An Overview of Virginia's Rivers and Lakes
Largest and Most Famous Water Features
Virginia is home to several significant water features. The James River, Potomac River, and Shenandoah River are among the most prominent rivers. Notable lakes include Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake. Additionally, the state has large reservoirs like John H. Kerr Reservoir.
Sources of Water for Rivers and Lakes
Virginia's rivers and lakes primarily receive water from local sources, including rainfall and mountain runoff. For instance, the Shenandoah River is fed by the Blue Ridge Mountains' rainfall. However, some rivers also have contributions from distant sources. The James River, for example, collects water from various smaller streams and tributaries within the state.
Types of Rivers in Virginia
Virginia features a variety of river types. Major perennial rivers include the James and Potomac Rivers. Man-made waterways such as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal are prominent, while the state also has winding rivers like the Rappahannock River. Exotic and distributary rivers are less common, but the state's network of waterways is extensive and varied.
Types of Lakes Found in Virginia
Virginia hosts several types of lakes. Anthropogenic lakes such as Lake Anna were created for recreational and power generation purposes. The state does not have volcanic or tectonic lakes, but it does have fluvial lakes formed by river activity. Other examples include landslide lakes and shoreline lakes, often resulting from natural processes or land modifications.
River Directions in Virginia
In Virginia, rivers predominantly flow east to west, following the general slope of the terrain. The James River is a notable example of this eastward flow. Some rivers, like the Potomac, run more north to south. This variation helps shape the state's diverse geography.
Natural vs. Man-Made Lakes
Many of Virginia's lakes are anthropogenic, created in the 20th century for purposes such as recreation and power. Lake Anna, for example, was constructed by the Virginia Electric and Power Company. Federal and state agencies have been involved in creating and managing these lakes. Natural lakes in Virginia are less common but include those formed by geological processes.
Rivers and Transportation in Virginia
Rivers in Virginia are used for various transportation needs, though they are not major commercial routes. The James River, for instance, has seen historic use for transport. However, most of the state's rivers are not heavily utilized for cargo transport compared to other major river systems. Specific cargo transport figures are not as prominent in Virginia's rivers.
Presence of Dams and Their Uses
Virginia has numerous dams serving different purposes. These include hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and recreation. The John H. Kerr Dam, for example, is crucial for flood control and power generation. Dams also help manage water levels for recreational activities.
Recreational Uses of Rivers and Lakes
Virginia's rivers and lakes are popular for recreational activities. Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Anna are favored for boating, fishing, and jet skiing. The James River also offers opportunities for kayaking and canoeing. These water bodies provide diverse recreational options for residents and visitors.
Water Features Supporting Agriculture
Several lakes and reservoirs in Virginia support agriculture by providing irrigation. The John H. Kerr Reservoir is instrumental in supplying water for agricultural uses. Additionally, the lakes and reservoirs managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries also play a role in supporting local farming activities. These water bodies help ensure the state's agricultural productivity.
Pollution Issues in Water Bodies
Some of Virginia's rivers and lakes have experienced pollution issues. The James River has faced challenges related to agricultural runoff and industrial discharges. Efforts are ongoing to address and mitigate these pollution problems. State agencies and environmental organizations are actively working to improve water quality across the state.
Virginia Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Water Features
Appomattox River, Appomattox Co, Virginia
Appomattox River, Buckingham Co, Virginia
Appomattox River, Chesterfield Co, Virginia
Appomattox River, Cumberland Co, Virginia
Appomattox River, Powhatan Co, Virginia
Appomattox River, Prince Edward Co, Virginia
Assamoosick Swamp, Southampton Co, Virginia
Assamoosick Swamp, Sussex Co, Virginia
Back Creek, Bath Co, Virginia
Back Creek, Highland Co, Virginia
Ballard Marsh, Isle of Wight Co, Virginia
Banister River, Halifax Co, Virginia
Banister River, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia
Beach Marsh,Northampton Co, Virginia
Big Creek Marsh,Northampton Co, Virginia
Big Marsh, Accomack Co, Virginia
Big Moccasin Creek, Russell Co, Virginia
Big Moccasin Creek, Scott Co, Virginia
Big Otter River, Bedford Co, Virginia
Big Otter River, Campbell Co, Virginia
Big Reed Island Creek, Carroll Co, Virginia
Big Reed Island Creek, Pulaski Co, Virginia
Big Salt Marsh, Poquoson, Independent City,Virginia
Blackwater River, Franklin Co, Virginia
Blackwater River, Isle of Wight Co, Virginia
Blackwater River, Prince George Co, Virginia
Blackwater River, Southampton Co, Virginia
Blackwater River, Suffolk,Independent City,Virginia
Blackwater River, Surry Co, Virginia
Blackwater River, Sussex Co, Virginia
Bradford Bay,Accomack Co, Virginia
Broad Bay,Virginia Beach,Independent City,Virginia
Buffalo River, Amherst Co, Virginia
Buffalo River, Buckingham Co, Virginia
Buffalo River, Nelson Co, Virginia
Calfpasture River, Augusta Co, Virginia
Calfpasture River, Rockbridge Co, Virginia
Catawba Creek, Botetourt Co, Virginia
Catawba Creek, Roanoke,Independent City,Virginia
Cedar Creek, Frederick Co, Virginia
Cedar Creek, Shenandoah Co, Virginia
Cedar Creek, Warren Co, Virginia
Cedar Run,Fauquier Co, Virginia
Cedar Run,Prince William Co, Virginia
Chickahominy River, Charles City Co, Virginia
Chickahominy River, Hanover Co, Virginia
Chickahominy River, Henrico Co, Virginia
Chickahominy River, James City Co, Virginia
Chickahominy River, New Kent Co, Virginia
Claytor Lake, Pulaski Co, Virginia
Clinch River, Russell Co, Virginia
Clinch River, Scott Co, Virginia
Clinch River, Tazewell Co, Virginia
Clinch River, Wise Co, Virginia
Clubhouse Marsh, Accomack Co, Virginia
Copper Creek, Russell Co, Virginia
Copper Creek, Scott Co, Virginia
Cowpasture River, Alleghany Co, Virginia
Cowpasture River, Bath Co, Virginia
Cowpasture River, Botetourt Co, Virginia
Cowpasture River, Highland Co, Virginia
Craig Creek, Botetourt Co, Virginia
Craig Creek, Craig Co, Virginia
Craig Creek, Montgomery Co, Virginia
Dan River, Halifax Co, Virginia
Dan River, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia
Diascund Creek Reservoir, James City Co, Virginia
Diascund Creek Reservoir, New Kent Co, Virginia
Dragon Swamp, Essex Co, Virginia
Dragon Swamp, Gloucester Co, Virginia
Dragon Swamp, King and Queen Co, Virginia
Dragon Swamp, Middlesex Co, Virginia
Elkins Marsh,Northampton Co, Virginia
Falling River, Appomattox Co, Virginia
Falling River, Campbell Co, Virginia
Falling River, Charlotte Co, Virginia
Fisher River, Grayson Co, Virginia
Flat Creek, Amelia Co, Virginia
Flat Creek, Chesterfield Co, Virginia
Flat Creek, Nottoway Co, Virginia
Fountains Creek, Greensville Co, Virginia
Freeschool Marsh, Accomack Co, Virginia
Gleason Marsh,King and Queen Co, Virginia
Gleason Marsh,King William Co, Virginia
Goose Creek, Bedford Co, Virginia
Goose Creek, Campbell Co, Virginia
Goose Creek, Fauquier Co, Virginia
Goose Creek, Loudoun Co, Virginia
Great Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake,Independent City,VA
Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk,Independent City,VA
Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia Beach,Independent City,VA
Great Marsh,Virginia Beach,Independent City,Virginia
Guest River, Norton,Independent City,Virginia
Guest River, Russell Co, Virginia
Guest River, Scott Co, Virginia
Guest River, Wise Co, Virginia
Hazel River, Culpeper Co, Virginia
Hazel River, Rappahannock Co, Virginia
Intracoastal Waterway, Portsmouth,Independent City,VA
Jackson River, Bath Co, Virginia
Jackson River, Highland Co, Virginia
James River, Albemarle Co, Virginia
James River, Alleghany Co, Virginia
James River, Amherst Co, Virginia
James River, Appomattox Co, Virginia
James River, Bedford Co, Virginia
James River, Botetourt Co, Virginia
James River, Buckingham Co, Virginia
James River, Campbell Co, Virginia
James River, Chesterfield Co, Virginia
James River, Clifton Forge City,Independent City,VA
James River, Covington,Independent City,Virginia
James River, Cumberland Co, Virginia
James River, Fluvanna Co, Virginia
James River, Goochland Co, Virginia
James River, Henrico Co, Virginia
James River, Lynchburg,Independent City,Virginia
James River, Nelson Co, Virginia
James River, Powhatan Co, Virginia
James River, Richmond,Independent City,Virginia
James River, Rockbridge Co, Virginia
John H. Kerr Reservoir, Charlotte Co, Virginia
John H. Kerr Reservoir, Halifax Co, Virginia
John H. Kerr Reservoir, Mecklenburg Co, Virginia
Johns Creek, Craig Co, Virginia
Johns Creek, Giles Co, Virginia
Lake Anna,Louisa Co, Virginia
Lake Anna,Orange Co, Virginia
Lake Anna, Spotsylvania Co, Virginia
Lake Chesdin, Amelia Co, Virginia
Lake Chesdin, Chesterfield Co, Virginia
Lake Chesdin, Dinwiddie Co, Virginia
Lake Drummond, Chesapeake,Independent City,Virginia
Lake Drummond, Suffolk,Independent City,Virginia
Lake Gaston, Brunswick Co, Virginia
Lake Gaston, Mecklenburg Co, Virginia
Lake Moomaw, Alleghany Co, Virginia
Lake Moomaw, Bath Co, Virginia
Lee Marsh, King William Co, Virginia
Little Creek Reservoir, James City Co, Virginia
Little River, Floyd Co, Virginia
Little River, Hanover Co, Virginia
Little River, Montgomery Co, Virginia
Little River, Pulaski Co, Virginia
Little River, Russell Co, Virginia
Little River, Tazewell Co, Virginia
Mattaponi River, Caroline Co, Virginia
Mattaponi River, King and Queen Co, Virginia
Mattaponi River, King William Co, Virginia
Maury River, Buena Vista,Independent City,Virginia
Maury River, Lexington,Independent City,Virginia
Maury River, Rockbridge Co, Virginia
Meherrin River, Brunswick Co, Virginia
Meherrin River, Emporia,Independent City,Virginia
Meherrin River, Greensville Co, Virginia
Meherrin River, Lunenburg Co, Virginia
Meherrin River, Mecklenburg Co, Virginia
Meherrin River, Southampton Co, Virginia
Middle Fork Holston River, Smyth Co, Virginia
Middle Fork Holston River, Washington Co, Virginia
Middle Fork Holston River, Wythe Co, Virginia
Middle River, Augusta Co, Virginia
Middle River, Rockingham Co, Virginia
New River, Carroll Co, Virginia
New River, Giles Co, Virginia
New River, Grayson Co, Virginia
New River, Montgomery Co, Virginia
New River, Pulaski Co, Virginia
New River, Radford, Independent City,Virginia
New River, Wythe Co, Virginia
North Anna River, Caroline Co, Virginia
North Anna River, Hanover Co, Virginia
North Anna River, Louisa Co, Virginia
North Anna River, Spotsylvania Co, Virginia
North Fork Holston River, Bland Co, Virginia
North Fork Holston River, Scott Co, Virginia
North Fork Holston River, Smyth Co, Virginia
North Fork Holston River, Washington Co, Virginia
North Fork Shenandoah River, Rockingham Co, VA
North Fork Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Co, VA
North Fork Shenandoah River, Warren Co, Virginia
North River, Augusta Co, Virginia
North River, Rockingham Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Brunswick Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Dinwiddie Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Greensville Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Nottoway Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Southampton Co, Virginia
Nottoway River, Sussex Co, Virginia
Occoquan Reservoir, Fairfax Co, Virginia
Occoquan Reservoir, Prince William Co, Virginia
Pamunkey River, Caroline Co, Virginia
Pamunkey River, Hanover Co, Virginia
Pamunkey River, King William Co, Virginia
Passage Creek, Page Co, Virginia
Passage Creek, Shenandoah Co, Virginia
Passage Creek, Warren Co, Virginia
Pedlar River, Amherst Co, Virginia
Piankatank River, Essex Co, Virginia
Piankatank River, Gloucester Co, Virginia
Piankatank River, King and Queen Co, Virginia
Piankatank River, Middlesex Co, Virginia
Pigg River, Franklin Co, Virginia
Pigg River, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia
Potomac River, Fairfax Co, Virginia
Potomac River, Loudoun Co, Virginia
Potts Creek, Alleghany Co, Virginia
Potts Creek, Craig Co, Virginia
Powell River, Lee Co, Virginia
Powell River, Norton,Independent City,Virginia
Powell River, Wise Co, Virginia
Rapidan River, Culpeper Co, Virginia
Rapidan River, Greene Co, Virginia
Rapidan River, Madison Co, Virginia
Rapidan River, Orange Co, Virginia
Rapidan River, Spotsylvania Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Caroline Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Culpeper Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Fauquier Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Fredericksburg,Independent City,VA
Rappahannock River, King George Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Rappahannock Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Spotsylvania Co, Virginia
Rappahannock River, Stafford Co, Virginia
Reed Creek, Wythe Co, Virginia
Rivanna River, Albemarle Co, Virginia
Rivanna River, Charlottesville,Independent City,VA
Rivanna River, Fluvanna Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Bedford Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Campbell Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Charlotte Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Franklin Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Halifax Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Montgomery Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia
Roanoke River, Roanoke,Independent City,Virginia
Roanoke River, Salem,Independent City,Virginia
Rockfish River, Albemarle Co, Virginia
Rockfish River, Buckingham Co, Virginia
Rockfish River, Nelson Co, Virginia
Rowanty Creek, Dinwiddie Co, Virginia
Rowanty Creek, Prince George Co, Virginia
Rowanty Creek, Sussex Co, Virginia
Shenandoah River, Clarke Co, Virginia
Shenandoah River, Warren Co, Virginia
Slate River, Buckingham Co, Virginia
Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford Co, Virginia
Smith Mountain Lake, Franklin Co, Virginia
Smith Mountain Lake, Pittsylvania Co, Virginia
Smith River, Franklin Co, Virginia
Smith River, Henry Co, Virginia
Smith River, Martinsville,Independent City,Virginia
Smith River, Patrick Co, Virginia
South Anna River, Hanover Co, Virginia
South Anna River, Louisa Co, Virginia
South Anna River, Orange Co, Virginia
South Fork Holston River, Smyth Co, Virginia
South Fork Holston River, Washington Co, Virginia
South Fork Shenandoah River, Page Co, Virginia
South Fork Shenandoah River, Rockingham Co, Virginia
South Fork Shenandoah River, Warren Co, Virginia
South Holston Lake, Washington Co, Virginia
South Mayo River, Henry Co, Virginia
South Mayo River, Patrick Co, Virginia
South River, Augusta Co, Virginia
South River, Rockingham Co, Virginia
South River, Waynesboro, Independent City,Virginia
Swift Creek Reservoir, Chesterfield Co, Virginia
The Desert,Virginia Beach,Independent City,Virginia
The Ditches, Accomack Co, Virginia
Three Creek, Brunswick Co, Virginia
Three Creek, Emporia, Independent City,Virginia
Three Creek, Greensville Co, Virginia
Three Creek, Southampton Co, Virginia
Three Creek, Sussex Co, Virginia
Tongue Quarter Creek, Buckingham Co, Virginia
Tongue Quarter Creek, Cumberland Co, Virginia
Walker Creek, Bland Co, Virginia
Walker Creek, Giles Co, Virginia
Western Branch Reservoir, Suffolk,Independent City,VA
White Marsh,Caroline Co, Virginia
White Marsh,King George Co, Virginia
Wolf Creek, Bland Co, Virginia
Wolf Creek, Tazewell Co, Virginia