Raise Your Voice
Help strengthen the voice for the river by joining our Action Network. We’ll keep you up to date on the latest river policy issues and connect you to your elected officials so you can let them know that water quality is important to you.
Sign up for our Action Network
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
Press Statement: Governor’s Report Identifies Critical Needs to Protect the James River
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 19th, 2019 CONTACT:Jamie BrunkowRiverkeeper and Senior Advocacy Manager(757) 634-4541jbrunkow@thejamesriver.org Governor’s Report Identifies Critical Needs to Protect the James River Today,...
Tell the Army Corps of Engineers to Find Alternatives to the Surry-Skiffes Power Lines
Earlier this year a federal court ruled that the massive power lines and 17 towers across the James River at Jamestown were constructed unlawfully. The Army Corps of Engineers was ordered to revisit the permitting process and to complete an Environmental Impact...