Dam removal to reconnect native fish to historical habitats across the Rapidan - Rappahannock River Basin, Virginia
American Climate Partners in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries (Department of Commerce), Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and Ecotone, have been awarded funding to remove the Rapidan Mill Dam from the Lower Rapidan River. Removing the Rapidan Mill Dam will reconnect almost 500 miles of the mainstem Rapidan River and its numerous tributaries, once spawning and rearing habitat for a suite of diadromous fishes of the mid-Atlantic region such American Eel, Sea Lamprey, River Herrings, American Shad and Striped Bass. This dam removal will expand previous reconnection created by removal of Embrey Dam downstream on the mainstem Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, Virginia. This presentation will outline the rationale, benefits, objectives and timelines for the removal of another of the multitudes of obsolete dams and infrastructure barriers across the Eastern United States.
Author Bio
I was born and raised in Central Pennsylvania. While growing up in the coal fields, I witnessed streams and rivers being polluted, and consequently, the brook trout and other fish disappearing. As an avid angler and outdoors person, I decided on a career helping the environment, eventually settling on fish and aquatic sciences. I completed my graduate degrees at Clemson University. At Clemson, I studied Striped Bass, American Shad, Sturgeon, Suckers, and many other southern USA fish species, working as a research biologist and completing a PhD. My 30+ years of experience includes lecturing, subject-matter expert, fish passage, conservation aquaculture, ecotoxicology, and large-scale river / stream / wetlands restoration. I am excited for the opportunity to be back in the Mid-Atlantic / Southern U.S. researching, advocating, and implementing fish and habitat restoration projects.
