Halftime at the General Assembly:
How We’re Defending the River
February 18th marked Crossover Day, the halfway point of Virginia’s legislative session, when bills that passed one chamber moved to the other. The James River faces both ongoing and emerging threats, and this session of the General Assembly is where real solutions are decided.
Our team has been busy meeting with legislators and speaking in front of committees, and your messages to lawmakers have been crucial in advancing policies and funding that safeguard the river, its wildlife, and the communities that depend on it. Thank you for being part of this work.
Celebrating 50 Years and Raising Awareness
On February 11th, the Virginia General Assembly recognized the James River Association’s 50 years of protecting the James River with a commemorative resolution, celebrating decades of progress made possible by supporters like you.
To mark the occasion and highlight one of today’s most urgent threats to migratory fish, our team also served more than 400 blue catfish tacos at the General Assembly. Invasive catfish are consuming native migratory species at alarming rates, and increasing public awareness and encouraging harvest are key steps to restore balance to the river.
Protecting Migratory Fish from Harmful Water Intakes
One of our top policy priorities was HB1126, led by Delegate Nadarius Clark, aimed at addressing the impacts of unpermitted surface water intakes on migratory fish like American shad, river herring, and striped bass. Water intakes withdraw water from rivers for drinking water, industrial uses, and power generation, but unfortunately, many also harm fish populations in the process. Over 80% of Virginia’s water intakes are “grandfathered,” meaning they are not required to meet modern environmental standards to prevent eggs, larvae, and juvenile fish from being killed.
While HB1126 ultimately did not pass this year, the House Rules Committee will send a letter to the Secretary of Historic and Natural Resources urging action on the issue outside of the General Assembly. This marks an important step toward stronger, science-based protections for Virginia’s fisheries.
Investing in a Cleaner, Healthier James River
This session, we are advocating for funding that directly protects the James River, its water, fish, and communities. These investments are essential for maintaining a healthy river ecosystem, reducing pollution, and connecting students and communities to their waterways. Specifically, funding priorities include:
- Cutting Pollution from Our Waterways: Supporting programs like the Water Quality Improvement Fund, Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program, and Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution, improve water quality, and prevent flooding.
- Keeping Sewage Out of the River: Upgrading Richmond’s Combined Sewer System to cut bacterial pollution from untreated sewer overflows into the James by 70%, protecting both public health and the river’s ecosystem. See more here!
- Restoring Fish and Engaging Students: Implement research projects identified by the American Shad Recovery Plan to rebuild migratory fish populations and expand environmental education grants, connecting Virginia students with their rivers and watersheds.
On February 22nd, the initial Committee Reports for the State Budget were released with mixed results for water conservation priorities. With many projects receiving just partial funding based on State needs assessments, it’s clear that we must continue advocating for investments to safeguard the river, wildlife, and communities that depend on it.
Looking Ahead: Second Half of Session
In the second half of the session, we will continue advocating for clean water funding and supporting bills to protect the James River. Key priorities include:
- Increasing transparency of water use by data centers
- Reducing PFAS contamination
- Strengthening erosion control and habitat protections
- Preserving tree canopy and wildlife corridors
- Restoring fisheries, including managing invasive blue catfish.
These measures will help safeguard drinking water, improve river ecosystems, and support resilient communities for generations to come.
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