Perhaps that is why he raised $ 10 million to have the dam removed in 2004 as part of a military exercise. This act opened up well over 160 kilometers of spawning habitat for American allis shad, striped bass, American eel and other migratory fish species.
In the late 1990s, Sen. Warner campaigned for the newly established Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge by helping secure its first-ever conservation grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The refuge’s scenic borderline was new for its time, as it spans seven counties and spans 60 miles of the banks of the Rappahannock River. Today, thanks to early advocates like Sen. Warner, visitors can hike trails, launch canoes and kayaks, fish and hunt, and enjoy the abundance of wildlife.
His love for the Rappahannock River and its eponymous refuge did not end there, but continued after he stepped down from the Senate.
He was fascinated by the convergence of bald eagles along the Rappahannock River, especially in places like the Fones Cliffs, a 4 mile long formation along the tidally freshened portion of the Rappahannock River in Richmond County. The forested cliffs reach heights of 80 to 100 feet above the river and are made of diatomite, which was formed millions of years ago.
Our bald eagles in Chesapeake Bay have a burgeoning breeding population along the Rappahannock, but what makes the area even more special is its attraction for southeast eagles moving north in the spring and New England and Canada eagles moving south Winter. It’s a unique phenomenon in Chesapeake Bay.