Monitoring the River

A Riverkeeper is a full-time on the water advocate for your right to protect and defend the environment. On any given day a Riverkeeper serves as a detective, an educator, a river ambassador or a scientist. The goal of this important core program is to maintain a constant vigil on the James River, monitoring its conditions, identifying problems and ensuring that solutions are executed properly.

The James Riverkeeper Program was launched in 2001 when JRA joined the Waterkeeper Alliance. The Waterkeeper Alliance is a growing international organization with over 153 local “Riverkeeper”, “Baykeeper”, and “Coastkeeper” programs, all dedicated to protecting local waters from pollution. The idea for this program stemmed from a concept dating back to old England, and was started in America in 1983 with the Hudson Riverkeeper.

JRA has two Riverkeepers monitoring the length of the James River and its more than 15,000 miles of tributaries. You’ll find them on the water in a jon boat, kayak, canoe or doing river reconnaissance on foot and by vehicle 2 to 3 days each week.

Chuck Frederickson monitors the tidal portion of the James, from the fall line in Richmond to the river’s mouth in the Chesapeake Bay. His stretch of the river is heavily traveled by ocean-going cargo vessels coming upriver to the Deep Water Terminal south of Richmond, and barges and other commercial traffic serving industry along the river. His stretch of the lower James is a mix of agricultural, industrial usage and includes 80 percent of the watershed’s population.

Chuck has held the position of the Lower James Riverkeeper for the James River Association since May 2003. A native of the river town of Hopewell, Virginia, he has always loved the river. His previous experience includes 19 years service with the Department of the Army and ten years with the Hopewell, Virginia Public Schools. A Coast Guard licensed Captain, he has run charter fishing and guiding operations on the Chesapeake Bay and the James River. Mr. Frederickson is also a registered commercial fisherman. He holds an MEd in Education Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University and a BA in History from East Carolina University.

View a two minute video featuring the Chuck Frederickson.  Winner of the Best Television Feature by a Broadcast Student (Virginia Association of Broadcasters).  Shot and edited by Maureen Linke

Listen to John Ogle’s interview with Chuck Frederickson on the sturgeon reef project. (MP3, 3.23mb)

David Sligh patrols the river from the fall line at Richmond upstream to the river’s source in the Allegheny Mountains. His non-tidal portion of the watershed constitutes 83 percent of the land area draining into the James River and a similar proportion of the polluted runoff entering the river. The area presents unique challenges, as it is primarily agricultural and forested, but also includes several large urban areas and is facing increased development.

David joined JRA as the Upper James Riverkeeper in 2008. He grew up hiking, boating and fishing in the Upper James River and has deep roots in the region. Mr. Sligh's experience includes being Executive Director for the Soque River Watershed Association in Georgia and the Southeastern Regional Representative for American Rivers. For more than 13 years he worked on water quality issues for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and its predecessor, Virginia State Water Control Board, where his responsibilities included portions of the Upper James River. He holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia, a law degree from Vermont Law School, and is founder of the Virginia Chapter of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. He also has taught several college level classes in environmental science. (photo by Daryl Calfee)

View a video of David Sligh on the channel 19 news. View Video »

Keep Us Informed

If you see, or know of any activity that may be harmful to the James or its tributaries, call TOLL FREE: 1-800-366-9229. You do not have to leave your name, but it does help in case we need more information.

Op/Ed: James River Fish Kills a Disturbing Sign of Spring
The News & Advance, April 19, 2009

Our Projects

Mud Busters

Two sets of eyes are never enough to spot threats to the river from pollution and erosion. That’s why there are “Mud Busters.” Through this innovative program JRA’s Riverkeepers train citizen volunteers to identify and report potential problems when they see them.

Public Speaking

Anyone who spends time on the river has some good stories to tell. As ambassadors of JRA and spokespersons for the river, JRA’s Riverkeepers are frequently asked to address civic and service organizations. Through these presentations audiences learn about how such topics as sedimentation and water quality; the threat of pollution and what it means to fish and wildlife; the importance of controlling stormwater runoff; the economic aspects of a cleaner James; as well as a river conservationist’s perspective on issues such as acid rain and air pollution on water quality. Through this outreach, the Riverkeepers help people see our water resources in a new light and offer them a new prospective on protecting the James River.

Fish Kill Task Force

Each spring since 2007, smallmouth bass, sunfish and other fish in the Cowpasture, Jackson, Maury and James Rivers, and several tributaries, have been affected with lesions, fungal infections and fin rot.  A specific bacterium is now being studied as the potential cause of the deaths. Working with the state’s Fish Kill Task Force and the Department of Environmental Quality, the Upper James Riverkeeper has been conducting field work to determine locations, timing, species and the geographic extent of the problem. He has also enlisted the help of local residents in reporting the sighting of sick or dead fish.

 

Sturgeon Restoration

The James Riverkeeper and other partners in the scientific community are working to monitor and restore the Atlantic sturgeon population in the James River. The James River’s sturgeon is often called “the fish that saved Jamestown” because this large fish was so numerous that it kept the early settlers from starving. By the first half of the 20th century, overfishing and pollution, particularly sedimentation had decimated their numbers. After almost a decade of tagging and monitoring the James’ sturgeon population, an ambitious program is underway to help increase the number of Atlantic sturgeon in the river. Through a partnership that includes the James River Association, up to three artificial spawning reefs will be constructed in the Lower James.  These reefs reproduce the ideal spawning ground conditions that once existed in the river. The reefs and the river will continue to be monitored for the presence of eggs, juvenile fish and mature adults.

Poultry Waste Legislation

Sometimes the most important work of a Riverkeeper takes place far from the water.  In the region of the Upper James, large scale poultry producers have more waste than they can use. This valuable high-nitrogen fertilizer is then trucked to other agricultural users. According to Virginia, Department of Environmental Quality, in 2005 more than 250,000 tons of poultry litter was moved across Virginia. Improper transport, storage or application of poultry litter can lead to excess runoff entering streams and rivers each time it rains.  Upper James Riverkeeper is working to make individuals aware of this growing threat to the river and the need to require proper management of poultry waste.