List of dam removals in Virginia

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.


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]HeightYear removedLocationWatercourseWatershed
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 / 37.2336; -77.4131 (Harvell Dam)		 Appomattox River Appomattox River
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 / 37.2266; -77.355 (Soldiers Pond Dam (Sykes Dam))		 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 / 36.9269; -82.3433 (Dominion Virginia City Dam No. 1 (Curley Hollow Landfill; Leachate Pond Dam))		 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 / 36.577; -79.3777 (Brantley Dam)		 Dan River Dan River
Wilson Dam 12 ft (3.7 m) 2017 Henrico
37°31′44″N 77°14′34″W / 37.5289°N 77.2429°W / 37.5289; -77.2429 (Wilson Dam)		 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 / 37.4222; -77.3091 (Griggs Dam)		 Fourmile Creek
Lake Charles Dam 2010 Charles City
37°19′39″N 77°12′12″W / 37.3274°N 77.2033°W / 37.3274; -77.2033 (Lake Charles Dam)		 Kimages Creek
Douthat North Recreational Dam 2007 Alleghany County
37°51′16″N 79°48′38″W / 37.8544°N 79.8106°W / 37.8544; -79.8106 (Douthat North Recreational Dam)		 Wilson Creek
Douthat South Recreational Dam 2007 Alleghany County
37°51′10″N 79°48′30″W / 37.8527°N 79.8083°W / 37.8527; -79.8083 (Douthat South Recreational Dam)
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 / 37.944; -79.79 (Wilson Creek Dam)
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 / 37.7933; -79.4284 (Jordan's Point Dam)		 Maury River
McIver Dam 23 ft (7.0 m) 2022 Fluvanna County
37°43′35″N 78°17′14″W / 37.7263°N 78.2871°W / 37.7263; -78.2871 (McIver Dam)		 Bear Garden Creek
Quinn Dam 2007 Amherst County and Nelson County
37°39′14″N 78°57′36″W / 37.654°N 78.9599°W / 37.654; -78.9599 (Quinn Dam)		 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 / 38.8052; -77.5722 (Picnic Area Dam)		 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 / 38.3048; -77.621 (Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #6 (Ashley Farm Pond))		 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 / 38.3235; -77.4921 (Embrey Dam)		 Rappahannock River
Poclain Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) 1997 Fredericksburg
38°15′15″N 77°25′54″W / 38.2541°N 77.4317°W / 38.2541; -77.4317 (Poclain Dam)		 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 / 38.2458; -77.4376 (Fredricksburgh Milstead A Dam)		 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 / 38.2458; -77.4366 (Fredricksburgh Milstead B Dam)
Fletchers Mill Dam 4 ft (1.2 m) 2010 Sperryville
38°39′29″N 78°13′35″W / 38.6581°N 78.2265°W / 38.6581; -78.2265 (Fletchers Mill Dam)		 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 / 38.6013; -78.0076 (Monumental Mills Dam)		 Hazel River
Spotswood Drive Dam 35 ft (11 m) 2022 Orange County
38°22′43″N 77°46′50″W / 38.3785°N 77.7805°W / 38.3785; -77.7805 (Spotswood Drive Dam)		 Fields Run Rapidan River
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 / 38.3135; -77.68 (Chancellorsville Brygadier A Dam)		 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 / 38.3164; -77.6799 (Chancellorsville Brygadier B Dam)		 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 / 38.3136; -77.6753 (Ashton Dam #1)		 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 / 38.3147; -77.6768 (Ashton Dam #2)		 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 / 38.2927; -77.7535 (Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #2 (Clark Farm Pond #3))		 Tributary to Wilderness Run
Hightop Mountain Dam 2006 Stanardsville
38°18′49″N 78°33′35″W / 38.3136°N 78.5596°W / 38.3136; -78.5596 (Hightop Mountain Dam)		 Haneytown Creek Rivanna River
Liberty Hall Dam 2020 Albemarle County
38°06′45″N 78°33′58″W / 38.1124°N 78.566°W / 38.1124; -78.566 (Liberty Hall Dam)		 Tributary to Mechums River
Moores Creek Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2017 Charlottesville
38°00′54″N 78°31′08″W / 38.015°N 78.519°W / 38.015; -78.519 (Moores Creek Dam)		 Moores Creek
Woolen Mills Dam 2007 Charlottesville
38°01′15″N 78°27′16″W / 38.0208°N 78.4544°W / 38.0208; -78.4544 (Woolen Mills Dam)		 Rivanna River
River Run Dam 2020 Charlottesville
38°03′22″N 78°27′11″W / 38.056°N 78.453°W / 38.056; -78.453 (River Run 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 / 37.0431; -79.8654 (Altice Mill Dam)		 Blackwater River Roanoke River
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 / 37.2692; -79.3322 (New London Dam #1)		 Orrix Creek
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 / 37.265; -79.3341 (New London Dam #2)
Power Dam 25 ft (7.6 m) 2016 Franklin County
36°59′44″N 79°51′36″W / 36.9955°N 79.8599°W / 36.9955; -79.8599 (Power Dam)		 Pigg River
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 / 36.9846; -79.8881 (Veteran's Memorial Park Dam)
Wasena Park Dam 5 ft (1.5 m) 2009 Roanoke
37°16′00″N 79°57′50″W / 37.2666°N 79.964°W / 37.2666; -79.964 (Wasena Park Dam)		 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 / 38.9492; -78.1984 (Riverton Dam)		 North Fork Shenandoah River Shenandoah River
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 / 38.7058; -78.5655 (Passage Creek Dam)		 Passage Creek
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 / 38.1921; -78.9374 (Brews Mill Dam)		 Christians Creek
Knightly Dam 2004 Mt. Sidney
38°13′51″N 78°55′39″W / 38.2308°N 78.9276°W / 38.2308; -78.9276 (Knightly Dam)		 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 / 38.3581; -79.0304 (Mossy Creek Dam)		 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 / 38.3061; -78.895 (Rockland Dam)		 North River
McGaheysville Dam 2004 Harrisonburg
38°20′14″N 78°43′44″W / 38.3371°N 78.7288°W / 38.3371; -78.7288 (McGaheysville Dam)		 South Fork Shenandoah River
DuPont Dam 2 ft (0.61 m) 2011 Waynesboro
38°03′34″N 78°53′31″W / 38.0594°N 78.8919°W / 38.0594; -78.8919 (DuPont Dam)		 South River
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 / 38.0598; -78.8995 (Ramworks Dam (Rife Loth Dam))
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 / 36.831; -81.528 (Marion Ice Plant Dam)		 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 / 38.3006; -77.6373 (Fredricksburg & Spotsylvania Dam #5 (Fariview Farm Pond))		 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 / 38.2863; -77.7395 (Fredricksburgh & Spotsylvania Dam #3)		 Greenfield Creek
Cumberland Marsh Dam 2011 New Kent
37°32′45″N 76°59′12″W / 37.5457°N 76.9866°W / 37.5457; -76.9866 (Cumberland Marsh Dam)		 Pamunkey River

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dams and Hydropower". Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Embrey Dam just a memory". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ "dead link" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Dennen, Rusty (September 23, 2008). "Rapids to be named for John Warner".{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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