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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
Richmond’s City Council Fully Funds Accessibility Projects Along the James River
Richmond’s riverfront and James River Park System are on their way to becoming more accessible thanks to action taken by City Council earlier this week. On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, Richmond’s City Council adopted an ordinance that restores funding to the Universal...
2019 Chesapeake Bay Report Card: James River Sees Slight Recovery But Remains Strained by Pollution and Changing Climate
The latest annual report card for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, issued by the University of Maryland, showed the overall health score for the James River increased four points from 50% in 2018 to 54% in 2019. Chesapeake Bay health declined 3 points from 47%...
