Dams in Virginia

There are 2919 dams in Virginia, and the primary purpose of 45 of those is hydropower. Two of the most well know dams that create hydropower are the John H. Kerr Dam and the Philpott dam, both located in southern Virignia.

Dams are especially hard to manage in Virginia for two reasons. First, ownership varies between public and private entities. While state officials can regulate the build, design and servicing of a dam, and establish criteria for compliance, not every owner has the resources to make necessary upgrades. A majority of the 2,500-plus regulated dams in the commonwealth are private, DCR noted in May. Second, as climate change brings forth more high-powered storms, state officials’ attempts to assess or improve existing dams — or even identify new ones — face an uphill battle.

There are several dams currently in construction in Virginia, but they're also dams being removed because of the negative impacts they have had on the area. Here are some of the most noticeable dam removals in Virginia.

Under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the federal government, six Bay states, and the District of Columbia set a goal of reopening at least 1,000 miles of streams and rivers to migratory fish by 2025. Having surpassed that goal in 2016, the entities involved have since adjusted it to adding 132 miles every two years.