Were they ever thinking?
The Town of Christiansburg just sent residents a flyer about stormwater runoff. The flyer defines stormwater runoff, and discusses some of the causes of excess stormwater runoff. Development causes excess stormwater runoff. Clearing vegetation also causes excess runoff.
The flyer also explains why excess runoff is a problem: because runoff can pick up debris, chemicals, sediments and other pollutants.
The flyer does not explain that the Town Government itself causes excess stormwater runoff.
The Town of Christiansburg permits radical changes to the topography within the Town limits. Don't like that rolling landscape? LEVEL IT!! As long as it's "development," anything goes in Christiansburg.
Hills have been bulldozed and dug away to flat nothings. Gullies and rifts have been filled in - sometimes with the former hills, sometimes with dirt from across town. As these areas are leveled for residential development a deep, dangerous drainage pond (fence optional, apparently) is dug to "take care" of runoff.
Formerly tree-covered hills are now scars of bare clay. Formerly grass-covered meadows are gaping wounds in the landscape.
Does the town believe that these changes are NOT going to affect hydrology in the New River watershed? How can the Town of Christiansburg feel qualified to "educate" residents on stormwater runoff, or anything related to the environment?
Every day that another hill is carved away Lance Terpenny (Town Manager), Dick Ballengee (Mayor), the Town Council and the Planning Commission members prove that they have no respect at all for the environment, watersheds or clean water. Does publishing a flyer ease their guilt?