County. Culpeper’s plan is to cultivate growth in pre-designated

County.

Culpeper’s plan is to cultivate growth in pre-designated Village Centers, such as Clevenger’s Corner, rather than have it scattered all over the landscape. These Village Centers must -have water. Clevenger’s Corner already has its groundwater study underway, courtesy of Centex Homes, Inc.

Eight favorable groundwater development zones have been identified. Recharge is said to be adequate, and apparently, there is no contamination in the area. Last week, Culpeper County’s Board of Supervisors were briefed on the need for a groundwater study to specifically locate high-yield underground aquifers near its other Village Centers. Such groundwater resources, capable of producing 200 to 300 gallons of water per minute, will also need adequate recharge and protection against contamination.

Culpeper County’s new groundwater study will likely begin with the Elkwood portion of the Brandy Station/Elkwood Village Center. Elkwood, nine miles north of the Town of Culpeper near Route 29, is the site of the Culpeper County Airport and an industrial park.

To copper their bet on the search for water, Culpeper County may look into building a few reservoirs. A study provided to that county in March 2001 evaluated four reservoir sites. Of immediate interest, because of its low cost, is a potential 243-acre reservoir on Muddy Run, east of Route 229 and below Rixeyville, near the Emerald Hill Elementary School. Water for the reservoir would come from the Muddy Run watershed, with the Hazel River tapped if necessary.

Two other potential reservoir sites are located near Clevenger’s Corner. One is west of Route 229, near the Rappahannock County border. It would make use of water pumped from the Hazel River, but the major inflow would be from the watershed of Indian Run. It would cover 461 acres (the Town of Culpeper makes use of Pelham Lake, a reser