Become a Citizen Water Quality Monitor

The James Needs YOU to be a Citizen Water Quality Monitor

Many portions of the James River and tributaries are currently impaired due to excessive harmful bacteria. One of the most common questions JRA receives during the summer months is whether it is safe to swim in certain parts of the James River.

JRA launched a water quality monitoring initiative in 2013 across the James River watershed. We are currently looking for volunteers to help us do water testing during the 2014 season. JRA needs your help as a citizen scientist, collecting water samples and recording data to track the environmental health of the River.

As a Citizen Water Quality Monitor you will:

• Be able to identify types of harmful bacteria 
• Learn water sampling methods 
• Be able to collect turbidity and temperature data from the field.
•  Test sampling locations weekly from May to September
• Submit data to the JRA's James River Watch website (thejamesriver.org/jrw).  

No monitoring or science background is required. JRA will assign volunteers to sampling teams, and work with each volunteer to help establish a sampling schedule that fits individual schedules and availability. Volunteers already participating in JRA's RiverRat project may count their water monitoring work as an Action Project.

• Sampling Locations:
• Jamestown Beach, Williamsburg 
• City Point, Hopewell 
• Harvell Dam, Petersburg
• Grapevine Bridge - Chickahominy River, Sandston
• Rocketts Landing, Richmond
• 14th Street Access Point, Richmond 
• Pipeline Rapids, Richmond 
• Rope Swing Beach at Tredegar, Richmond
• Tucker Park, Goochland County 
• DGIF Public Landing, Scottsville
• Riveredge Park, Madison Heights
• Jordan Point Park, Lexington
• DGIF Public landing, Buchanan

Training Sessions:

•  Richmond TrainingMarch 27th, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
  Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), 2nd Floor Conference Room
  629 East main Street, Richmond, VA 23218
  Directions
• Scottsville Training April 9th, 3:00 pm-6:00 pm
  Victory Hall Theater
  2nd Floor, 401 Valley Street, Scottsville,  VA 24590
  Directions
• Buchanan Training April 17th, 3:00 pm-6:00 pm
  Twin River Outfitters
  653 Lowe Street, Buchanan, VA 24066
  Directions
• Lynchburg TrainingApril 15th, 3:00 pm-6:00 pm
  Riveredge Park
  154 Rock Hill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24572
  Directions
• Lexington TrainingApril 26th, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden
  963 Ross Road, Lexington, Virginia 24450
  Directions
• Goochland TrainingApril 29th, 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm.
  Tucker Park At Maidens Crossing
  Maidens Road, Goochland, VA 23063
  Directions
• Williamsburg TrainingMay 8th, 6pm-7:30pm
  Eco Discovery Park
  2054 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
  Directions
• Richmond Remedial/Practice Open HouseMay 21st, 12 pm - 5 pm
  JRA Richmond Office
  4833 Old Main Street
  Richmond, VA 23231
  Directions

New or veteran volunteers needing a little extra practice can stop by the JRA office during our monitoring open house. This is a great opportunity to get any remaining questions answered and to practice any of the monitoring tests. Although the open house is informal with no set agenda, registration is still requested

I will embed the registration form as well.

Winter Wetlands

By Christiana Tambone, JRA Lower James River Outreach Coordinator

Wetlands are considered some of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, and no exception is made for those located along the Lower James River and its tributaries. These wetlands are celebrated for removing toxins from the environment, providing habitat for some rare plants and animals, and protecting our communities from flood waters during storm events. These are just a few of the reasons why these fragile areas need to be protected.

But you might ask, what happens when these areas are completely frozen over (like this cold winter)? Do wetlands lose their value until the spring? What can we expect in the spring after such a cold winter? No worries! JRA here to the rescue to give you a quick Wetlands 101.

Yes, this coastal Virginia winter has been unusually (and at some points unbearably) cold and yes, our wetlands have taken the brunt of the freeze. They have remained frozen for a few weeks now, but this has not slowed down their valuable processes in the ecosystem. As a matter of fact, these wetlands have become more efficient with one of the processes they provide: groundwater and surface water recharge.

When the velocity of water flowing to the river is slowed due to freezing temperatures and rising ice levels, the water level in the river will actually rise. Because this happens at a slow pace, it allows for our rivers, their tributaries, and our groundwater to “fill back up” and replenish our drinking and household water supplies.

So what should we expect in spring when all these wetlands begin to melt? Needless to say, there will be a lot of melting going on. Faster flowing waters will carry nutrients to the wetlands and they will then begin their valuable water filtering processes again. Warmer temperatures inspire microorganisms and their macroscopic friends, like amphibians and birds, to come out of hibernation and assist in the breakdown of materials, the irrigation of waterlogged soils, and the fertilization of a fragile ecosystem.

In the end, there are many, many of us on the James River who are looking forward to springtime.