ABOUT THE RIVER
Natural infrastructure is Virginia’s best defense against hurricanes
No natural disaster sparks the anxieties of Virginians quite like a hurricane. Many remember Isabel, which inundated the Hampton Roads area and pushed a nine-foot storm surge up the James to Richmond in 2003. Anyone unlucky enough to live in Nelson County in 1969 will...
Box turtles are fun, fascinating, and need protection.
Interesting Facts: Turtles have existed for around 215 million years. Many turtle species are also endangered. Woodland box turtles get their name from their shell, which has a hinge enabling it to close completely, protecting them from predators. For box turtles, the...
A Greener Green Space in the Northern Neck
The new Kilmarnock Town Centre Park is undoubtedly a hit with the locals. Kids adore the splash pad. Adults love the live music at the Half Shell amphitheater. Canines dig the dog park. The park has a perfect 5-star rating on Facebook. Yosemite gets a 4.9. But I know...
Report your turtle sighting
The Virginia Herpetological Society (VHS) is an organization dedicated to bringing together people interested in advancing their knowledge of Virginia’s reptiles and amphibians. The VHS educates on identification, conservation, captive care, and other services and...
Progressive thinking paved the way to a serene Rappahannock
Many outdoor enthusiasts who float the Rappahannock River upstream of Fredericksburg are surprised by its solitude. You can travel for miles on this stretch and not see a building. How can a place be so close to the urban corridors of Route-3 and Route-17 and still...
Virginia’s booming wild-caught blue catfish industry may weaken under federal regulation
"Virginia's booming wild-caught blue catfish industry may weaken under federal regulation" Provided by the Freelance Star By Pamela A. D’Angelo For The Free Lance–Star It’s been a rough year for Virginia’s seafood industry. Earlier this year, the U.S. cap on...
Snakehead numbers appear to be growing in Rappahannock
Dozens were legally killed in Fredericksburg area this spring LATEST UPDATE: 6/9/17 Snakehead fish caught in Lake Anna. Full story here. Standing on top of a concrete dam at Ficklen Island in downtown Fredericksburg, the archer drew back his bow, took aim, and...
“Can I eat the fish I catch in the Rappahannock River?”
The catch-and-release concept has long been used by fisherman to promote conservation, but a lot of anglers still enjoy an occasional fish fry to celebrate their catch at the end of the day. From the Blue Ridge to the Chesapeake Bay, the Rappahannock River is full of...
Get to know the unique—and valuable—American eel
American eels are bizarre fish with unique migration patterns. Every October, sexually mature individuals migrate to their natal waters of the Sargasso Sea to breed, where they then die. The Sargasso Sea is the warm center of the North Atlantic gyre system,...
Peregrines continue Rappahannock rebound
By Maggie Magliato, FOR Biology Intern After spending 29 years on the Federal Endangered Species list, the "World's Fastest Birds" have returned in adequate numbers across most of the United States. However, they are still listed as threatened in Virginia, and as of...
Meddlin’ for mussels in the Carter’s Run watershed
Perhaps you have heard of “noodlin’” for catfish, but you’ve probably never heard of “meddlin’” for mussels. That’s because Galon Hall, biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), coined the phrase during a field visit to Fauquier County. The...
Rapidan River is many things to many people
Most readers of this newsletter are pretty familiar with the Rappahannock River. But to really know the Rappahannock, it is important to also understand its largest tributary, the Rapidan. Like the Rappahannock and the other major rivers of central Virginia, the...
Oysters: hope on the half-shell for a restored fishery
So, what does it take to grow an oyster that restores a river, revitalizes an economy and reinvents a culture? Simply put, it takes a healthy watershed. Like grapes, oysters are known to take on the flavor of the regions they are produced in, with each region offering...
Canoe Launch Improves River Access, Reduces Bank Erosion
Written by: Chloe Sikora FOR Intern and Student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Seven volunteers huddled underneath a tarp shielding them from pouring rain. Without complaint, they picked up their shovels and finished digging the last three...
The Confluence
Welcome to the confluence, where the Rapidan and the Rappahannock rivers meet. Due to ongoing private property concerns, the access to the City of Fredericksburg's watershed property at the Confluence of the Rappahannock and Rapidan River's is closed and inaccessible....
How do I check water levels?
FOR uses the USGS Water Data site for real-time information on water levels on the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. Go here to see the latest data on water levels. The recommended level for safe recreational use is below 3.5 ft at the Rappahannock River gauge near Fredericksburg.
Is the fish safe to eat?
Yes, for the most part. There are certain recommendations. More detail here.