as being based on “faulty assumptions” and Charlottesville City Council has consistently
advocated for more information on the costs and practicality of dredging.

“[There is] a perception out there that exists within the City, that
we made a decision that was based on bad information,” City
Councilor David Brown said. “My belief is that we didn’t reject it
because it costs too much. My belief is we rejected it because it did
not bring enough water.”
Most Albemarle County officials have opposed spending funds to even study
dredging for water supply purposes. The Albemarle County Service Authority has said
it will only contribute to the costs of studies which pertain to maintenance of the reservoir
as required in the 2006 plan. In April 2009, Charlottesville City Council decided to fund a
feasibility study for restorative dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir.
• Dredging feasibility study: HDR
Engineering was hired in October 2009 to
conduct a dredging feasibility study of the
South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. As of January
2010, HDR has begun work on the first phase
of this study, which includes a bathymetric
survey, and an assessment of whether wetlands
have formed due to siltation. A public meeting
to discuss progress will be held in either late
February or early March. The second phase,
which will examine potential dewatering and
storage sites for the dredged material, begins after the public meeting.
• VA Department of Environmental Quality assessment of “Norris Plan.” In July
2009, Supervisor David Slutzky and Norris asked regulators to model use of a
smaller dam at Ragged Mountain combined with dredging at South Fork.
Careful modeling is required because any change in water storage potentially impacts
other aspects of the 2006 plan, specifically the stream flow release requirements and
the system’s overall ability to supply sufficient water at times of worst drought. As of
January 2010, DEQ has not completed their study and officials there would not provide
an expected date. The results of this modeling may indicate whether some alternatives
to the water plan are practicable.
• Charlottesville City Council’s study of raising the 1908 Lower Ragged
Mountain Dam by 13 feet. In January 2010, City of Charlottesville decided to hire its
own firm to develop a cost estimate for raising the existing Lower Ragged Mountain
Dam by 13 feet as part of an amended community water supply plan. Increasing