Background: The Amherst County Service Authority within the City of Madison Heights, requested the assistance of USACE to evaluate the erosion issues along the bank of the James River as it is placing the existing sanitary sewer pipeline -- that runs approximately parallel to the river -- at imminent risk of rupture. The rupture in the pipeline would result in the release of approximately 700,000 gallons per day of untreated sewage directly into the James River.

Project Scope: The preferred alternative is the placement of stone revetment (riprap) at one, continuous estimated 1,250 linear feet stretch along the bank of the James River.  The construction would include the clearing an re-grading of approximately 0.944 acres of riverbank (above the ordinary high water mark), and placement of geotextile fabric or equivalent material and stone revetment (riprap).

Authorization: Section 14 of the 1946 Flood Control Act provides the Corps of Engineers authority to construct emergency shoreline and streambank protection works to protect public facilities, such as bridges, roads, public buildings, sewage treatment plants, water wells, and non-profit public facilities, such as churches, hospitals, and schools.
Read more about the Continuing Authorities Program, which authorizes the Corps to study and build water resource projects for various purposes without the need for further Congressional approval.

Project News:

Project Sponsor: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, in partnership with its non-federal sponsor, Amherst County

Project Study Area: The study area is located in Madison Heights within Amherst County, Virginia, south of the City of Lynchburg.  Amherst County is located within the Northern Piedmont Region in central Virginia approximately 60 miles west of Richmond, the state capitol. 

Schedule: TBD

Project Point of Contact Information: For more information on the study, please contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510-1096.