
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993                   TAG: 9307080017
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE HOPING TO PUT SHINE BACK IN CARVINS COVE

Q: I went to Carvins Cove recently and the concession stand was closed; there were no rental boats to go fishing; there was garbage over the picnic area; and the tables were in bad repair. The dock at the picnic area had some boards loose. What has happened? E.J., Roanoke

A: Two things happened.

Maintenance and cleanup of the picnic area have suffered because the March snow and June windstorm have kept city crews busy cleaning up streets.

And the zebra mussel, even though it hasn't appeared here yet, chased away the former concessions operator, who rented boats and collected launching fees from private boat owners.

Kit Kiser, Roanoke's utilities director, said the dock boards would be fixed quickly, though.

Kiser acknowledged that garbage hasn't been picked up as often as it should be, and "we apologize for that," he said. Trash used to be collected twice a week but that's down to once, and sometimes Water Department employees do that job.

Concession-stand hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and on weekends it's open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store now is operated by the city Parks and Recreation Department.

Inspectors have been employed by the city to look for evidence of mussel larvae on private boats, and to sell decals to the owners. When boat traffic isn't too heavy, the inspectors mow grass around the cove.

The city didn't want to leave those inspections up to a private vendor, and the remaining concessions business wasn't profitable for the vendor.

Meanwhile, the parks department is checking on whether the city can afford to buy some rental boats.

Dixie Caverns well woes

Q: I live in the Dixie Caverns part of Roanoke County, where some wells are contaminated, including ours. I talk to people when I see them taking their bottles to the pumping station and they say they're hoping to hook onto a county waterline. Is anybody liable for damage done to these wells? T.S., Roanoke County

A: More than 20 wells near the old landfill at Dixie Caverns had problems, but only two were found to be possibly contaminated by the landfill. EPA testing indicated the other wells had bacteria that may have come from nearby septic fields.

There is reason to hope, however. The Spring Hollow Reservoir is just two or three miles from you and is expected to begin supplying water in 1995. Routes for those lines haven't been chosen yet, but if one does cross to the northwest side of Interstate 81, it possibly could benefit your neighborhood.

Even if that happens, a waterline to your area still may be several years away.

Roanoke County spokeswoman Anne Marie Green said that while the county would like to provide a clean water supply now, the cost is out of sight. Extending a line from the present water system would cost millions and would be paid for by the residents' hookup fees and monthly water bills.

Some homeowners have been able to get clean water by digging deeper wells in new locations.

Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB