TOPACCOLADE NEWS

In 1607, King James I sent 3 ships to the new world:

The Susan Constant

The Godspeed

The Discovery

They landed near an island in a swampy area near present day Richmond, Virginia.

The colonists dubbed their new settlement Jamestown in honor of their King, the Virginia Company soon started setting up tobacco plantations in the area.

The settlement survived numerous famines, roughly 27 attacks by the natives, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, and an untold amount of hurricanes.

But local historians say that due to the rising tides of the James River, Jamestown could become Virginia's Atlantis by 2070.

The rising levels is due to more water flooding into the James River from hurricanes, and some argue it's because of climate change.

One contributing factor to the deterioration of the historic site is due to it being built on loose soil, which though reinforced over the centuries hasn't stopped outlying sections of the island to be slowly eroded into the James River.

Another factor taken into consideration is that it was built on a flood plain, essentially the Virginia Company doomed the longevity of the old fort and historic town by building Jamestown on land below sea level in a flood prone area.

Historians and local officials have proposed damming the James River in order to save the island and the historic site on it, which the state is reviewing.

If approved the Jamestown Dam will save the inland areas of the island, along with focusing the water onto the outer shores where it can be easily controlled.