Action and Advocacy

League of Women Voters^®
of Fluvanna County

We are truly a grassroots organization...

The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause.
Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership.
Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.
It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.

LWV of Fluvanna County local Position

The League of Women Voters of Fluvanna County believes that the protection and preservation of the Rivanna River and its watershed is vitally important to the citizens of Fluvanna County.
We believe that the responsibility for the stewardship of this natural resource is shared by Fluvanna and adjacent counties, the Department of Environmental Quality of the State of Virginia, and regional organizations such as the Thomas Jefferson Planning Commission and the Rivanna River Basin Commission. We also believe that private organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, the Rivanna Conservation Society and the Ivy Creek Foundation are wonderful sources of community support for the Rivanna and its watershed.
We agree with the following goals and objectives as based on those presented by the 2005 UVA Watershed Management class to the County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission. We support their implementation as follows:
Groundwater protection is a fundamental responsibility of government and should be considered during all planning processes.
The County should work to preserve and protect undeveloped land and open space to improve water quality and watershed health including the following:

Language in the Comprehensive Plan recognizing the importance of the Rivanna River and designating the watershed as a critical area for planning and zoning purposes
Maintaining the economic viability of forests and farms through tax incentives and development of a heritage tourism program
Pursuing land conservation protection measures such as conservation easements, continued promotion of Ag-Forestal Districts, and fee-simple acquisition
Planning Commission review and enforcement of guidelines for Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Improving collection and use of water quality data for the river and groundwater supply
Implementing and developing County zoning and planning regulations to support protection efforts, such as establishing re-zoning requirements for non-agricultural development in Rural Preservation planning areas

Fluvanna County should improve water quality through the following:

Control of impervious surfaces that threaten ground water recharge
Protect ground water through both wellhead protection programs and septic system management programs
Implement a storm water ordinance
Anticipate and plan for draught situations and the impact on the water supply

Fluvanna County should continue to foster community stewardship by promoting access to and appreciation of the Rivanna River- some methods for doing this might include:

Improving recreational facilities along the Rivanna
"Adopt a stream" programs for schools and other groups
Education and assistance for farmers on best management practices
Public and private demonstration projects
Volunteer stream monitoring working with this and other jurisdictions and organizations on a regional level

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: October 30, 2008 06:31 PDT.