New River Water Rights Battle Brews

A fight over water rights has some neighbors arguing with an entire town.

The dispute began with the city of Boone announced it wanted to draw millions of gallons of water from the New River, which the entire county depends on.

Town Manager Greg Young said Boone’s population will nearly double over the next 50 years, and the New River Project would allow the city to pull an additional four million gallons of water from the river to meet demand.

Opponents have already collected hundreds of signatures on petitions in an effort to stop the plans.

City leaders said most of the water drawn will end up back in the river after going through Boone’s treatment facility, but some area residents worry about the town’s plans.

Young said that even if everything goes according to plan, it will take four or five years before the city could start drawing the increased amount from the river.

A meeting will be held Tuesday night in Boone to discuss the plan.