2016 River Monitoring Program Launches Memorial Day Weekend

Jamie Brunkow, Lower James Riverkeeper

How’s the river doing?It’s a question James River Association staff receive all the time. The answer is not always clear for the average person. But as the weather warms and more people are outside enjoying the river, it’s important that communities understand how to stay safe on the water.

One rule of thumb can help tremendously – don’t swim after a rain. E. coli bacteria is a common pollutant that people may encounter in the river after rainstorms. Whether it’s from humans, pets, or farms – stormwater runoff carries fecal waste into our waterways and can pose a significant risk to recreational river users. Higher levels of E. Coli mean a higher presence of pathogens that can make people sick.

Enter the James River Watch.

JRA launched the James River Watch online platform to help update the public with the latest water quality conditions. E. Coli bacteria data is posted each Friday to reveal whether conditions meet state standards for recreational contact. And the website pulls in real time data from multiple sources, presenting when water levels are too high or too low for paddling or swimming. The James River Watch is an easy way to track river conditions and to be safe when planning your river trips.

Visit www.jamesriverwatch.org to view the latest information, or download the SwimGuide app.

Getting Involved.

More than 90 volunteers were trained and certified this year to lead water testing at 26 locations across the watershed. Volunteers are collecting invaluable data to help inform the public about the risks associated with bacteria pollution. In addition to tracking this information, we need your help to tackle the immense challenge of stormwater runoff pollution. There are plenty of small steps citizens can take to reduce pollution – you can commit to planting trees and vegetation at home that will soak up stormwater, or installing a rain barrel, or picking up pet waste. Many in communities along the James River have already made these kinds of commitments as a part of JRA’s River Hero program. These small steps do make a difference.

Be safe this Memorial Day weekend, and see you on the river.

Volunteering for the James

We love our RiverRat volunteers! They act as the James River’s first line of citizen defense by assisting our Riverkeepers as the eyes and ears of the river and its tributaries. RiverRats come from all over the watershed, are all ages and have many different backgrounds. You don’t need to be a scientist or skilled paddler to become a RiverRat.

Meet our June Volunteer of the Month, Beth Butner. She is a retired Chesterfield County middle school educator. While she has lived in Chesterfield for over 40 years, she was born and raised in Isle of Wight County near Smithfield. She still co-owns her family farm with her sister, and she and her husband also are lucky enough to own a weekend home on the James in the Day’s Point area outside of Smithfield. 

Isle of Wight was one of the original English land shires in Virginia and Beth’s ancestors were some of its first settlers. She has a strong appreciation for history and loves to sit on her dock reading up on Virginia’s history and imaging ships passing by on the James.

Beth and her husband have been James River Association members for over 25 years because of their deep connection with the river. Their home provides them a front row seat to Virginia’s history and beauty and they consider themselves cheerleaders for cities and counties that emphasize and celebrate our flowing treasure.

Beth also shares her love for the James with her son. They are both Lower James RiverRats who patrol between the Pagan River and Burwell’s Bay. Beth feels it is “the least we can do…to be good stewards of a small but valuable part of this natural treasure.”

Recently, she was walking in the Morgart’s Beach area near their home and she found a dead, untagged sturgeon in the grass. She was in awe of the prehistoric specimen and saddened that it had met its demise. Unable to determine the cause of death, she assumed it had washed ashore and vultures had moved it to a grassy area. Beth called the James River Association to report this unfortunate discovery.

Protecting and preserving the river is incredibly important to Beth. She couldn’t be more proud to call the James River watershed her home. “I feel the James River is the lifeblood of Virginia as it flows through her with such vibrancy and provides so many opportunities for her inhabitants to live, work, enjoy and prosper,” said Beth. “I am proud to be a Virginian who can enjoy and be blessed by the mighty James!”

Are you interested in volunteering for the James? If so, contact Ben Hawkins, Volunteer Coordinator, at bhawkins@jrava.org or (804) 788-8811, ext. 204.

Volunteering for the James

James River Association volunteers come in all shapes and sizes. They live all over the watershed, have many different skills and can be any age.

Meet our May Volunteer of the Month, Linus. He’s 12 years old student at Tuckahoe Middle School who lives in Lakeside, VA. Linus loves the James River and goes kayaking almost every week in the summer, so he understands the importance of keeping the river beautiful and clean. At school, he is involved with Service as Action, so of course he chose to volunteer for the James River!

When it comes to volunteering with the James River Association, Linus has done his fair share. He has picked up trash at numerous locations along the river, including along Upham Brook and Horsepen Branch, and at Ancarrow’s Landing and Texas Beach. All sorts of items were discovered during his cleanups, including toddler Nike Air Jordans!

His most memorable volunteer experience came when he chose to mark stormdrains with educational markers that remind citizens to put “only rain down the drain.” Linus had to pick up the stormdrain markers from the Department of Public Utilities, which meant navigating through Richmond’s City Hall. He affixed the markers to stormdrains in Carytown and even got his little brother Zane to help him.

When asked why he would encourage others to volunteer, Linus said “it’s really fun and you’re doing something good for your river. My uncle says you should know your river, but I say respect your river.”

Are you interested in volunteering for the James? If so, contact Ben Hawkins, Volunteer Coordinator, at bhawkins@jrava.org or (804) 788-8811, ext. 204.

2015 was a huge success!

The James River had a great year in 2015. For the first time in decades, the river’s health received a grade of B- in the State of the James report.

We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the help of our incredible volunteers. Thank you for your hard work and dedication last year. We look forward to making 2016 the best year yet!

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ben Hawkins at bhawkins@jrava.org.

Thank You

On this Thanksgiving, the James River Association wants to express our gratitude to all of our members and supporters. We couldn’t carry out our mission to protect and restore the health of the James River without…

• Our volunteers throughout Virginia who generously donate their time to help better the watershed. This past year you have helped plant over 1,700 trees and collect over 15,000 pounds of trash.
• RiverRats who patrol over 800 miles of the James and its tributaries. These dedicated volunteers keep watch over the river and complete action projects that better their communities and the health of their waterways.
• The members of our Action Network who make their opinions heard and strengthen our voice, the voice for the river. And the River Hero Homes who proudly take action to reduce pollution at home.
  
• Our members who help provide education programs for students at the James River Ecology School, who support our events celebrating the river, and who helped us reach a score of B- in the 2015 State of the James report. 

Your dedication to the James has strengthened this organization. We couldn’t do the work we do without people like you.

As we look back on 2015, we are proud of the accomplishments and the progress we have made over the past year. The James River Association thanks you. And more importantly, the river thanks you.

Volunteering for the James

We love our RiverRat volunteers! They act as the James River’s first line of citizen defense by assisting our Riverkeepers as the eyes and ears of the river and its tributaries. RiverRats come from all over the watershed, are all ages and have many different backgrounds. You don’t need to be a scientist or skilled paddler to become a RiverRat.

Meet Fred Kelly and Will Maddox, Lower James RiverRats. Fred is a retired mental health professional who currently lives in Dinwiddie County. His family has owned a cabin on the James River for five generations. This is where his father taught him to paddle and introduced him to the joys of being on the river. However, it was at that time a river in trouble. In those days the James was a dumping ground and it was not uncommon to find the shore lined with dead fish due to this pollution. There were fewer ducks, geese, osprey and virtually no eagles.

Thanks to the Clean Water Act and the efforts of local organizations like the James River Association, the river and its wildlife have bounced back. It is once again a place for recreation and creating memories. Fred shares his experiences on the James with his grandson Will. Fred says “Becoming a River Rat has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of being on the river by allowing me to become a protector of it as well. I only wish that I could have been doing this since I began paddling in the mid 1950s. I am especially pleased that my 15 year old grandson, Will, who took the River Rat training with me, will be in place to continue monitoring the river that he has grown to love long after I am no longer able to do so. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoys being on the river to get the training for becoming a River Rat. This is an opportunity that has been a long time coming. Don't miss it. Your river needs you.”

Here is what Fred had to say about his first RiverRat patrol with his grandson this past October:

Will and I have been paddling the James all of our lives and feel a need to preserve and protect this beautiful river. So when we heard about the River Rat program we were excited to get involved.

On October 23^rd, we went on our first official River Rat patrol with the mission of shore clean-up. Hurricane Joaquin had produced flooding which carried lots of plastic, glass and other debris onto the shoreline. Our goal was to begin dealing with this problem by cleaning the shore on Tar Bay, part of our designated patrol area. After gathering and bagging trash from about 100 yards of shoreline, we headed out in our boat to collect a very large piece of debris that a previous storm had deposited on a tree nearby. It had been an eye-sore for months and we had talked about removing it all summer. This was the day. How good it was to see that pink, plastic car in our boat rather than on that tree! 

Next, we decided to make a run around Coggins Point and up Powells Creek to check out its status after the hurricane. Powells Creek is beautiful any time of year with its mixture of hardwoods and marsh but this day was exceptional. We motored up about a mile or more into an area where few people venture and stopped to take pictures. The first thing Will spotted as he stepped out of the boat was a very lively crayfish. He had learned earlier this year while on a James River Expedition that crayfish are a good indicator of pollution-free water. So we are happy to report the good water conditions in that part of the creek. We also found no trash to clean up. How lucky we are to have such a pristine area to enjoy, and now, to help watch over.

Assisting the RiverKeepers on the James makes a recreational outing on the river very gratifying. It lets us give back to the river that has always given us so much pleasure.

Need another excuse to get out on the water? Want to make a difference while enjoying your time outdoors? Email Ben Hawkins at bhawkins@jrava.org to learn more about the RiverRats program or other volunteer opportunities. 

James RiverRats Raft-Up

During the weekend of October 17^th thirty of our most dedicated volunteers, our River Rats, met for the 5th annual RiverRats Raft-Up. This year’s Raft-Up was held in Scottsville, VA at the James River Inn on a 300-foot bluff overlooking the James and the vast watershed that RiverRats have been patrolling and protecting since 2011.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Milov professor of History at the University of Virginia, kicked off the day with an inspiring talk about the power of grassroots activism, specifically drawing parallels between the non-smoker campaign for clean public air and our fight for a pristine natural resource and clean drinking water. Next, during a two-hour workshop on Patrols and Action Project planning, James River Association staff and RiverRats worked to calibrate our efforts and define strategies which will be implemented over the next year.

Two major strategies, and several minor adjustments, will be immediately undertaken. First, data from patrols, of which there are approximately 20 per month, will be more consistently reported, publicly and to other RiverRats, via monthly email updates and an interactive GoogleMap. Secondly, we will work to leverage existing technologies to streamline reporting and to expand patrols. We are working to utilize a GPS-enabled smartphone app called WaterReporter and we are considering the development of online RiverRat trainings to accommodate conservationists who may not be able to attend one of our four trainings held throughout the watershed each year.

After the strategy session, it was time to enjoy our world-class natural resource by paddling the Mighty James, award our outstanding RiverRats of the year, and finally to relax to the soothing, mountain sounds of the Rockfish Gap Band.

If you are interested in becoming a River Rat to keep watch over the James, the Raft-Up is one of many perks. You also have an opportunity to spend time paddling and protecting the river you love. Consider attending one of our upcoming trainings. If you are already a River Rat, we sincerely thank you for your commitment to protecting the James River now and for future generations. 

Volunteering for the James

James River Association volunteers come in all shapes and sizes. They live all over the watershed, have many different skills and can be any age.

Meet our October Volunteer of the Month, Kiersten Hines. She’s a 13 year old Richmonder who has a passion for learning new things, playing the saxophone, volunteering and of course spending time on the James. She likes to hike the trails along the river with her dogs and go swimming with her family. Kiersten took on a research project related to the Our River at Risk advocacy campaign. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

My task was to research and inventory all of the Surface Water Discharges in the James River from 1988 to 2003 using data from the Environmental Protection Agency. I chose to volunteer because I think that the environment has provided us with so much – like food, shelter and peace – so it is only fair to give back. Saving the James is a cause I believe in, and I’m not surprised that so many other people do too.

I would encourage other people to volunteer because there is nothing more rewarding than putting time and effort into a cause you care deeply for. You could climb the highest mountain or swim the deepest sea and still not feel the happiness that you could experience working with your community to make this giant mass of dirt, water, minerals and organisms a more enjoyable place to live.

Everyone should give volunteering a chance!

Are you interested in volunteering for the James? There are all sorts of opportunities for you to get involved from planting trees, to research projects, to event volunteers and more. Sign up here to get involved today! 

Education and Conservation are Key for this Lynchburg River Hero Home

David Stokes showing off vegetables from his
garden in front of a wall of climbing spinach

David Stokes lives in Lynchburg, Virginia a few miles from the James River with his wife Gail. He has certified his home as a River Hero Home and believes in helping educate the public on the importance of native plants and water conservation.

Even though David is retired, he is a very busy man! He is a certified Master Gardener and he volunteers much of his time educating the community about the importance of plants. Through the Master Gardener program, he works with DePaul Family Services to maintain a flower and vegetable garden to teach the importance of growing your own food and eating healthy. David also spends time at the Lynchburg Juvenile Detention Center where he works with teenagers planting a vegetable garden to grow produce for their meals. He is also president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 196, a member of the American Legion and on the Commanders Board at the Salem Veterans Administration.

Becoming a River Hero Home was a no brainer for David. He has seen changes, both good and bad, to the river over his lifetime and has spent many years enjoying the James. Since he has been recycling for over 45 years and his home is on well water, it seemed only natural to recycle his rain water too. The Stokes’ have rain barrels, rain cubes and a drip irrigation system installed at their home. He uses the water he collects to water his native plants and trees.

Rain cubes collect runoff from your roof when it rains.

And he sure does he have his system figured out! With a beautifully landscaped lawn full of native plants, as well as a vegetable garden, David needs quite a bit of water. With his current setup, a half an inch of rainfall allows him to collect over 900 gallons of free water!

David says it is important to practice what you preach. If you believe in conservation, then setting up a rain collection system is a great way to do your part to conserve water.  Using this water to help your native plants thrive also provides habitat for wildlife and improves water quality in the James River. 

Richmond River Condition Information – Brought to You by Dedicated Volunteers

By: Conor O’Donnell, Water Quality Intern for James River Association

The James River Association is now in its final week of water quality testing for the 2015 summer.  From the end of May to the beginning of September, the peak time for river recreation, volunteers have spent their Thursday and Friday mornings collecting and testing water at seven different sites in Richmond along the James River – Huguenot Flatwater, Pony Pasture, 42^nd Street Rocks, Reedy Creek, Tredegar Flatwater, 14^th Street Take-Out, and Rocket’s Landing. Volunteers tested these sites for E. coli bacteria, a standard test in determining whether a water source is safe for recreation. Sources of E. coli bacteria in the river include waste from wildlife, dogs, and livestock. Waste from Richmond's sewer system occasionally overflows into the James near downtown during heavy rains, acting as another source of E. coli. When we talk about whether the river is clean or dirty, the amount of E. coli in the water is one of our most useful indicators. 

In measuring for E. coli, our volunteers not only sought to maintain a health record of the James, but also to answer the question that is asked by many river-goers each day:  is this water safe to swim in?  The answer to that question is a resounding yes, with a big "unless...". The pattern that we’ve observed in our testing, is that the river is a very clean and safe place to swim, unless... it is raining or has rained in the past two days. E. coli levels spike during both small and large storms when rainwater washes E. coli into the river from sources such as animal waste and city sewage. Over the course of a few days, this pollution makes its way downstream and the level of E. coli bacteria in our section of the river decreases. This does mean, however, that the pollution that entered the river near us will negatively affect river-goers downstream of us, just as the waste of livestock above the Richmond area directly affects us when it rains upstream. That means that in working towards a clean and healthy James River, our actions and achievements must be the sum of many parts, not just a few - our efforts must stretch through the whole course of James, all 340 miles as well as its tributaries.

In an effort to make public all of our collected data, the James River Association developed the James River Watch, a website that details testing results not only from our seven testing sites in Richmond, but also from other testing sites all along the course of the James and even some of its tributaries. The website is updated each week with new data, and will show you a 'green light' if it is currently safe to swim, or a 'red light' if it is not. It is a great resource to check before going out to the river, whether you're swimming, boating, or fishing.

Our volunteers' efforts this summer are just one example of the many ways in which active citizens have involved themselves in the collaborative effort to protect, care for, and clean up our river. We would like to extend a personal thank you to both our volunteers and to all other organizations and active citizens that have dedicated their time to help make our river the special place that it is. Thank you!

Visit James River Watch to learn more about river condition: jrava.org/jrw

Volunteering for the James

At the James River Association, we love our volunteers. People just like you give their precious time to help us create a cleaner, healthier watershed. Meet Ivy McCarron who works for Lynchburg’s YMCA. Ivy and her colleagues participated in our Self-Directed Trash Cleanup program. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

When we were offered the chance to volunteer for community projects, I have to say that there is nothing anything else that we would rather be doing as the YMCA of Central Virginia Young Professionals Group.  As working professionals within the YMCA, we are naturally interested in wellness.  On our time off from being busy directors and coordinators, we really enjoy running and biking on the Black Water Creek Trail. 

The James River runs along the Black Water Creek Trail right through Lynchburg’s downtown near the location of our Downtown Branch.  When one of our members recommended doing a river cleanup, we jumped at the opportunity!  Our YMCA group had a total of 13 volunteers ranging from 22 to 35 years of age.  We spent about four hours cleaning the trail, resulting in five bags of trash gathered; including an old car tire. That day we also ran into a group of our YMCA Summer Camp kids who were on a nature walk.  We walked and sang camp songs with them along the way! 

Volunteering for our community is always fun and rewarding for us, but the James River cleanup was unique not only because it cleaned up somewhere we all enjoy on our time off, but we had yet another opportunity to share with the next generation the benefits of service to our community.

Are you interested in cleaning up the James? If so, register for the 16^th Annual James River Regional Cleanup on Saturday 9/12. There are 14 locations throughout the watershed, so where ever you live, you can jump in and help out!

Volunteering for the James

Andrew Phillips is a 27 year old salesman and a resident of Richmond. He volunteered in July for the Richmond James River Splash & Dash to help out with this fun event and to interact with other people who also share a passion for the river. When he’s not volunteering, Andrew enjoys kayaking, fishing and trail running. When asked why he would encourage others to volunteer, Andrew says it is a great way to meet new people, swap river stories and do something to impact society in a positive way.

Here’s what Andrew had to say about his experience at the James River Splash & Dash:

Volunteering for the Richmond James River Splash & Dash started around 11:00 am for me. Unsure of where to go or who to help, I was quickly approached by another fellow volunteer who asked, “Can you help carry this water jug to the truck?” At that moment it was on. From unloading the stage for the band to helping set up advertisement signs, I felt like I had a significant impact on the preparation for the event. When asked to be the lead for the beer truck, my heart skipped a beat. I have always wondered what it was like to be on the “other side” of the table, and let me tell you, it was a treat! Explaining to fellow volunteers the procedure and system we had in place for the beer truck was empowering. As runners finished their race, my team was instrumental in rewarding them with a tasty libation to fill their gullet.

Volunteering is addicting.

Are you interested in volunteering? If so, visit our volunteer center to learn more!

Restoring Historic Riverfront in Powhatan

Some of the many volunteers who gave their time to this project

Through a Virginia Department of Forestry grant, the James River Association (JRA) partnered with the Chesapeake Conservancy and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to enhance and restore the riverfront along the James River at St. Francis/St. Emma, also known as Historic Belmead, in Powhatan, VA. 

Belmead was originally built as a plantation home along the banks of the James River. In the late 1800s, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament transformed the property into two private schools for African American and Native American students. Unfortunately, financial setbacks caused the schools to close in the 1970s and most of the historic buildings to be demolished. In 2011, this historic 2,265-acre property was listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Doug Audley from the Department of Forestry

 shows volunteers how to properly plant a tree seedling 

JRA and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation both hold a conservation easement on 1,000 acres of land along the riverbank and throughout the years have worked closely with the Sisters to protect and enhance this historic property’s riverfront.

Over the course of five workdays this spring, 89 volunteers spent 342 hours of their time planting 1,500 native Virginia trees along a half-mile of James River-front. Plantings along the banks of waterways (riparian buffers) are important for three major reasons. First, they filter runoff that could include sediment and excess nutrients that flow off the land. Second, they provide wildlife habitat along the river corridor. And lastly, they reduce erosion by holding the soil along the banks in place. Even if your home does not border a waterway, 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.

Planting 1,500 trees

Native Virginia trees planted at Belmead include:

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

Many thanks go out to the volunteers who gave their time to this project. We couldn’t have done it without you!

If you are interested in projects like this, visit JRA’s Volunteer Center to become a volunteer today!

Adopt a Duck Blind

By Craig Metcalfe, Lower James RiverRat, James City County

As a JRA RiverRat out on my Powhatan Creek and James River patrols, I have seen

numerous abandoned duck blinds. It has always bothered me that material from these blinds ends up in our waterways.  During the first Saturday in June, I support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual Clean the Bay Day, and along with other boaters, I help by collecting debris from the creek and river. A majority of the debris we collect is from duck blinds that are in disrepair. 

For years, I have been trying to find a way to track and report abandoned blinds. The problem is large enough in Virginia that in 2013, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law which stipulates that “those licensing stationary blinds in the public waters shall remove the blind when the licenses expire or when they no longer intend to use them, whichever occurs first.” This is step a in the right direction, but doesn’t address the issue of old unlicensed or abandoned blinds.

This fall I made contact with Sergeant Randy Hickman at the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). After a brainstorming session, we proposed and settled on the following reporting system:

• Find out of date or unlicensed blinds
• Identify the body of water
• Note the GPS coordinates
• Take a picture of the blind
• Record the date and time

Finally I sent the information to Sergeant Hickman, who ran a check on who owned the blinds.  Out of the five Powhatan Creek blinds reported, three were abandoned. The other two had renewed for the 2015 season and posted their licenses by November 1^st, as required by law.

Knowing that we now have a process in place, I met with Jamie Brunkow, Lower James Riverkeeper.  We came to the conclusion that with the support from VA DGIF,  fellow Rats could follow the same process simply by including duck blind information in their patrol logs.

Now the interesting part, Jamie and I thought about removing the abandoned blinds, however, that would be very time consuming and a hassle to take the debris to a dump site.  We came up with the idea to reuse the abandoned blinds by posting a sign, created by the JRA RiverRats, giving information on how to “adopt” the blind.  This is a wonderful incentive to duck hunters looking for a place to hunt as they would only need to fix-up existing blinds, saving both time and money. The adoption and maintenance of existing blinds would cut down on the number of new blinds and prevent the risks of debris to boaters and improve the viewshed.

RiverRats looking for an Action Project may take part in the “Adpot a Blind” project by following Craig’s lead. Get more information from Jamie Brunkow, Lower James Riverkeeper (jbrunkow@jrava.org), or if you’re interested in becoming a RiverRat signup for one of JRA’s upcoming trainings. 

Protect your water

Many aspects of our world today threaten the safety and health of the James River. Help us protect this incredible feature for future generations to continue using the James for drinking water and recreation.

Drinking water is the most vital purpose that the James River serves to the communities along its course. Today, 37 counties and 18 cities rely on the James River as a major source of their water supply. The James River, and thousands of Virginians’ drinking water is at risk from 1,100 toxic storage sites.

Last week, another unfortunate example of how our river can be at risk occurred in West Virginia. A diesel spill shut down drinking water for 12,000 people.

Now is our chance to make sure the same thing doesn't happen here.

Tomorrow, January 29th, Virginia's Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee is considering several bills which could vastly improve the management of toxic chemicals and help prevent these accidents in Virginia. We need your help to support them!

These bills have the potential to protect the river from future toxic spills, enhance toxic spill notification to the public, increase fines for violators and inventory toxic waste sites in the Commonwealth. Each of these bills will help us to protect the James River moving forward.

In order to protect the James River and all of its citizens, changes must be made.

Please click here to help us in our efforts to make these bills successful. Tell the committee that you want to see the James River protected.

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.