We, the undersigned, urge local, state, and federal decision-makers to halt the proposed destruction of the 100-plus-year-old dam and subsequent draining of the Sunken Meadow Pond which supports a thriving and irreplaceable ecosystem. 

For more than a century, this historic dam has created a stable, rich habitat that sustains a wide range of native and migrating wildlife. Removing the dam would result in draining Sunken Meadow Pond and cause potentially irreversible harm to the environment, the James River watershed, and the species that depend on it. 

Why this Dam Must Be Protected

1.     Critical Habitat for Native and Migratory Birds

The calm water and wetlands formed by the dam provide essential rest, feeding, and nesting grounds for iconic and federally protected migrating species, including, but not limited to: Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Great Blue Herons (Ardea Herodias), Egrets (Ardea alba), Canadian Geese (Branta canadensis), and Swans (Cygnus columbianus).

Disrupting this environment threatens established migration patterns and seasonal biodiversity that has existed for generations.

2.     Protection of Sensitive Semi-Aquatic Species

The habitat created by the dam supports important semi-aquatic life such as beavers (Castor canadensis) and river otters (Lontra canadensis). These two species are known to be effective ecosystem builders and are a valuable asset to the pond and to the local ecosystem as a whole. Both species are considered success stories, as they have come back from near extinction. Draining Sunken Meadow Pond by dam removal could result in sudden habitat loss and the destabilization of their lifecycle which then causes a potential chain reaction in the lifecycle of other important native species.

3.     Preventing Catastrophic Environmental Damage to the James River

Destroying the dam would release over 100 years of accumulated silt, debris, and sediment downstream into the James River. This sudden release has the potential to do the following: smother aquatic habitats, degrade water quality, harm fish and other aquatic species populations, increase turbidity and algae growth, magnify stormwater runoff impacts for years to come.

The James River is already vulnerable to pollution and storm-related strain; releasing a century of trapped sediment has the potential to cause severe, long-lasting ecological damage. The James River also is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and the TMDL (total maximum daily load) has worked to restore the Bay and reduce the nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads. The destruction of the dam has the potential to cause all of the important work being done by localities, the state, and the region as a whole to be impacted by a sudden rush of sediment and nutrients released into the James River.

4.     Preserving a Historic Community Resource

The dam and the pond are more than infrastructure, they are pieces of local heritage which reaches beyond Surry County and has shaped the surrounding landscape for generations. Its loss would erase an important historical landmark and natural beauty.

Our Request

Together, we can protect this ecosystem. Removing this dam would permanently alter the landscape and harm generations of wildlife that depends on it. Once it is gone, we cannot bring back the habitat, the sediment balance, or the historic character it supports as quickly as the dam can be demolished.