More than one-third of all Virginians rely on the James River and its tributaries for water, commerce, and recreation. Our vision is a fully healthy James River supporting thriving communities. We believe if you change the James, the James will change you.
Explore
You can hike it, bike it, swim it, run it or raft it. How you enjoy the James River is up to you.
Support
We’ve taken the river from a D- to a B- in terms of overall health – but we need help to reach our goal of a Grade A James.
Volunteer
Whatever your interests are, there is a role for you in improving the health of the James River.
Discover
The James is Virginia’s largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay, at 340 miles long it is one of the longest rivers in America that begins and ends in the same state.
The James River Watershed
The James River is Virginia’s largest river, flowing across the entire state from its beginning at the headwaters of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers in Bath and Highland Counties, to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay in Hampton Roads.
Each year millions of Virginians go to the James and its tributaries to boat, fish, swim, hike or just take in the beautiful scenery.
Greening RVA Libraries
News & Notes
Meet our 2020 Water Quality Coordinator, Genevieve Wall
by Genevieve Wall Spending quality time around local waterways deeply impacted my childhood. I grew up in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and on weekends, my family would frequently make the trek over to Rock Creek Park. My younger sister and I would...
read moreNative Vines in the James River Watershed
This humid, rainy weather reminds me of the jungle and what plant is the quintessential jungle plant? Vines! Walking along streams and through the woods lately it appears that the only vines I see are the invasive species. Wisteria, English ivy, oriental bittersweet,...
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