Ragged Mountain Reservoir construction and trail access update

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) is pleased to announce that additional trails on the eastern side of the reservoir are now open. Tree clearing and removal on that side has been completed, making select areas safe for recreational hiking and shoreline fishing.

Since last fall, RWSA’s contractor, Faulconer Construction, has been working diligently on the Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pool Fill Project. Once finished, this project will allow the pool level to be raised by 12 feet to maximize the dam's storage capacity.

To ensure safety from clearing-related hazards, the Lake Front Trail, Peninsula Trail, and parts of the Upper Trail were temporarily closed. With work on the eastern side finished, these trails will now partially reopen. Shoreline fishing is also permitted in these areas, as shown on the map.

Trail closures remain in effect on the northern, western, and southern sides of the reservoir. Watercraft use also remains restricted, while barging activities continue. New signage has been installed to clearly indicate closed trail sections. Please follow all trail signs for your safety while enjoying the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.

This project has been carefully coordinated with the Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation to restore public trail access as circumstances allow.

New wayfinding signs have been installed at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area to help guide hikers. Access to the trails is available from the lower parking lot.

Background

The current Ragged Mountain Reservoir earthen dam was previously constructed to support a pool elevation of 683 feet. Based on the 2012 Ragged Mountain Dam Project Agreement, the reservoir was filled to a pool elevation of 671 feet. In December 2023, the Charlottesville City Council, the Albemarle County Service Authority Board of Directors, and the RWSA Board of Directors approved an amendment to the agreement that allows RWSA to fully utilize the reservoir's storage capacity. The pool level will rise 12 feet and add 700 million gallons of water.

To accommodate the new pool level, tree and vegetation clearing has occurred around the reservoir. Fallen trees are now being barged across the reservoir to be processed offsite. Other construction activities include modifications to the intake tower and improvements to dam drainage. No elevation modifications are required at the dam or the spillway.

Construction schedule

• October 6, 2025: Contractor began to mobilize equipment to the upper parking lot at the end of Reservoir Rd. Reservoir Rd north of Holiday Trails Ln was closed to public. Restrictions on northern, western, and southern trails and water access went into effect.
• November 15, 2025: Tree felling efforts began. Tree felling efforts were permitted from November 15 to March 31 to coincide with the Northern long-eared bat inactive season. Trees and vegetation unsuitable for harvesting were burned on-site in burn boxes.
• February 14, 2026: Burning operations stopped to coincide with Albemarle County's open burn ordinances.
• March 31, 2026: Tree felling efforts concluded. The contractor continues to remove fallen trees.
• May 1, 2026: Burning operations resumed.
• December 31, 2026: Tentative scheduled completion of construction activities.
• January 1, 2027: RWSA begins filling the reservoir to its new higher pool level as stream flow, weather conditions, and supporting reservoir levels allow.

System-wide water infrastructure upgrades

The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir Raw Water Line is one of several projects currently under construction by RWSA. In 2002, the Central Virginia Region experienced a historical drought of record. This drought and the water supply needs of the Charlottesville/Albemarle region sparked a decade-long water supply planning process (2002-2012). Over the next five years, RWSA will invest more than $300 million to enhance our urban raw water storage capabilities, raw water transmission pipelines, treatment facilities, and finished water transmission pipelines (treated drinking water).

Construction activities

Trees harvested from the site are currently being transported across the reservoir by barge. Trucks are transporting the trees from the barge to an off-site milling facility. Barging activities have minimized potential impacts to trails around the reservoir by avoiding the need to build temporary access roads. Vegetation unsuitable for harvesting is being burned on-site in burn boxes. The burn boxes utilize forced air to promote clean and efficient burning, thereby reducing the amount of smoke emitted.

1. New earthen dam – In 2014, RWSA completed building a new dam at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir.
2. Water treatment plant improvements - Recent facility renovations and upgrades have increased treatment capacity.
3. Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pool Fill Project - RWSA will fully utilize the reservoir’s storage capacity by adding 700 million gallons of water for a total capacity of 2.1 billion gallons.
4. Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Line and Pump Station - A new 36” transmission pipe is replacing two smaller 70- and 100-year-old transmission pipes.
5. South Rivanna River Crossing - A large 24” finished water transmission pipe is being added to better support the northern area in Albemarle County.
6. Central Water Line - The Central Water Line will provide a high-flow, large-diameter finished water transmission pipe that will better connect RWSA’s treatment facilities, transmission pipes, water storage tanks, and water distribution piping in the urban area.
7. South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir Raw Water Line - The new line and pump station will allow RWSA to fully utilize the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir’s watershed and Ragged Mountain Reservoir’s storage capacity. It will also allow both water treatment plants to pull water from either or both reservoirs.

About Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority

The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.

The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority.

The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four advanced water resource recovery facilities (wastewater treatment plants), and nine wastewater pumping stations.

In 2025, the Authority processed an average of 10.25 million gallons of drinking water and 9.47 million gallons of wastewater each day.