Board questions watershed
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

It's been four years, and the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is tired of waiting for the Upper Swift Creek Watershed report. At the board's most recent meeting, there were lots of questions about why it continues to be delayed.

"It's been an enormous amount of time to get this plan completed," complained Dale Supervisor Kelly Miller.

"Spending four years is too long," added Matoaca Supervisor Renny Humphrey.

"The previous [comprehensive] plan was done in 1991," said Clover Hill Supervisor Art Warren. "We need to get along with it."

Bermuda Supervisor Dickie King said the analysis of the watershed by CH2MHill, the county's consultant, is taking too long.

It is rare for so many board members to complain publicly about inaction on the same issue.

The planning commission is scheduled to hear the report in mid-February, but it has been delayed before. Last month, the consultant said some of the data from 2005 had not yet been compiled for its projections.

To update the comprehensive plan, the board wants to hear what impact current rezonings will have on the amount of phosphorous running into the Swift Creek Reservoir, which provides about 25 percent of the county's drinking water. Using the reservoir as a drinking water source could end if phosphorous levels become too high. The watershed includes most of northwestern Chesterfield County.