Nathan Baskerville: Why I Support The Interbasin Transfer


As a legislator, I must make decisions based on what I think is best for our district….the district as it is today, and the district we would like it to become in the future. I support the Interbasin Transfer because I believe it to be necessary to position our district for the future.

I support the Interbasin Transfer because I believe that it can be accomplished without a significant environmental impact. That belief is not based on emotion or anecdotes, but is based on facts: there was an environmental assessment performed by internationally renowned environmental firm CH2M. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources thoroughly reviewed that assessment and issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact.” This assessment and DENR’s subsequent review and approval precluded the necessity for a full-on environmental study. Some opponents of the transfer argue that we must do an environmental study no matter what, under all circumstances. If I had all the resources in the world, I would adopt that position as well. But as an elected official, my positions MUST be anchored to budgetary realities. I take my job as a steward of tax dollars very seriously, and to require another study, when the scientists and professionals have told us the study is unnecessary, would be unreasonable.

I support the Interbasin Transfer because I believe it is necessary for our district to grow and provide the type of infrastructure that industry seeks when determining where to invest. Since 1974, The Kerr Lake Regional Water System (KLRWS) has been sitting on an authorization allowing an additional 10M gallons/day to be drawn from Kerr Lake (the current requested transfer is only for an additional 4.2M/gallons a day, not the entire 10M/gallons a day as authorized). We have been essentially in the same position for the last 40 years….maintaining the status quo. Have businesses been knocking down our doors to relocate here? How has sitting on all of our water advanced our district from a commercial investment perspective? Our Triangle North Park in Granville County sits empty today, but shouldn’t we want other businesses to join employers like Revlon and Certainteed? That will not happen if the City of Oxford cannot guarantee a clean, consistent, and sufficient water source. Again, we must take action NOW in order to be prepared for FUTURE opportunities.

KLRWS has detailed plans to expand the facility over the next 30 years so that we can continue to meet the needs of our customers and partners: Granville County, Oxford, Stovall, Wilton, Vance County, Henderson, Kittrell, Warren County, Warrenton, Littleton, and Franklin County. I urge opponents of this transfer to read closely the petition….. no water will be sent to Wake County as a result of this Interbasin Transfer. I urge everyone to read the petition closely……there has been an environmental assessment. The additional 4.2M gallons/day represent .0008% of the total 4.8 billion gallons that pass through Kerr Lake on a daily basis. I highly doubt that will decrease property values of homes along the lake. As a country boy that literally grew up on Satterwhite Point Road fishing Kerr Lake with my father and uncles, I doubt that additional .0008% will render our lake useless for watersports and fishing. I have included the links to both documents below, the Petition and the Assessment. Once everyone is informed, I am confident the rhetoric will subside, and facts will emerge.

http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Kerr/KLRWS_IBTPetition_Final_03202015.pdf)

http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Kerr/KLRWS_EA_20150116.pdf

Representative Nathan Baskerville