Two men have submitted a proposal calling for a mountaintop lake in Charleston that would serve as a backup drinking water source.
The proposal by Fred Stottlemyer and Joe Mullins seeks construction of an earthen dam to create an 800 million-gallon lake at Coonskin Park.
Stottlemyer is former public service district general manager. Mullins was an urban planner in the governor’s office in the 1960s.
Their proposal suggests a state grant be used to pay for preliminary studies.
After a chemical spill in Charleston in January contaminated the local water supply for days, the Legislature required water providers to study alternative supply options, among other things.
West Virginia American Water spokeswoman Laura Jordan tells The Charleston Gazette the company will consider the proposal as part of its evaluations.