Evening star., 1955-01-29
Virginia Group
Opens Study Of
Water Shortage
Legislative Unit
Hears Conflicting
cIuims From Users
BY Alex r Preston
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CULPEPER. Va, Jan "a
Legislative commission studying
dwindling water resources and
the necessity for a new State
policy to cope with the problem,
today reviewed conflicting claims
from farmers. industry and mu-
inequalities in this drought
ridden area.
The Cuipeper- Orange Madison
section was one Of the States
hardest hit by lack Of rain during
the last two summers. On the
farms, threats Of suits were made
against landowners further up
stream who were irrigating their
lands.
In the towns, highway depart
ment trucks, FIRE engines and
other makeshift tank vehicles
doled out water to thirsty home
owners who gathered around
with pals and pots.
First in Series.
1t was amid this background
that a committee Of the Virginia
Advisory Legislative Council
held its first of a series of public
meetings yesterday. Chairman
John H. Daniel of Charlotte
limited the discussion to prob
lens concerning surface waters
streams, ponds and lakes.
At the next scheduled hear
ing, February 10 in Waverly.
underground resources wAl be
emphasized. The sinking un-
derground water table, resulting
in dried-up wells and springs
also Is serious problem in the
Northern Virginia area. Some
Of the spokesmen from this Sec
ton planned to air their views
at the second hearing also.
DR.. H. N. Young, director of
the Virginia Agricultural Expert
ment Station at Blacksburg and
q member of the VALC COM
mittee, was among those who
indicated the historic doctrine
Of riparian rights Is outmoded
and may be in for statutory
revision by the next session of
the Legislature.
Doctrine Explained.
Under this doctrine owners
Of land abutting streams and
lakes have prior rights to the
waters use over that Of land
owners further removed.
Town Manager H. F. Knoell
Of Orange said his problem re-
lates only to surface water. The
town draws its supply from the
Rapidan River.
Last year, he said, a half doz-
en- farmers upstream irrigated
their lands, materially reducing
the flow at the municipalities in
take. He emphasized that while
cities and towns are large users.
they return substantially the
same volume of water, after
treatment Of sewage, into the
streams for use Of others.
Joseph H. Strother. who farms
near Brandy. about 5 miles north
of here. took issue with advo-
Gates of a revision Of the riparian
rights doctrine.
II believe" he said, riparian
rights have become property
rights. To take away riparian
rights is to take away ones
property without due process of
law"
Storage Urged.
Ferrell Thomas Of Culpeper
suggested that means be found
for storing the estimated 35 per
cent of water that flows of
watersheds and empties into the
sea during wet weather.
Robert s. Graves. large apple
orchardist and cattle grower in
Madison County. complained
that the committee was made
up of too many "city slickers"
and expressed fear that farm
ers would not get q fair break
from its recommendations.
Chairman Daniel retorted that
he owns 1900 acres Of farmland
and raises cattle.
w. H. Hurt. Culpeper farmer,
said he knew a farmer who built
an ll-acre pond as a reservoir.
But during the drought his
friends and neighbors. who had
not stored water, prevailed on
him to open a valve into q dry
stream bed.
Chairman Daniel emphasized
the commission is dealing with
q controversial topic and ap-
pealed for public support of eff
forts to pass regulations which
would benefit the most people.