Rapidan Dam Failure Leads to River Research 3-13-2025

March 13, 2025 - In June 2024, the Rapidan Dam suffered catastrophic failure when floodwaters tore around the west end of the dam, eating away the shoreline and sending a century's worth of sediment stored behind the structure down the river. Dr. Phil Larsen, co-director of Minnesota State Mankato's Earth Systems Laboratory and MSU alum Dr. Zach Hilgendorf received a National Science Foundation grant to study how the river has altered the environment, and provide information to communities across the nation about what to expect in future dam failures.