Growth forecast demands a water plan now

The Shenandoah River Basin needs to have an overall water plan for population growth over the next decades. According to the Demographics Research Group at UVA “Virginia is poised to become the 10th most populous state in the country by 2040”. Their research predicts about 125,000 more residents in the counties and towns along the river basin by 2045. Frederick County and Winchester will be hit hardest with projections showing a population growth of 43,000 more residents.

A good resource for planning might begin with pulling the 1960 plans out of the closet. A three hundred acre lake was laid out and plans were drawn up for two dams on the Shenandoah River.

There are old quarries along Interstate 81 and Interstate 66 which could be used as holding ponds.

We need all the counties to get together with our state legislators, U.S. Congressmen and Senators to come to a common sense solution to address the problem of available drinking water. The longer we wait to solve this problem the more it will cost. It takes years to develop a plan, and build the infrastructure needed. If we do not address it now it may to too late.

Paul Hunt
Front Royal, VA