A Look at Clean Water and the Law

By Adrienne Kotula, JRA Policy Specialist

Water quality issues in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, such as the James, have been hotly debated. Due to the recent effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give Chesapeake Bay states an effective framework to make real progress toward healthy waters for the future, a significant backlash has sprung up. This backlash includes a lawsuit challenging the cleanup, which is poised to go before a judge next week. So I thought this would be a good time to point out a few principles and facts to support cleaning up the James and the Bay watershed.

1. Virginia’s constitution states: “It shall be the Commonwealth’s policy to protect its atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment, and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.” (Article XI, Section 1).

Enshrined in our Commonwealth’s constitution is the principle that I can’t pollute and destroy a resource that you also use. That would be a form of theft. This democratic principle isn’t something the Environmental Protection Agency invented; it came from the people and leaders of our state.

2. The status quo isn’t working, and the Bay clean-up that has been underway for 25 years has not achieved a healthy Bay ecosystem. When the status quo isn’t working, something needs to change. The EPA worked with extensive monitoring data, peer-reviewed science, and state-of-the-art models in an attempt to address this need for change. Then, after a period of public comment and negotiating with state governments, the EPA refined the goals for cleaning up each waterway. Virginia developed its own plan with input from stakeholders and Virginia officials will be the ones responsible for making sure that the costs of meeting these goals are spread fairly among all affected economic sectors and geographic areas.

3. The goals for pollution reduction are attainable. No one is trying to eliminate all pollution from our rivers. Scientists, business leaders, and government officials can all agree that some pollution is an inevitable side-effect of economic activity, and that we need to have a healthy economy alongside a healthy environment. That’s why the new targets for reducing pollution in the James River allow for 23.21 million lbs. of nitrogen, 2.94 million lbs. of phosphorous, and 966 million lbs. of sediment pollution each year.

Before you let anyone tell you that the James River will be getting “too clean,” reflect on these numbers. That’s how much pollution is allowed under the new EPA goals. That’s how much pollution we can reasonably expect this river to take and still be healthy enough for wildlife and humans to use and enjoy. 

The Amazing Raise

Today marks the first day of The Amazing Raise - a fast-paced 36-hour online giving challenge hosted by The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia.  You can help the James River Association win one of the many incentive prizes to support its efforts for a cleaner James River!

Here's how you can help: Donate $50 to JRA through Give Richmond.  Combine your gift with others and make a huge impact.  Spread the word to your friends and family and help us reach our goal!  Be one of the first 50 donors who give $50 or more and receive a one-year membership to JRA!

Or go to the GiveRichmond.org website and search for the James River Association to make your donation.

Meet JRA RiverRat Steve Forrest

Steve Forrest, a 58 year old RiverRat from Powhatan County, is self-employed in the advertising and marketing biz when he’s not in his canoe. Here’s his story about his relationship with the James River:

Nobody went to the James River when I was a kid. It wasn’t until I was in college at VCU and the early days of the James River Park System that I went down to the river.  Then, it was a cool place to hike, rock-hop and swim. One day, I took a fishing pole with me and things just snowballed from there. I’d rather fish for Smallmouth bass on the James River than just about anything else. Unless it’s fly-fishing for shad below the fall line during the spawning run.

I patrol the seven mile section of the James between Cartersville in Cumberland County and Belmead in Powhatan County. It’s a predominantly flat stretch that is ideal for beginner paddlers or anyone looking for some relaxing river time. (Take out at Westview for a quick 5 mile paddle.) I chose this stretch because it’s close to where I live and I want to get to know it better. I paddle a solo canoe on most patrols. If it’s windy, I’ll take the kayak.

Becoming a RiverRat was a no-brainer for me. I figured that since I’m out on the river so much anyway, I might as well help the folks at JRA. While working the JRA booth at the Banff Film Festival and helping out at JRA’s James RiverFest this year, I really enjoyed sharing what knowledge I have with people who genuinely want to know more about the river. I learn some things, too, which is a bonus. 

Anyone with an interest in the James River should become a RiverRat. For river veterans and those who are just becoming interested and passionate about the James, the program is a great way to get more involved, share and learn from JRA staff and fellow RiverRats. You get a nice hat, too.

Learn more about the RiverRat program at www.jrava.org/get-involved/volunteer/riverrats