- Update: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality held a public meeting April 14 on the pollution of the river just below the Boy Scout Camp Dam (Little Calfpasture River right before it forms the Maury River). Approximately 100 interested citizens attended. A review of the presentation from the meeting is helpful in understanding how serious the problem is - and the next steps planned. It is clear that we need to reduce sources of pollution - not increase them substantially. Our thanks to VA DEQ.
- Pollution: After 1992 fish kill, VA Department of Game & Inland Fisheries wrote to the Boy Scouts who are responsible for Lake Merriweather "...this newspaper article could have been far more damaging to the Boy Scout's image with a few more questions and a little bit more in depth reporting. No mention was made of the fish kill or the fact that your discharge was a violation of both state and federal law. The investigation of this incident is a serious matter and the silt deposits that have accumulated downstream represent much more than a little dirty water....." State and federal agencies continued to cite the Boy Scouts for violations in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and identified serious problems in 2004 & 2007. The problems have not yet been addressed. 35 pages of documents is a lot to read, but it is important - and eye-opening.
- Dam Unsafe: Dam Safety is overseen by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. In 2005, DCR issued only a conditional operating permit because the dam did not meet the current regulations. That permit expired in 2007.
In 2005, Congress gave an "earmark' of $645,000 for the Lake Merriweather Dam at the Goshen Scout Camps to the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is not clear why taxpayer dollars are spent for a private lake and dam.
The Army Corps' current evaluation of the dam & lake states: "The dam’s existing spillway capacity does not meet National Dam Safety Regulations, and the spillway’s crest gates susceptibility to damage during flood events raise serious concerns about possible dam overtopping or failing during a large flood event." (emphasis added)
How could this threat to public health and safety have continued for so long?
