Ncsi 280: Ecology - the James River

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The 2013 State of the James River report gives the river’s health an overall score of 53% and a grade of C (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para.1). This represents a 2% increase over the past two years (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para.1). These results underscore two important conclusions: First, we are making progress where Virginia has made significant commitments and investments (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para.1). Secondly, there are key factors that remain critically low and must be addressed in order to achieve a fully healthy James River (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para.1). The modest 2% overall increase reflects progress made in advancing restoration and protection actions and the resulting pollution reductions and habitat improvements (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 2). Over the past decade, Virginia has invested significantly in wastewater treatment upgrades at sewage treatment plants and industrial facilities, has increased funding for agricultural conservation practices, and focused more attention on urban storm water pollution (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 2). These actions have resulted in meaningful progress on nitrogen and phosphorus pollution reductions as well as increased growth of underwater grasses (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 2). The amount of improvement in the overall score was hindered by several factors where the health of the James River continues to struggle (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 3). Most notably, sediment pollution has shown no improvement over the past 20 years and pollution reductions remain below 10% of the goal for the James River (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 3). The low score for sediment pollution reductions contradicts the decreased score for stream health and the river’s failing water clarity, to which sediment pollution is the leading cause (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 3). The James River is an excellent demonstration that we can bring about improved environmental health and water quality if we make the necessary commitments and investments, but also that we must strengthen our efforts in order to fully safeguard our most precious natural resource, water, for current and future generations (James River Association [Summary], 2015, para. 3).

References

James River Association. (2015). About The James. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/about-the-james

James River Association. (2015). Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/fish-and-wildlife

James River Association. (2015). Habitat. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/habitat

James River Association. (2015). [James River Final Scores]. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/habitat

James River Association. (2015). [James River Report Card]. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/habitat

James River Association. (2015). James River Watershed. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/james-river-watershed

James River Association. (2015). [Map of the James River Watershed]. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/james-river-watershed

James River Association. (2015). Pollution. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/pollution

James River Association. (2015). Summary. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/the-james-river/state-of-the-james/summary

James River Runners. (2015). Local History and Facts. Retrieved from

http://www.jamesriver.com/teacher.htm

NOAA. (2013). Invasive Catfish. Retrieved from

http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/fish-facts/invasive-catfish

“Watersheds and Divides”. (n.d.). James River/Shenandoah River Divide. Retrieved from

http://virginiaplaces.org/watersheds/3wsheds.html