Water Supply Concerns Continued–my serious concerns about the Governor’s proposal to withdraw Virginia from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) have been reinforced upon reading the letter that Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources wrote to me in order to calm my fears.
Mr. Domenesch states that withdrawal from the ICPRB will not have a negative impact upon any Chesapeake Bay improvement efforts nor on other water resource programs. He makes this generalization without any supporting comments or citing any data. Water supply purity and reliability are so very fundamental to the health, welfare and economic vitality of our Commonwealth that an unsupported claim like this is not only unacceptable, it is also irresponsible.
Mr. Domenesch goes on to point out that the ICPRB membership fee ($151,500) is equivalent to the cost of two full-time state employees “who could be working on water quality issues”. A fair point–BUT– the same budget document which describes the elimination of of the ICPRB membership also shows the elimination of three full-time Department of Environmental Quality staff positions while zeroing-out two water quality monitoring ($194,217) contracts with Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, all water supply planning grants to localities are eliminated as well. A rather breath-taking series of cuts to Virginia’s already weak water quality oversight efforts.
Mr. Demenesch closes his letter to me by noting that the Interstate Commission on the Potomac Water Basin provides only a “regional benefit” which “serves what has largely been viewed as a local function” and suggests “local financing” for this so-called “regional benefit”.
I totally disagree with describing the water supply for more than three out of every eight Virginians as a local concern. Disrupting this local concern–i.e. a clean and reliable water supply for nearly half of all Virginians–will have damaging Commonwealth-wide effects on our economic prospects. And pushing this expense and responsibility off onto local governments does not reflect a serious commitment to maintaining a business-friendly state nor a serious commitment to maintaining the health and safety we all deserve.
Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house.virginia.gov.
I am deeply disappointed in today’s ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia. On a 4-3 partisan vote, the Court’s Republican majority chose politics over the rule of law, twisting
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled to overturn the results of Virginia’s redistricting referendum.“More than three million Virginians cast
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Senator Mark Warner released the following statement regarding the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn a free and fair referendum to redraw congressional districts in Virginia: “While
RICHMOND — In a ruling with major implications for Virginia’s political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, the Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down the state’s newly
Kaye Kory’s Richmond Report
Kaye Kory’s Richmond Report
Water Supply Concerns Continued–my serious concerns about the Governor’s proposal to withdraw Virginia from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) have been reinforced upon reading the letter that Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources wrote to me in order to calm my fears.
Mr. Domenesch states that withdrawal from the ICPRB will not have a negative impact upon any Chesapeake Bay improvement efforts nor on other water resource programs. He makes this generalization without any supporting comments or citing any data. Water supply purity and reliability are so very fundamental to the health, welfare and economic vitality of our Commonwealth that an unsupported claim like this is not only unacceptable, it is also irresponsible.
Mr. Domenesch goes on to point out that the ICPRB membership fee ($151,500) is equivalent to the cost of two full-time state employees “who could be working on water quality issues”. A fair point–BUT– the same budget document which describes the elimination of of the ICPRB membership also shows the elimination of three full-time Department of Environmental Quality staff positions while zeroing-out two water quality monitoring ($194,217) contracts with Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, all water supply planning grants to localities are eliminated as well. A rather breath-taking series of cuts to Virginia’s already weak water quality oversight efforts.
Mr. Demenesch closes his letter to me by noting that the Interstate Commission on the Potomac Water Basin provides only a “regional benefit” which “serves what has largely been viewed as a local function” and suggests “local financing” for this so-called “regional benefit”.
I totally disagree with describing the water supply for more than three out of every eight Virginians as a local concern. Disrupting this local concern–i.e. a clean and reliable water supply for nearly half of all Virginians–will have damaging Commonwealth-wide effects on our economic prospects. And pushing this expense and responsibility off onto local governments does not reflect a serious commitment to maintaining a business-friendly state nor a serious commitment to maintaining the health and safety we all deserve.
Delegate Kory represents the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She may be emailed at DelKKory@house.virginia.gov.
Share:
More Posts
Del. Marcus Simon Weighs In On Virginia Court Decision
I am deeply disappointed in today’s ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia. On a 4-3 partisan vote, the Court’s Republican majority chose politics over the rule of law, twisting
Governor Spanberger Statement on Supreme Court of Virginia Ruling to Overturn Results of Redistricting Referendum
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled to overturn the results of Virginia’s redistricting referendum.“More than three million Virginians cast
WARNER STATEMENT ON VA SUPREME COURT RULING ON REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Senator Mark Warner released the following statement regarding the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn a free and fair referendum to redraw congressional districts in Virginia: “While
Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Congressional Redistricting Map
RICHMOND — In a ruling with major implications for Virginia’s political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, the Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down the state’s newly
Send Us A Message