James River Water Authority
The James River Water Authority (JRWA) is an organization that was established in 2003 with the goal of providing water for Fluvanna County and Louisa County, being a joint project of both county governments. Members meet on the second Wednesday of every month at the Fluvanna County Public Library.[1]
Permitting for the project is nearing completion with a cost estimate of $45.6 million. Both Fluvanna County and Louisa County have agreed to proceed and construction could begin in early 2024. [2]
Rassawek
The JRWA sought to build a water pump station on the site of Rassawek, the ancient capital of the Monacan Nation. The organization sought a permit to relocate known burial sites. The site is located near the confluence of the Rivanna and James Rivers in Fluvanna at a place called Point of Fork. The proposed facility would be a water intake station that would transfer water to a treatment facility in Louisa that would serve the Zion Crossroads area. The representatives of the Monacan Nation objected to this proposal on the grounds that the construction activities would damage the burial sites of their ancestors as well as the historic artifacts in the area, initiating a formal legal opposition against the JRWA in 2018.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources denied the permit and the JRWA subsequently filed an appeal in December 2019. [3]
In February 2020, consultants hired by JRWA again recommended selecting the site. The Board began voting in March on a preferred alternative to submit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [4] On March 16, 2022, in the face of continued legal setbacks and the dogged resistance of the Monacan Nation, the JRWA officially voted to choose an alternate site for their facilities, representing a major victory for the Monacans.[5] The site of Rassawek continues to be owned by the JRWA to the present day.
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References
- ↑ Web. James River Water Authority, Louisa County
- ↑ Web. Fluvanna, Louisa water project reaches milestone, Heather Michon, News Article, Fluvanna Review, September 13, 2023, retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ Web. Water authority appeals decision on Fluvanna project, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 15, 2019, retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ↑ Web. Consultants recommend keeping pump station at Rassawek, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 26, 2020, retrieved March 1, 2020. Print. February 26, 2020 page A1.
- ↑ Web. Rassawek SAVED, Cultural Heritage Partners, 03/16/2022