whisky’s for drinkin and water’s for fightin: the environmentalist perspective rick gaskins...
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Whisky’s for Drinkin and Water’s for Fightin:The Environmentalist Perspective
Rick GaskinsExecutive Director
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundationrick@catawbariverkeeper.org
OverviewSummaryWho or what is Catawba Riverkeeper?A few basic facts.Why should we care about IBTs?What is the problem with IBTs?What is the solution?What are the significant aspects the settlements in the Concord-Kannapolis cases?
SummaryIn the East, we have always assumed that there is plenty of water, and this is built into our laws and infrastructure.– Eastern water law is based around the
problem of having too much water.– Land development and agricultural
practices reflect the abundance of water.– There is virtually no cost for water taken
from a river or aquifer.
Summary (continued)
Our current practices are stretching water resources to the limits.IBTs are one part of the problem.Need to create a system that:– Makes the best use of water– Keeps the eco-system healthy, by, among
other things, maintaining minimum ecological flows.
Catawba Riverkeeper FoundationThe Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation advocates for the health, protection and enjoyment of the Catawba River watershed. Our Vision:That the waters of the entire Catawba River basin will always be of high quality and abundant quantity to sustain and enhance the lives of all the humans, the wildlife and the ecosystems that depend on it.
Catawba Riverkeeper501(c)(3) non-profitNot a land trust Not Catawba Lands ConservancyThree primary tools:– Education– Prevention– Advocacy
Party in the Concord-Kannapolis IBT litigation.
Rocky Mount’s water reservoirSeptember 2007
Lake Michie, Durham CountyOctober 2007
Falls LakeDecember 2007
Little River, Durham CountyOctober 2007
Fact 1: We are running out of water
Unless precipitation increases (unlikely) and/or storage increases (hard), and increased evaporative loss is insignificant (worrisome given climate trends), we face more of this in the future, and more frequently.
Belmont public water supply intake The Catawba River supplies water to more than 50 cities, counties and industries. They depend on adequate water levels in the river and its lakes in order to provide drinking water and process water for manufacturing.
Lake Wylie - Belmont, NC
Rainfall Amounts
Fact 2: Relatively, there is plenty of rain, but …
Annual Use as Percent of Rainfall
Charlotte Area
Fact 3: We use over 100% of the rainfall in this area.
Water consumption in the Southeast grew 15% from 1990 to 2000, compared with 2% nationwide.
The population rose by 20% from 1990 to 2000 vs.13% in the rest of the country.
By 2030, daily water use in NC will increase by 35%.
Projected growth in the Southeast from1990 to the near future.
US EPA
Fact 4: Growth and water consumption in the Southeast are expected to continue to increase.
Fact 5: Most of our growth in in the Southeast is in areas lacking water storage
A huge percentage of
the South’s population, growth and economic
prospects lies in the
piedmont . . .
. . . a region with good average precipitation, but small streams and low yields from groundwater .
Result: low resilience; high susceptibility to drought; almost certain escalation in conflict over water unless growth stops.
Concord
Kannapolis
Fact 6: TheYadkin-Pee Dee basin has almost twice the natural surface water supply per person as the Catawba.
Charlotte
Mooresville
Statesville
Fact 7: Many large cities in this area straddle two basins and thus transfer water from one basin to the other.
Goose Creek
Six Mile Creek
Carolina heelsplitter: Endangered Species of
Freshwater Mussel
YadkinCatawba
?Fact 8: Conflict will increase. Water consumption in NC
Recent conflict over water quantity in NC
NEUSEYADKIN
CAPE FEAR
LUMBER
TAR-PAMLICO
ROANOKE
CATAWBA
PASQUOTANK
BROADFRENCH BROAD
NEW CHOWAN
WHITE OAK
LITTLE TENNESSEEHIWASSEE
WATAUGA
SAVANNAH
Va Beach transfer from Roanoke
Central coastal plain CUA
Cone of depression in lower Cape Fear
Eno voluntary CUA
Land use issues around proposed
Little River reservoir
Litigation over IBT to Concord/Kannapolis
Litigation over releases from
Randleman LakeFight over new Boone intake
Intake and allocation disputes at Lake
Jordan
Fight over Alcoa dams on Yadkin
Concern about Atlanta’s water
needs
Disagreements over Kerr water
supply Concern about inflows and intakes around Falls Lake
401 cert. litigation on Yadkin/Pee Dee Progress dams
TVA lake level issues
Fact 9: IBTs are only one part of the problemNet Use of Water in the Catawba Basin
Power plant Cooling 48%
Industrial 2%
Public Water Supply 32%
Agricultural 18% 2007 Data from
Duke Power
Why should we care about IBTs?Aggravates Drought Conditions.Favors growth in the receiving basin at the expense of the source basin.Fuels sprawl.Threatens environment, including numerous aquatic species.
Why should we care about IBTs?Decrease in quantity increases concentrations of pollutants discharged to the source water.Increased reliance on one source (e.g., Mtn. Island Lake) increases susceptibility to disruptions to supply
Why should we care about IBTs?
Can lead to saltwater intrusion problems and other unintended consequences downstream.
What is the solution?Better Science– Establish baseline ecological flows.– Determine how much water is currently
being used, where it is taken out, where it is returned, and how much is returned.
– Develop better models.Price incentives for conservation and wise water use.Legal system that treats water as a scarce resource.All water uses need to be on the table. No use should be exempt.
What are the significant aspects the settlements in the Concord-Kannapolis cases?
Limits on withdrawals from the Catawba.Must get water from the Yadkin basin first.In times of drought, must take greater cuts.Must implement water conservation incentives and practices.Independent verification and oversight.Settlement between NC & SC – Increases role to Bi-State Commission.– Limits ability of states to roll-back prior IBT and
water management legislation.
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