Mussels Return: Dam Removal Unlocks River's Past

For nearly two centuries, the Ashland Mill Dam hindered fish migration in the South Anna River, leading to the local extinction of the alewife floater mussel. This dam, removed two years ago, was demolished in 2024 by Davey Mitigation to secure Clean Water Act mitigation credits. On Thursday, biologists and volunteers reintroduced over 750 alewife floaters, a species reliant on fish like herring to spread.

With the dam gone, fish such as American shad and hickory shad are now migrating farther inland than previously recorded. This resurgence supports new goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, aiming for habitat expansion and reduced pollution. The restoration is a collaborative effort involving the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and state agencies, bolstered by a federal grant of $199,700.