Upper Rappahannock River Basin (Rapidan Tributary)
Contact:Herman Wine (757) 201-7536
Authorization:
The study is authorized by the Senate Committee of Environment and Public Works in a resolution adopted on June 5, 1997.
Location and Description:
- Approximately 75 miles northwest of Richmond.
- 2000 Census population (approximately): 150,000.
- 2020 Forecast population: 235,000.
- Per capita income (approx.): $22,600.
The Rappahannock River Basin, at 2,800 square miles, is the fourth largest tributary basin in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The specific study area encompasses the upstream tributaries, including the Rapidan River. The Rapidan River Basin, at 600 square miles of area, begins with the confluence of the Upper Rappahannock River, a distance approximately 14 miles west of Fredericksburg. The northern bank originates in Culpeper County, and the southern bank originates in Spotsylvania County. Land use is dominated by forest, at 61 percent, and agriculture, at 36 percent. At the Town of Rapidan, the Rapidan River and the Robinson River merge. The population (2002) of the upper basin is in excess of 125,000. The Feasibility Study will evaluate environmental restoration initiatives in the upper reaches of the basin. Opportunities include creating improved spawning and foraging areas, restoring riparian habitat, and improving water quality. The District initiated the Reconnaissance Phase in Fiscal Year 2008.
Updated: 07-Feb-2011