There is important new documentation on the water level in the James River and Kanawha Canal provided by the research of canal enthusiast C. Wayne Taylor. He has made the discovery that there is still a water gauge in the canal at the city Park Hydro near Cherry Street, some 1000 feet from Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater. The water level in the canal is clearly shown by a line on the wall at 83 feet next to this water gauge. Water has eroded all paint from the gauge under the 83 foot mark on the gauge.
Remarkably, Wayne Taylor has also discovered a 1990s photograph from the City Planning Department in the VCU Library showing water in the canal at the location of the Park Hydro, and this photograph shows the water gauge in the canal.
The 83 foot water elevation of the water in the canal shown in this gauge and photograph correspond with the many Tredegar and C&O Railroad surveys of the historical water level in the canal at this same location.
It would be folly to reduce the elevation of the tow path of the James River and Kanawha Canal to 83 feet as proposed by Venture Richmond, when a preponderance of evidence shows that the historical water level in the canal near the amphitheater is documented at 83 feet elevation.
When will Venture Richmond acknowledge its plan is based on flawed history? When will Venture Richmond give in to sensible compromise and stop trying to dishonorably label neighborhood concerns as unreasonable?
83′ above sea level? 83′ deep? 83′ above Hollywood Rapids? What is the reference point? Need more clarification.
the measurements signify 83 feet above mean sea level.
I have great concerns that if the canal is filled with water, that this would have a negative effect on the surrounding ecosystem. Let Venture Richmond proceed with construction….they know what they’re doing.
TOT, Venture Richmond is wrong about its historic facts on the canal and now its engineering. This also comes after part of the designated historic site was damaged shortly after it became Venture Richmond’s property. You can make fun of me, but Venture RIchmond’s proposal for the canal should not be allowed to proceed.
I don’t know all of the specifics but I can say that the power of this river should not be underestimated. I’ve seen it first hand.
This is a tempest in a teapot Scott. What difference does it make in the long run if the canal is a foot higher or lower or the tow path 12, 15 or 20 feet. You are being slavish about standards nobody can definitively prove. Canals are living engineering projects. They get raised, lowered and widened on an ongoing basis. If you were truly devoted to preserving history, you’d leave the canal exactly as it is, forever, and let it slowly recede into history. You know as well as I do that you can rebuild the pyramids, but they’re not exactly the same thing.