Meet a RiverRat: David Bernard

The James River Association’s RiverRats are helping our Riverkeepers keep watch over the James River and its tributaries. Meet some of the RiverRats through a monthly highlight on JRA’s blog. Their dedication, passion, and local knowledge are crucial in creating a healthier James River.

David Bernard is a semi-retired plumbing contractor who grew up playing in a tributary of the Appomattox River called Lieutenant Run. An active canoeist, he learned to paddle at Balcony Falls and loves to canoe the downtown stretch of the James.

David became a RiverRat in order to learn how to help keep the river he loves clean. His patrol section is Bernard’s Creek, a small tributary that runs along the Chesterfield/Powhatan County border. The name of the creek intrigued him, although he doesn’t believe there is a family tie. Bernard’s Creek is considered impaired once it enters the James and David wanted to know why. On his patrol he discovered that cattle from a large farm have access to the creek.

David said, “I launched my canoe on March 11 at Huguenot Springs Road bridge after a big rain. Bernard’s Creek is about fifteen feet wide there. Later I went back with Upper James Riverkeeper, Pat Calvert, by paddling upstream from Robius Landing. Patrolling a small stream requires frequent carries over logs. I had to lift the canoe over logs 18 times on the March 11 trip! Pat and I had to carry over logs at least twice just exploring the lower part.”

According to David, the best part of being a RiverRat is learning how to look for and report pollution while adventuring on a stream or river. He would encourage anyone who loves the river to become a River Rat because, “the James River and tribs need all the help they can get and you will have fun exploring your own section.”

For more information on the RiverRats program visit http://jrava.org/get-involved/volunteer/riverrats or contact volunteer@jrava.org.