2014 Highlights

By Justin Doyle, JRA’s Outreach Manager

Despite the train derailment and oil spill in Lynchburg on April 30^th, 2014 was generally a good year for the James River. While reflecting on 2014 I decided to have some fun and highlight the more memorable moments from this past year.

Museum Exhibits

Three wonderful river-related exhibits opened in museums across the James River watershed this year:     

•  Experience The James: Lynchburg’s Pathway to the World opened at the Lynchburg Museum in June
•  “Working and Racing on The Bay: The Chesapeake Log Canoe,” curated by The Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, opened at Jamestown Settlement in September
• Richmond’s The Valentine reopened to the public in October after extensive renovations. The James River is featured in the museum’s permanent exhibit This is Richmond, Virginia.

New Public River Access Sites

New public river access sites opened on the James River in the Town of Glasgow, on the Jackson River in the Town of Clifton Forge, and on the Chickahominy River at the Grapevine Bridge in eastern Henrico County! The success of all three projects is attributed to strong community support and the collaborative work of many partners.

Terrain360 Virtual Tour of the James River

This virtual tour of the James River is the first of its kind. All 340+ miles of the river were captured by an array of six cameras attached to a raft that floated from the Town of Clifton Forge to the mouth of the James River at the Chesapeake Bay.

Richmond Riverfront Plan

JRA and its partners led another successful advocacy effort to ensure implementation of the Richmond Riverfront plan progressed in 2014. Nearly $10M has been appropriated to the implementation, specifically the construction of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, in recent years. The bridge will connect the north and south banks of the river and accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists. JRA publicly thanked Mayor Jones and City Council for their support of the plan at the James River Splash and Dash in July.

Our River at Risk

JRA launched an advocacy campaign titled “Our River at Risk” to protect the James River from toxic threats including rail transport, chemical storage, and coal ash storage ponds. To get involved in this campaign to protect the James River, join JRA’s Advocacy Network. Visit www.riveratrisk.org to learn more.

Restoring Habitat on Chapel Island

On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 volunteers braved the rain to help JRA remove invasive species and replant the understory on Chapel Island at Great Shiplock Park in Richmond. 

Thanks to the 22 volunteers that came out that day, piles of invasive plant species including Privet and Japanese Honeysuckle were removed from the island. This made room to plant nearly 300 native shrubs, grasses and perennial plants that provide habitat for wildlife and reduce stormwater runoff.

Some of the plants used in this project include Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate), Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). To find out more about native plants, visit www.jamesriverhero.org.

This project was inspired by the Envision the James' James River Wildlife and Landscape Conservation Initiative in partnership with the James River Park System, Chesapeake Conservancy, Capital Trees, Groundwork RVA and HandsOn Greater Richmond. It also compliments recent efforts to enhance Great Shiplock Park and Chapel Island. 

Thank you to the DuPont Clear into the Future grant for making this possible.

Another volunteer day is planned for Thursday, November 20, 2014. Join us on Chapel Island to help remove more invasive species and replant the understory with beautiful native plants. Register for the volunteer day here.

4th RiverRats Annual Raft-Up

By Amber Ellis, JRA Volunteer Coordinator

The 4th Annual RiverRats Raft-Up was held at the Natural Bridge Hotel in Natural Bridge on October 4-5, 2014. The weekend started with a talk on the Terrain 360 project on the James River by speakers Ryan Abrahamsen with Terrain 360 and Andy Thompson with Richmond Outside. The website is still being developed, but it’s going to be a great resource for river users.

RiverRats had the opportunity to choose from two advanced training options. The first option was “Planning and Planting a Riparian Buffer”, led by Amber Ellis, JRA’s Wastershed Associate and Rob Campbell, JRA’s Lynchburg Outreach Coordinator. Sediment continues to be an issue facing the health of the James River and hopefully our RiverRats are encouraged to take on buffer planting as their Action Projects.   

The second training option was focused on the emerging threats to the James River related to the train derailment and oil spill in Lynchburg in April 2014.  This training session was led by JRA’s Riverkeepers, Pat Calvert and Jamie Brunkow, and JRA’s Williamsburg Outreach Coordinator, Christiana Tambone.

After meeting and talking with other river lovers over lunch, the afternoon was spent paddling the James River from Buchanan to Arcadia! Some RiverRats brought their own boats, others went on kayaks provided by Twin River Outfitters. The fall colors had begun to show and the temperature definitely felt like fall!

That evening, four awards were given out to those RiverRats who have gone above and beyond their duties. The Upper James award went to Dale and Diane East, Middle James to Jennifer Styrsky, and Lower James to Jack Snell. Steve Forrest received an award for his overall commitment to helping the James River.

Some folks stayed the night in the cabins across the street from the hotel and got to enjoy a warm fire with local musicians Blake Shester, Burr Datz, and Chris McGrath. They call themselves The Fermenters.   

Sunday morning, everyone enjoyed a huge breakfast at the Natural Bridge Hotel. Then some of the braver folks went rafting from Glasgow to Snowden through Balcony Falls guided by Twin River Outfitters. The morning started off chilly, but everyone had an amazing time through this beautiful part of the James River.

 It was a great weekend to meet other RiverRats, explore what the upper James River has to offer, and learn a few things. The James River Association couldn’t do what it does without this hardworking and passionate group of RiverRats. All of them thanked JRA staff throughout the weekend for holding this event for them, but the bigger thanks goes to them for all they do for the James River! THANK YOU!

Help JRA do ‘Amazing’ things through Give Richmond’s Amazing Raise.

The Amazing Raise is a 36-hour giving campaign that takes place from 6 am, September 17 to 6 pm, September 18.  During this exciting 36-hour giving campaign more than 500 Richmond-area nonprofit organizations will collect donations and compete for the chance to win additional incentive prizes ranging from $500 to $15,000!  See complete list of prizes here.

Here’s how YOU can do something AMAZING for the James…

•  Starting on September 17 at 6 am visit JRA’s website www.jrava.org and use the form to donate. Or you can revisit this blog and donate below. 
• All donations must be made online by credit or debit card. Minimum donation is $25.
• Only gifts made through the donation form between 6 am on September 17 and 6 pm on September 18  count toward JRA’s The Amazing Raise total.
• You can make your gift in honor or memory of a loved one. And, you can track JRA’s progress on the real‐time leaderboard here.

What AMAZING things has JRA done this past year?

Here are just a few examples. Thanks to the support of people like you, JRA has…

• Helped build a new Chickahominy River access point.
• Served 2,403 students through our Education Program.
• Created the third artificial sturgeon spawning reef.
•          Trained over 40 new JRA volunteer RiverRats. JRA currently has over 180 RiverRats who patrol 85% of the main-stem of the James River.

Help JRA do more AMAZING things to protect America’s Founding River through your donation of $50 or more during the Amazing Raise, 6 am September 17 to 6 pm September 18! Go to www.jrava.org to donate and learn more about the Amazing James!

Stormwater Runoff Reduction in Petersburg

By Matthew Perry, JRA Intern

On July 22, JRA and the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) trained the City of Petersburg’s executive staff on the importance of stormwater management. The training focused on how the City’s departments could work together to limit its stormwater runoff and how they could foster a sense of environmental stewardship in its communities. From the head of the Municipal Golf Course to the Police Chief, everyone in the meeting room remained engaged and involved during presentations from both JRA and CWP.

This was the inaugural training of JRA’s Promoting Green Infrastructure program, which is designed to increase the understanding and facilitate the implementation of green stormwater projects. The program focuses on three urban areas within the James River watershed: Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and Petersburg. In each locality, JRA will work to increase stormwater knowledge, engage local citizens on stormwater issues, and establish a “Walkable Watershed” in a neighborhood. The walkable watersheds will connect a community to a nearby creek or stream, establish safe passage routes for pedestrians and cyclists to schools and community centers, and contain watershed improvements that help slow, infiltrate, and clean rain water. Not only will the neighborhood that hosts the walkable watershed reduce its stormwater impact, it will also benefit from the beautification and community-building that comes from making green space an important component of their area. This concept was introduced to all attendees at the meeting and was met with considerable approval.

Although the implementation process has not yet begun in Petersburg, this meeting marked a crucial step in the program: getting government officials educated and involved. Every official left the meeting with a new understanding of stormwater issues and how to address them. By establishing an environmentally-friendly mentality in Petersburg, JRA can ensure that all government departments will work together to make green infrastructure a reality in their city. Citizens and city officials both share the motivation for pollution reduction and both are ready to meet the challenge with assistance from JRA and CWP. 

Free Trees for Richmond City Residents

Do you live in the City of Richmond?  Are you interested in planting trees in your yard and becoming a River Hero Home?  If you answered yes to both of these questions JRA wants to give you free trees! 

During the fall planting season, JRA is offering free trees to Richmond City residents. You can receive up to a $200 reimbursement per home for trees planted on your property.

Trees are an important feature for any property because they reduce stormwater runoff and provide aesthetic value. Tree canopies capture and store rainfall and reduce soil erosion. They take up a large amount of water from the soil and provide important habitat for wildlife. Their shade can also help homeowners reduce the cost of cooling their home.

This tree incentive program is only open to City of Richmond residents and reimbursements are available September through November 2014. You must be an existing River Hero Home or submit an application to become a new River Hero Home to qualify.

River Hero Homes is JRA’s certification program that recognizes homeowners who are successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution leaving their property. To become certified, JRA requires homeowners to install a river-friendly practice, such as planting trees or installing a rain barrel, as well as following some simple everyday actions to reduce pollution. These actions, which include picking up after your pet or planting native plants, may seem small, but when adopted on a wide scale, can have a significant impact on local water quality.

Tree reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will be available until funding runs out. For more information about this program, and to find out if your property qualifies, go to www.jamesriverhero.org.  

Top 5 Overnight Paddles on the James River

by Amber Ellis, JRA's Watershed Restoration Associate/Volunteer Coordinator

Summer time is upon us and what better way to enjoy the long days then to go for an overnight weekend paddle trip! Below are a few that our JRA RiverRats and staff have recommended as their top picks. They are listed in order from the headwaters to the middle James.

Please remember to stay safe on the river, and check river level conditions before you head out: jrava.org/jrw/

1.     Iron Gate to Eagle Rock: This is a 14 mile trip that starts at the Iron Gate boat launch below Route 220, just a mile below the confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture River (aka the start of the James River!).  It’s a beautiful stretch that is surrounded by mountains, rocky bluffs, and contains Class I and II rapids. The first stretch from Iron Gate to Gala is 10 miles and camping is available at Gala River Front Campground. Day 2 is a 4 mile stretch, which has several of Class I rapids. The take out is at the DGIF Craig Creek access at Eagle Rock. To see pictures Click Here.

2.     Glen Maury Park to Snowden:  This roughly 15 mile trip starts in Buena Vista at Glen Maury Park. The put in is at the park on river right across the 10th St bridge. The paddle begins on the Maury River and ends on the James, winding through lush green mountains. It is for the more experienced paddler and goes through Class I, II, and III rapids including Balcony Falls. The camping area is just before Balcony Falls on river right and is on property owned by the National Forest Service. Many folks consider this the best camping spot on the James! Get a good rest and go through Balcony Falls on day 2. Take out is at Snowden on river left right after these Class III rapids.

3.     Bent Creek to Wingina:  This 14.5 mile trip is great for all levels of paddlers as it passes through easy Class I and II rapids. This section is filled with islands and you will see quite a bit of tubers as well. The put in is at Bent Creek at the Route 60 bridge with camping 7 miles downriver at James River State Park on river right. On day 2 head out and go another 7 miles to the take out at Wingina at the Route 56 bridge. Click here for a more detailed description.

4.     Howardsville to Bremo Bluff: This is a 25 mile stretch that could be broken into a smaller trip such as or Howardsville to Scottsville or Scottsville to Bremo, or any other combination. This stretch contains some Class I and II rapids. You can camp on either side of the river in Scottsville and enjoy a night walking through town. This is a favorite stretch by several of JRA’s RiverRats.  A local outfitter out of Scottsville, James River Reeling and Rafting, offers trips if this is your first overnight or if you don’t own a boat. Click Here for a more detailed description of the trip.

5.     Cartersville to Maidens: This is about a 17 mile stretch with the put in at the Cartersville boat landing. It’s a very easy stretch with flatwater and the characteristic rolling hills of the piedmont region. There are a few Class I riffles, but is a great option for beginners or fisherman. Camping is at Powhatan State Park at their new canoe-in campground.

If you are looking at some other options or more information, visit the links below.

Upper James Water Trail

JRA’s Guide to Overnight Float Trips on the James River

Canoeing in Virginia - James River

Students represent the James through Eco Art

Every year Megan Wright, an art teacher at St. Bridget’s School, puts on an art show to showcase her students’ work. This year’s theme was EcoArt and focused on the flora and fauna of the Richmond region. Projects included watercolors of birds native to Virginia and a forest made out of recycled paper. First graders at the school were tasked with creating Atlantic sturgeon using paints and pastels to swim through a representation of the James River.

Before the first graders could create their sturgeon, they needed to learn about these ancient giants. They watched JRA’s new documentary The Great Return of the Atlantic Sturgeon, and marveled at the size of these fish, learning about their prehistoric existence and their triumph as the “fish that saved Jamestown.” Most importantly, students learned that by keeping the James River clean, they can help protect the environment and bring back more sturgeon to Virginia. 

Even though weeks have passed since
their EcoArt showcase, Ms. Wright reports that her students are still fascinated by Atlantic sturgeon. They have taken it upon themselves to educate their families about this miraculous fish and about how they can help the James River. 

Education is at the heart of JRA’s mission and we couldn’t be more excited to learn about a new group of future river guardians!

To learn more about St. Bridget’s School’s EcoArt project, visit http://saintbridget.org/events/museum-of-very-fine-arts-2014/. 

JRA Brings River-Friendly Landscaping to Habitat for Humanity Project

Over the past several months, JRA has worked with the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity (RMHFH) to provide river-friendly landscaping to The Pillars at Oakmont in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood. This mixed-income community was completed last spring by RMHFH along North 33^rd Street between T and Kuhn Streets.

In February, JRA’s Watershed Restoration Team met with nine homeowners from the community to teach them how using native plants in landscaping creates a river-friendly yard that helps protect water quality. We worked with the homeowners to design landscapes for their yard that would not only meet the needs of their families, but also help the James River. 

GE volunteers gather before getting to work!

On Friday, May 9, an unusually hot Spring day, JRA was joined by representatives for RMHFH and 50 volunteers from GE for a work day at the Pillars to put the landscape plans into place Several local companies, including Yardworks, Luck Stone, Pete Rose Landscape Products, Glen Allen Nursery and New Line Hardscapes, provided assistance and/or in-kind donations for this project. Several members from the Central Virginia Landscape and Nursery Association (CVLNA) volunteered and taught volunteers the proper way to install plants. Members of the Old Dominion Chapter of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) came to lead volunteers in the installation of the patios.  

Mulching around our native Blueberry shrub!

Big thanks go to members Brad Swortzel from BWS Landscaping and Mike Hart from Homescapes Ltd for leading the patio install.

Teams of homeowners and GE volunteers worked together on the backyards to complete various landscaping tasks, such as installing paver patios, prepping garden beds and planting native trees and shrubs. Native plants are an important aspect of river-friendly landscaping because they are adapted to local soil, rainfall and temperature conditions. These traits allow them to grow with minimal use of water and fertilizer and help reduce stormwater runoff from your property.

Proud homeowners enjoying their new native landscape!

All nine homes at the Pillars at Oakmont will become certified River Hero Homes, which is a way to recognize these homeowners for successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution leaving their property. Anyone living in the James River watershed can become a certified River Hero Home. It is a simple way you can help protect the James River.

One of nine new native gardens at The Pillars

Thanks for coming to the James RiverFest

The James RiverFest is an eco-friendly artisan festival held at Eco Discovery Park in Williamsburg every April.

We would like to thank all of the vendors and participants that supported the festival this past weekend. The weather was beautiful and it was a great opportunity to meet lots of new friends. 

There were many different activities going on during the event.  JRA offered a trash cleanup opportunity on Longhill Road, which resulted in 9 bags of trash being removed from the area! Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours and Chesapeake Experience both offered free opportunities to get out on the water, and there were several area non-profits in attendance with great kid's activities. There was also live music from In Layman Terms, The UnXpected, and FRIENDS.

Thanks to our partner, Eco Discovery Park for hosting our event, as well as TowneBank for serving as Presenting Sponsor. Thanks also to Williamsburg Event Rentals, Middle Peninsula, Martin's and WY Daily who is the only daily newspaper in the Historic Triangle, Williamsburg Yorktown. They provide the latest local news to your inbox, every morning, for free! 

Our Business Council members, Dominion Due Dilligence, Smithfield, Stamie E. Lyttle Co, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Estes and Hardywood are also an integral part of all of our events. We would not have been able to have this event without support from our sponsors. 

Check out event photos on our Facebook page, and we hope you will be able to join us next year!

RiverRat Spotlight - John Mays

RiverRat John Mays manages to combines business with pleasure! As the owner of Twin River Outfitters, a paddlesport rental business on the Upper James, he is out on the river all the time!

John says he became a RiverRat “to help develop the river access points on the Upper James and to ensure that it is as clean and trash free as possible.” John knows that a clean river is both good for business and the environment. 

“I routinely patrol the section of the Upper James from Buchanan to Arcadia.  It’s a 6 mile section of water downstream of our store.  It has fun rapids, is very remote, and awesome Blueridge Mountain views.” Along the way he picks up litter. He says the best thing about being a RIverRats is getting to know other dedicated river folks.

To help more people get out on the river, Twin River Outfitters offers JRA members 10% off any rental, river trip or shuttle service (excluding retail merchandise.) If you’re in Buchanan Stop by and visit John and Twin River Outfitters at 653 Lowe Street or online atwww.canoevirginia.net.

Join us at the James RiverFest

JRA is looking forward to an exciting weekend! This Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. is the third annual James RiverFest at Eco Discovery Park. The festival will include water activities, a cleanup, fun and educational activities for children, food, live music, and a wide variety of  vendors and environmental booths. 

What’s going on during the event:

• We will be holding a trash cleanup from 9- 11 a.m. The cleanup will take place on Longhill road in between Lafayette High School and Warhill Indoor Sports Complex. For more information, and to register yourself or group contact Christiana Tambone at (757) 707-7580 or ctambone@jrava.org.

• Chesapeake Experience – will provide free opportunities for paddling on the water. They will be holding two paddling sessions, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. You must register at their booth during the event to participate.

• Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours - Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours will be offering free boat tours leaving the dock every hour starting at 10:30 a.m.

• Live Music - Layman Terms, The UnXpected, and FRIENDS will perform from noon to 3:00.

• Eco Discovery Park – Eco Discovery Park will have the Demonstration Garden and Bird Food Depot exhibits open for touring. The marina store will be open with bike and kayak rentals available. Do you geocache? Find our three geocache to earn the EDP path tag.

• JRA Kid’s Tent - JRA will have a tent to highlight our important work to protect the James River. Stop by our tent for fun and educational children’s activities. 

Representatives from these other local groups will be at the James RiverFest:

• Friends of Powhatan Creek Watershed

• Historic Rivers Chapter, VA Master Naturalists

• James City County Parks and Rec

• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

• James City County Stormwater Division

• National Science Teachers Association, College of William and Mary Student Chapter

• Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association

• US Coast Guard Flotilla 67

• Virginia Capital Trail Foundation 

• Williamsburg Bicyclists Area

• Williamsburg Land Conservancy

Stop by these booths to get handmade or environmentally friendly products:

• Day Three Bath & Body

• Dementi Books & Photography

• G.A.B.B.

• Glamorous Jewels, Designs by Emma

• Jan's Hands

• Julia's Crafts

• Mr. Rogers Windows

• N 2 Wood

• Native Creations

• Pine Wind Music

• Psychic Studio

• R3CYCL3D ART

• Richard Derrow

• Solartyme/Eshield of VA

• Wear Waliga

Admission to the festival is free. The purpose of the event is to showcase the James River for the community, build awareness and support for JRA and increase environmental stewardship in the Williamsburg community. For more information and directions visit www.jamesriverfest.org.

The results are in - JRA Poster Contest

The James River Association invited middle school students in the City of Richmond, City of Lynchburg, City of James City County, Henrico County and Chesterfield County that are situated within five miles of the James River to illustrate “What a Healthy River Means to Me”.  This year we had over 200 entries that depicted abundant wildlife, fish and river fun!

First Place:

 Michael Herman 
Teacher: Deborah Bodsford
 Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County

Second Place:

Savanna Woods 
Teacher: Deborah Bodsford
Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County

Third Place:

Grace Randall
Teacher: Donald Mugford
Tomahawk Creek Middle School, Chesterfield County

Fourth Place:

Grace Chun
Teacher: Michael Webb
Sandusky Middle School, City of Lynchburg

 Honorable Mentions: 

Muryum Yazdanpanah
Teacher: Deborah Bodsford
 Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County

Grace Larmee 
Teacher: Stephanie Perry
Albert Hill Middle School, City of Richmond

Aaron Vincent
 Teacher: Deborah Bodsford
Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County

Domonique Gordon 
Teacher: Leah Purvis
 Sandusky Middle School, City of Lynchburg

 Paige Grunden
Teacher: Deborah Bodsford
 Manchester Middle School, Chesterfield County

  

Megan Acheampong 
Teacher: Leah Purvis
Sandusky Middle School,  City of Lynchburg

JRA would like to congratulate the winners and thank all the students and teachers who showed us "What a Healthy River Means to Me"!

The poster contest was made possible through a generous donation by a long-time JRA member and James River Advocate.  Thank you so much for your continued support!