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
Proposal for Primitive Camping Area at Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Park Approved
The Charles City County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal for the creation of a small primitive camping area at Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Park at its meeting, Tuesday, September 26.
Tell National Marine Fisheries Service to Protect Atlantic Sturgeon
Atlantic sturgeon need your help! This evening, September 13th, the comment period will end for a permit which will harm the fragile return of the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon to the James River. This permit, currently being reviewed by the National Marine...
