Protect the Rappahannock River.

The Rappahannock Tribe has rematriated 1,434 acres of our ancestral land at Fones Cliffs along the Rappahannock River. We actively restore these lands, reconnect our people to the river, and steward the land with reciprocity, responsibility, and respect for the rights of nature. This work honors generations of knowledge while protecting an endangered river that sustains communities far beyond our Tribe.

The Threat to the Rappahannock River

Today, the Rappahannock River faces its greatest threat. Intense development pressure, driven largely by industrial expansion, has accelerated the demand for water at an unsustainable scale. Caroline County’s approved water permit is aimed at withdrawing nine million gallons of water per day from the Rappahannock River and transferring the treated water into the Mattaponi River.

Once this process begins, the damage to both rivers will be irreversible.

The consequences are clear:

• Rising salinity destroys freshwater wetlands
• Waterbird and aquatic life will lose critical habitats
• Clean drinking water will become scarce
• What is taken from the rivers cannot be replaced

Three Virginia Tribes and countless Caroline County residents will bear the cost of this decision, and the impacts will be felt by everyone who relies on the rivers for life, livelihood, and future security.

The water belongs to the people, not the rapacious needs of economic entities.

The Rappahannock Tribe is Fighting Back

The Tribe has formally challenged the permit and continues to advocate for the protection of the Rappahannock River. We are building a coalition of advocates, residents, organizations, and environmental protectors committed to defending this vital resource.

The Tribe is leading this effort not only for our Tribal citizens, but for every community that relies on the 185-mile stretch of the Rappahannock River. Our advocacy combines legal action, education, environmental science, and community organizing to protect what cannot be replaced.

Join the River Protectors Coalition

Protecting the Rappahannock River requires collective action. Through this initiative, we are building a coalition to grow individual participation and organizations committed to defending the river and holding harmful systems accountable.

Your investment fuels:

• Tribal led river protection advocacy
• Public education and media efforts that keep the issue alive
• Community organizing
• Strategic action to fuel our advocacy efforts

No action will go unappreciated. You can give your time, talents, and/or treasure to protect the Rappahannock River. The Tribe welcomes skill-based support in outreach, research, advocacy, and organizing.

To support this campaign in non-monetary ways, please contact the Tribe’s Communication Coordinator, Aniyah Mulligan.

Amulligan@rappahannocktribe.org