Context and History…
Eighty-six years ago, the present day concrete Rapidan Mill dam was constructed in front of an earlier log dam, perhaps all or portions of which date back to 1772. Whenever exactly that earliest structure was completed, approximiately 500-1000 miles (depending on metrics used) of upstream habitat for American shad and other anadromous fish was instantly cut off. It’s unlikely that the Virginia hydro-entrepreneurs likely celebrating that first day of operation in a bedrock outcrop of what would later become Waugh’s Ford had any idea that they had just built a structure that blocked more upstream fishery than possibly any ever constructed in the Cheseapeake Bay watershed of what four years later would become the United States of America.
Also interesting is that six years later, the British would stretch a seine across the Schuylkill to stop Shad from reaching George Washington’s army at Valley Forge in the Spring of 1778. It wasn’t successful, according to Continental Soldier Nathan Hale – an uncommonly early run of the Shad saved Washington and his army – and our nation.
Center for Natural Capital creates the Rapidan Institute (RI) to bring innovation and climate restoration related programming to Southern rivers conservation. Efforts begin to explore alteration or removal of the Rapidan Mill dam as a nationally significant fish passage project according to American Rivers, a nonprofit that has been at the forefront of protecting and restoring rivers for nearly 50 years. Rapidan Institute holds packed meeting to an enthusiastic audience at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with a vision to begin restoration of Rapidan Milling Company buildings and infrastructure, starting with the former office building and mill dam via alteration with historic preservation mitigation.
Rapidan Institute studies options to create fish passage and makes a preliminary determination that dam alteration is likely the only option for fish passage that doesn’t involve maintenance.
Center for Natural Capital works with Mill Owners Robert and Kevin O’Brien to complete Phase I Rapidan Milling Company Office renovation. Conference room HVAC added. Office suite constructed in second floor atrium. Third floor added with new roof. First floor garage readied for SoilKeepers residential services equipment storage.
Rapidan Fish Passage Project (RFPP) is launched with a goal to reconnect the Rapidan River headwaters with the Atlantic Ocean, and once again share the river with American Shad, our “Founding Fish” (The Founding Fish, John McPhee, 2002), and related species. Center for Natural Capital signs a Memorandum of Agreement with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to restore fish passage at Rapidan. Explorations begin to determine the most feasible strategy for achieving the goal.
Center for Natural Capital with the support of donors, completed Phase I Due Diligence investigations and reports. Phase I sediment study completed revealing only Vanadium as element of concern. Professional Geologist hired to determine source is naturally occurring from bedrock in the area.
Rapidan Mill Dam Mitigation Bank Prospectus submitted to Interagency Review Team (IRT) of Corps of Engineers.
Rapidan Institute tests three-year project on construction and maintenance of what is believed to be first Beaver Dam Analogues in Virginia near the Town of Marshall.
