50th Anniversary 1976 – 2026
50th Anniversary 1976 – 2026
TAKE ACTION NOW:
Tell your legislators clean water matters to you!
As the Virginia General Assembly sets the state’s two year budget, it is also shaping how Virginia cares for its land and water. It’s up to all of us to encourage our leaders to prioritize programs that fuel the James River’s comeback by reducing pollution, protecting wildlife, and expanding access to outdoor recreation and environmental literacy programs.
Let your representatives know that clean water matters!
JUMP IN
The James River Association works to protect the James and connect people to it.
Keep the Comeback Coming
Find ways to enjoy and protect the river near you.
Enjoy the River
Protect the James
Teach and Learn
The River's Story
OUR IMPACTS
Our goal is a Grade-A river that everyone in the watershed can enjoy. These are some of our accomplishments from the last year:
420 Acres of Riparian Forest Buffers Assessed
22,000 Student Watershed Interactions
477 Water Quality Test Analyzed
268 Rain Barrels Distributed
ABOUT US
OUR WORK
Our Mission
To protect the James River and connect people to it.
Our Vision
A fully healthy James River, valued by all communities in the watershed.
We Protect
JRA monitors the river, responds to problems, seeks policy changes, and implements on-the-ground projects to restore the river’s health. We protect through our Watershed Restoration, James Riverkeeper, and River Advocacy programs.
We Connect
JRA helps communities benefit from the river by increasing river access, supporting river-related events, and implementing volunteer projects. We connect through our Environmental Education and Community Conservation programs. We believe in a James River for all.
EDUCATION
RIVERKEEPER
BUFFERS
STORMWATER
SHORELINES
ADVOCACY
THE LATEST
News & Notes
2025 James River Water Quality Recap
While the 2025 James River Watch (JRW) season provided important safety communications to river lovers across the state, it also serves as a vital check-up for one of Virginia's most cherished natural resources. A record number of volunteer citizen scientists joined...
James River Association Celebrates 50 Years
PRESS RELEASEJanuary 5, 2026 CONTACT:Anna LukeDirector of Marketing and Communicationsaluke@thejamesriver.orgJames River Association Celebrates 50 Years of River Revival, Community Action, and Stewardship Richmond, VA (January 5, 2026) – The James River Association...