Shoreline Restoration

What is shoreline restoration and why is it important?

The James River Association is committed to restoring the shorelines within the tidal Lower James and its many tributaries. This is a dynamic area; storms, wind and tide have long affected the shape of the shoreline and the surrounding habitat.

The State of the James is a report card summarizing ongoing efforts to bring the James River back to full health. This comprehensive assessment of the health of the river is published every two years. View the report to see how the river’s health has changed.

u

What are we doing?

To protect vulnerable areas, the James River Association is employing nature-based “living shorelines” as a method to slow erosion. Using a combination of native grasses, bio-degradable coir logs, and occasionally oyster castles, a stable tidal marsh may be created. This marsh can attenuate wave energy, absorb flood waters, absorb pollutants, and act as a habitat for native animals.

u

What can you do?

From the Marsh: General Assembly Update – Flood Resilience Advances

For this special guest blog edition of From the Marsh we're turning to Richmond for some updates from the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. Grace Tucker with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) provides a recap of flood resilience legislation from this session....

Living Shoreline Collaborative Partner Highlight: Barbara Gavin

Welcome to the Living Shoreline Collaborative’s (LSC) Partner Highlights! In this series, we are meeting with LSC partners to learn more about them, their home organizations, and why they have chosen to be a part of the collaborative.In this month’s Living Shoreline...

Living Shoreline Cost Share Application Period Extended

 Welcome back to the marsh! The James River Association is excited to announce that our Living Shoreline Cost-Share Program has been extended through the end of the year. What is a living shoreline? Living shorelines are nature-based solutions to erosion and work to...

Living Shoreline Collaborative Partner Highlight: Shereen Hughes

Welcome to the Living Shoreline Collaborative’s (LSC) Partner Highlights! In this series, we are meeting with LSC partners to learn more about them, their home organizations, and why they have chosen to be a part of the collaborative.Our first partner highlight of the...