Ncsi 280: Ecology - the James River

James River Watershed

Elizabeth Walker

Bryant & Stratton College

NCSI 280: Ecology

Mr. Rudnicky

June 12, 2016

The James River is Virginia’s largest river, flowing across the entire state from its beginning at the headwaters of the Cow pasture and Jackson Rivers in Bath and Highland Counties, to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay in Hampton Roads (James River Association, 2015, para. 1).  The James is Virginia’s largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay (James River Association, 2015, para.1). The river is 340 miles long, which makes it one of the longest rivers in America that begins and ends in the same state (James River Association, 2015, para.1).  Jamestown was developed on the banks of The James in 1607 and is well known as the first permanent English settlement in colonial America (James River Runners, 2015, para.1). As the settlers moved west, the river was a focal point for numerous small villages, especially showing itself to be substantially productive as a food, travel, and water power source (James River Runners, 2015, para.1). The James is located in the Triassic Basin area and to this day petrified wood is in abundance and an occasional fossil may be found on sandbars and along its shores (James River Runners, 2015, para.1).  

The James River Watershed encompasses about 10,000 square miles, which makes up almost 25% of the state James River Association [James River Watershed], 2015, para.2). It is home to one-third of all Virginians who live in its 39 counties and 19 cities and towns, and touches the lives of more Virginians than any other feature on the landscape (James River Association [James River Watershed], 2015, para. 2).  The watershed consists of three sections: the Upper James watershed begins in Allegheny County and travels through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains until Lynchburg, the Middle James runs from Lynchburg to the Fall Line in Richmond, while the Lower James stretches from the fall line in Richmond to the Chesapeake Bay (James River Association [James River Watershed], 2015, para.3).  It’s amazing that two streams flowing in opposite directions, away from the watershed divide separating the Shenandoah/James Rivers at this spot, are both called the South River (“Watersheds and Divides”, n.d., para. 27). One "South River" flows north to Port Republic, where it joins with the Middle and North rivers to form the South Fork of the Shenandoah River (“Watersheds and Divides”, n.d., para. 27). The water flows north to Harpers Ferry, then veers east to cut through the Blue Ridge and go east to Washington DC (“Watersheds and Divides”, n.d., para. 27).  The other "South River" flows south into the Maury River near Lexington, then joins the James River and cuts through the Blue Ridge at Balcony Falls on its trip to Richmond (“Watersheds and Divides”, n.d., para. 28).

[pic 1](James River Association, 2015).

Over the past two years the key wildlife species in the James River have shown mixed results (James River Association [Fish and Wildlife], 2015, para. 1). Bald eagle populations continue to rise, making the James River home to the largest number of bald eagles in the state (James River Association [Fish and Wildlife], 2015, para. 1). Oyster populations, although still low compared to historic levels, have been showing a slow but steady increase, and smallmouth bass populations have also increased recently (James River Association [Fish and Wildlife], 2015, para. 1). After a significant increase in 2011, American shad populations have once again greatly declined, as have striped bass (rockfish) (James River Association [Fish and Wildlife], 2015, para. 1).  However, blue catfish have the potential to dominate the fish populations in tributaries where they are present, representing up to 75% of total fish biomass from recent boat electrofishing collections in the tidal James and Rappahannock Rivers (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2013, para. 4).

        The river’s most important habitat indicators have shown some increases and decreases indicating different stresses and improvements within the James River system (James River Association [Habitat], 2015, para.1). Underwater grasses continue to increase and has been documented in the main stem of the James for the first time in decades (James River Association [Habitat], 2015, para.1). In order for underwater grass populations to continue to expand, tidal water quality needs to improve (James River Association [Habitat], 2015, para.1). Tidal water quality, specifically water clarity and algae growth, has declined in the past two years, as well as the stream condition index (James River Association [Habitat], 2015, para.1). If water quality continues to decline, we run the risk of many of the wildlife and habitat indicators that are currently showing signs of improvement, regressing (James River Association [Habitat], 2015, para.1).

[pic 2](James River Association [Habitat], 2015)

[pic 3](James River Association [Habitat], 2015)

        The greatest threat to the health of the James River and its tributaries is pollution in the forms of excess nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para.1). These pollutants cause a wide variety of problems in the river and streams and serve as an indicator of other forms of pollution such as bacteria and toxins (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para.1). All of this pollution contributes to a decline in the health of, and habitat for, aquatic organisms. It can also threaten human health and drinking water supplies (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para.1). In addition to the more tangible impacts, pollution also results in a general decrease in the aesthetics of the river and in people’s ability to enjoy it, which can cause major impacts on local economies and jobs in communities that rely on the river (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para.1).  As part of the multi-state Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established specific limits for the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution that can enter each part of the Chesapeake Bay, including the tidal James River (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para. 2). Therefore, Virginia has developed a state specific plan to meet these pollution limits and reach the water quality standards for the James River (James River Association [Pollution], 2015, para. 2).