- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Energy | Environment
The Rappahannock Tribe is objecting to a state decision allowing Caroline County to withdraw up to 9 million gallons of water per day from the Rappahannock River, saying the permit threatens the river’s health and disregards the tribe’s sovereign rights.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality approved the 15 year permit in early December. It authorizes construction of a new intake system and allows the county to draw a total of 49.275 billion gallons of water for public use.
In a news release, Rappahannock leaders said the transfer threatens the river’s ecological stability and violates protections adopted in the tribe’s 2024 Constitution, which recognizes the river’s inherent rights. They also said the state failed to consult with the tribe before approving the withdrawal.
“It is infringing on the rights of nature as stated in our Constitution,” Chief Anne Richardson said in a statement. “We will fight it.”
Caroline County originally sought permission to withdraw 13.9 million gallons daily for residential and industrial cooling uses. Public opposition prompted the county to scale back the request and remove references to industrial use. The tribe said the revised permit still allows an inter‑basin transfer because treated wastewater will be discharged into the Mattaponi River basin.
The tribe said it supports the county’s need for drinking water but argued that public supply should not come at the expense of the river or tribal sovereignty. Leaders urged the county, DEQ and the state to pursue long term, collaborative water planning.
The tribe is also opposing a separate proposal from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to revise statewide intake design and operation standards. Tribal officials said the draft guidance would weaken protections for aquatic life by allowing larger mesh sizes and higher intake velocities.
Jack Ryan, the tribe’s environmental and natural resources director, said the proposal would reshape how intake systems are designed and overseen across Virginia.
“Temporary fixes cannot protect our future,” Richardson said in a statement.
