PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2026
CONTACT:
Anna Luke
Director of Marketing and Communications
aluke@thejamesriver.org
James River Watch Kicks Off New Season with Expanded Access for River Users
Record volunteer participation, Spanish-language website, and new recreation partnerships help more people “Know Before You Go”
The James River Association (JRA) has officially kicked off another season of James River Watch, its annual water quality monitoring program that helps swimmers, paddlers, boaters, and other river users understand river conditions before they get on the water.
Every summer since 2013, James River Watch has provided weekly water quality updates from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Results are posted every Friday at JamesRiverWatch.org and on JRA’s social media accounts, giving river users timely information about bacteria levels and other key conditions across the James River watershed.
This year, a record 118 volunteers will support the program by collecting water quality samples at 36 monitoring locations across the watershed. Volunteers take samples each Thursday to track bacteria, turbidity, water temperature, air temperature, conductivity, and other indicators. The James River Watch map also displays river stage and flow data from the U.S. Geological Survey, helping river users make informed decisions before heading out.
“James River Watch is designed with all river users in mind, providing updates on river conditions during the Summer so people can plan ahead and enjoy their time on the James with confidence,” said Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper for the James River Association. “This year’s record volunteer participation shows just how much people care about the James and want to help their neighbors make informed decisions before getting on the water.”
The 2026 season also brings new ways for the public to access James River Watch data. The website is now available in Spanish, expanding access to river condition information for more communities across the watershed. The James River Association is also partnering with How’s the James to integrate James River Watch data into its website and the Paddle the James map, making it easier for paddlers and other river users to find current conditions alongside other recreation planning tools.
New this year, JRA is also partnering with the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance to display additional water quality data from 22 monitoring sites in the Cowpasture and Jackson River region, where the James River begins. These partner sites will appear on the James River Watch map, helping river users access more information about conditions in the uppermost reaches of the watershed. Because these sites are part of a separate partner monitoring effort, they will not be included in JRA’s weekly analysis/reporting of results from its 36 core James River Watch monitoring locations.
Making this information easier to find matters, especially in summers like 2025, when heavy rain routinely negatively affected water quality. Last summer, a dedicated network of 107 volunteers collected 477 water samples across 36 monitoring locations, spanning the watershed from the Allegheny Highlands to the Chesapeake Bay.
Last year’s data showed the James River was favorable for swimming and recreation 76% of the time, down from 85% in 2024 and below the 10-year average passing rate of 84% from 2015 to 2024. The main reason for the decline was unusually high precipitation, particularly during a stormy July, which contributed to elevated bacteria levels in the water.
People can review the results of the 2025 James River Watch season in our recap here.
River conditions can change quickly, especially after heavy rain. Stormwater runoff can carry pollution from streets, yards, farms, and other landscapes into local waterways. In Richmond and Lynchburg, heavy rainfall can also contribute to Combined Sewer Overflow events, which can release untreated sewage and stormwater into the river.
“Last year’s results are an important reminder. Clean water is something we have to keep working for,” said Dunlap. “As climate change contributes to more-frequent, heavy rain events, long-term water quality improvements require continued investment in clean water infrastructure, stormwater solutions, farm and forestry land conservation measures, and restoration projects across the watershed.”
The James River Association works to improve water quality by advocating for clean water funding and policy solutions, including continued support for Combined Sewer Overflow projects in Richmond and Lynchburg. JRA also works with partners, landowners, and communities across the watershed to reduce pollution at its source through agricultural conservation, riparian forest buffers, living shorelines, green infrastructure, and other restoration projects.
JRA relies on volunteers and essential partners across the watershed to carry out James River Watch, including Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, American Water, Appomattox River Company, Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Rockbridge Area Conservation, Twin River Outfitters, Virginia Master Naturalist-Peninsula Chapter, and Virginia State University.
The James River Watch program is partially funded by the Department of Environmental Quality Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program.
To learn more about James River Watch, visit www.jamesriverwatch.org.
ABOUT THE JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION:
James River Association (JRA) is a member-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that serves the waterways and communities of the James River. Throughout the James River’s 10,000 square mile watershed, JRA works toward its vision of a fully healthy James River supporting thriving communities. JRA believes that “when you change the James, the James changes you.” With offices in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Scottsville, JRA is committed to protecting the James River and connecting people to it. For more information visit www.thejamesriver.org.