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Documentary
Read the Interview Transcripts

The following individuals were interviewed during the course of producing the Troubled Waters: The Illusion of Abundance educational documentary video. The following links are to the transcripts of the full interviews. Please note that only excerpts from some of the following interviews were included in the final documentary. The full transcripts are provided for your review and research. The documentary team wishes to thank each individual for their participation in this educational documentary project. Interviewees are listed in alphabetical order.

Colonel Ray Alexander, District Engineer and Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, shares what the drought meant to the Corps and the steps they took to manage the five reservoirs and river basins within their region. They also discuss Drought Management; interbasin transfer, water tables/aquifers, water quality and dams – good or bad?

Colonel Ray Alexander Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Ryan Boyles, Associate State Climatologist, State Climate Office of North Carolina, evaluates the effects of drought and flooding on communities, the state and the nation. He compares the drought of 2002 with past droughts and talks about how future ones should be dealt with.

Ryan Boyles Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Dennis Brobst, Director of Public Utilities for Moore County, NC, dealt with a severe water shortage in the Town of Vass. Mr. Brobst feels that while Vass’ water shortage in 2002 was a small town’s view of the drought, the issues and solutions dealt with are a reflection of what the rest of the country needs to be aware of. He also addresses the issue of price structuring, interbasin transfer and integrated watershed management.

Dennis Brobst Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Terry Brown, Water Control Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, shares what the drought meant to the Corps and the steps they took to manage the five reservoirs and river basins within their region. They also discuss Drought Management; interbasin transfer, water tables/aquifers, water quality and dams – good or bad?

Terry Brown Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Eddie Callahan, Mayor, Town of Vass, NC, relates the events in the summer of 2002 leading up to the town having about two and a half hours of water left in their supply. He called upon the volunteer fire department to truck water in and asked the city's residents to do their best to conserve until the issue was resolved.

Eddie Callahan Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Ralph Clark, City Manager, City of Kinston, shares how at the end of the last decade, Kinston had too much water, but that during the drought of 2002, he was called on to work with 17 water systems in the area to help them through the dry period. Mr. Clark also talks about how, as a part of the Coastal Plains Communities, the City of Kinston is required to reduce their water use 25 percent every five years over the next sixteen years. In addition, he addresses aquifer drawdowns and depletion, public awareness, integrated watershed management and water pricing.

Ralph Clark Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Jean Crews-Klein, VP of Business Development and Natural Resources, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., explains the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Rule and the systems affected by it. She explains how the water problems evolved in the Central Coastal Plain and also discusses aquifer depletion, population growth, alternative water supplies, integrated watershed management, conservation and pricing (declining block rate). She speaks of Greenville’s aquifer recovery and recharge program, the first in the state, as well as the effects of saltwater intrusion.

Jean Crews-Klein Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Governor Mike Easley, North Carolina, assesses the effects the 2002 drought had on agriculture, industry and livestock. He also speaks about Federal Crop Relief and why he didn’t wait for the end of North Carolina’s growing season to ask for assistance. As well, he touches upon saltwater intrusion, integrated watershed management and who controls the water and water pricing.

Governor Michael F. Easley Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Bob Emory, Environmental Manager, Weyerhaeuser’s Southern Timberland Operations, sheds light on the role of a forest in the production high quality water, managed and unmanaged forests and the importance of trees in the water cycle. He also describes the effects of drought and saltwater intrusion on a forest.

Bob Emory Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Courtney Hackney, Professor, Biological Studies, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, gives a global perspective on water scarcity. He speaks about Canada’s abundant water and Mexico’s lack of water, and how this affects the relationships between our country and theirs. He likens this water disparity to many of the states within the US, wherein some have plenty of water and others don’t have enough to go around. This not only effects industries, economic development and everyday lives, but during times of drought those in control have to determine who should get water and how much. Dr. Hackney also discusses saltwater intrusion in the Cape Fear River Basin, as a reflection of what is happening in many areas around the world. He defines different types of dams and their uses, water conservation and how it’s a long-term phenomenon. He adds how quickly landscapes respond to adequate or inadequate amounts of water.

Dr. Courtney Hackney Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Billy Ray Hall, President, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. (Rural Center), defines rural North Carolina and the water issues that affect these areas, both in quantity and quality. He expresses the value that water has on everyday life. He believes that by bringing together local governments, engineers and environmental protection authority figures, as well as the people, a common understanding of how to deal with critical resources can take place. Cooperation with local governments and working together to solve each other’s water problems also seems to be an answer.

Billy Ray Hall Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Les Hall, Executive Vice President, McKim & Creed, Infrastructure and Environment Division Manager, presents a thorough, yet simple explanation of water reuse and how wastewater is treated. He also gives examples of reclaimed water usage and why it is not suited for human consumption.

William L. (Les) Hall, Jr. Interview (Microsoft Word document)

John Kime, Executive Director, Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority, is very excited about the completion of the Randleman Dam Project. He talks about the project’s primary features, the resulting reservoir, the challenges, issues and impact to the area. He also speaks about the cost of the project and what affected the cost.

John Kime Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Tom Leahy, P.E., Acting Director, Department of Utilities, City of Virginia Beach, VA, informs us about the Lake Gaston Project and its ramifications. Mr. Leahy explains why the City of Virginia Beach opted for interbasin transfer of water as opposed to desalination to meet their needs. He also speaks about efforts to quell the negative reactions both in North Carolina and the interests in Virginia that border Lake Gaston; 12 to14 lawsuits resulted, along with a host of regulatory proceedings. He goes on to give details on the relicensing process and how the adverse reactions to the pipeline changed the way the involved agencies approached it. Mr. Leahy adds an exploration into Virginia Beach’s future and how they will look east for any future water needs, which will require desalination facilities.

Thomas M. Leahy Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Dr. David Moreau, Professor, Environment Quality Assessment and Water Resources, UNC-Chapel Hill, describes water scarcity issues on a global level and how the changing climate is a concern in Water Management. He also looks at how many areas of the United States may be affected by these growing conditions; “every year you play a game against nature…nature’s dealing you a random quantity of water every year.” Dr. Moreau talks about the Lake Gaston Project as a classic case of a city, without a direct water supply, whose rapid growth results in an upstream/downstream controversy.

David H. Moreau Interview (Microsoft Word document)

John N. Morris, Director, Division of Water Resources, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, clarifies the responsibilities of his division and the laws that regulate water use in North Carolina. Additionally, Mr. Morris talks about the drought of 2002, it’s effect and ways to be more efficient in our water use. He offers information about collaborative efforts on solutions and the future.

John N. Morris Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Robert W. Oreskovich, Utilities Director, Dare County, NC, compares the state of freshwater supplies to demand in Dare County, as well as how the county is preparing for increased needs in the future. He describes the process of membrane technology being used in Dare County and why they are using “brackish” water, as opposed to seawater, which is being utilized in other areas around the globe. If you are concerned about the residual effects from discharging the wastewater from desalination into the ocean, Mr. Oreskovich will enlighten you with results of a study conducted to answer those concerns.

Robert W. Oreskovich Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Jennifer Platt, Water Conservation Manager, Town of Cary, NC, gives details on the town’s need to purchase water from Raleigh and Durham on occasion. However, her main focus is on Cary’s aggressive water conservation program, which was developed by studying twenty years of water conservation measures conducted in the western part of the United States. Cary has designed their own comprehensive conservation program, in conjunction with education specialists who take it to the schools, as well as a Block Leader Program, where residents take conservation methods to the streets to inform their neighbors. Cary has committed to reducing their long-term use by 20 percent by the year 2015.

Jennifer Platt Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Sandra Postel, Director, Global Water Policy Project, is leading authority and very passionate about the issue of water scarcity. She attributes the problem to increased population, uneven distribution and economic growth. She supports the drip irrigation process as a way to save water while being beneficial for crop production. While dams have been helpful in the past, she feels the forty-five thousand dams around the world have changed the hydrologic cycle enormously in a very short period of time. Ms. Postel states that coastal areas are seeing more water problems, including saltwater intrusion, mostly due to population growth. Over-pumping groundwater, recharging aquifers and water pricing are a few other topics she covers. She also touches on the issue of water rights, which vary from place to place, country to country and has led to wars in some areas.

Sandra Postel Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Hal Sharpe, President of the Roanoke River Basin Association and Editor of the Littleton Observer, recalls the issues and legal battle involved with the Lake Gaston pipeline. He’s concerned that other entities may look to Lake Gaston as a solution to their water problems. Mr. Sharpe discusses the Doctrine of Riparian Rights and expresses concern about future water needs. He believes everyone should be conscious of the issues and solutions.

Hal Sharpe Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Paul Simon, Former Illinois State Senator, currently a Professor and Director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, senses the relationship between Canada, Mexico and the US could become strained by water scarcity issues in the not too distant future. He mentions a report conducted by various government agencies that shows the world in a serious water shortage in fifteen years time. He reasons that an overall awareness of the situation, along with planning and collaboration between all nations, will be necessary to avert the type of conflicts over water that are currently taking place in the Middle East and other parts of the world over water. He looks to desalination and conservation as the main solutions.

Paul Simon Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Dr. Richard Spruill, Associate Professor of Hydrology at East Carolina University, clarifies the different types of aquifers and how they work. He gives an example of what happens when an aquifer’s water level declines and details saltwater intrusion in the area. He feels cities and municipalities should not rely on one source of water for their needs. He goes on to suggest the use of reclaimed water, conservation, as well as aquifer recharge and recovery as possible alternatives. He considers diversification and interconnections as the key to further solutions.

Richard Spruill Interview (Microsoft Word document)

Boyd Strain, resident and member of the Lake Gaston Association, is very concerned about interbasin transfers. He is of the opinion that using the water from one system to help with another’s is the wrong approach. He believes that once the precedent is set, other areas will follow suit. He advises that all parties should be involved in the decision, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in order to work together toward amicable solutions.

Boyd Strain Interview (Microsoft Word document)