RIVANNA RESTORATION AT RIVERVIEW PARK

The Rivanna Restoration at Riverview Park Project is a comprehensive initiative that aims to restore critical sections of riverbank, enhance water quality, repair a severely eroding stormwater outfall, and restore native habitats through tree, shrub, and meadow plantings. Additionally, the project will protect the Rivanna Trail and provide more opportunities for the community to safely access both the Rivanna River and Rivanna Trail by adding new trails, river access, and viewing areas to one of Charlottesville's most cherished natural recreational areas.

Engineering studies, survey, and design work have developed solutions to stabilize the riverbank on the main stem of the Rivanna River and to restore the stormwater outfall channel. Using appropriate natural stream restoration approaches, the project will:

• Protect the land, trees, and trails from erosion
• Reduce water pollution
• Improve opportunities for boating, wading, and observing wildlife
• Enhance habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife
• Protect public safety and existing infrastructure

Riverview Park serves as a major hub for outdoor activities, offering the City of Charlottesville's only public access point to the Rivanna River for wading, boating, and fishing. It is also home to the Rivanna Trail, a Virginia-designated bird and wildlife trail frequented by hikers, bikers, and runners. However, the park faces significant environmental challenges, including severe riverbank erosion and stormwater outfall deterioration, loss of land and trees, and habitat degradation. These issues threaten both the park's ecosystem and its accessibility to the community. Erosion is undermining trees growing along the riverbanks, causing them to topple into the water. Significant amounts of soil wash in from the banks, contributing to water pollution and damage to aquatic habitat. The eroding stormwater outfall channel in the park creates a safety hazard for visitors and also contributes to water pollution.

The Rivanna Restoration at Riverview Park Project supports other plans and priorities established for the Rivanna River. Water quality improvements from the restoration work will contribute to meeting the goals for local water quality cleanup plans. The project also aligns closely with the Urban Rivanna River Corridor Plan . This planning process was initiated by the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County and led by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. It engaged groups of local officials, technical experts, and area residents to create recommendations for the corridor. These groups identified restoration, preservation, and stewardship as the primary goals for this area and specifically identified Riverview Park as one of the three highest priority locations for restoration. Extensive community outreach, engagement, and input over several years has informed the development of the plans and design of the Rivanna Restoration at Riverview Park Project, which enjoys strong public support.

This project is a partnership between the City of Charlottesville and the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, and is made possible through grants from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Stormwater Local Assistance Fund and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and other funding organizations.