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List of dam removals in Virginia

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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

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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 / 37.2336; -77.4131 (Harvell Dam)
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 / 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 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 / 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 Dam built for recreation.
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)
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 / 37.7933; -79.4284 (Jordan's Point Dam)
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 / 37.7263; -78.2871 (McIver Dam)
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 / 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 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 / 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 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 / 38.3785; -77.7805 (Spotswood Drive Dam)
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 / 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 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 / 38.015; -78.519 (Moores Creek Dam)
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 / 38.0208; -78.4544 (Woolen Mills Dam)
Rivanna River Mill dam.
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)
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 / 37.0431; -79.8654 (Altice Mill Dam)
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 / 37.2692; -79.3322 (New London Dam #1)
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 / 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 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 / 36.9846; -79.8881 (Veteran's Memorial Park Dam)
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 / 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 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 / 38.7058; -78.5655 (Passage Creek Dam)
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 / 38.1921; -78.9374 (Brews Mill Dam)
Christians Creek Mill dam.
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 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 / 38.0594; -78.8919 (DuPont Dam)
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 / 38.0598; -78.8995 (Ramworks Dam (Rife Loth Dam))
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 / 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 Owned by The Nature Conservancy.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "American Rivers Dam Removal Database". Figshare. American Rivers. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Dams and Hydropower". Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  3. ^ "Embrey Dam just a memory". Fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  4. ^ "dead link" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  5. ^ Dennen, Rusty (2008-09-23). "Rapids to be named for John Warner". Archived from the original on 2013-01-23.
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