The 2004 demolition by explosives of the Embrey Dam on the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg
This is a list of dams in Virginia that have been removed as physical impediments to free-flowing rivers or streams.
Completed removals
| Dam[1] | Height | Year removed | Location | Watercourse | Watershed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adney Gap Pond Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 1984 | ||||
| Harvell Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2014 | Petersburg 37°14′01″N 77°24′47″W / 37.2336°N 77.4131°W |
Appomattox River | Appomattox River | Mill and navigation dam converted to hydroelectric. |
| Soldiers Pond Dam (Sykes Dam) | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2002 | Fort Lee 37°13′36″N 77°21′18″W / 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°55′37″N 82°20′36″W / 36.9269°N 82.3433°W |
Meade Creek | Clinch River | ||
| Brantley Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2011 | Danville 36°34′37″N 79°22′40″W / 36.577°N 79.3777°W |
Dan River | Dan River | Owned by the City of Danville. |
| Wilson Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2017 | Henrico 37°31′44″N 77°14′34″W / 37.5289°N 77.2429°W |
Tributary to Chickahominy River | James River | |
| Griggs Dam | 18 ft (5.5 m) | Henrico County 37°25′20″N 77°18′33″W / 37.4222°N 77.3091°W |
Fourmile Creek | Dam built for recreation. | ||
| Lake Charles Dam | 2010 | Charles City 37°19′39″N 77°12′12″W / 37.3274°N 77.2033°W |
Kimages Creek | |||
| Douthat North Recreational Dam | 2007 | Alleghany County 37°51′16″N 79°48′38″W / 37.8544°N 79.8106°W |
Wilson Creek | |||
| Douthat South Recreational Dam | 2007 | Alleghany County 37°51′10″N 79°48′30″W / 37.8527°N 79.8083°W |
||||
| Wilson Creek Dam | 9 ft (2.7 m) | 2022 | Bath County 37°56′38″N 79°47′24″W / 37.944°N 79.79°W |
Water supply dam owned by the U.S. Forest Service. | ||
| Jordan's Point Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2019 | Rockbridge County 37°47′36″N 79°25′42″W / 37.7933°N 79.4284°W |
Maury River | Mill dam owned by the City of Lexington. | |
| McIver Dam | 23 ft (7.0 m) | 2022 | Fluvanna County 37°43′35″N 78°17′14″W / 37.7263°N 78.2871°W |
Bear Garden Creek | Dam built for recreation. | |
| Quinn Dam | 2007 | Amherst County and Nelson County 37°39′14″N 78°57′36″W / 37.654°N 78.9599°W |
Tye River | |||
| Picnic Area Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 1984 | Manassas National Battlefield Park 38°48′19″N 77°34′20″W / 38.8052°N 77.5722°W |
Youngs Branch | Occoquan River | |
| Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #6 (Ashley Farm Pond) | 4 ft (1.2 m) | Fredericksburg 38°18′17″N 77°37′16″W / 38.3048°N 77.621°W |
Tributary to Ninemile Run | Rappahannock River | ||
| Embrey Dam | 22 ft (6.7 m) | 2004 | Fredericksburg 38°19′25″N 77°29′32″W / 38.3235°N 77.4921°W |
Rappahannock River | On February 23, 2004, the 770 ft (230 m) long, 1910 hydroelectric Embrey Dam was demolished, using 600 lb (270 kg) of explosives, by divers from an engineering detachment at Fort Eustis.[2] 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.[3] The historical character of the Ambursen-type reinforced concrete structure required a parallel documentation and (partial) preservation project by industrial archeologists.[4] In 2008 longtime U.S. Senator from Virginia John Warner described the removal of Embrey Dam as the "proudest achievement in his legislative career."[5] | |
| Poclain Dam | 2 ft (0.61 m) | 1997 | Fredericksburg 38°15′15″N 77°25′54″W / 38.2541°N 77.4317°W |
Tributary to Rappahannock River | ||
| Fredricksburgh Milstead A Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2000 | Fredericksburg 38°14′45″N 77°26′15″W / 38.2458°N 77.4376°W |
Tributary to Rappahannock River | ||
| Fredricksburgh Milstead B Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2000 | Fredericksburg 38°14′45″N 77°26′12″W / 38.2458°N 77.4366°W |
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| Fletchers Mill Dam | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2010 | Sperryville 38°39′29″N 78°13′35″W / 38.6581°N 78.2265°W |
Thornton River | ||
| Monumental Mills Dam | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2016 | Culpeper County 38°36′05″N 78°00′27″W / 38.6013°N 78.0076°W |
Hazel River | Mill dam converted to hydroelectric. | |
| Spotswood Drive Dam | 35 ft (11 m) | 2022 | Orange County 38°22′43″N 77°46′50″W / 38.3785°N 77.7805°W |
Fields Run | Rapidan River | Dam built for recreation. |
| Chancellorsville Brygadier A Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2000 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38°18′49″N 77°40′48″W / 38.3135°N 77.68°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | ||
| Chancellorsville Brygadier B Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2000 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38°18′59″N 77°40′48″W / 38.3164°N 77.6799°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | ||
| Ashton Dam #1 | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 2008 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38°18′49″N 77°40′31″W / 38.3136°N 77.6753°W |
Tributary to Hunting Run | ||
| Ashton Dam #2 | 4 ft (1.2 m) | 2008 | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38°18′53″N 77°40′36″W / 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°17′34″N 77°45′13″W / 38.2927°N 77.7535°W |
Tributary to Wilderness Run | |||
| Hightop Mountain Dam | 2006 | Stanardsville 38°18′49″N 78°33′35″W / 38.3136°N 78.5596°W |
Haneytown Creek | Rivanna River | ||
| Liberty Hall Dam | 2020 | Albemarle County 38°06′45″N 78°33′58″W / 38.1124°N 78.566°W |
Tributary to Mechums River | Agricultural pond dam. | ||
| Moores Creek Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2017 | Charlottesville 38°00′54″N 78°31′08″W / 38.015°N 78.519°W |
Moores Creek | Water supply for swimming pool. Owned by the City of Charlottesville. | |
| Woolen Mills Dam | 2007 | Charlottesville 38°01′15″N 78°27′16″W / 38.0208°N 78.4544°W |
Rivanna River | Mill dam. | ||
| River Run Dam | 2020 | Charlottesville 38°03′22″N 78°27′11″W / 38.056°N 78.453°W |
Detention pond dam. | |||
| Altice Mill Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2022 | Franklin County 37°02′35″N 79°51′55″W / 37.0431°N 79.8654°W |
Blackwater River | Roanoke River | Grist mill dam. |
| New London Dam #1 | 28 ft (8.5 m) | 2022 | Bedford County 37°16′09″N 79°19′56″W / 37.2692°N 79.3322°W |
Orrix Creek | Irrigation and fire protection dams owned by Liberty University. | |
| New London Dam #2 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 2022 | Bedford County 37°15′54″N 79°20′03″W / 37.265°N 79.3341°W | |||
| Power Dam | 25 ft (7.6 m) | 2016 | Franklin County 36°59′44″N 79°51′36″W / 36.9955°N 79.8599°W |
Pigg River | Hydropower dam purchased by the Friends of the Rivers of Virginia (FORVA) for the purpose of removal. | |
| Veteran's Memorial Park Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2012 | Rocky Mount 36°59′05″N 79°53′17″W / 36.9846°N 79.8881°W |
Municipal water supply dam owned by the Town of Rocky Mount. | ||
| Wasena Park Dam | 5 ft (1.5 m) | 2009 | Roanoke 37°16′00″N 79°57′50″W / 37.2666°N 79.964°W |
Roanoke River | ||
| Riverton Dam | 8 ft (2.4 m) | 2010 | Front Royal 38°56′57″N 78°11′54″W / 38.9492°N 78.1984°W |
North Fork Shenandoah River | Shenandoah River | Hydropower dam owned by the Town of Front Royal. |
| Passage Creek Dam | 4.5 ft (1.4 m) | 2017 | Page County 38°42′21″N 78°33′56″W / 38.7058°N 78.5655°W |
Passage Creek | Interpretive site owned by the U.S. Forest Service. | |
| Brews Mill Dam | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 2015 | Augusta County 38°11′32″N 78°56′15″W / 38.1921°N 78.9374°W |
Christians Creek | Mill dam. | |
| Knightly Dam | 2004 | Mt. Sidney 38°13′51″N 78°55′39″W / 38.2308°N 78.9276°W |
Middle River | |||
| Mossy Creek Dam | 13 ft (4.0 m) | 2013 | Augusta County 38°21′29″N 79°01′49″W / 38.3581°N 79.0304°W |
Mossy Creek | ||
| Rockland Dam | 15 ft (4.6 m) | 2005 | Weyers Cave 38°18′22″N 78°53′42″W / 38.3061°N 78.895°W |
North River | ||
| McGaheysville Dam | 2004 | Harrisonburg 38°20′14″N 78°43′44″W / 38.3371°N 78.7288°W |
South Fork Shenandoah River | Hydropower dam. Owned by the City of Harrisonburg. | ||
| DuPont Dam | 2 ft (0.61 m) | 2011 | Waynesboro 38°03′34″N 78°53′31″W / 38.0594°N 78.8919°W |
South River | Industrial dam owned by DuPont. | |
| Ramworks Dam (Rife Loth Dam) | 10 ft (3.0 m) | 2011 | Waynesboro 38°03′35″N 78°53′58″W / 38.0598°N 78.8995°W |
Power for a foundry/ramworks industry. Owned by the Adjacent homeowner's association. | ||
| Marion Ice Plant Dam | 12 ft (3.7 m) | 2015 | Marion 36°49′52″N 81°31′41″W / 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°18′02″N 77°38′14″W / 38.3006°N 77.6373°W |
Tributary to Ni River | York River | ||
| Fredricksburgh & Spotsylvania Dam #3 | 5 ft (1.5 m) | Spotsylvania Courthouse 38°17′11″N 77°44′22″W / 38.2863°N 77.7395°W |
Greenfield Creek | |||
| Cumberland Marsh Dam | 2011 | New Kent 37°32′45″N 76°59′12″W / 37.5457°N 76.9866°W |
Pamunkey River | Owned by The Nature Conservancy. |
See also
References
- ↑ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ↑ "Dams and Hydropower". Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ↑ "Embrey Dam just a memory". Fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ↑ "dead link" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ↑ Dennen, Rusty (2008-09-23). "Rapids to be named for John Warner". Archived from the original on 2013-01-23.
External links
Media related to Removed dams in Virginia at Wikimedia Commons
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