LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — People packed the Spring Creek Clubhouse in Zion Crossroads for a meeting about the James River Water Authority’s project to bring water to Fluvanna and Louisa counties on Wednesday.
The James River Water Authority Board voted to move forward on its water project to bring a water supply from the James River to the Zion Crossroads area of Louisa and Fluvanna counties.
The supply’s purpose would be to help develop the area.
The location of the project would sit at the Point of Fork in Fluvanna County where the Rivanna and James rivers meet. That site is also considered the capital of the Monacan Indian Nation, Rassawek.
Many people at the meeting voiced their displeasure with the vote, chanting shame while turning their back to the board.
Greg Werkheiser, a lawyer for the Cultural Heritage Partners representing the Monacan Indian Nation, said he feels the Monacan Indian Nation and the people were neglected and the board chose to put profit before people.
“The James River Water Authority, their vote is a shame,” said Werkheiser. “It is profit over people, it is environmental racism and that is relatively, unfortunately, a new term but it describes something that has been around for years. It’s a shame they are going to largely ignore the 12 to 15 alternative places they could’ve built this, but we’ve seen setbacks before and ultimately we are confident this site will not be destroyed by this project. We will find another alternative or we’ll shut the whole thing down.”
Read the entire article at CBS19 News.