Top 5 Gifts for Rising River Lovers

It’s that time of year again to find gifts for our little critters! If you are a river lover yourself, your child has a good chance at becoming one too. Here are a few gift ideas to get your rising river lover out into nature to have fun, stay dry and warm, and maybe learn a few things too!

     WATER BOTTLE: A water bottle is a great gift to teach your child how to be friendlier to the environment by reusing their bottle instead of buying bottled water. There are some fun designs for kids out there. Check out these bottles by Camelbak.

CLOSED TOE SANDALS: These keep their little toes safe, but still allow them to walk in the river and hop through rain puddles! Keen has a wide variety of colors and styles for kids.

LONG UNDERWEAR: Cold weather doesn’t keep river lovers indoors and keeping your child nice and cozy with long underwear while on a short winter hike is important.

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD): Keeping your child safe while they are on the water is the most important thing. REI has tips on finding the right one. 

BOOKS: There's a great new book called ABC’s from the James River, With Love and the author’s are donating 20% of the sales to the James River Association! Please order your books via www.dementibooks.com . When you get to the checkout screen, please enter the coupon code: JRA. Another fun book for kids is Camp Out: The Ultimate Kids Guide from the Backyard to the Backwoods. 

And don’t forget to get them something FUN! Okay, so this one is silly, but check out these Chameleon goggles! These goggles will teach your child about how other creatures see the world a bit differently.

The Return of the Great Blue Heron

by Justin Doyle, JRA Outreach Manager

Photo by Nick Kotula.

Similar to the population of Bald eagles, the Great blue heron population of the Chesapeake Bay region has increased dramatically since the late 1960s when the population reached a low. The steep population decline is attributed to the widespread use of the agricultural insecticide DDT, which was banned in 1972. Since then the Great blue heron population has rebounded and the number of breeding colonies has increased from a dozen to 407 according to a 2013 survey conducted by The Center for Conservation Biology, a collaboration between the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Some of the best places to see Great blue herons on the James River are the falls of the James, specifically the Pipeline Walk in Downtown Richmond, and throughout the Lower James. A large heronry (rookery) exists on Vauxhall Island (or “Pterodactyl Island” as I like to call it) within the James River Park System, and is clearly visible from the Pipeline Walk. They are especially active during the spring months courting, mating, and nest-building, but can be seen throughout the year.

Another way to get up close and personal with a blue heron is to paddle or float above the fall line. If you put-in at Pony Pasture and float down to Reedy Creek, you will likely see at least one heron during the spring and summer months. They are commonly seen perching on rocks and wading in shallow water, oftentimes near rapids. If you are lucky, you might see one snatch a fish from the river.

Building Schoolyard Habitats- Learning By Doing

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

The James River Association received a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to engage teachers and students at two urban schools in creating schoolyard habitats at their school and in programs at the James River Ecology School at Presquile NWR.  This project ties urban schools to the National Wildlife Refuge System and to the restoration of wildlife habitat in their communities’ backyard. The two schools that were selected were Falling Creek Middle School in Chesterfield, VA and Colonial Heights Middle School in Colonial Heights, VA.

JRA’s Education Manager, Jessica Templeton, and JRA’s Watershed Restoration Associate, Amber Ellis, went to each school in early September to teach the students about the type of elements that are needed in a schoolyard habitat and the students came up with their own designs for what they wanted to see at their school. All of their designs had to address the need for wildlife (food, shelter, water), and for people (spaces to learn, accessibility, visual interest). The students’ designs were taken into consideration and combined into final plans that were implemented this fall.

Students at Falling Creek Middle School developing their designs.

Falling Creek Middle School (FCMS)

At FCMS, the theme that the students wanted was a bird habitat. The design for their habitat includes a defined outdoor classroom that is surrounded in raised beds. In the center of the classroom there will be a paw print made out of pavers. Many of the students wanted to include this design element because their mascot is a panther. Multiple layers of native vegetation were planted to encourage bird habitat with understory trees and shrubs. Native fruit producing shrubs such as Blueberry and Winterberry, as well as American Holly, and Dogwood were planted to provide food for birds. The students wanted a Weeping Cherry, so we included a native alternative, Weeping Redbud, which will be beautiful next spring.  All of the installation took place over four days in November.

Big thanks go out to the Old Dominion Chapter of the Interlocking Concrete and Pavement Institute (ICPI), particularly a team from Homescapes , Ltd.  who donated their equipment and labor to build the garden walls, as well as Newline Hardscapes that provided a great discount on the block material. The students planted 50 native plants in two days! Teachers will be helping students make plant tags and stepping stones in the classroom that will be added to the garden.  

You can see some of the Falling Creek students’ original designs here.

 Falling Creek Middle School site before.

Students planting the garden at Falling Creek Middle School.

Falling Creek Middle School after the installation of the Habitat Garden.

Colonial Heights Middle School (CHMS)

The big theme that came from the students at CHMS was to create a garden that attracted pollinators. The design includes a classroom area that is filled with picnic tables and a reading area with picnic benches. The benches were built and funded by Capital One. This seating area is surrounded by native plants that provide value to pollinators, such as butterflies, moths, and bees. Some of the plants include Echinacea, Black-eyed Susans, Viburnum, Summersweet Clethra, Aster, and Butterfly Weed. The installation took place over three weeks in October. The first Tuesday about 15 adults helped prepare the site by spreading soil, stone dust, and edging. The second Tuesday about 30 students came out to install 80 plants! Volunteers from Capital One came out the third week to build the picnic tables and benches and worked with the students to build and paint birdhouses, and make plant tags and stepping stones.

You can see some of the Colonial Heights students’ original concept designs here.

 Colonial Heights Middle School site before.

Students installing the plants at Colonial Heights Middle School.

Colonial Heights Middle School after the installation of the Habitat Garden.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service Schoolyard Habitat and Outdoor Classroom Program have helped schools across the country create wildlife habitat and spaces for children to learn outside. These gardens serve a unique role in reconnecting the students and teachers to the natural world, while also providing habitat for wildlife.

Big thanks also go to these groups that helped with the efforts at Falling Creek Middle School.

1. Homescapes: Their crew dedicated 5 days of labor and use of equipment. www.homescapesltd.com 

2. BWS Landscaping: Their crew pulled a much needed half day to get things ready for the kids. www.bwslandscaping.com 

3. NewLine Hardscapes, LLC: Miles Clarkson is one of the owners of NewLine and president of the ICPI Old Dominion Chapter.  Nelwine discounted the hardscape products by 75% for the project. We are a local manufacturer that is happy to help out in our community. www.newlinehardscapes.com 

4. ICPI Old Dominion Chapter | ICPI: We are a non-profit dedicated to growing the hardscape industry.  This event helped train train members and their crews and give back to the community. www.icpiolddominionchapter.com 

RiverRats Participate in the 3rd Annual Raft-Up

By Amber Ellis, JRA Volunteer Coordinator

The 3rd Annual RiverRats Raft-Up was held at Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry, Virginia on October 26, 2013. The weekend started with a talk on the James River’s Atlantic sturgeon by keynote speaker Dr. Matt Balazik, Sturgeon Biologist with the VCU Rice Center. Dr. Balazik's major focus is centered on the decreasing population of sturgeon in Virginia waters, particularly the James River.

RiverRats had the opportunity to choose from two advanced training options. The first option involved how to increase river access, presented by Justin Doyle, JRA Outreach Manager and John Mays of Twin River Outfitters in Buchanan. Several of our RiverRats have been engaged in creating more river access points along the Chickahominy, as well as in the Upper James, and we hope that this session will equip others with the knowledge necessary to help with that effort. 

The second training option was “Get the Dirt Out,” offered by JRA’s Riverkeepers. Sediment continues to be the main pollution source that has not been improving throughout the entire James River watershed. This training session taught RiverRats how they can help spot sediment sources along their section and what to do about it.

After chatting with other river lovers over lunch, the afternoon was spent in canoes along Lower Chippokes Creek or hiking around the park.

That evening four awards were given out to those RiverRats who have gone above and beyond their duties. The Upper James award went to Margi Vaughn, Middle James to Sister Elena Henderson, and Lower James to Andy Pillsbury. Steve Gregory received an award for his overall commitment to helping the James River.

For those who stayed the night, and it was a very chilly night, so we all stayed close to the fire and enjoyed some warming music from The Green Boys.

Sunday morning a group of tough RiverRats enjoyed a chilly, but beautiful, pontoon boat ride around Jamestown Island.

It was a great weekend to meet other RiverRats, learn a few new things, and enjoy a different stretch of the James River. The James River Association couldn’t do what it does without this hardworking and passionate group of RiverRats. Thank you!

Do you live in the Lynchburg area? If you do, JRA wants to give you a Free Rain Barrel!

Rain barrels waiting for their new homes!

Thanks to funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and a partnership with Lynchburg Grows, JRA is offering the first 100 certified River Hero Homes in the Lynchburg area one free rain barrel per household! 

Why become a River Hero Home?

Even if you can’t see the James River – or any body of water – from your house, your actions still impact the health of the James River and its tributaries.  Every time it rains, fertilizers and herbicides, bacteria from pet waste, chemicals and sediment flows from your property into local waterways.  This pollution results in everything from cloudy water to algae blooms and can make our waterways unsafe for swimming and fishing.

What do you need to do?

You can become a River Hero Home by completing 3 simple steps, many of which you may be doing already.  These steps, which include installing a river friendly practice such as rain barrels and everyday actions such as picking up after your pet and reducing fertilizer use, may seem trivial, but they can all have significant impacts on water quality. Simply fill out the on-line application and send us a picture of your river friendly practice. 

If you don’t already have a River Friendly Practice installed, you can use your free barrel to qualify!  Simply submit your application now and send us a photo after your barrel is installed. Once we receive your application, we will contact you and send you your certification materials. And if you are one of the first 100 homes in the Lynchburg area to qualify, we will send you a certificate for you to pick up your free rain barrel at Lynchburg Grows!

Regardless of whether you already qualify or if you will be using your free barrel as your river friendly practice, please make sure to enter the word “Lynchburg” in the box on the application that asks if you are attending a rain barrel event.

Rewards

In addition to one free rain barrel for Lynchburg residents, every certified home receives an attractive garden flag and window cling with the River Hero Home logo, access to a dedicated Google group and newsletter, and an invitation to the annual River Hero Home Lawn Party.  Members also receive exclusive discounts at participating local garden shops and nurseries. Finally, depending on where you live, becoming a certified River Hero Home may also help you qualify for stormwater rebates or credits offered by your locality.

Part III—From Flooded to Fantastic!

By Linda Mills, JRA River Hero Home

If you’ve been following the saga (see August 26 and September 16) of how our runoff-laden yard was transformed last summer from homely to healthy, here is the final installment. Because of grant money distributed and monitored by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, we welcomed three fabulous projects into our landscape. The wonderful guys from Greener Landscapes (paul@greenerlandscapes.com, 804-432-3623) worked with us to produce a rain garden, a BayScape and a patio of permeable pavers.

Backyard flood plain.

The area in the photo below was the “flood plain” behind our house. The gate (left side of photo) exits to the alley. When it would rain hard, water would pour off the several pitches of our roof, overflow the rain barrels (yes, two rain barrels), and wash through this area as it rushed toward the alley. Once in the alley (that actually has ruts from the flowing water), the runoff flowed into the street, consequently making its way to Reedy Creek a block away.       

To fix this substantial runoff issue, the contractors dug down about 14 to16 inches with a backhoe. (They also dug out the rain garden while the backhoe was there.) The ground was hard clay. You can see from the photo below, that after several heavy rains, the water did not drain. At all! (Remember how it just kept raining early in the summer?) We christened this area “The Pit.” Because this was the last project to be completed, this lovely muddy mess sat for several weeks. We thought about stocking it with fish. A friend recommended buying a canoe so we could take out the trash.

The Pit

But eventually, the rains stopped and it was time to focus on The Pit. The first step was to dump a load of large-gauge rocks in the bottom. The second load of rocks was a bit smaller gauge. The third load was an even smaller gauge, like medium gravel. It exhausted me just to watch the Greener Landscape guys move those rocks. Talk about aerobic exercise!

Once the gravel was in place, the really exciting stuff began. For the pavers, we chose tumbled bluestone. We wanted a natural feel instead of a more precise brick look. The stones the fellows chose were beautiful. We purchased about ½ ton of extra stone, not included in the grant money, so that we could extend the path slightly. (A half ton sounds like a lot, but it was only about six rocks!)

Paul, the rock expert on the team, artistically placed each piece of tumbled bluestone in the precise best spot, taking into account both the look of the pattern and the practically of the design. Paul leveraged and leveled the stones into the smaller gravel with enough space between them (about two inches) to allow water to drain into the gravel. He is an artist and an engineer!

According to Jacob Bauckman at Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, designing the patio with larger spaces between the stones was the best solution for our particular problem. If we had used bricks or pavers with narrower gaps between them, we might have still had runoff, especially as the gaps “filled in” after a few years. There were no new plantings in the area, but we did weed, trim and mulch. We are overwhelmed with how beautifully it turned out. And when it pours? No water runs off the property. Win, win!

         

Fabulous and functional!

But what happened to all that extra dirt that was dug from the rain garden and The Pit?  There was a lot of dirt to deal with. But the Greener Landscapes fellows had done this before. They took the dirt from the two excavated areas and used it to construct the berms for the BayScape. It was the perfect solution—there was no dirt dumped into the landfill and it gave us this lovely flowing berm around the outside of our fence. The BayScape was planted with our choice of interesting and colorful native plants, including sweet bay magnolia and service berry. Other perennials included bee balm, rudbeckia, wild geranium, giant purple hyssop and Virginia sweetspire. We also are looking forward to fresh blueberries next summer from our own native bushes—if we can beat the native birds and squirrels to them.

BayScape berm (foreground and background)
as the plants were going in

Now that all three of our projects are complete—a rain garden, a BayScape and a patio of permeable pavers, we are thrilled with the results. Our runoff has decreased substantially, if not totally.  We’re glad to know that we are earning our River Hero Home status more than ever by not contributing runoff to Reedy Creek, and therefore the James River. As we tend our new rain garden and BayScape, and anticipate the gorgeous blooms of next spring and summer, we are also gratified that native plants and wildlife call our yard home.

Meet the Queen of Halloween: the Black Widow Spider

by Angie Williams, JRA Database and Web Coordinator

photo by Peter Baer

As Halloween draws close, yards in your neighborhood may become littered with ghosts, zombies and huge creepy-crawly spiders in order to strike fear into the hearts of young and old alike. Although the majority of spiders in Virginia do not cause harm to humans, there are a few that do. One of the most known, fitting perfectly into the all-black Halloween theme, is the Black Widow.

Black widows (Latrodectus mactans) are so named for their black coloring and because females often kill and eat their ‘spouse’ after mating.  These spiders can be easily identified by the red hourglass shaped mark on the underside of their abdomens.

The venom of the black widow is reported to be much more potent that rattlesnake or cobra venom. Although it is rare for a healthy human adult to receive a fatal dose, in the event of a bite, it is recommended to receive medical attention immediately. The venom may cause muscle aches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Very rarely does their bite cause death in humans; this is mostly due to the development of antivenin. Fortunately, improvements in household plumbing have reduced the incidence of bites to humans!

photo by Jeremy Hall

The black widow preys on a variety of insects and sometimes other arachnids. This makes them carnivorous and cannibalistic!  When their prey has become ensnared in their web, they wrap it in silk and deliver a deadly bite with their fangs. The venom takes approximately ten minutes to take effect. Once the prey has stopped moving, the spider injects it with digestive enzymes that liquefy the dead body so it can be sucked up by the spider.

These spiders are partial to dark areas and wood piles, so this fall when stacking wood or clearing areas take care not to be the black widow’s next victim.

References:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/black-widow-spider/

http://a-z-animals.com/animals/black-widow-spider/

If you aren’t one of JRA’s River Hero Homes, here’s what you missed!

By Michelle Kokolis, JRA Watershed Restoration Project Manager

On Saturday, September 28, one hundred of our certified River Hero Home owners and their families gathered under the stars at Cross Creek Nursery in Chesterfield for the First Annual River Hero Home Lawn Party.  The party was JRA’s way of saying “thank you” to all the dedicated homeowners who have taken steps to keep runoff and pollution out of the James River and its tributaries.  It was also a way for us to thank all of the businesses that support our program and offer discounts to certified homes.

JRA receives a lot of support from local businesses and it is important for us to return this support whenever possible, so we focused on utilizing small, local vendors.  Guests were treated to a BBQ and fried chicken dinner from David Napier’s White House Catering, as well as local beer from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and popsicles from the King of Pops.  In an effort to create as little waste as possible, we served water, tea lemonade and beer in reusable, commemorative cups and didn't offer anything bottled.

The River Whyless, a four-piece folk-rock band from Asheville, NC provided the music. And they were fabulous! The evening also included a plant swap during which participants brought plants from home and traded them in on plants brought by others. There was a raffle featuring prizes from some of the local vendors that support River Hero Homes.

We would like to thank everyone who came out to make our first River Hero Home party such a great success!  We would also like to offer a special thank you to Cross Creek Nursery for allowing us to use their amazing space, and to Glen Allen Nursery, Yardworks, Twigs Garden Center and H2o Collect for providing some great raffle items!

We hope that everyone had as much fun as we did and we hope to see you – and many new River Hero Home owners – at next year’s party!

Top 10 Inspirational Nature Quotes from James River Ecology School Students

by Jessica Templeton, JRA Education Manager

The James River Ecology School on Presquile National Wildlife Refuge is a place where time seems to stand still. Typical everyday distractions like cell phones, city sights and sounds are left behind and soon long forgotten by students who visit Presquile. Even after only a couple days of hands-on experiences in the field, exploring and learning about the intricacies of the natural world, students leave feeling inspired.

On an overnight program, we ask students to reflect on their experience and capture their thoughts about their time on Presquile in a quote. Those who choose to can place their quote in our anonymous Ecology School quote box.  In their own words, here are the top 10 inspiration quotes and moments from students during this past spring season at the Ecology School:

1.       When you connect to nature, you disconnect from troubles.

2.       Respect yourself, respect others, respect the world you live in, and everything else will fall into place.

3.       Nature, a simple word with vast amounts of greatness and beauty.

4.       We are not above nature – we are just one organism amongst millions, why shouldn’t we respect it?

5.       Sometimes you just need to stop whatever you are doing and just think, breath, and appreciate.  Appreciate the beauty of the world around you.  Savor the moment, before it is too late.

6.       Never does one feel more lonely than when sitting in nature, yet there is unity in the loneliness.

7.       Nature is neato.

8.       Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

9.       Any place can be good, but the people there make it great.

10.   You will never know the true degree of our connection and dependence on this planet until you experience nature itself, until you build that essential relationship. This, such an easy and quick action of the mind, will truly impact everything you do.  Just as human relationships constantly evolve so does that between man and nature.

I expect as these students grow and progress in life, they will find inspiration in their words well past, but still influence by, their time at the Ecology School. Maybe, even one day, we will find their words inscribed on the boardwalk planks at an environmental education center helping to inspire youth much like they too were inspired by what they saw during their stay on Presquile.

Anthem James River Splash & Dash

Over 800 participants, volunteers and spectators came out for the 2013 Anthem James River Splash and Dash, sponsored by Riverside Outfitters, in Richmond on Sunday, September 22.

The event was scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 13^th, but due to extremely high river levels (over 12 ft. at the Richmond – Westham gauge) the event was postponed until Sunday, September 22.

The event took place in downtown Richmond on Belle Isle. Participants started the race on the island and finished by grabbing tubes and paddled across the river to the finish line.  Race results can be found on the event website by clicking here.

We would like to extend a big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Anthem and to Riverside Outfitters, a generous sponsor and co-founder of the event.  Special thanks also to: Whitten Brothers; 103.7 the River; CW Richmond; Dominion Due Diligence Group; Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market; Estes Express Lines; Hardywood Park Craft Brewery; Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc.; Smithfield; Republic Services; Hirschler Fleischer; Watershed Architects; Falling Springs; Harris Williams & Co.; Coca-Cola; Slime; Blue Ridge Outdoors; Productive AV; McGuireWoods; Cushman & Wakefield; True Timber and Martin’s.

Events photos are posted at here. 

Thanks to Marv Sowers and Amy Bram-Sowers for generously donating photography services.  If you would like to order any prints, please email Amy at pearsaab@yahoo.com. 

JRA is extremely grateful for the Richmond Splash & Dash Committee, a group of dedicated volunteers from the Richmond area.  Without their help and support, this event would not have been possible.

We hope that you will plan to join us for our 2014 event!

Field Day at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge

 You Are Invited to Participate in the Fall ‘Field Day’

at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the James River Association are holding a “Field Day” at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, October 5, 2013.  This is your chance to tour the 1,329-acre island refuge without the typical permit requirements. 

The ‘Field Day’ event will provide transportation and access to 3 ½ miles of wildlife observation trail, boardwalks, an interior creek water trail and select facilities.  Visitors can meet FWS employees, view interpretive materials and displays within the Menenak Discovery Center, and learn about the energy-efficient components of the James River Ecology School facilities.  Guided and self-guided tours will be available throughout the day.  Family-friendly programs and activities will be offered, including canoeing and basic archery.  JRA educators will offer programs for kids and highlight environmental education programming opportunities at the Ecology School.

Activities begin at 9 am with pontoon boat transportation to and from the island every half hour until approximately 4 pm.   Meet at 4700 Bermuda Hundred Road in Chester, VA.  Parking is free.  Pre-registration is not required. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and bring drinking water. 

Please contact Cyrus Brame at 804-829-9020 for more information.

Historic Crests

By Justin Doyle – JRA’s Outreach Manager

The Atlantic Hurricane Season ends November 30th and fortunately Virginia has been spared the wrath of a hurricane or tropical storm so far this year. Historically, tropical systems have been the catalysts for record-breaking crests on the James River. In fact, the top three historic crests on the James River were the result of tropical systems.

Historic James River Crests at the Richmond Locks:

Rank	Event	Date	Crest (feet)
1	Hurricane Agnes	6/23/72	36.50
2	Hurricane Juan (Election Day Flood)	11/7/85	30.76
3	Hurricane Camille	8/22/69	28.60

Source: National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Hurricane Agnes

Hurricane Agnes made landfall in the United States near Panama City, Florida on June 19, 1972. The tropical system drenched the eastern United States and flooded Shockoe Bottom and Manchester in Richmond, Virginia. The James River crested at 36.5 feet in Richmond on June 23. Thirteen fatalities and over $125 million in losses were reported in Virginia.

Hurricane Juan (Election Day Flood)

The remnants of Hurricane Juan combined with another low-pressure system and dropped significant rainfall across the Appalachian Mountains and Mid-Atlantic in late October 1985. The James River crested at 30.76 feet and flooded several blocks of Downtown Richmond on November 7. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation authorizing the construction of Richmond’s floodwall the following year. Construction of the floodwall system was completed in 1994 and to date has not been fully tested by Mother Nature.

Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River on August 17, 1969. On the evening of August 19 and 20, the remnants of Camille crossed the Appalachian Mountains and devastated Nelson County, Virginia. Flash floods, mudslides, and debris flows significantly altered the landscape of Nelson County overnight. Rainfall in excess of 27 inches, mostly falling in a five-hour period, overwhelmed the James River and its Central Virginia tributaries. The James River crested at 41.3 feet at Columbia and 28.6 feet at Richmond.  As a result of this storm, 114 people died and 37 remain missing. Numerous roads, bridges, and structures were washed away. Damage totaled more than $100 million and Virginia was declared a disaster area.

Thanks to Everyone Who Helped Out During the 14th Annual James River Regional Cleanup

By Michelle Kokolis, JRA Watershed Restoration Project Manager

The 14^th Annual James River Regional Cleanup was held on Saturday, September 14, 20013. This event included nearly 1,000 volunteers working at 15 sites throughout the watershed, stretching from Lynchburg to Newport News.  Each registration site is run by a dedicated member of the James River Advisory Council (JRAC), including representatives from localities and non-profit organizations.  Through generous donations from sponsors, the Council is able to provide supplies such as trash grabbers, gloves and bags for each site as well as food and drinks for some of the sites that don’t have independent sponsorship. 

As members of the Council, JRA coordinates all of the sites in the City of Richmond.  We also sponsor and run the Reedy Creek site. From Reedy Creek (the second largest of the 15 cleanup locations) volunteers are sent throughout the entire James River Park system.  As a way of saying thanks, we provide lunch for all the volunteers at the end of the cleanup. 

As we were staring at the mound of supplies for this year’s event and trying to decide how many cars it was going to take to move everything to Reedy Creek, we were struck with a thought…this sure is a lot of stuff for a trash cleanup!

If you’ve ever volunteered for any type of event you’ve probably noticed things like the t-shirt you were given or what you had for lunch, but unless you have experience running events, you probably haven’t given much thought to the amount of organization and supplies it takes. 

Let me give you a glimpse into the mountain of supplies that were hauled from the JRA office to Reedy Creek for the cleanup…

There are 11 people, a combination of JRA staff and volunteers, who run registration, serve lunch and sort the trash and recycling.  We are assisted by 5 members of the James River Park staff that spend the day collecting trash from the satellite sites and assisting with recycling.  These dedicated folks also help unload and set up all of the supplies including: 2 tents, 4 tables, 200 trash grabbers, 200 pairs of gloves, hundreds of trash bags, 10 nets and 15 burlap sacks for boaters picking up trash in the river. We also have 4 grills and use at least 2 bags of charcoal.  Then comes the food. 

We have 6 coolers that are packed with 96 hamburgers, 92 hotdogs, 60 veggie burgers and 120 slices of cheese.  The weather was cooler this year so we had fewer beverages than usual, but we still served 48 bottles of Powerade, 100 cans of soda and 20 gallons of water.  All of the food and drink was packed in 20 bags (that’s 210 pounds) of ice!  We also served 20 pounds of grapes, 15 pounds of watermelon, 156 bags of chips, 180 cookies, 192 buns, a 1-gallon jar of pickles and 5 bottles of condiments.  You may be wondering how many cars it took to move all of these supplies.  The answer is 4 SUVs.  All packed to the very top!

Now imagine this happening at 15 sites throughout the watershed on the same day at the same time.  Granted, not all sites are as large as Reedy Creek, but they are all moving mountains of supplies to achieve one common goal – a cleaner James River.

The end result for the 2014 James River Cleanup was nearly 1,000 volunteers collecting over 490 bags of trash and 220 bags of recycling.  Of this, 150 of those volunteers were at Reedy Creek, where we collected 100 bags of recycling and 56 bags of trash.

Whether you were picking up trash or helping run a site, we want to say thank you for all that you do to help make this event a huge success, and we hope to see you again next year!