The State of the James: Cheers to 50 Years of Watershed Progress!
As the foremost nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the James River and connecting people to it, the James River Association (JRA) across the 10,000 square-mile James River watershed to improve the health of the James and its tributaries. Since 1976, JRA has worked with partners and communities to implement projects that improve water quality and advocate for policies and funding to restore the health of the James. JRA’s impact is measured by the State of the James, a report released every two years that features 18 indicators used to score the health of the river as well as the effectiveness of restoration efforts. Among these indicators, stormwater pollution controls stand out as a top concern. JRA promotes stormwater management improvements across sectors and project types. On private developments and in public streets, innovative green infrastructure reduces stormwater runoff while strengthening the resilience of communities and connecting people to nature. In urban and suburban areas, green infrastructure project implementation yields community benefits including intercepting and filtering stormwater, improving air quality, and reducing the urban heat island effect. These projects foster a cleaner and healthier river by removing sediment and nutrients from runoff across the James River watershed.
Author Bio
Justin Doyle is the Director of Community Conservation at the James River Association. Knowledgeable in local and regional planning, urban design, economic development, and natural resources issues he is dedicated to promoting conservation and responsible stewardship of our natural resources across the James River basin. Hunter Nimmo is an Urban Planner at Timmons Group, specializing in due diligence, entitlement, and early design of land development projects. With a background in environmental policy and economics, he is committed to promoting an urban design which protects our natural landscape. Amelia Wehunt is a principle, professional engineer, and senior project manager at Timmons, specializing in planning, design, and implementation of urban, infill, and community park site design. She has a passion for providing sustainable solutions to meet the unique needs of her clients.
