King William Reservoir (VA)
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
On May 14, 2003 the Virginia Marine Resources Commission denied Newport News a permit for the construction and operation of a water intake structure in the Mattaponi River required for Newport News’ reservoir project. As a result of a lawsuit filed by Newport News, however, the city gained the right to another hearing before the commission on an amended permit application.
On August 12, 2004, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission reversed itself and granted Newport News a permit to build an intake pipe in the Mattaponi River as part of the city’s proposed reservoir in King William County. The commission had last year denied the permit for numerous reasons, including the adverse impacts of the intake pipe on shad. The intake would be located in the prime spawning grounds for shad, whose declining numbers triggered a catch moratorium in Virginia since 1994.
The Commission's decision is contrary to the recommendations of its own staff and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, its scientific adviser. Both rejected the conclusions of a Newport News report that the project would have virtually no impact on shad, noting that the report was not based on actual data from the Mattaponi River. The Commission’s staff also said that a study on the Mattaponi shad population proposed by Newport News be done before the permit was issued. However, Newport News prevailed in putting the cart before the horse by convincing the the Commission to issue the permit now.
