The James River Association serves as the convener for the Upper and Middle James Riparian Consortium. This is a network of private, non-profit, and public partners. They share expertise and resources to increase implementation, as well as awareness of riparian buffers and their value to landowners, with a priority focus on riparian forest buffers, across the Upper and Middle James watersheds.
Over the past year, it has been inspiring to watch partnerships grow and deepen, and the impacts of the Riparian Consortium to not only ripple across the James River Watershed, but across Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay.
Growing partnerships to create healthy streamside ecosystems for clean water in the James River today and tomorrow.
The Consortium has four Action Teams that support the Vision through associated Goals.
Planning Team
Goal: Increase collaboration and strengthen partnerships through developing an effective network of Riparian Consortium members.
Knowledge Network Team
Goal: Build knowledge and capacity about best practices and innovation to ensure the use of the best researched methods for the greatest success of riparian restoration.
Targeting & Outreach Team
Goal: Build awareness of the importance of riparian areas and deliver outreach based on identified partner priorities, landowner interests, and restoration opportunity areas to increase strategic riparian investments.
Implementation Team
Goal: Coordinate implementation and fill funding gaps to support a holistic approach to riparian restoration projects that leverage partner resources and expertise.
Whether you’ve been with the Consortium from its launch in 2019 or just learning about us, we invite you to join us in whatever way best meets your needs. Sign up for a newsletter, join us for a field trip, reach out for a one-on-one, tell a friend about a program that can help them restore their buffer, or join an Action Team. We’re grateful for you and all the ways that you take part in the healing of our streamside ecosystems for clean water in the James River and beyond.