Google Proposes Filling Chesterfield Creek; Comments Due Tuesday
TL;DR: Google's proposed data center projects in Chesterfield County would impact streams and wetlands, prompting environmental concerns, though claims about creek filling remain unverified.
Quick facts
- Who: Google LLC; Chesterfield County residents and environmentalists
- What: Google proposing three data center campuses (Projects Peanut, Skye, Loch) that would disturb waterways and wetlands; environmental impacts under federal review
- When: Projects announced 2025; permits filed 2026; earlier comment period closed June 11, 2026
- Where: Chesterfield County, Virginia (Projects Skye and Loch involve waterway permits)
The story
Google is proposing three data center campuses across Chesterfield County as part of a $9 billion investment in Virginia data center expansion. The projects, known as Peanut, Skye, and Loch, would collectively span hundreds of acres and require federal permits due to their impacts on waterways and wetlands.
Project Skye, an 887-acre site on Moseley Road west of Route 288, is proposed to include five data center buildings and would impact over 20 acres of wetlands and 8,000 feet of streams. Project Loch, a 350-acre site near Watkins Center Parkway in Midlothian, would be built adjacent to Tomahawk Creek (a feeder to the Chesapeake Bay watershed) and is expected to disturb roughly 3,000 feet of intermittent and rain-dependent streams, plus 4 acres of wetlands. To offset environmental impacts, Google proposes constructing roughly 11 acres of wetlands and preserving 34.2 acres at sites within the South Anna River watershed.
Claims circulating on social media reference filling "a mile and a half of Chesterfield Creek," but official permit filings do not use this language. The specific waterway impacts reported in federal filings refer to Tomahawk Creek and unnamed intermittent streams, measured in feet rather than miles. Permit filings also note the presence of Dry Bridge Cemetery on one site and the possibility of unmarked graves in the area.
Google has filed applications with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (NAO-2026-00282 for Project Skye; NAO-2026-00182 for Project Loch) seeking permits under the Clean Water Act. A public comment period closed June 11, 2026. Chesterfield County residents have expressed concerns about environmental impacts and called for greater transparency from Google regarding project details and timelines.
Key players
- Google LLC: Proposing three data center campuses in Chesterfield County
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Norfolk District): Reviewing permit applications for waterway and wetland impacts under Clean Water Act
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: County government overseeing local aspects of projects
Key dates
- 2026-06-11: Public comment period for Army Corps permit applications closed
- 2026-08-26: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors scheduled to receive update on data center projects
The case for
Data center expansion supports Virginia's competitiveness in the AI and cloud computing sectors and represents significant capital investment and job creation in Chesterfield County. Google has pledged to minimize environmental impact through wetland mitigation and stream restoration at alternative sites.
The case against
Data center projects would permanently alter waterways that feed the Chesapeake Bay watershed and eliminate wetlands that provide flood control and water quality benefits. Environmental impacts require federal permitting, and residents question whether mitigation efforts adequately compensate for permanent stream and wetland loss.
Why it matters: The scale of Google's expansion in Chesterfield could reshape the county's industrial landscape while creating environmental tradeoffs between economic development and watershed protection. Wetlands and streams provide flood control and water quality services; their loss or alteration may increase flood risk and affect the health of local waterways.
Places
- Tomahawk Creek
- South Anna River watershed
- Route 288
- Moseley Road
- Watkins Center Parkway
- Dry Bridge Cemetery
Development timeline
- 2025-08-27Google announces $9 billion Virginia investment including Chesterfield data center: Google reveals plans for three data center campuses (Peanut, Skye, Loch) across Chesterfield County as part of broader Virginia expansion [[source]](https://richmondbizsense.com/2025/08/27/breaking-news-google-planning-chesterfield-data-center-as-part-of-9b-expansion-in-virginia/)
- 2026-05-19Google permit filings reveal waterway and wetland impacts: Federal permit applications show Projects Loch and Skye would impact Tomahawk Creek, streams, and wetlands; environmental concerns raised [[source]](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/19/google-data-center-chesterfield-army-corps-permit)
- 2026-06-22Details emerge on three Google data center projects: Projects Peanut, Skye, and Loch specifications and locations disclosed to public [[source]](https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-06-22/google-data-centers-chesterfield-peanut-skye-loch-schneider-timmons)
- 2026-07-16Google hosts community open house for data center projects: Hundreds of Chesterfield residents attend event to ask questions and learn details about the planned data centers [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/07/16/google-data-center-open-house-draws-hundreds-chesterfield-county/)
Related links
- Chesterfield County Data Centers Information
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District Public Notices
- Army Corps Public Notice NAO-2026-00282 (Project Skye)
- Army Corps Public Notice NAO-2026-00182 (Project Loch)
Sources
- Google's $9B bet on a trio of Chesterfield data center campuses
- Google's second Chesterfield data center could impact wetlands
- Breaking News: Google planning Chesterfield data center as part of $9B expansion in Virginia
- Google data center open house draws hundreds in Chesterfield County
- Chesterfield County Data Centers