WEST POINT, Va. — The Mattaponi Indian Tribe has filed a formal appeal challenging the Commonwealth’s approval of a large water-intake structure tied to Caroline County’s plan to draw up to nine million gallons of water a day from the Rappahannock River. After that water is used, it would be discharged into the Mattaponi River basin — the Tribe’s home waters.
For the Mattaponi people, the river is not a resource to be moved from one watershed to another. It is the heart of the Tribe’s homeland and culture, and the home of the shad and other fish the Tribe has protected and depended upon for generations.
The Tribe has been engaged in this issue since 2024, taking part in public hearings and submitting comments at every step. The appeal asks Virginia’s courts to require that the full downstream harm to the Mattaponi River be honestly and completely weighed before a project like this is allowed to move forward.
“We are the traditional keepers of the Mattaponi River. For generations, we have served as stewards of these waters, safeguarding the river, its fish, wildlife, native plants, and the cultural traditions and livelihoods it sustains. We will not stand by while its future is decided without respect for the people, the natural resources, and the way of life that depend upon its health and survival. Our concern is not limited to what happens today. We have a responsibility to protect this river for our children, our grandchildren, and the many generations yet to come, ensuring that its waters, ecosystems, and traditions endure long into the future.” — [Chief Mark T. Fallingstar Custalow]
The Tribe welcomes the support of its neighbors, fellow tribes, and everyone who cares about the health of Virginia’s rivers.
To learn more or to support the effort, visit www.mattaponi.gov or follow the Tribe on Facebook and Mattaponi Indian Tribe | LinkedIn.