The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-04-24
Riparian Rights Protected By New Water
Law, Daniel Tells Soil Supervisors
Leaders In 20
Counties Share
In Talks Here

Water legislation passed by the
recent General AsSem bly makes
lmpoulding structures. which vi
olate the Riparian doctrine of
water rights, Illegal. Delegate
John H. Daniel told Area 5 Soil
Conservation District Supervisors
mere Friday.
Brleflng supervisors in the
area 20 Southside counties. Dan
lei outlined House Bill $40 which
he said provides the legal means
by which landowners may i'm
pound water they've been collec-
ing Illegally
The new legislation. Daniel said
resulted from the study of his
Virginia A viSory Legislative
Council committee on water re-
sources. Its recommendations were
incorporated into House Bill $40
which was adopted
Riparian. Rights
The law recognizes and reeS-
tabllshes Riparian rights which
entitle property owners where
water is involved to receive water
unchanged IN amount, substance
and purity from other landown-
erS along a stream
CruX of the new legislation in
wolves the method by which a
landowner may impound water
and not violate the Riparian doc
trlne. This may be done if I'M
pounding structures include a de-
wise 70 release the streams "ay-
craee normal flow. Daniel said
Under the new legislation, an
impOunding structure request is
to be placed with the Circuit
Court. which viii provide for dc
tctmning stream S average nor
NAL flow and whether the devise
TO release this amount is effec-
tive II that is done. the structure
viii be fully legal, Daniel pointed
out.
Hail Now Illegal
lie estimated that under the
new law about 50 per cent Of Viz
ginla present impoundlng stluc-
lures are legal the remaining
ones Illegal, He also pointed out
that landowners may do whatever
,aey choose N.th "diIfuSea' water
they collect Dflused water is
collected rainwater, melted snow.
and other supplies not generated
By a flowing stream
He also pointed out that the
II: laN doeS not interfere with
the customary right to domestic"
and garden uses of a stream
without any additional protection
for adjacent landowners.
The Charlotte county l"eisla-
tor also told the supervisors that
Virginia now has about 100000
available to loan to local asSocia
tons for financing watershed im-
provement programs There is
also federal assistance available
up to nearly half Of the cost of
local flood prevention projects. he
SAID.
state Progress
Under Public Law SOC. federal
legislation providing for stream
Improvement and flood control.
Virginia now has four fully APP
proved projects. five Of the add
tional seven applications have
been approved by the State SOIL
Conservation Committee. but are
awaiting federal bureau approval.
II. q Ragsdalc of Brandy,
chairman of the Virginia aSsoci-
dtlCn Of Soil Conservation Dis
nc s. told the Is delegates here
that I'VE must stop thinking of
our lives as land owners and
ren'aca that term with stewards
Of the land. Let's not forget.
that land is for future use, too
and not like a car We can trade
off, or clothes ne throw away or
donate TO a church drive he add
ed
R&gSddlc also pointed to the
effectiveness of organized effort
at soil conservation. but said that
only where supervisors accept
their responsibilities with serious
determination TO discharge them
viii the work be effective
j Gilbert Cox, Association
treasurer o. FlliSton, appealed for
supervisors TO make annual dis
trict budgets
Districts Report
Area 5 comprises four Soil Com
~rldtlon districts. Blue Ridge.
Piedmont Robert f. Lee and
Southaldc Reports we're present
Cd by the chairman in each. w.
w Ngfl J r Walker II. p. Mays.
ana s. A Ozlin The latter prcsid-
cd during the morning and after
noon sessions
Speaking briefly also we're +.
w. Mmdlc Extension ConScrva-
tioni>t. Of BlackSburg J Joseph
5hnuan editor of Virginia Wild
ftr magazine Normal /. Ram
acy Who gave . progress report
~ Charlotte County's Eoanokc
Crrck watershed project i =
DodSou and + y ChildreSS of
Amelia on public cooperation aud
G L. Ellington. of the Department
of Highways