HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Henrico County has accepted responsibility for the operations of Cobbs Creek Reservoir, which will add another water source for the county when it's completed. According to the county, this follows a declaration that occurred on Friday, Nov. 8, that construction had reached "substantial completion," in the 22-year project. The facility is located about 50 miles away, near the James River in Cumberland County. It has been formally named the Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek in honor of Henrico's county manager from 1992 to 2013. Hazelett reportedly guided the project during its initial planning. The reservoir, which spans 1,117 acres, was first proposed in 2002 during a record drought in Virginia, according to the county. It is designed to hold up to 14.8 billion gallons of water that can be released, as needed, to increase flows in the James River. When flows in the James River are high, the county said water will be pumped from the James into the reservoir. It will hold that water and then release it back into the river when flows are low, which allows healthy flows to be maintained, particularly during dry months. By building the facility, the county said it received authorization to draw an additional 47 million gallons per day from the river, which is expected to meet the county's water needs "for decades." PREVIOUSLY (2018): Henrico County building massive reservoir for fishing, boating and drinking water The $137 million construction contract is the largest contract awarded in Henrico County's history. Filling of the reservoir began in June with testing of its pumping system. Depending on precipitation, the facility is expected to be filled completely and working sometime in 2025. A spokesperson for the county said the reservoir will be open to the public for fishing and boating, including canoes, kayaks and electric-powered boats, though gas-powered boats will be prohibited.