Start the spring off right by installing some river-friendly landscaping!

Are you still thinking about what to do with your landscaping this year?  Consider installing a rain garden filled with native plants, a vegetated swale or installing rain barrels to re-use water.  JRA’s new River Hero Homes program can help you learn how to use your landscaping to reduce the amount of runoff and pollution that leaves your property.  

Through the program you will learn about the benefits of using native plants, rain gardens and rain barrels, how to determine the best project(s) for your yard and how to install them.  We’ll also tell you how you may be able to use your rain barrels and rain gardens to qualify for a credit or rebate from your locality.  

Want to learn more? Join JRA for a River-Friendly Landscaping Workshop at Glen Allen Nursery, 9107 Old Staples Mill Road, Richmond, on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

If you’re more interested in rain barrels than landscaping, we have the perfect fit for you!  Through its River Hero Home program, JRA is sponsoring a rain barrel workshop contest where you and a group of your friends and neighbors can win free rain barrels to install at home.  Every month through July, JRA will be giving away a free workshop for up to 20 people.  All you need to do is submit the contest application along with your River Hero Home application.

To find out more about the River Hero Homes program, attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, April 3 or Tuesday, May 22 in the Richmond area.  Future meetings are also scheduled for Lynchburg and Hampton.  Stay tuned for times, locations and more information about these and other upcoming River Hero Home meetings in your area. To learn more about the program and other upcoming events, visit the River Hero Homes website www.jamesriverhero.org.  It’s going to be a busy spring!

Secrets of the James - Warm Winter Brings Shad Up the James Early

by Gabe Silver, JRA's Education & Outreach Manager

Spring temperatures bring migratory fish like shad and herring up the James River to spawn. An extraordinarily warm start to 2012 meant soaring water temperatures and had us speculating that fish spawning activity would come early. It is as hard to overestimate the importance of the shad to early Americans as it is to exaggerate the excitement at the prospect of shad season among a certain sect of fishermen. (See John McPhee’s excellent book on the subject). So, in the last full weekend of March, we joined a growing contingent on the water and riverbanks to enact a spring rite that goes back thousands of years on the James, we went shad fishing! Here are some scenes from the James this spring ― just another season of loving America’s Founding River.

This Hickory Shad shows how beautiful these silvery travelers from the sea can be. Conservation of migratory fish species is critical, please see the Virginia Marine Resources Commission site for regulations.

Boats of all kinds can be seen on the James near the fall line during the shad run. The rain clouds in the background and many more like them upriver have since caused a flood that will shut down the shad fishing for a few days.

No, this is not a snag. Though very rarely exceeding 5 lbs., shad are incredibly strong fish. Their migrations of many thousands of miles take them as far north as the Bay of Fundy several times in their lifespan.

American Shad like this must be immediately released. More on this great fish in JRA’s archived article.

One of the busiest stretches of interstate in the country, I-95, is part of the scenery during the shad run.

My Favorite Things

By Nick Kotula, JRA Guest Contributor

Herons and ospreys and raging white rivers,
big geese and small hawks set my heart aquiver.
Green-headed mallards that swim through the streams,
these are a few of my favorite things.

 Another one of my favorite things (besides butchering classic musicals) is a very specific word. I’m talking words that you use when you want to sound like you really know what you’re talking about. Ornithology (the study of birds) is chock full of them!

When you’re at the heronry, what are you looking at? Is it a group of herons? Yes, but that’s too generic. Is it a flock of herons? Again, think more specific. A group of herons is a siege. Downtown Richmond is “besieged” by herons!



A gulp of cormorants in the James River.

Turns out that pretty much every bird that hangs out near Vauxhall Island has a name. Those black duck-like birds that have started popping up all over the river are cormorants. When they get together it’s called a gulp (#4). It’s fun watching them swim through the river with their heads held high. I almost immediately mistake them for snakes at first.

A group of Canada geese? In general they are a flock, if they’re flying they are a skein, and if they’re on the ground spreading their carbon-nitrogen-phosphorous “love” on every flat surface, they can be called a gaggle, a herd, or a corps, depending on your mood. I personally call them a “nuisance” of geese, but that doesn’t seem to be a generally accepted term.

Junior Workweek

By Frank Dorman, JRA Intern

Today concludes my week-long internship with the James River Association. The Association has allowed me to understand nearly every role of each employee. From office work to heading out on the water, the JRA does everything possible to preserve America’s Founding River. I have been privileged with the opportunity to participate in many of the Association’s activities. Education, advocacy, interaction with the community, and direct work with the environment are the four main fields that I have gotten to experience and understand.


Monday - Rain Barrel Workshop

On Monday, I began my internship by stuffing donation envelopes into the State of The James booklets that are to be distributed to the people of the James River watershed. While it was a very simple task, it was something that needed to be done. Reaching out to the community is an important aspect of the James River Association’s mission and by placing donation envelopes in booklets; I was able to play a small role in this crucial interaction. Later in the day, Watershed Restoration Associate, Amber Ellis, and Watershed Restoration Project Manager, Michelle Kokolis, took me to the Steward School, where they were doing an educational program about rain barrels. The students will be installing new rain barrels at the school in order to eliminate harmful runoff. Education about the river and its pollutants is critical to the future state of the James, and the JRA is currently working for the future through trips to schools in the Richmond area.


Tuesday with the Upper James Riverkeeper

Tuesday was a very different day. Instead of heading to the association’s Shockoe Slip office, I drove to Watkins Landing, where I met Pat Calvert, The Upper James Riverkeeper. We headed out on his jon boat in order to find places where cows have access to the river. The waste left by cows introduces harmful ammonia and nitrates into the water and therefore poisons the water and increases fish kills. Algal blooms are also caused by the waste left from cows. Luckily, we only found two places in the area that showed signs of cattle in the river.

On Wednesday, I was back in the office helping Outreach Intern, Anna Salzberg, with the task of finding contact information for the directors of Planning and Zoning and the directors of Parks and Recreation in each of the localities that are within the James River watershed. It was a job that required time and patience, as it was difficult to locate the contact information from small towns in the state. Having this information will help the JRA to connect with the people of Virginia to make the process of saving the James River a group effort.



Thursday - Pesquisle Island

Thursday was an exciting day. Jessica Templeton, the Ecology School Manager, took me to the new school facilities on Pesquisle Island. We canoed and explored the diverse land on the island and saw eagles, hawks, a turkey, and a raccoon. Wildlife is always exciting to see and it was especially exciting to see animals thriving in a place where children will soon be learning and experiencing the thrill of nature. The island has open fields, forests, and wetlands. Each of these allows for a diverse plant and animal population. The new facilities are equipped with solar panels that allow the school to be environmentally friendly. Students will be able to take their work from the field back to a new lab where they can further their environmental exploration. I really enjoyed seeing the island and I was very excited to see the progress that has been made in the construction of the new school.

James River Ecology School

Today, I have been able to experience the advocacy efforts of the Association. I went to the General Assembly building where I sat in on two committee meetings with Policy Specialist, Adrienne Kotula. The trip gave me a better idea of what goes on in the General Assembly meetings and what Adrienne does as the Policy Specialist. Listening to the Senators speak and go through the procedure of the meetings was very interesting, as I am a member of the Model United Nations program at my school. This trip was the last activity of my internship and concluded my week of diverse activities. I am very thankful that I was given this great opportunity and I will leave with a new view of the James River.

Wildlife of the James - Northern scarletsnake

by Anna Salzberg, JRA's Outreach Intern

While these spring months are swarming with biological activity and the weather proves excellent for hiking throughout the James River watershed, one might encounter certain species taking advantage by basking in the sun. We at JRA encourage you to keep an eye out for our reptile friends, as some species are dangerous and can inflict serious physical harm if encountered, but also to ensure that you don’t accidentally injure these animals living in our watershed’s natural world.

The photo above is an example of a James River watershed resident, the Northern scarletsnake. Cemophora coccinea is found throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of Virginia. This snake is indeed a cold blooded reptile that relies on the sun to keep warm and supply energy. When they are not sunning, they often hide beneath logs, boards, bark and rocks. This scareletsnake is a burrower that is seldom found in daylight except in or under logs and other surface objects, so be sure to stay keen on where you place your hands when climbing over and under logs while hiking.

The adult Northern scarletsnake is small, only 14 to 20 inches in length and has red and yellow (or white) bands separated by narrower black bands. At first glance this fellow may appear dangerous or be mistaken for the poisonous coral snake, but think back to your early school years and the rhyme “red touch yellow, kill a fellow, red touch black friend to Jack”, which relies on the adjacent colors of the snake to determine its potential threat. As you can see, the red is touching the black areas of the snake, therefore you can be fairly certain this snake is not an immediate threat. Additionally, the bands of the scarletsnake are present only on the upper surface and do not extend across the belly as in the kingsnake. However, even nonpoisonous snakes can bite if threatened, so appreciate this colorful James River resident from a good distance, for his sake and yours.

Reference: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=030017

Envision the James-Get ready!

Envision the James is a multi-year, collaborative project that invites communities and individuals to get involved in creating a common vision for the river to benefit present and future generations. The visioning process will work with the local communities to enhance local heritage and river-based tourism, recreational trails and river access, conservation efforts and restoration efforts, and wildlife habitat throughout the James River watershed.

The James River Association (JRA) is holding meetings up and down the James River watershed hoping people from their area will take ownership of their communities and contribute a local vision to the riverfront planning. JRA has joined forces with the National Geographic Society and the Chesapeake Conservancy to come to your community and find out what ideas you and your local leaders have in mind along the riverfront.

Please get involved with Envision the James by attending an upcoming community meeting and experience new interactive mapping and multimedia tools developed by National Geographic that allow you to understand the river in a new way, sharing your discoveries and opinions along the way!

Envision the James meetings will be fun, informal, and interactive. We are looking forward to introducing the project and getting to know everyone who loves the James and is invested in its future. Whether or not you can make it to the meetings, visit http://www.envisionthejames.org/ and sign up to get updates on the project and learn about National Geographic Maps tools as they are launched. Check out the calendar for a meeting that works for you, and we’ll be seeing you soon!

Now Available in White!

By Nick Kotula, JRA Guest Contributor

Kayak goes in the water. You go in the kayak. Bird’s in the water. Our bird. Sing a classic sailing song. “Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies”…

That’s right ladies and gentlemen; the James River is full of great whites! Great white egrets anyway. (Cancel the cello music.) While observing this week I spotted three of them hanging out in the interior of the island. I snapped this picture as one of them was heading back in from hunting.

The Great blue herons don’t seem to mind the visitors. They are continuing the process of building nests and doing what they do! There have been some reports of eggs, though I have yet to see anything personally. Of course, they are perched at least 20 feet up in trees on an island in the middle of the river, so I’m not really sure how I would know! Any advice on getting a look at the nests without being obtrusive (besides wading through the river and climbing a tree with a camera around my neck) would be appreciated!

Meawnhile, back with the ospreys…I found and reported a nest! After scouring near the 14th Street Bridge, I decided to head back to my car when out in the distance I noticed something. Using my handy dandy binoculars (Christmas presents, they rock!) I realized that I was looking at an osprey nest perched a top an electric transmission tower in the middle of the James! After doing some exploring, I found the perfect place to perch (pun intended) and managed to get a few good shots. The nest is very visible from the Manchester Bridge and its exact location has been uploaded to the OspreyWatch project.

Conservation-Reduce your overall waste

by Anna Salzberg, JRA's Outreach Intern

SPRING- It’s never too late to start composting

Composting is a term used in many circles concerned about living sustainably, but never really discussed in great detail. I, myself, am located in the James River watershed and always aspire to be more environmentally conscious in my daily life. However, I had a feeling that when it came time to start composting that I could end up with a really smelly mess that attracts urban wildlife. That’s not the desired result! Therefore, I want to share some easy ways to ensure that you start your composting this spring without disturbing neighborly relations.

1. Location, location, location

As with real estate decisions, the decision on where to locate your compost pile is essential to its success. You want your pile convenient, so you are not walking miles to your pile, as this will lower overall enthusiasm for the project. Do a bit of research concerning the laws or homeowner association regulations in your area to discover if there are any restrictions concerning location and management of compost. You want the location to have a good level foundation with good drainage and partial sunlight. Be sure to be respectful of any neighbors because, let’s face it, the pile won’t smell of roses. The solution is to plant roses all around your pile! Surround that compost pile with diverse plants and flowers, and this will decrease the amount of complaints or ugly looks you receive from neighbors.

2. Size matters

I recommend your first pile be in the area of 3’ x 3’ x 3’ or 5’ x 5’ x 5’ feet. One of the most important actions taken in managing your compost pile is being able to physically turn the pile. So unless you are Superman, keep your pile on the smaller, more manageable size. Use some type of simple containment walls around your pile to keep things neat. Consider recycling an old wooden pallet. They’re usually free.

3. Time to start layering

Layer #1 should be added to bare ground unless you have a problem with standing water or tree roots, and then you can put a layer of material down first. Dump your vegetable waste, sod, grass clippings, leaves, hay, straw, chopped corncobs, corn stalks, untreated sawdust, twigs less than ½ inch in diameter, or garden debris onto the pile and spread evenly -- don’t compact. Do not add pet waste to your pile! Layer #2 should be some composted cow manure or a commercial compost starter to increase the heat and speed up decomposition. If this is not available, add one cup of 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 commercial fertilizer per 25 square feet. If using a commercial compost starter, follow label directions. Layer #3 is some fresh garden soil or any top soil will work just fine. Be sure to add about 2 inches of soil.

4. Give your pile some TLC

Your pile needs heat to decompose faster (approximately 110°F), which is usually attained once the pile has had a chance to sit for 2 weeks. Once you start adding to your pile, make sure you keep turning the pile so you mix in the fresh material with the older. Turning adds air to the pile and allows you to add water. You want the pile to remain damp, but not dripping more than a few drops when squeezed. In the winter when the temperature is too cold to increase decomposition, you can winterize you compost pile by covering it with a tarp to help keep the temperature high.

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/building.html is an excellent resource for composting information.

With Apologies to Sir Mix-A-Lot

By Nick Kotula, JRA Guest Contributor

I like big birds, and I cannot lie. You other birders can’t deny. When a bird walks in with some itty bitty legs and a big beak on its face…

Seriously though, there are few things that can get me awake and at the James River by 6:30 in the morning. I hope the herons felt as privileged as they should have. (Though honestly, I don’t think they noticed.) The air was cold enough to make the river seem warm. Walking down the pipeline I made a game of finding the four-foot-tall gray birds in the gray fog.

As I was watching the heronry, I noticed three birds (there’s a Bob Marley song in there) with five-foot-long wingspans circling the island. The first thing I thought was that someone had found breakfast. Fortunately (for the herons at least), Pandion haliaetus eats a diet that consists almost exclusively of fish.

For those of you who skip the Taxonomy category on “Jeopardy,” Pandion haliaetus is better known as the Osprey. They join the ranks of oversized avians that frequent the Pipeline Rapids. Their large talons, sharp beaks, and super keen eyesight make them experts at finding and grabbing the shad and herring that have started up the river to spawn. The Osprey (Ospreys? Osprii?) that I saw swooping and diving were hunting for a different prey…sticks. (Again, who doesn’t love a good stick?) And where there are sticks, there’s bound to be a nest nearby. Drop a note in the comments if you have any suggestions on where to go hunting for this Osprey Loveshack, and I’ll do my best to bring you an exclusive look! We can also report our findings to Project OspreyWatch! (Thanks, Pat Calvert (follow him!) the James River Association’s Upper River Keeper, for the tip!)

As you can see, the river was raging this week. Although I did not need the sign to tell me not to, if the pipeline looks like this…don’t walk on it! Also, don’t run with pointed sticks, never dress up like a deer and go play in the woods during hunting season, and never, ever, talk to me at 6:30 in the morning when I’m on the James if you don’t see a cup of coffee in my hand.

Being a RiverRat Comes Naturally to Charlotte Boudreau

Newport News RiverRat, Charlotte Boudreau grew up close to the river where her family used to boat and water ski and picnic on the beach near Smithfield. It’s easy to see why volunteering to become a JRA RiverRat came so naturally to her. As she says, she has always been conservation minded. “I want to teach others how important it is to take care of our resources and help save the wildlife. Monitoring the river seems like a wonderful and enjoyable way to help.”

A retired school psychologist, Charlotte currently volunteers with the Newport News Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and the Living Museum. She also participates in some Hampton Roads Bird Club activities, like the annual bird count, and in the John Clayton Native Plant Society to promote the use of native plants. And, she still finds time to devote to her RiverRat patrols.

She monitors the Warwick River, a tributary of the James that begins near Fort Eustis and winds several miles down to the James. Most of her patrols are done by kayak since the narrow and safe river meets her comfort level, unlike the five mile wide stretch of the James where she lives. In describing the Warwick, she calls it a fairly pristine river because one side is residential with a wetlands and marsh buffer, while the other side is government-owned land that is used by the Army.

Her advice to any other nature lover to consider a volunteer opportunity: “I would encourage others to become a RiverRat because it is so important to take care of our resources for future generations to enjoy and because the James is such a special river.”

For more information on becoming a RiverRat visit our website.

Top 5 Spring Fling Ideas in the James River Watershed

by Anna Salzberg, JRA's Outreach Intern


1. It is time to cleanup that winter layer of trash! Please come participate in a James River Association trash pick-up. The first event will be held April 20th from 1pm-3pm at Belle Isle, Richmond. If you can’t make that date, then you are in luck with a second opportunity on May 19th from 10am-12pm at Horsepen Branch, Henrico County. Check out the James River event calendar for details, as registration is required. We hope to see you out there.

2. You have the opportunity to experience a truly unique ‘start of spring’ eco-paddling event with the James River Association and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as your guides in and around Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. There are wetlands, creeks, and the river to enjoy teeming with diverse wildlife and yes, our favorite bald eagles too. The event is planned for May 12th and this event is free, but registration is required. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity.  http://jamesriverassociation.org/news/calendar

3. Hike the James and do some wildlife viewing. Check out the link below to sweat a little bit, breathe some fresh air, and lay your eyes on your very own natural amusement park! There are many paths you can take depending on the challenge you are seeking, but the important thing is to get out near the river and appreciate what is already there for all ages to enjoy. http://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/JamesRiver/

4. You might not realize it, but Richmonders can travel a short way downriver to enjoy a tour of bald eagles from a very good friend and expert of the James River, Captain Mike Ostrander. On his Discovery Barge II, a comfortable 24-foot covered pontoon boat, you’ll experience majestic bald eagles closer than you may have ever seen them. Captain Mike will even provide binoculars so you can view this national symbol up close and personal. http://www.discoverthejames.com/

5. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is an amazing place filled with so many species of plants and flowers with roots from all over the world that it will blow your mind. The rose and Japanese gardens are truly unbelievable sites, and the Conservatory will dazzle you with the orchids on display from March 10-April 22. All are available for touring and there is even a hands-on area with a castle for the children to explore. Lewis Ginter is definitely a must-see this spring. http://www.lewisginter.org/

It’s What’s for Dinner

By Nick Kotula, JRA Guest Contributor

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are about six thousand words for you:

Oh wow, look at that heron standing in the river looking all majestic.  I wonder what he’s thinking.

Uh oh, he’s about to fly away.

Oh… wait…

Holy mackerel!  (Actually, I think that’s a shad.)

There’s no way he can eat all that…

The Great Blue Heron feeds mainly on small fish, about half the size of its bill.  Apparently, this one did not get that memo.  It was amazing (and a bit gross) to watch the fish flopping around inside the neck of the heron.  It is also not unheard of to find a heron that has choked on a fish that was too large.  Fortunately, I did not have to administer the Heimlich maneuver or give mouth to beak on this visit.