List of dam removals in Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of dams in Virginia that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
Removals by watershed
Rappahannock River
Embrey Dam was a 770 ft (230 m) long hydroelectric dam on the Rappahannock River dating to 1910. It was demolished on February 23, 2004, by divers from an engineering detachment at Fort Eustis using 600 lb (270 kg) of explosives.[1] The aim of removal was to re-open miles of spawning grounds to aid populations of American Shad, herring, catadromous American eel, and other species.[2] The historical character of the Ambursen-type reinforced concrete structure required a parallel documentation and (partial) preservation project by industrial archeologists.[3] In 2008 longtime U.S. Senator from Virginia John Warner described the removal of Embrey Dam as the "proudest achievement in his legislative career."[4]
Completed removals
| Dam[5] | Height | Year removed | Location | Watercourse | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adney Gap Pond Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 1984 | |||
| Harvell Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2014 | Petersburg 37.2336°N 77.4131°W |
Appomattox River | Appomattox River |
| Soldiers Pond Dam (Sykes Dam) | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2002 | Fort Lee 37.2266°N 77.355°W |
Harrison Creek | |
| Dominion Virginia City Dam No. 1 (Curley Hollow Landfill; Leachate Pond Dam) | 180 ft (55 m) | St. Paul 36.9269°N 82.3433°W |
Meade Creek | Clinch River | |
| Brantley Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2011 | Danville 36.577°N 79.3777°W |
Dan River | Dan River |
| Wilson Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2017 | Henrico 37.5289°N 77.2429°W |
Tributary to Chickahominy River | James River |
| Griggs Dam | 18 ft (5.5 m) | Henrico County 37.4222°N 77.3091°W |
Fourmile Creek | ||
| Lake Charles Dam | 2010 | Charles City 37.3274°N 77.2033°W |
Kimages Creek | ||
| Douthat North Recreational Dam | 2007 | Alleghany County 37.8544°N 79.8106°W |
Wilson Creek | ||
| Douthat South Recreational Dam | 2007 | Alleghany County 37.8527°N 79.8083°W | |||
| Wilson Creek Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2022 | Bath County 37.944°N 79.79°W | ||
| Jordan's Point Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2019 | Rockbridge County 37.7933°N 79.4284°W |
Maury River | |
| McIver Dam | 23 ft (7.0 m) | 2022 | Fluvanna County 37.7263°N 78.2871°W |
Bear Garden Creek | |
| Quinn Dam | 2007 | Amherst County and Nelson County 37.654°N 78.9599°W |
Tye River | ||
| Picnic Area Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 1984 | Manassas National Battlefield Park 38.8052°N 77.5722°W |
Youngs Branch | Occoquan River |
| Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #6 (Ashley Farm Pond) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | Fredericksburg 38.3048°N 77.621°W |
Tributary to Ninemile Run | Rappahannock River | |
| Embrey Dam | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2004 | Fredericksburg 38.3235°N 77.4921°W |
Rappahannock River | |
| Poclain Dam | 2 ft (0.61 m) | 1997 | Fredericksburg 38.2541°N 77.4317°W |
Tributary to Rappahannock River | |
| Fredricksburgh Milstead A Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2000 | Fredericksburg 38.2458°N 77.4376°W |
Tributary to Rappahannock River | |
| Fredricksburgh Milstead B Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2000 | Fredericksburg 38.2458°N 77.4366°W | ||
| Fletchers Mill Dam | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2010 | Sperryville 38.6581°N 78.2265°W |
Thornton River | |
| Monumental Mills Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2016 | Culpeper County 38.6013°N 78.0076°W |
Hazel River | |
| Spotswood Drive Dam | 35 ft (11 m) | 2022 | Orange County 38.3785°N 77.7805°W |
Fields Run | Rapidan River |
| Chancellorsville Brygadier A Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2000 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.3135°N 77.68°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | |
| Chancellorsville Brygadier B Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2000 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.3164°N 77.6799°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | |
| Ashton Dam #1 | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 2008 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.3136°N 77.6753°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | |
| Ashton Dam #2 | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2008 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.3147°N 77.6768°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | |
| Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #2 (Clark Farm Pond #3) | 5 ft (1.5 m) | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.2927°N 77.7535°W |
Tributary to Wilderness Run | ||
| Hightop Mountain Dam | 2006 | Stanardsville 38.3136°N 78.5596°W |
Haneytown Creek | Rivanna River | |
| Liberty Hall Dam | 2020 | Albemarle County 38.1124°N 78.566°W |
Tributary to Mechums River | ||
| Moores Creek Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2017 | Charlottesville 38.015°N 78.519°W |
Moores Creek | |
| Woolen Mills Dam | 2007 | Charlottesville 38.0208°N 78.4544°W |
Rivanna River | ||
| River Run Dam | 2020 | Charlottesville 38.056°N 78.453°W | |||
| Altice Mill Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2022 | Franklin County 37.0431°N 79.8654°W |
Blackwater River | Roanoke River |
| New London Dam #1 | 28 ft (8.5 m) | 2022 | Bedford County 37.2692°N 79.3322°W |
Orrix Creek | |
| New London Dam #2 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 2022 | Bedford County 37.265°N 79.3341°W | ||
| Power Dam | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 2016 | Franklin County 36.9955°N 79.8599°W |
Pigg River | |
| Veteran's Memorial Park Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2012 | Rocky Mount 36.9846°N 79.8881°W | ||
| Wasena Park Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2009 | Roanoke 37.2666°N 79.964°W |
Roanoke River | |
| Riverton Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2010 | Front Royal 38.9492°N 78.1984°W |
North Fork Shenandoah River | Shenandoah River |
| Passage Creek Dam | 4.5 ft (1.4 m) | 2017 | Page County 38.7058°N 78.5655°W |
Passage Creek | |
| Brews Mill Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2015 | Augusta County 38.1921°N 78.9374°W |
Christians Creek | |
| Knightly Dam | 2004 | Mt. Sidney 38.2308°N 78.9276°W |
Middle River | ||
| Mossy Creek Dam | 13 ft (4.0 m) | 2013 | Augusta County 38.3581°N 79.0304°W |
Mossy Creek | |
| Rockland Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2005 | Weyers Cave 38.3061°N 78.895°W |
North River | |
| McGaheysville Dam | 2004 | Harrisonburg 38.3371°N 78.7288°W |
South Fork Shenandoah River | ||
| DuPont Dam | 2 ft (0.61 m) | 2011 | Waynesboro 38.0594°N 78.8919°W |
South River | |
| Ramworks Dam (Rife Loth Dam) | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2011 | Waynesboro 38.0598°N 78.8995°W | ||
| Marion Ice Plant Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2015 | Marion 36.831°N 81.528°W |
Middle Fork Holston River | South Fork Holston River |
| Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #5 (Fariview Farm Pond) | 5 ft (1.5 m) | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.3006°N 77.6373°W |
Tributary to Ni River | York River | |
| Fredricksburgh & Spotsylvania Dam #3 | 5 ft (1.5 m) | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38.2863°N 77.7395°W |
Greenfield Creek | ||
| Cumberland Marsh Dam | 2011 | New Kent 37.5457°N 76.9866°W |
Pamunkey River |
