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Board approves county acceptance of South Anna Dam No. 23 and MOU with Amazon Data Services
Summary
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution on March 17 to accept transfer of South Anna Dam Number 23 and to enter an MOU permitting Amazon Data Services Inc. to perform operations and maintenance under county oversight.
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution on March 17 to accept South Anna Dam Number 23 and to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing Amazon Data Services Inc. to contract for operation and maintenance of the structure.
Staff presentation and rationale
County staff described Dam Number 23 as a flood-mitigation impoundment located off Route 33 near Northeast Creek Reservoir. The Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District currently holds the easement and is the owner; staff said that district asked to transfer ownership to the county and that the transfer will be coordinated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "The MOU will allow Amazon to contract directly with their vendor of choice, to ensure that the annual maintenance and upkeep is done in compliance with those regulations," the county presentation said.
State and federal approvals required
County staff explained the transfer is contingent on NRCS approval. Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water’s legal work will be handled through the state attorney general’s office to support the transfer documentation and coordinate with NRCS; only after NRCS review would the parties execute the transfer and the MOU.
Board questions and explanation
A supervisor asked why the easement would be held by the county rather than by Amazon as the landowner. Staff said NRCS and state partners were more comfortable with a public locality being the owner because the county already owns and services other local dams and impoundments. The county representative said Thomas Jefferson would be "replacing" its easement ownership by transferring to the county and that legal coordination is underway.
Vote and next steps
The board approved the resolution unanimously. Staff will forward the resolution to the state attorney general’s office and coordinate required documents with NRCS and Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District. Upon NRCS’s approval, the county will execute the transfer and the MOU.
Why it matters
The action changes legal ownership and assigns county responsibility for a flood-mitigation structure, while allowing a private landowner (Amazon Data Services Inc.) to manage annual maintenance under an MOU. NRCS approval remains a gating condition before final documents are executed.
