Virginia Film Festival

This documentary was commissioned by Friends of the Rappahannock, a Fredericksburg, Virginia–based nonprofit that has been advocating for the watershed since 1985. Oscar-nominated director Bayley Silleck documents the history of the Rappahannock River watershed, beginning with the Native Americans who inhabited the river before the Europeans arrived, followed by the river’s involvement in the Civil War, steamboat and canal culture, and the advent of commercial fishing. The film also explores the ecology of the river and the environmental issues it faces in the 21st century, highlighting the role of community members throughout the watershed in protecting the river.

Discussion with Friends of the Rappahannock’s Community Conservationist Woodie Walker