Posted on February 11, 2026
RICHMOND, VA – February 10, 2026 – Arcadis, a global leader in intelligence-driven sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, announced that the Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek, the largest municipal water supply reservoir in Virginia, has received the 2026 ACEC Virginia Engineering Excellence Award.
This project, delivered in partnership with Henrico County and regional stakeholders, aims to provide a reliable, resilient water future for the rapidly growing Richmond region. By storing excess water diverted from the James River during high-flow periods and returning water back to the river during low-flow periods, the $171.5M facility enhances both community resilience and river health.
With a population of over 1.1 million and a thriving economy, the Richmond region faced a critical water supply challenge in the early 2000s, threatened by a historic drought and increasing demand. In response, Henrico County turned to Arcadis to develop a sustainable, long-term solution: a 14.8-billion-gallon, pumped storage reservoir designed to address the projected regional water supply deficit through a 50-year planning horizon and support the vitality of the James River.
Paul Peterson from Arcadis said: “The Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek stands as a testament to what is possible through forward-thinking engineering solutions and a commitment to balancing human progress with environmental stewardship. Arcadis is honored to play a key role in this transformative project, setting a new standard for adaptive, resilient infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.”
Mike Wooden from Arcadis said: “Together with Henrico County, we have delivered a project that will safeguard the region’s water future while protecting the natural resources that make this community special. The Virgil R. Hazelett Reservoir at Cobbs Creek is more than a reservoir, it’s an investment in long-term infrastructure and the well-being of an entire region.”
