049-074~G~ . CpG~
W `` BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE
SHENANDOAH VALLEY
REGIONAL WATER RESOURCES POLICY COAZNIITTEE
POLICY LEVEL STRATEGIC PLAN
WHEREAS, the water resources of the Shenandoah Valley, both surface water and ground water,
are primary to its character and essential for the long term economic viability of the Shenandoah
Valley Counties of Augusta, Berkeley, Clarke, Frederick, Jefferson, Page, Rockingham,
Shenandoah, Warren, and the cities and towns therein, and the Independent Cities of
Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro and Winchester, and
WHEREAS, the 1999 drought brought together localities of the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Regional Commission to consider long term water supply issues, and
WHEREAS, establishment of the Regional Water Resources Policy Committee by the Northern
Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission, September 19, 2002 led to invitations for upstream and
downstream jurisdictions to join in the process to seek a plan for ground and surface water resources
for the many watersheds of the Shenandoah Valley, and
WHEREAS; the Shenandoah Valley Water Resources Strategic Plan has been completed,
recommending eleven major strategies, and
WHEREAS, every jurisdiction in the Commonwealth is required by state mandate to complete the
first strategy in the Strategic Plan, water supply planning, and is also required to meet the
Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement requirements, and
WHEREAS, implementation of the Shenandoah Valley Water Resources Strategic Plan will:
(1) help localities cost-effectively meet the state mandated requirement for local water
supply planning and further local efforts required by the Chesapeake Bay 2000
Agreement;
(2) provide each community with more experience, skills and information than they would
have if they worked alone;
(3) make the region and localities more competitive when seeking state, federal and private
foundation funding as these groups encourage regional efforts;
(4) leverage work already being performed by and for local governments, stakeholder
groups, the private sector, regional commissions, the Shenandoah Valley Pure Water
Forum, and State and Federal agencies;
(5) encourage the USGS and other related groups to continue adding to the scientific
knowledge of the Valley at little or no cost to localities;
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(6) provide a "home" for regional water resource knowledge that local goverment can draw
- upon when making decisions;
(7) enable each local government to maintain its autonomous control over water resource
issues; and
WHEREAS, a regional group will have more political influence and regional solutions will be
less likely to be modified or over-ruled by a state agency, and
WHEREAS, the Policy Committee has already generated the following benefits for localities:
(1) economic savings from the pooling of resources and reduced duplication of effort;
(2) a locally developed set of integrated water resource goals applicable to localities
throughout the Shenandoah Valley;
(3) the development of a central database at the Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum
that lists groups working on water issues, the kinds of projects they are working on,
where they are doing their work;
(4) abetter understanding of the major regulatory issues facing local jurisdictions with
regard to water;
(5) an increased level of scientific research on water issues in the region, as well as better
coordination between the research of those working on water, air and other natural
resources research issues;
(6) the creation of an action .oriented policy-level Water Resources Strategic Plan which
is locally based and regionally networked to ensure the water resources of the
Shenandoah Valley will not be overcommitted to the detriment of current and future
generations, and
WHEREAS, implementation of the Strategic Plan will require support from elected officials, local
technical staff, State and Federal agency staff, and stakeholders,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Frederick County will (1) participate in the
Regional Water Resources Policy Committee, a joint exercise of powers for strategic planning
by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission and the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Regional Commission, with participation by the West Virginia Counties of Berkeley and
Jefferson, to oversee the policy-level Shenandoah Valley Water Resources Strategic Plan; (2)
appoint an elected official representative as well as an alternate (staff, appointee or elected
official); (3) appoint, assign or encourage, as appropriate, local government officials, staff and
related agency personnel to participate on technical committees related to inter-jurisdiction
coordination; and (4) participate in funding the Committee's work in FY 07-08 with a base local
contribution of $8,295 computed from a Planning District per capita rate of 12 cents for the
2005 population of 69,123 for the Shenandoah Valley Water Resources Strategic Plan Fund
managed by the Policy Committee to pursue implementation of the priority strategies on behalf
of and in support of Shenandoah Valley local governments -the Counties, their Towns, and
Cities, and (5) give consideration as appropriate, to related projects consistent with and
supportive of the Strategic Plan, and
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FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that Frederick County recognizes that the Shenandoah Valley
Water Resources Strategic Plan will take years to implement and will require an ongoing source
- of funds and thus the County will consider annual funding requests in the future based on
progress made and the availability of funds.
Adopted this ?$ day of Feb ., 2007.
Attest:
lC? Ld ~`!~, ~.~. Signed:
( r
BOS Resolution i~049-07
3
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley @co.frederick.va.us
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TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jolm R. Riley, Jr., County Administrato `>
SUBJECT: Regional Water Resource Policy Commi.' ee -Resolution of Support
DATE: February 7, 2007
Attached please find a resolution of support for the Shenandoah Valley Regional Water Resource
-- Policy Comrnittee Policy Level Strategic Plan. Staff is bringing this to you for your information. We will
schedule it for action at your neat meeting. However, should the Board be comfortable with the
language of the resolution, then you may take action this evening.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
TRR/jet
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C:1Documents and SettingsVET~My Documen[s~Riley Coaespondenceuvlemos~Board of Svpervisors~ivtemo re Water Policy Statemmt.wpd
107 North Kent Street Winchester, Virginia ??601-5000