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Powhatan resident says Lake Louise was drained, alleges new owners cut culvert and caused fish kill
Summary
Janet Newton, a longtime Lake Louise lot owner, told the board she and 13 other deeded-rights owners found the new owners neglected the lake, cut a drain pipe and dug trenches that drained most water from the lake; she said DEQ is involved and warned of a 12-foot-deep excavation that poses a safety risk.
Janet Newton, who identified herself as a Lake Louise property owner since 1985, told the Powhatan County board during the public comment period that new owners who bought lake property at a county auction in 2017 have neglected the lake and taken actions that drained it.
"They decided we're gonna eliminate your deeded rights," Newton said, alleging the owners cut a drain pipe and later dug trenches that caused a substantial water loss, a fish kill and departures of waterfowl and other wildlife. She said the owners had offered to sell the parcel to nearby lot owners but were unwilling to negotiate on price and posted about the actions on social media. Newton said the county and residents have reported the matter to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Newton described physical hazards she said resulted from the work: "There's a gaping hole that is caved in and it needs to be made secure around their dig. It's 12 feet deep growing every day and 4 and a half feet wide and I hope no dogs or children fall in it." She said 14 lot owners with deeded recreational rights are involved and asked the board for information and assistance.
The board did not take formal action on Newton’s complaint during the meeting. County staff indicated DEQ is involved, but no additional staff direction or formal referral was recorded on the record. The matter remains an unresolved complaint on the transcript.
What happens next: The record shows Newton said DEQ is involved; the board meeting closed public comment without making a formal referral or adopting a specific follow-up motion on the record. The County Administrator noted other agenda items and moved the meeting forward.
