Davey Mitigation Removes 100-Year-Old Dam In Hanover County, VA

Ashland Mill Dam in Hanover County, VA, was a 13-foot-tall, 210-foot-wide dam that spanned the South Anna River. The dam was used for hydromechanical power at a flour mill on-site and is over 100 years old.

The Challenge

Because of its size, the Ashland Mill Dam prevented particular fish species, including hickory shad, American shad, blueback herring, alewife herring, striped bass, and sea lamprey, from accessing areas where, historically, they were able to deposit and fertilize eggs. The dam also limits habitats for rare, threatened, and endangered species.

The Solution

In September 2024, Davey Mitigation began the process of removing the dam and restoring the river. The removal opened 38 miles of river and over 108 miles of streams to fish species that haven’t been able to access the site in over a century.

Davey Mitigation also stabilized the stream bed and bank by planting vegetation and reducing the steepness of the bank slope, helping to reduce erosion.

The dam removal and habitat restoration took just around 8 weeks to complete.

The Results

Davey Mitigation is continuing to monitor the site, ensuring that the river and streams continue to improve over time. Since the removal, the river and streams have become home to certain fish species and other rare, threatened, and endangered species.

The removal is part of a mitigation bank managed by Davey Mitigation.