Project Overview

Cranston’s Mill Pond (CMP), a 55-acre impoundment in James City County, VA has been in existence since the mid-1800s. In its modern state (since 2011), CMP is authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Nutrient Offset Facility. Essentially, it captures phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment from the surrounding seven square mile watershed and prevents negative effects to the downstream Chickahominy River, James River and Chesapeake Bay. This unique resource is jointly owned and managed by the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Land Trust and Restoration Systems. These partners are now proposing that the CMP be permitted as a raw water supply and be utilized, to its maximum extent possible, as a partial solution to a very serious problem facing the Eastern part of the Commonwealth – declining availability of groundwater as a viable source of drinking water and limited options for alternative sources.

The deep “Potomac Groundwater Aquifer” (several hundred to more than 1000 feet below the ground surface) is the predominant source of drinking water in this region. However, it is being over-used and severely depleted. As a result, the Virginia Department of Environmental quality is in the process of significantly curtailing the amount of groundwater that localities and industries in the Eastern part of the state can withdraw. The Virginia legislature and state agencies have been aggressively exploring options and alternatives to groundwater as a source of drinking water.

Cranston’s Mill Pond can be a cost-effective local solution to a very serious problem facing our Commonwealth.

Cranston’s Mill Pond is uniquely situated. With its state-of-the-art dam and spillway, it captures significant amounts of clean fresh water from the relatively pristine surrounding watershed as well as several shallow groundwater aquifers (not the deep aquifer that is being depleted). More than 14 months of on-site data show, on average, more than 8 million gallons of water coming over the spillway every day. This proposal requests authorization from the state to use that water for municipal or industrial needs – thus alleviating some of the demand that is currently placed on deep groundwater sources.

We hope that you will explore the information provided here to better understand how the Cranston’s Mill Pond can benefit the citizens of Virginia.