PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 23, 2025
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The James River Gets an Overall Grade of B
Investments in Restoration Efforts are paying off but progress is stymied
by decreases in key River Health indicators.
Richmond, Virginia – The James River Association (JRA) released their biennial State of the James report today, showing the overall health of the river at a grade B with a score of 68%. Compared to the river’s failing health fifty years ago, the State of the James has improved significantly.
“The James River is a great comeback story going from one of the most polluted rivers in the nation to one of the most improved,” said Bill Street, President and CEO for JRA. “In order to make additional progress and achieve a fully healthy James River, we all must do our part to safeguard the river for future generations.”
On the positive side, upstream indicators like stream health, smallmouth bass, and riparian buffers have high scores and saw increases over the past two years. This reflects the good watershed health of the Upper James as well as restoration efforts across the watershed. Additionally, Virginia’s investments in clean water programs – wastewater treatment, agricultural practices, and stormwater management – are making a real difference.
Unfortunately, underwater grasses, oysters, and tidal water quality declined in the last two years. Despite progress in river restoration, the tidal James still faces heavy stress from pollution sources, including wastewater, erosion, agricultural runoff, and stormwater runoff. To restore these waters, we must reduce pollution at its source and rebuild critical habitats so the tidal James – and the whole river – can thrive.
Also, American shad remain at zero and striped bass numbers also declined substantially since our 2023 report. To bring back these and other iconic migratory fish, Virginia needs to act fast to deal with problems like invasive catfish, pollution, blocked waterways, water intakes and degraded habitats.
Moreover, population growth, land development, and climate change are making additional progress more difficult. To keep improving the James River, everyone needs to help protect it for the future.
“The more we invest, the better the river gets,” said Jamie Brunkow, Director of Advocacy and River Ecology for the James River Association. “The State of the James demonstrates a clear connection between funding by Virginia in clean water programs and the health of the James River. The recent historic level of investments in wastewater and agricultural pollution controls are already paying dividends for the millions of Virginians who rely on the James River.”
JRA’s State of the James is a report card for the river, summarizing ongoing efforts to bring the James back to full health. The State of the James is issued every two years to examine the status and trends of 18 indicators that fall within two categories – River Health and River Restoration. For each indicator, the James River Association utilizes the most current data available and evaluates it based on benchmarks set by the state or other authorities to define what is needed to achieve a fully healthy river.
To learn more about the State of the James, visit www.stateofthejames.org, or contact Angie Williams at awilliams@thejamesriver.org to be connected with a member of JRA’s advocacy team.
ABOUT THE JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: The James River Association 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, the James River Association works toward its vision of a fully healthy James River supporting thriving communities. With offices in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Scottsville, the James River Association is committed to protecting the James River and connecting people to it. For more information visit www.thejamesriver.org.