CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Ragged Mountain reservoir is set to grow significantly, according to a press release from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority announcing the approval of a project to increase storage capacity by 700 million gallons and raise the normal reservoir level by 12 feet.

The project is part of the 2012 Community Water Supply Plan, and the RWSA release says the goal is to improve reliability of the local drinking water system during changing conditions and the likelihood of extended droughts.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in the summer of 2025 and will require tree and vegetation clearing around the reservoir in addition to modifications to the water intake tower in the reservoir. According to the release, the trails were constructed above the higher level, but there may be times public access to the trail is limited during construction. RWSA is coordinating with Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation to complete the work and restore trail access as quickly as possible.

More information on the Community Water Supply Plan can be found here.