ““Short List”Short List”

• Restoration and Preservation along Buck Restoration and Preservation along Buck Mountain Creek (RWSA-owned land)Mountain Creek (RWSA-owned land)

• Multiple Site Stream Restorations Multiple Site Stream Restorations (Moores Creek, Maury Creek, Rivanna (Moores Creek, Maury Creek, Rivanna River, Ivy Creek Tributaries) River, Ivy Creek Tributaries)

Stream Mitigation Stream Mitigation

““Short List” Reviewed with Short List” Reviewed with Regulatory AgenciesRegulatory Agencies• Mitigation must be “Function for Mitigation must be “Function for

Function” (Army COE and US FWS)Function” (Army COE and US FWS) Lost Function is Rural, Upland StreamsLost Function is Rural, Upland Streams Buck Mountain Creek Best Functional Match Buck Mountain Creek Best Functional Match

of All Options Availableof All Options Available Multiple Site Option Will Multiple Site Option Will NotNot Be Approved by Be Approved by

Army COEArmy COE

Stream Mitigation Stream Mitigation RWSA is proposing Buck Mountain CreekRWSA is proposing Buck Mountain Creek

• Details Subject to Regulatory AdjustmentsDetails Subject to Regulatory Adjustments• Current EstimatesCurrent Estimates

Assessment of Sufficiency to Mitigate Ragged Assessment of Sufficiency to Mitigate Ragged Mountain Project ImpactsMountain Project Impacts

Fully Satisfies Virginia DEQ CriteriaFully Satisfies Virginia DEQ Criteria Satisfies Satisfies Over Two TimesOver Two Times the US Army COE Criteria!! the US Army COE Criteria!!

Stream Mitigation Element

Conservation Easement (Linear Feet of Stream)

Buffer Tree Planting (Acres)

Restored Stream Channel

(Linear Feet)

Preservation 44,700 0 0

Enhancement 28,900 185 0

Restoration 1,900 15 1,900

Total 75,500 200 1,900

Proposed Proposed Stream Stream

Mitigation Mitigation ProjectProject

Full presentation includes a picture here of proposed Buck Mountain

Creek mitigation site. The Picture highlights

where stream preservation,

enhancement, and restoration elements are

proposed.

Wetland Mitigation Wetland Mitigation

Successful wetland restoration requires Successful wetland restoration requires specialized hydrogeographic conditionsspecialized hydrogeographic conditions• Water drainage volumeWater drainage volume• Hydric soilsHydric soils• Relatively flat terrainRelatively flat terrain

Due to local conditions, suitable sites Due to local conditions, suitable sites limited in number and too small in size limited in number and too small in size

Preference given to Moores Creek Preference given to Moores Creek WatershedWatershed

Wetland Mitigation Wetland Mitigation

RWSA is proposing Franklin Street RWSA is proposing Franklin Street property adjacent to Charlottesville property adjacent to Charlottesville StockyardStockyard• Property Under Contract for Sale to Property Under Contract for Sale to

RWSA – Subject to Completion of RWSA RWSA – Subject to Completion of RWSA InvestigationsInvestigations

• Informal Discussions with Regulators Informal Discussions with Regulators PositivePositive

• Details of Site Plan Subject to Regulatory Details of Site Plan Subject to Regulatory AdjustmentsAdjustments

Wetland Mitigation Wetland Mitigation

Franklin Street property (continued)Franklin Street property (continued)• Current EstimatesCurrent Estimates

4.0 acres in restored (“new”) wetlands 4.0 acres in restored (“new”) wetlands 0.9 acres of existing wetlands preserved0.9 acres of existing wetlands preserved Flood and riparian buffer restored along Flood and riparian buffer restored along

Moores CreekMoores Creek

• Exceeds Requirements of US Army COE Exceeds Requirements of US Army COE (4.0 acres new wetlands vs. 3.46 acres (4.0 acres new wetlands vs. 3.46 acres required) required)

Proposed Wetland Mitigation ProjectProposed Wetland Mitigation Project

Full presentation includes a picture here of proposed Moores Creek wetland mitigation site. The Picture highlights

where existing wetland, proposed wetland, and

proposed riparian buffers are planned.

Additional Environmental Benefits Additional Environmental Benefits

Improved Moormans River Stream Flow Improved Moormans River Stream Flow Expanded Lacustrine (Lake) Ecosystem Expanded Lacustrine (Lake) Ecosystem

BenefitsBenefits New Fringe Wetlands May EmergeNew Fringe Wetlands May Emerge Endangered Species Habitat Area Endangered Species Habitat Area

ProtectedProtected Watershed ProtectionWatershed Protection Riparian Improvements Along Moores Riparian Improvements Along Moores

CreekCreek

Estimated Value of MitigationEstimated Value of Mitigation

Stream Mitigation  

  Estimated Construction Cost $1,900,000

  Estimated Land Value1 5,000,000

Wetland Mitigation  

  Estimated Construction Cost 300,000

  Land Purchase2 110,000

Allowance for Legal, Engineering, and

Other Administrative Costs 400,000

  Total Estimated ValueTotal Estimated Value $7,710,000

1This is a rough estimate based on the Albemarle County appraised value of a representative survey of the RWSA-owned properties, applied to the estimated acreage of land proposed to be placed into conservation.

2This is the price listed in the Contract for Sale dated October 17, 2006 with Franklin Street Land Trust.

Next StepsNext Steps

Receive and Evaluate Public CommentReceive and Evaluate Public Comment Seek Mitigation Plan Approval by Joint Seek Mitigation Plan Approval by Joint

BoardsBoards Submit Plan to Regulatory AgenciesSubmit Plan to Regulatory Agencies Seek Final Approval of Ragged Mountain Seek Final Approval of Ragged Mountain

PermitPermit Negotiate Ragged Mountain Land Site Negotiate Ragged Mountain Land Site

Requirements with CityRequirements with City Complete Financial PlanComplete Financial Plan

Community FeedbackCommunity Feedback

How Does This Mitigation Plan How Does This Mitigation Plan Meet the Needs of Our Meet the Needs of Our

Community?Community?