To the editor:

Thank you for covering the Town of Boone’s request for a water withdrawal from the New River.

Boone certainly needs to address its water supply problems, but the issue for Ashe County residents is the impact in a triangular area from the intersection of Cranberry Springs and Railroad Grade Road, to Laural Mt. Estates to approximately William Calloway Road.

This area could find iteself under NC WS II Watershed Restrictions (see http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wswp/WS-2.html).

There will be a financial cost to Ashe County if the County has to enforce these rules and the rules tend to most impact those who hold tracts of land between 2 and 3.99 acres.

Because this site is within 4 miles of Deep Gap and US 421 and US 221, the site is ideal for a regional water treatment plant.

Ashe County might benefit from a small capacity stake in this project and certainly would benefit by having some say in the development future of this corridor.

Boone needs water, but that need should not involve a hidden economic cost to Ashe County.

William Powell

West Jefferson