River Advocacy

The James River Association strives to provide a voice for the River on important legal and policy issues. Through the Healthy Rivers Initiative, serving on legislative advisory boards, lobbying at the General Assembly, and bringing suit when necessary, JRA works to fight for the health of the James River.

Choose Clean Water

JRA HELPS LAUNCH NEW “CHOOSE CLEAN WATER” CAMPAIGN
Unprecedented Coalition to Push for Stronger Federal, State and Local Action

Lisa Jackson, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, announces the Presidential Executive Order promising stronger federal action to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.  JRA and the Clean Water Campaign will be working to make sure these promises are kept.

More than 60 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of members and activists from throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed joined together Wednesday on Capitol Hill to launch a new coordinated campaign to push for stronger federal, state and local action for restoration of streams and rivers draining to the Chesapeake Bay.

The James River Association and other participating organizations launched this new campaign at a press conference and briefing for the media, Members of Congress and the Administration in the Capitol on Wednesday, May 20th.

Congressional leaders including US Senator Ben Cardin (MD), US Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), US Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), US Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD-01) and US Rep. Bob Goodlatte joined with leaders of regional and national conservation organizations for the event.

The coalition has identified several opportunities to improve water quality at the federal level, including implementation of President Obama’s recent Executive Order related to Chesapeake Bay restoration.  “With President Obama’s new executive order seeking a stronger federal response to Bay restoration efforts, we have a unique opportunity to shape the federal role and ensure everyone’s right to clean water,” said coalition director Hilary Harp Falk.

“We are very excited to be part of this new effort because clean water is important for everyone in our region.  The state of the Chesapeake is only the cumulative result of the many policy decisions made by our leaders every day, and together we will provide the public voice and the mandate for change.  From now on when faced with a choice, we must choose clean water,” said Bill Street, Executive Director of the James River Association. 

Healthy Rivers Initiative

The Healthy Rivers Initiative is a project combining the forces of the four largest river organizations in Virginia: Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, Friends of the Rappahannock, the Potomac Conservancy, and JRA. Working together, these four groups are pushing Virginia’s General Assembly to allocate dedicated funding for clean water in the amount of 2.5 billion dollars over the next 10-15 years.

Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development (LID) is an environmental-friendly development process that involves altering site planning, design and development so that the impact of stormwater on the surrounding area has been reduced.  LID requirements are intended to complement current stormwater regulations. LID can often save on construction costs due to a reduction in storm drains, piping and ponds which are used to transport stormwater in traditional stormwater management practices.  By reducing these traditional practices the developable area may be increased, making the site more profitable and it may also increase the marketability of the site.

The environmental benefits of LID include: reducing stormwater impact on wetlands, streams and coastal waters; enhancing surface and groundwater quality; offering better protection of ecological and biological systems; and preserving open space.

More information on LID:
Low Impact Development Center
Municipal Guide to Low Impact Development
The Practice of Low Impact Development
Low Impact Development Survey 4/09 (PDF, 128 kb)

Virginia Natural Resource Commitment Fund

During the 2009 General Assembly session the top priority for JRA was to continue the Virginia Natural Resource Commitment Fund, which was started in 2008 and was reapproved for $20 million in 2009, as originally proposed by Governor Kaine.  This fund is used as a cost share for agricultural conservation practices such as no-till farming, winter cover crops, nutrient management  plans to guide fertilizer applications, streamside buffers and stream fencing for livestock, also referred to as Best Management Practices(BMP). Farm runoff contributes almost a third of the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in Virginia’s rivers. These BMPs could achieve nearly 60% of the runoff reductions needed at nearly 4% of the cost.

Stormwater Regulations

Stormwater Management Program

Reducing urban stormwater runoff is crucial to our efforts to protect our local streams and the James River.

In a recent EPA report it was found that the states in the Chesapeake Bay region are doing too little to address urban runoff; in fact, urban runoff pollution is negating pollution reductions realized elsewhere. The way that Virginia manages stormwater will be the single greatest factor determining the future health of Virginia’s streams, creeks, rivers and bays and the condition in which we pass these treasured natural assets to future generations. 

These rules require new developments to limit pollution in stormwater runoff and the amount or “quantity” of runoff at levels that will protect local streams that flow through our backyards, past our favorite fishing and swimming holes, and into the James River downstream.  The current stormwater requirements are over 20 years old and the new rules incorporate the best science and practices available for controlling stormwater.

The DCR has proposed a fair and sensible strategy for Virginia to accommodate future development while helping to ensure healthy waters.

Proposed changes to parts 1, 2, and 3 can be found here: http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewstage.cfm?stageid=5070&display=documents

Proposed changes to part 13 can be found here: http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewstage.cfm?stageid=5106&display=documents