ISLE OF WIGHT—The Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to endorse a controversial water deal between the Western Tidewater Water Authority and the City of Norfolk, and to send a letter of intent to purchase more than 2,500 acres along the Blackwater River.

The supervisors voted 4-1 on both measures, with Smithfield Supervisor Al Casteen dissenting twice.

Suffolk’s City Council had voted unanimously the previous evening to endorse the water deal, as well.

Citizens spoke both for and against the 40-year, 15-million-gallons-per-day agreement between Norfolk and the WTWA, which serves the county and the City of Suffolk.

“If we don’t have the resources, the utilities and the infrastructure to support a potential client with the kind of values we need, we’re never going to be able to develop (the Port of Virginia),” said Ed Easter of Carrollton. “This water authority is a great step forward as far as developing that port and bringing it to fruition.”

Resident Robbie Younger disagreed.

“Going forward with this water agreement, you wouldn’t be a good steward,” Younger said. “I believe your constituents aren’t for this. I’m a merchant downtown, and I honestly haven’t heard one person that’s for it. Please don’t let this go forward. With the way the economy is, I think this is going way overboard. I think it’s unfair to put this burden on your citizens both today and in the future.”

The county’s intent to purchase and protect 2,507 acres — including 5 ½ miles along the Blackwater River and 500 acres of wetlands — received a less divided reception.

“As Virginia and Isle of Wight County struggle with development that accompanies population growth and results in permanent loss of forest land, it is ever more important for us to set aside and protect complex and diverse wilderness areas and forests in the Commonwealth,” said Terri Cuthriell of Smithfield. “Conservation is directly related to a robust economy and the well-being of our citizens.”

The property contains trees that could be 800 years old.

Conservation Forestry purchased the land from International Paper Co. in 2006.

The Nature Conservancy has secured $640,000 in grant money toward acquiring the property. Those grants were received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Additional grant money is being sought from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources.

The property, appraised at $1,109 an acre, fronts a 56-mile section of the Blackwater River that four municipalities — Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk — are urging the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to designate as a state scenic river.