Rapidan Dam Declared Precarious After Recent Flooding

Culpeper County, Virginia

June 24, 2024 11:20 AM PDT

The Rapidan Dam, located in a hollow at the headwaters of the Rapidan River in Culpeper County, Virginia, is in a precarious state after recent flooding of the Blue Earth River.

The Rapidan River, a pristine native brook trout stream, begins west of Doubletop Mountain in Shenandoah National Park where the Mill Prong meets the Laurel Prong at Rapidan Camp.

Formed along the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Rapidan River was designated as the first fish-for-fun fisheries in the United States.

The Rapidan Dam, a National Historic Landmark, is currently being monitored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The DEQ has issued a warning to residents downstream of the dam to be prepared for potential flooding.