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Reservoir Project Cumberland County has obtained one permit for the proposed reservoir and awaits permits from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Army Corps of Engineers. The first permit for the proposed intake was issued by the Virginia Marine Resource Commission by unanimous vote. The reservoir project is conceptualized as a pumped storage facility providing several billion gallons of raw water storage. Key project components will include a dam and reservoir, James River withdrawal facilities on the County’s northern border, reservoir withdrawal facilities, and transmission main(s). Not only will this facility provide essential infrastructure for the County; but, the proposed off-stream reservoir is envisioned as a regional solution to the problem of water shortages when the James River has very little flow. In addition to providing a long-term water supply planning solution for the region, the proposed Cobbs Creek Reservoir presents the opportunity to add another asset to the long list of natural amenities in the region. Decisions regarding the size, restrictions and permitted uses of the shoreline and land around the reservoir (frequently called the buffer zone) must be carefully considered by the Cobbs Creek Reservoir Water Authority and Cumberland County, the reservoir host. To help make sound decisions about the buffer zone that will protect this valuable resource, the members of the Cobbs Creek Reservoir Water Authority in cooperation with the Cumberland County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are drawing upon the expertise from the nationally recognized Urban and Regional Planning departments of Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech. Experts from the two universities will facilitate the development of a master plan for the use of the proposed 1100-acre reservoir, its 14.4 miles of shoreline and the surrounding land. Potential concepts may range from the preservation of a pristine water source to broad recreational usage and some development (agricultural, commercial, upscale residential). Decisions will be made with input from the responsible regulatory agencies, the consulting engineers, the Water Authority and Cumberland County citizens. It is an important decision that needs thoughtful consideration and expertise. The County has been awarded over a million dollars in grants for the feasibility study and associated costs with filing an application and the permitting process. Those grants include $550,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Commission and $570,000 from the Virginia Department of Health. Henrico County has contributed $200,000 toward the project. |
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This site was developed as part of a U.S. Department of Commerce TOP grant awarded to the Blacksburg Electronic Village and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Comments or questions about this site should be sent to Cumberland Comments. Comments or questions about BEV in a Box should be sent to BEV Comments. |
