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James River Association honors river stewards in honor of 50th anniversary of Clean Water Act

James Changer Awards are given annually to individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to the James River watershed, including those who protect the James, connect people to the James, support the James, and volunteer for the James.

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In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the James River Association (JRA) held its 2022 Annual Meeting this week, which took place at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location. As part of the event, JRA presented five “James Changer” awards to community members that made remarkable impacts on the James River over the past year.

James Changer Awards are given annually to individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to the James River watershed, including those who protect the James, connect people to the James, support the James, and volunteer for the James.

Award recipients included John and Dan Mays, the proprietors of Twin River Outfitters and Alleghany Outdoors, and longtime partners of JRA. Over the past decade, they have supported several JRA volunteer programs and played a leadership role in planning and developing the Upper James River Water Trail in collaboration with local governments and organizations.

Filmmakers and adventure partners Justin Black, Will Gemma, Stephen Kuester, Andrew Murray, and Dietrich Teschner were awarded for their dedication to the James through visionary environmental documentary, Headwaters Down, which chronicles a paddling trip from the headwaters of the James to Richmond. The film highlights several conservation issues and calls-to-action to protect the James, and has won several awards at film festivals in 2022 including the RVA Environmental Film Festival and the Richmond International Film Festival.

Robertnette Williams took home an award for his continued partnership and advocacy of JRA’s Walkable Watershed project in Petersburg, VA. As a long-established resident of the Lakemont neighborhood, Mr. Williams joined the project in 2015, and was crucial to ensuring his fellow neighbors’ voices were heard. He has participated in everything from grassroots flyering efforts to drainage studies and project implementation to tackle stormwater and flooding issues in the Lakemont community. He remains an integral part of the project’s efforts today.

Senator Emmett Hanger was awarded for his commitment to the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s agricultural industry. Since Senator Hanger joined the Senate Finance Committee in 2004, over $2.7 billion have been invested in clean water programs like the Water Quality Investment Fund and the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund. This past General Assembly session, with Senator Hanger’s dogged support, Virginia finally reached an elusive goal and historic milestone for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program by fully funding the state’s share of the program’s needs for the first time in its history.

Awarded for their extraordinary support, The Cabell Foundation granted JRA an incredible $2 million gift towards the organization’s $25 million James Changer Campaign. JRA has been grateful to enjoy a very long standing relationship with The Cabell Foundation, and $1 million of the gift was designated to be used as a challenge grant which provided JRA new opportunity to inspire potential donors. The Cabell Foundation’s generosity will enhance and increase JRA’s ability to serve more students across the watershed at River Centers in Lynchburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg.

In addition to presenting James Changing accolades to those who have helped to improve the health of the river, JRA is also celebrating the CWA anniversary by highlighting the impact of the river on members of the community through their Stories by the James project. A storytelling platform that features diverse voices sharing how the river has influenced their lives, Stories by the James aims to create connection and understanding by driving home the point that while we may all have different backgrounds and experiences, the river is a common current running through all our stories, and bringing us together.

“The Clean Water Act has been transformational for the health of our waterways, especially the James River,” said Bill Street, JRA’s CEO. “50 years ago, the River was one of the most polluted rivers in the nation, suffering from untreated sewage and unchecked chemical dumping. The water was too toxic for local wildlife and risky for recreation. Five decades of hard work and investment later, the James is once again a major attraction for fishing, swimming, and enjoying the river. This is in large part due to the Clean Water Act, as well as organizations like JRA and our dedicated community members and James Changers.”

River lovers can currently take action to help ensure strong state water funding in honor of the CWA by clicking here. To find out more information about how the James River Association has taken critical actions to promote conservation and responsible stewardship of the James River for more than 45 years, visit thejamesriver.org.

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Trevor Dickerson is the Editor and Co-Founder of RVAHub.

Community

Photos: RFD Practicing on the James

The river is running high and it’s a perfect time to practice river rescues.

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The next ones were done using a different type of lens called a Tilt Lens that throws off the perspective. I’ll have some more of these featuring the rest of the city later today or tomorrow.







Will you help support independent, local journalism?

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Community

Take a Hike on Buttermilk with Andrew Alli the James River Parks System’s Trail Manager

If you’ve never hiked Buttermilk or Northbank trails you need to fix that ASAP.

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By Stories on the James

Andrew grew up in the Richmond area and was drawn to the James from a very early age. What began as a mysterious and magical body of water in his life eventually became one of the strongest and most consistent connectors to his community, his career, and his love of music.

Andrew gives us a sneak peek into his world of trail management with the James River Park System, discusses the ins and outs of how a trail is a living, growing thing that must be maintained, shares his journey as a blues musician and harmonica player, and never stops advocating for the protection of the river and our natural spaces.

Will you help support independent, local journalism?

We need your help. RVAHub is a small, independent publication, and we depend on our readers to help us provide a vital community service. If you enjoy our content, would you consider a donation as small as $5? We would be immensely grateful! Interested in advertising your business, organization, or event? Get the details here.

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Community

James River Association is Recruiting Students for the Adventure of a Lifetime

The James River Association (JRA) is currently seeking student and teacher applications for James River Leadership Expeditions (JRLE), a year-long program for high schoolers interested in advocating for the James River.

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The James River Association (JRA) is currently seeking student and teacher applications for James River Leadership Expeditions (JRLE), a year-long program for high schoolers interested in advocating for the James River.

Photo Credit: JRA

The program is segmented into four sessions running from July 2023 through May 2024, and it provides students with the opportunity to enjoy river-based education, build new friendships, develop leadership skills, and carry out a community capstone project. JRA will accept 30 students in the 2023-24 program across the James River watershed.

JRLE kicks off during the summer with Session One, perhaps the program’s most beloved experience: a week-long, overnight paddle adventure on the James River. These trips are divided into three excursions covering the Upper, Middle, and Lower James.

Photo Credit: JRA

Throughout the trip, students learn technical skills like how to canoe and camp overnight and they receive further education through unparalleled access to local culture, history, and environmental teachings. They also experience a highly unique setting that gives them the chance to build confidence, self-esteem, and relationships with their fellow participants.

Nash McDowell, a JRLE alum who previously participated in the program, has this advice for students considering the program: “If I could tell students one thing, it’s that you will never experience something like this again. The James River Association is offering an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world. To spend one week on the James River, technology-free, with good company, is something very hard to find. When the opportunity presents itself, take it.”

Continuing into the school year, JRLE’s second session offers an overnight brainstorming event where students discuss community capstone projects together. The third session consists of a working group complete with games that tap into personality styles, self-awareness, public speaking, and relationship management. The program ends with session four, a leadership launch and environmental symposium, where students can present their capstone projects and celebrate their accomplishments for the year.

“Through James River Leadership Expeditions, students learn they are capable of far more than they realize,” said Genevieve Wall, Senior Environmental Educator for JRA. “The experiences and relationships they build throughout the program help provide skills and awareness they will develop and use for years to come. As educators, we are honored to be able to sow seeds of knowledge, understanding, and connection to the James River through this unique and life-changing program. We look forward to welcoming new river stewards of tomorrow to our 2023-24 season.”

Photo Credit: JRA

The James River Leadership Expeditions program is made possible in part by generous support from the Luck Companies Foundation Fund. To learn more about JRLE and apply, visit https://thejamesriver.org/students-of-the-james/james-river-leadership-expeditions/.

Will you help support independent, local journalism?

We need your help. RVAHub is a small, independent publication, and we depend on our readers to help us provide a vital community service. If you enjoy our content, would you consider a donation as small as $5? We would be immensely grateful! Interested in advertising your business, organization, or event? Get the details here.

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