Patrick County approves removal of four river structures on South Mayo to improve safety and fish passage

Patrick County supervisors voted Aug. 11 to allow state and nonprofit partners to move forward with removal of four in‑stream structures on the South Mayo River near Stuart, citing public‑safety hazards, bank erosion and the need to restore fish passage for a state‑endangered species.

The request came from Louise Finger, a stream restoration biologist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, who said the project covers four structures including George’s Mill Dam (on private land), abandoned railroad bridge piers near Commerce Street and a partially breached Clark Power and Light Company dam on county property. Finger told the board the dams create turbulent recirculating currents that pose a drowning risk and that the barriers cause bank erosion and fragment habitat…