Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Lagoon

Transformation of Land

— Dutch Gap Conservation Area - A Changing Story —

The Lagoon Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 29, 2015

1. The Lagoon Marker

Inscription. Civilization has dramatically transformed the landscape. Before 1930s, the land around you was probably swamp and bottomland forest. From the 1930s to around the 1960s, companies mined the area for sand and gravel. During this time, the large open pit was created from mining. Later, in an effort to load barges more easily with sand and gravel, a channel was cut between the pit and the old James River channel. The James River flooded the pit and created what is now a tidal lagoon.

Tempered by time and nature, this area teems with wildlife. The sunken barges provide habitat for small fish and a feeding site for predatory fish such as bass. Deer seek refuge i on the islands, great blue heron stalk prey along the shoreline, river otters play in the lagoon, and cormorants roost on exposed barges. Nature has reclaimed this land.

Signs of mining still exists. The man-made channel still links the lagoon to the old river channel. One end of the channel can be seen slightly to your left. The islands, created by the mining operations, reveal the dredged materials (spoils) and the skeletons of old sunken barges.

Erected by Dutch

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Gap Conservation Area, Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 37° 22.001′ N, 77° 22.244′ W. Marker is in Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It can be reached from Henricus Park Road 1.3 miles east of Coxendale Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester VA 23836, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, August 29, 2015

2. The Lagoon Marker

are within walking distance of this marker: The Siege of Petersburg (approx. 0.4 miles away); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (approx. 0.6 miles away); Join the Adventure (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ill-Fated Friendship (approx. 0.6 miles away); John N. Pastore, D.D.S. (approx. 0.7 miles away); Citie of Henricus (approx. 0.7 miles away); 1622 Indian Attack (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Bermuda Hundred Campaign (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.

Also see . . .
1. Dutch Gap Conservation Area. Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation. (Submitted on August 30, 2015.)

2. Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. National Park Service (Submitted on August 30, 2015.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.