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!

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

One Student’s Journey Down The James

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel down the James for 8 days straight?

Zach Perkins, a rising senior at the Clover Hill Math and Science High School wrote a first-hand account of his journey on the middle James with the James River Expeditions which can be seen in the Midlothian Exchange.

“No electricity, no air conditioning, no showers.

These were the conditions that nine fellow students, five adult leaders and I had to experience for eight days. But, you will not hear any complaints from this group! Rather, all we have to share are stories that will last us a lifetime.

In mid-July, a group of 10 students and five adults set off on an expedition down the Middle James River. Sponsored by Dominion Power and the James River Association (JRA), we spent eight days canoeing, camping, and experiencing the beauty of the James River.”

Read the full story here…

http://www.timesdispatch.com/midlothianexchange/county-news/education/student-recounts-unique-james-river-trip/article_f87bd6de-10c2-11e3-bf11-001a4bcf6878.html

The James River Expedition Experience

By Kyle Burnette, JRA Field Educator

Amazing, awesome, unforgettable, life-changing were all words that were used by students and staff alike after each successful completion of this year’s 2013 James River Expeditions. It seems like just yesterday the staff here at the James River Association were pulling out gear from our storage locker in preparation for the beginning of this year’s Expedition. Then, in a flash it seems, exactly six weeks to the day, we had completed 290 miles of The James River with thirty High School students from seven different high schools all located within the James River watershed.

This was the third summer that JRA has conducted the James River Expeditions, along with the generous contributions and support of the Dominion Foundation. The James River Expeditions make it possible for high school students within the James River watershed to take part in an eight-day canoe paddle and camping trip down one of the three sections of the James River. These expeditions immerse students in the rich natural history, ecology and environmental issues facing the greatest natural resource for the state of Virginia.

  

This year’s Expedition started on Saturday June 22 in Iron Gate. This is the area where the river begins, with the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers coming together to form the headwaters of the mighty James River. The Expedition on section of the James, known as “The Upper,” consisted of a total of ten high school students from Hopewell High School, Jamestown High School and Hickory High School with a teacher from each school accompanying the students. Each section of the Expedition is also led by four James River Association educators. The “Upper James River Expedition” team or UJRE for short, spent the next eight days paddling the narrow waterways of Albemarle and Botetourt County. Finally, concluding their journey eight days later on the famous Class III section of whitewater known as Balcony Falls.

The next team of “Middle James” Expeditioners was supposed to begin their journey on Saturday, July 13 in Lynchburg. With all of the water that the state has experienced over the spring and early summer months water levels were too high to put on the river in this section. We decided on a backup plan of giving the students from Monocan and Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County a chance to see where the James River begins farther upstream. After a few days of allowing for water levels to get back down to a safe level, we were back on schedule by Monday and paddled from just downstream of Lynchburg all the way to Cartersville.

The final leg of this year’s Expedition team began their paddle in Richmond on Saturday, July 27 with a rafting trip of the technical fall line in the heart of Richmond, courtesy of Riverside Outfitters. The final stretch known as the “Lower Section” traveled from Richmond all the way down to where the James River feeds into the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton. There were three high schools represented on the Lower James Expedition all coming from different areas of the state.  This included students from James River High School in Botetourt County, Highland Springs High School in Henrico County and Woodside High School in Newport News. This team completed their paddle on Saturday, August 3 at Fort Monroe in the Chesapeake Bay. With this accomplishment, this team wrapped up this year’s James River Expedition and are now part of a group of thirty high school students from seven high schools from all across the state that can say they have paddled the entire James River from the very start at the headwaters to the very end at the Chesapeake Bay.

The experiences, knowledge and leadership skills each of these thirty students took away from this year’s Expedition will have long lasting positive effects. The stories of each Expedition team can be found on JRA’s Facebook and Twitter pages and the James River Association website. I highly encourage you to take a look back at the experiences of these students and hopefully this will encourage you to become a steward of this incredible natural resource, the James River.    

Upper James River Expedition Photos

James River Expedition, a set by chsenvisci on Flickr.

Check out this beautiful set of photos of the Upper James Expedition by teacher participant Rick Wellbeloved-Stone from Charlottesville High School. Thanks Rick!

Be safe this Fourth of July

We are concerned any time that raw sewage goes into the river.  We understand that a rare storm hit Lynchburg and knocked out primary and back-up sewer systems.  JRA is monitoring the situation  encourages everyone to take precautions in using the river until we are certain that everything is back to healthy levels.  

When people do choose to swim in the James River, there are a number of things they can do to limit any risk:

*Don’t enter the water for several days after a significant rainstorm. Storm flows spike bacteria levels, which decrease after several days.

*Don’t swallow water.

*Don’t enter the water if you have cuts or open sores. These are pathways for bacteria to enter your body.

*Wash after swimming.     
  
*People with immuno-suppressive diseases, or generally poor health should avoid contact with the river.

Paddle at Presquile

First Paddle at Presquile, September 25, 2011; An early fall excursion with a group of 11 Richmonders of all ages

By Gabe Silver, JRA's Environmental Educator,  Photography courtesy of Patrick Wamsley

Expecting a September rain shower to descend on us at any moment, we embark across the lower James River near Hopewell by pontoon boat to explore Presquile National Wildlife Refuge in a new way. Under an overcast sky, we motor slowly, pushed along by a strong incoming tide, spotting great blue heron, great white egret, double-breasted cormorant, and bald eagle. We are hoping to see the rare, jolting surprise of the lower James in spring and fall - the Atlantic sturgeon leaping out of the water - but the river surface yields only the ripples of the light breeze.

Arriving at the island, we set off hiking across the upland fields and towards the recently constructed wetland walkway. The goldenrod is blooming, blanketing the wide vistas of old field habitat in yellow. Looking closer at this feast for the eyes, we spot beautiful monarch butterflies making a more literal feast of the pervasive blossom.

Moving from the upland field into the hardwood tidal swamp, we shift worlds. The pulsing call of insects surrounds us while we walk under the canopy of wetland forest. On either side of the boardwalk, dozens of species of plants like arrow arum, pickerelweed and wild rice make up a fall abundance of foliage, flowers and seeds. After a quick break, we launch canoes onto the narrow creek and weave our way towards the river. Finding passage around trees brought down by Hurricane Irene, we paddle down the meandering creek against the faintest hint of an incoming tide.

Soon we are in for a real treat. A barred owl sits just off the creek, perhaps waiting for a noonday meal to come scampering through the swamp. The owl’s camouflage is very good, and despite its size and proximity, it takes some time before the whole party sets eyes on the bird.

Saying goodbye to the owl, we find our way to the mouth of the creek. Back to the broad river, we explore the shoreline and raft the canoes together for a lunch adjacent to a marsh. A leisurely canoe-based meal is always nice, and our dining room can’t be beat, surrounded by wildflowers and water.

Soon it is time to return up the creek, stow the canoes, and hike back to the boat. A canoe full of spiders descending from an overhanging branch into the errant boat of two young fellows doesn’t stop us, and soon we are back on solid ground. We have paddled about 3 miles and hiked for 2 by the time we are back aboard the pontoon boat. The James has one last treat for us, as we watch a mature bald eagle chase a juvenile eagle across the river minutes before we hit the beach and our day is ended.