Oregon Hill tipped us to an RTD piece on Department of Environmental Quality report on pollution in Virginia waterways:

The stretch from the Boulevard Bridge to just upriver from the Mayo Bridge — an area popular with paddlers, waders and swimmers — was listed as polluted with mercury and the long-banned pesticides DDT and chlordane.

That stretch already was known to be polluted by fecal bacteria, primarily from the waste of wildlife and upriver cattle, among other sources.

DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said the additional pollutants don’t pose a threat to people in the river. They primarily mean that eating fish from that stretch could be unsafe.

Gerel said, “More than likely all this has been there forever, and we just haven’t caught it” until now.

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An email circulating says that now is the time to check out the herring run in the James River:

If you have never had the opportunity to see the huge schools of fish in the James river, especially along the Pipeline Rapids NOW is the time. I have never seen the schools of fish this thick. The water is relatively low and clear, great for seeing the huge schools

Hike along the pipeline trail starting near 14th street on the North side of the river and walk upstream along the pipe. Polarized sunglasses will help you see the vast schools of herring that have swum upriver to spawn.

Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will continue offering its guided walks on the Slave Trail throughout March and has added a new walk to see the growing nesting colony of Great Blue Herons in the James River Park.

The guided walks along the Slave Trail will be offered on the remaining Saturdays in March at 2 p.m. These are emotional walks that originate at the docks at Ancarrow’s Landing in the James River Park and cross the river to conclude at the site of Lumpkin’s Jail and the Reconciliation Statue.

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From the City:

The city of Richmond will close several city streets on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, due to anticipated flooding, as the James River crests from heavy rains in the western portions of Virginia.

If motorist encounter standing water on any street, they should not try to drive through it as hidden obstacles may exist.

The following streets will close at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26, and are expected to reopen at noon on Thursday, January 28:

North of the River:

Dock Street between 19th Street and Water Street

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Celebrate the James River with an evening of storytelling on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Richmond Times-Dispatch downtown offices. The event will feature stories from the people who fish, explore, swim and protect the James. Times-Dispatch writer Rex Springston and photographer P. Kevin Morley will also share their experiences creating the year-long series, the James River Journal.

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A manatee has been spotted in the James River, just past downtown. A spokeswoman from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries confirms the sighting.

Anyone who sees the manatee or gets a picture of it should call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (804) 693-6694. However, a wildlife service official asked that people not go out looking for the animal, which is an endangered species. Officials don’t want people hitting the manatee with their boats or otherwise disturbing it. [via]

The Royal Bank of Canada will present the Blue Water Project Leadership Grant to the James River Association today. The grant will help JRA continue its mission to conserve the James River and protect the James from polluted runoff. Congratulations! [via]

James River clean up is scheduled for Sunday, September 13  at 2:00pm, rain or shine.  Meet at the 14th Street “Take-Out” Parking Lot (just past the north flood wall).

Participants will help to beautify downtown Richmond by cleaning and painting in the vicinity of a 42-inch combined sewer interceptor between Brown’s Island and 14th Street, along the James River. The event will be in partnership with the City of Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the James River Outdoor Coalition. Informal happy hour is following the service event around 5pm at Legend Brewing Company in Manchester.

Questions, e-mail Chris.Hull@ch2m.com

The RTD features a story today on the increasing popularity of snorkeling in the James. People who have been taking advantage of the snorkeling opportunities for years joke that it is the “poor man’s Bahamas.” Apparently, if you desire to come face to face with monster catfish, now is the best time to do it.

In late summer, when hot, rainless days leave the James running low and clear, a dip with a mask and snorkel can open up a surprisingly entertaining aquatic world.

For those interested in snorkeling in the James, the city offers a how-to brochure for $2. [via]

Paul Hammond who writes Lost Art of the City attended this morning’s discussion on how to create a great waterfront, and has posted a brief recap of what was discussed.

Not all of this squared with the Downtown Master Plan behind the discussion, but PPS made clear these were decisions that we had to make. They were just offering us the benefit of their experience. I think we should look at what they have shared with us. We have a tremendous resource and the opportunity to put a stamp on the city that will last for generations. Look at what has been done elsewhere. We can do just as good or better here.

RVA News has their own, slightly more critical recap of the meeting.

Excuse us for not jumping up and down about the lessons that Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, San Diego, and Vancouver offer for Richmond’s waterfront development. A more realistic and relatable example might have helped.

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The Department of Community Development is hosting a public talk to discuss creating a great waterfront.

The Vice-President of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), in New York City, is coming to Richmond Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 am to speak on key steps for creating great waterfronts. The public is invited to attend a talk by Ethan Kent followed by a Question-and-Answer session.

As more cities envision their waterfronts as lively public destinations that keep people coming back, PPS outlines the following principles to make that happen. They are not all hard and fast laws, but rules of thumb drawn from 32 years of experience working to improve urban waterfronts around the world. These ideas can serve as the framework for any waterfront project seeking to create vibrant public spaces, and, by extension, a vibrant city.

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In February, City Council considered preserving the James River Park System with a conservation easement. The conservation easement was signed into law on Friday, May 29, 2009. It is now guaranteed that about 280 acres of James River Park System, Belle Isle, and Great Shiplock Park can never be sold or developed. The easement also cannot be undone by future state and city leaders.  

Shared Air suggests that this might be the first major urban park system in the country preserved in perpetuity under a conservation easement.  [via]

Many of you may be heading down to the river to celebrate Memorial Day, but stick to the banks. After significant amounts of rain, authorities say the high water levels are dangerous. Emergency crews had to rescue four people today during a tubing trip gone awry.  [via]

Hills and Heights has a post up on all the things you can learn about the James through the RTD.