Over the last 10 days Vance Arnold and friends have kayaked and canoed the Haw River twice along the area needed for expansion of the Haw River State Park. In reality Vance and friends have mostly pushed their canoe/kayak because of the extremely low water in the Haw River. A feeder pipe was added several years ago by the City of Greensboro to draw water from the Haw River during times like these of receding reservoirs and drought. However, the Haw River today cannot supply any water for Greensboro because the water level is far too low in the Haw River to be of any help. We understand the city's feeder pipe at the Haw River is many feet higher than the current flow level.
Golf courses, especially during the first two years as the turf develops, need massive amounts of water. A brand new 27 hole course sits barren in Boca Raton, Fla. because the estimated 1,000,000 gallons of water needed per day is not yet available from any approved resource.
See --
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/south/epaper/2007/07/06/s1b_golf_0706.html
Many estimates for the first two years of watering a quality golf course far exceed the 100,000 gallon amount that has been discussed as the average needed at the proposed Patriot's Landing development. Tender turf, with no rain and temperatures in the high 90's, scream for constant moisture. Patriot's Landing proposed holding pond, that is designed to be filled from the Haw River when the Haw River has a high flow, would probably have become significantly depleted over our recent hot, dry months. So Patriot's Landing may need to replenish their holding pond in another dry July, August and September when hardly any water is available from the Haw River. A real conflict of water resources could occur if Patriot's Landing is built along the bank of the Haw River.
In a comment section below Vance Arnold said: Yesterday I "canoed", no "kayaked" the Haw River from Church St. to the bridge at Monroeton Rd. The quotation marks are to highlight how little water there is in that section of the river at this point, deep in an extreme drought. It was however beautiful. The wetlands are extensive and serving their very important function of storing water during dry times.What will happen if Bluegreen is allowed to withdraw 100,000 gallons minimum per day.
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So what kind of wildlife lives in the wetlands you're trying to protect from development?
Can you help me understand why Reidsville is selling Rockingham water to Guilford County. What about my well for my home. Are the residents of Rockingham County also going to flip the bill for the extension of this water line down Church Street? It seems that this is several miles and would cost in the MILLIONS.
So what keeps this out of state developer from sucking the river dry?
PRAY FOR RAIN and ROCKINGHAM COUNTY!
Good questions! Bluegreen has spoken of using an average of 100,000 gallons of water per day but a new course, with un-established turf during a draught will require significantly more water than their original estimate. They plan to confiscate water from the Haw River during times of high water levels and store that water in a containment pond. But my bet is that pond would be dry if we have a repeat of this summer and then they are forced to confiscate additional water during a time of very low flow. They may need well over 400,000 gallons of water per day during the hot dry summer months with tender young turf.
Rockingham County may be far better off to manage their water resources with an eye on our ongoing drought and the long term needs of the residents of Rockingham County. Water lines run to the far stretches of Rockingham County will be over utilized down the road as more and more developments tie onto that water line.
Talk about missing their estimate. I understand that many of the developments in Rockingham County have missed their estimates on the number of children that would be attending our schools. I am sure the same can be said for Guilford. Why don't the planning departments do a better job of checking the data submitted by the developers?
Planning committees don't really care about the number of children attending local schools -- they figure it is up to the school board to figure out.
I attended a meeting of the High Point City Council several years ago when this was a topic of discussion, and that was their response.
Planning committees don't really care about the number of children attending local schools -- they figure it is up to the school board to figure out.
I attended a meeting of the High Point City Council several years ago when this was a topic of discussion, and that was their response.
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