Virginia removes Harvell Dam, reopening over 120 miles of fish habitat

In 2014, the Harvell Dam in Petersburg, a structure dating back to the 1890s, was dismantled, reconnecting about 127 miles of the Appomattox River for fish migration. The dam had been the first major obstacle on this James River tributary, preventing species such as American shad, hickory shad, river herring and American eel from reaching spawning and nursery grounds. The removal followed the shutdown of a hydropower plant and the failure of a fish ladder installed in 1998.

A coalition of Virginia wildlife officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, American Rivers, the dam corporation and the city oversaw the effort. Monitoring after the demolition recorded multiple migratory species traveling upstream within a year, indicating restored access to critical habitat. The project also returned the river segment to a free-flowing state, enhancing opportunities for boating and fishing.