by Gabe Silver, JRA's Environmental Educator
Its impossible to measure the value of the beauty of the James River for all those who get to gaze upon it. The fall can be the best time to soak up a few great views of the James. Working our way downriver in no particular order of beauty, here are 10 memorable views of the James:
1. The Upper James in Buchanan, VA
2. Balcony Falls along Rt. 501; southeast of Glasgow, VA
3. Harry F. Byrd Bridge over the James (Blue Ridge Parkway); north of Big Island, VA
4. The Riverfront of Lynchburg, VA
5. The Rt. 15 Bridge at Bremo Bluff, VA
6. CSX Railroad Bridge in Richmond, VA
7. The Belle Isle Footbridge; Richmond, VA
8. Libby Hill Park, Church Hill Neighborhood; Richmond, VA
9. Dutch Gap and Henricus Historical Park; Chesterfield, VA
10. Jamestown Island, VA
What are your favorite places to view the James River?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Virginia’s James River Cleanup Plan
We are about to embark on a new chapter in the efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries like the James River. After 25 years of setting laudable goals, of making promises that have come up short, the state and federal governments are now under the gun. By the end of the year, a plan to cut enough pollution to meet the water quality standards for our tidal waters must be developed.
Visit our website to read more about Virginia's James River Cleanup Plan >>
Visit our website to read more about Virginia's James River Cleanup Plan >>
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Coming Fall
By Chuck Frederickson
After a long, hot summer it’s starting to feel a little like fall. The water temperatures in the river are down to the low 80’s as are the air temps. This is better than the 90’s we had all summer. Sweet autumn clamatis is blooming, the yellow flowers are blooming in the marshes, fish are becoming more active and more and more butterflys are crossing the river—a great time to be on the river. A lot of the ospreys have left for the season. I’m always glad to see them come in the late winter and sad to see them go in the fall.
We have numerous Atlantic sturgeon in the river now in the area between Westover and Dutch Gap. Yesterday, eight fish were caught near our spawning reef site and all released in good shape after being measured, weighed and tagged. We also picked up several fish on our hydroacoustic receivers. I counted at least ten fish jumping. If you are out on the water in this area, keep your eyes open for jumping fish. It’s quite a sight to see a six foot long fish come completely out of the water!
After a long, hot summer it’s starting to feel a little like fall. The water temperatures in the river are down to the low 80’s as are the air temps. This is better than the 90’s we had all summer. Sweet autumn clamatis is blooming, the yellow flowers are blooming in the marshes, fish are becoming more active and more and more butterflys are crossing the river—a great time to be on the river. A lot of the ospreys have left for the season. I’m always glad to see them come in the late winter and sad to see them go in the fall.
We have numerous Atlantic sturgeon in the river now in the area between Westover and Dutch Gap. Yesterday, eight fish were caught near our spawning reef site and all released in good shape after being measured, weighed and tagged. We also picked up several fish on our hydroacoustic receivers. I counted at least ten fish jumping. If you are out on the water in this area, keep your eyes open for jumping fish. It’s quite a sight to see a six foot long fish come completely out of the water!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Gathright Dam Releases
By Dave Sligh
Gathright Dam, which impounds Lake Moomaw, is located on the Jackson River, 43.4 miles upstream of its confluence with the Cowpasture River. This project is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and was authorized by Congress to regulate river flows in the Jackson and James Rivers reduce flood damage downstream, to increase low flows for water quality improvement, and to provide recreational opportunities.
The dam's operation has a heavy impact on the Jackson River and on the James River for many miles downstream of its formation, where the Jackson and Cowpasture join. The COE is currently conducting a study authorized under Section 216 of the Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control Act of 1970 - a process in which JRA will be actively participating and in which we encourage interested citizens and businesses to do so also.
As part of this study the COE made what was termed a "pulse release" from the dam on August 17th. An abrupt rise in dam releases took flow levels in the River below the dam from 280 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 6 a.m. on that day to 3,000 cfs by 9 a.m. After maintaining the 3,000 cfs flows for two hours, the COE decreased releases over the next two hours until they again reached 280 cfs.
This test was done in cooperation with the Virginia Departments of Environmental Quality and Game and Inland Fisheries and was intended to test whether such pulses are effective at removing algae and improving water quality by simulating late-summer and early-fall storm events, a natural variability that's been reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam.
Gathright Dam, which impounds Lake Moomaw, is located on the Jackson River, 43.4 miles upstream of its confluence with the Cowpasture River. This project is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and was authorized by Congress to regulate river flows in the Jackson and James Rivers reduce flood damage downstream, to increase low flows for water quality improvement, and to provide recreational opportunities.
The dam's operation has a heavy impact on the Jackson River and on the James River for many miles downstream of its formation, where the Jackson and Cowpasture join. The COE is currently conducting a study authorized under Section 216 of the Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control Act of 1970 - a process in which JRA will be actively participating and in which we encourage interested citizens and businesses to do so also.
As part of this study the COE made what was termed a "pulse release" from the dam on August 17th. An abrupt rise in dam releases took flow levels in the River below the dam from 280 cubic feet per second (cfs) at 6 a.m. on that day to 3,000 cfs by 9 a.m. After maintaining the 3,000 cfs flows for two hours, the COE decreased releases over the next two hours until they again reached 280 cfs.
This test was done in cooperation with the Virginia Departments of Environmental Quality and Game and Inland Fisheries and was intended to test whether such pulses are effective at removing algae and improving water quality by simulating late-summer and early-fall storm events, a natural variability that's been reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Learning From Waterkeepers Around the World
By Dave Sligh
Last week, I had the great fortune to get together with other Riverkeepers, as well as Baykeepers, Coastkeepers and others from around the world at the annual Waterkeeper Alliance conference. As Riverkeepers, Chuck Frederickson and I are part of this great Alliance of folks who, like us, are trying to protect and improve their waters and communities. There are now around 200 of these programs on nearly every continent (we haven't got Antarctica covered yet but stay tuned).
Talking to this diverse group of colleagues from many different areas and with many different backgrounds always makes me focus on two particular ideas:
First, no matter where they live, all people depend on clean water - and this dependence goes far beyond the need for safe drinking water. Communities were historically formed around water bodies and they constitute a vital part of our lives, by providing for commerce, recreation, and an overall quality of life that we just can't have without clean and safe streams, estuaries, coasts, etc. The Waterkeepers in every area are there to support the values and the needs of our neighbors and our focus on local resources and the knowledge of our own home areas is vital to success.
Second, we always need to remember how fortunate we are to retain such a beautiful and healthy environment, but we can't take it for granted. When I hear the stories of Waterkeepers from China, Russia, Central and South America, and other regions, I quickly recognize that the challenges and problems we are facing, while similar to those others face, are often mild in comparison to those we could encounter.
My friends below, who work on the Han River in China, face dangers and a degree of government resistance and corporate corruption that I can hardly fathom.
And the feisty gentleman below continues to work for the health of his community in Mexico, even in the face of violence. Just this year, he was attacked and beaten but he won't quit.
I thank all of these brave and resolute folks for inspiring me even more to do this job and I count my blessings that so many people in Virginia support the work we do.
Last week, I had the great fortune to get together with other Riverkeepers, as well as Baykeepers, Coastkeepers and others from around the world at the annual Waterkeeper Alliance conference. As Riverkeepers, Chuck Frederickson and I are part of this great Alliance of folks who, like us, are trying to protect and improve their waters and communities. There are now around 200 of these programs on nearly every continent (we haven't got Antarctica covered yet but stay tuned).
Talking to this diverse group of colleagues from many different areas and with many different backgrounds always makes me focus on two particular ideas:
First, no matter where they live, all people depend on clean water - and this dependence goes far beyond the need for safe drinking water. Communities were historically formed around water bodies and they constitute a vital part of our lives, by providing for commerce, recreation, and an overall quality of life that we just can't have without clean and safe streams, estuaries, coasts, etc. The Waterkeepers in every area are there to support the values and the needs of our neighbors and our focus on local resources and the knowledge of our own home areas is vital to success.
Second, we always need to remember how fortunate we are to retain such a beautiful and healthy environment, but we can't take it for granted. When I hear the stories of Waterkeepers from China, Russia, Central and South America, and other regions, I quickly recognize that the challenges and problems we are facing, while similar to those others face, are often mild in comparison to those we could encounter.
My friends below, who work on the Han River in China, face dangers and a degree of government resistance and corporate corruption that I can hardly fathom.
And the feisty gentleman below continues to work for the health of his community in Mexico, even in the face of violence. Just this year, he was attacked and beaten but he won't quit.I thank all of these brave and resolute folks for inspiring me even more to do this job and I count my blessings that so many people in Virginia support the work we do.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Karst
By Dave Sligh
If you care about the quality of the James River, you should know the word "karst," so here's a quick lesson in its meaning and importance. Geologists speak of "karst terrain" or "karst geology" to describe areas where the most prominent bedrock consists of sedimentary rocks, like limestone or other rocks that are easily erodible. These types of rock formations are found throughout the world and are expecially prominent in the western parts of Virginia, from the Blue Ridge mountains to the ridge and valley region to the Appalachian plateau. The map below shows the Virginia counties where most of our karst is found.
If you care about the quality of the James River, you should know the word "karst," so here's a quick lesson in its meaning and importance. Geologists speak of "karst terrain" or "karst geology" to describe areas where the most prominent bedrock consists of sedimentary rocks, like limestone or other rocks that are easily erodible. These types of rock formations are found throughout the world and are expecially prominent in the western parts of Virginia, from the Blue Ridge mountains to the ridge and valley region to the Appalachian plateau. The map below shows the Virginia counties where most of our karst is found.
Those counties highlighted include Highland, Bath, Alleghany, Augusta, Rockbridge, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Giles Counties - all of which lie partly within the James River's drainage basin. These areas have features like caves and sinkholes and provide great reservoirs for groundwater, often allowing very productive wells. The land can be honeycombed so that water can move swiftly and in large amounts through natural underground conduits.
The great environmental concern with karst is that water, and the pollutants it carries, can reach the groundwater almost immediately, if it enters a sinkhole or comes in contact with bedrock that shows through thin soil layers. Pesticides and herbicides, animal waste, commercial fertilizer, sewage sludge, polluted stormwater runoff, water from home drainfields, and other pollutants can, and in many cases have, polluted drinking wells in many cases and caused serious human health problems.
Further, the pollutants don't just reach the groundwater but, because streams are so closely connected with surface streams, can end up in creeks and rivers in minutes or hours, as opposed to months or years that groundwater takes to migrate and be treated in other areas. It can also be very difficult to follow these connections, especially because the drainage patterns of water on the land may not be the same. Studies show that pollution on the ground or in streams in one watershed can later appear in other watersheds, linking pollution sources and streams that could not be predicted by looking at the land surface.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Monitoring the Maury and the James
By Dave Sligh
Here are some views of the James along a stretch near Glasgow:
I'm glad to report that I found no dead fish or any signs of infected fish in recent trips to the Maury River and the James near Glasgow. There have been a number of sightings on the Maury in past years, so I was worried about what I might find. Also, I heard of no problems from people fishing that day and had pretty good reports on their success.
Below are some photos from the Maury on that day:
Here are some views of the James along a stretch near Glasgow:
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