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The overall grade of the 2025 State of the James has improved to a B with a score of 68% from its failing health decades ago. Although the pace of progress has slowed, a grade-A James River is possible if we keep up our collective efforts and continue to address key issues together. However, the 2023 American shad stock assessment by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that populations of American shad in the James are at an all-time low. Given the dire situation, JRA fought for funding to develop an emergency recovery plan that identified immediate actions that could be taken to improve the American shad fishery in the James River. This plan will be delivered to Virginia Legislators in the fall of 2023 with more actions to follow, but it will take a long-term and sustained effort to bring American shad in the James River back from the brink of collapse.
Advocacy News
JRA Applauds Chesapeake Bay Executive Council’s Billion for the Bay Initiative
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2021CONTACT: Erin HillertMarketing & Communications ManagerJames River Associationehillert@thejamesriver.org | 608.239.2644James River Association Applauds Chesapeake Bay Executive Council’s Billion for the Bay...
Signing Off on an Impactful Virtual Legislative Session
On March 1st, Virginia’s General Assembly closed out its 2021 legislative session. This year, one critical task took precedence: meeting the needs of a Commonwealth still grappling with the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. JRA helped keep clean water and...
