Current Activities

BMP Signage

The MJRT is implementing a 2016 grant from DEQ for best management practice signage. The objective is to increase public awareness and knowledge of BMPs and James River watershed water quality issues, especially as it relates to local and the Chesapeake Bay pollution diet(s). This sign is located at the Westview on the James public boat landing in Goochland county.  
Rain Gardens

We partnered with the City of Charlottesville, the City of Lynchburg, and Chesterfield County to design and assist with plant costs for three rain gardens, one in each locality.  This project is being conducted to improve local water quality, but it is also being conducted to engage local communities and serve as an example of environmental stewardship.  These rain gardens are being installed in public areas such as an elementary school in Charlottesville, a community center in Lynchburg, and a library in Chesterfield.  

We are using the planting installations as community events and workshops in order to share with local residents ways in which they can reduce their impact to local waterways including installing their own rain garden.
James River Pet Waste Coalition
Richmond Regional Pet Waste Campaign

The goal of the Richmond Regional Pet Waste Committee is to educate the public about the environmental impacts of pet waste and the importance of picking up after pets. The committee was formed in response to many of the area's rivers and streams being impaired by bacteria, including bacteria from pet waste. The committee also aims to create uniformity in the information on pet waste that is being spread by the localities in the Richmond area. 

The PUP Club was formed by the committee as a way to recognize pet owners that are doing their party by picking up after pets and properly disposing of the waste.

Resources
The James River Watershed Educational Activity Sheets
James River Watershed Education Activity Sheets

The Roundtable was awarded a Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Grant supporting the creation of educational activity sheets for children. The activity sheets educate children and adults about watersheds and pollution prevention; the activity sheets are suitable for diners, family-style restaurants, community centers, churches and schools. One of the main goals of this project is to reach a diverse audience throughout the watershed. There are over 62,000 sheets ready to be distributed across the James River watershed.

Contact us to receive activity sheets for your establishment »

The activity sheet is designed to be an interactive way to educate and entertain children. The front of the sheet can be colored and allows for children to pinpoint everyday human activities and animals that impact the James River. The back portion of the sheet contains activities that connect children to the watershed including an educational and engaging pollution word search.

The James River Watershed Educational Activity Sheets
Storm Drain Markers

Storm drains are not trashcans. Water flows untreated from our storm drains into our rivers. Therefore any waste dumped into a storm drain will be carried directly into the water that we rely on for drinking and recreating. If we remember, "only rain down the drain" and we keep our trash, waste, motor oil, pet waste and chemicals out of our storm drains, we can do our part to improve local water quality.

The Middle James Roundtable had curb markers designed to label storm drains in the Middle James Watershed. These markers can be adhered to the sidewalk, curb or grate and are an easily visible reminder that our storm drains flow directly into the river untreated.

Free curb marker kits are available! Contact us for an application. »
Coaster Project
The Middle James Roundtable’s Education and Outreach Working Group had coasters designed that are being distributed to local restaurants throughout the watershed. These coasters include five ways to help the James River.
Five Ways to Help the James River
There are countless things that we can do to improve water quality in our rivers and streams. There are five examples.

  1. Go Native. Landscape Your Lawn with Native Plants.
    2. Native plants are those plants which have evolved in our region and have adapted to the unique climate, soils and rainfall specific to our region. Many of our native plants are losing habitat or space in which to grow. Planting your garden or landscaping your lawn with native plants not only preserves some of our natural history, it also reduces the amount of time and money you will need to spend on your garden or lawn, the amount of labor and expensive additives. 

  2. Save Some $ -- Use the Right Amount of Fertilizer at the Right Time.
    3. You can save yourself some money by testing the soil in your lawn before purchasing fertilizer. You can also save money by fertilizing at the right time of year when nutrients are needed the most and can be taken up by the plant's root system. Many grasses in Virginia should be fertilized in the fall rather than the spring. Never fertilize before it rains – not only will you be washing the fertilizer away and into our streams but you will also be washing your money away! 

  3. See Spot Poop? See Dick and Jane Scoop.
    4. Animal waste may contain harmful bacteria, viruses and nutrients that are detrimental to our waterways. If pet waste is not disposed of properly (sealed in a plastic bag and thrown away in the garbage or flushed down the toilet) it can be carried by stormwater into our waterways thus polluting our valuable natural resource. Do yourself a favor – Scoop the Poop! 

  4. Only Rain Down the Drain. Water in Storm Drains Goes Untreated to our Rivers.
    5. The water in storm drains is NOT treated before it enters our waterways. Therefore pieces of litter, animal waste, chemicals and motor oil that are dumped in the drain will flow directly to our rivers, which further pollutes our waters. Place your waste in the proper receptacles and recycle what you can! 

  5. Spend a Day on the James.
    6. Motivate yourself to help improve water quality in the James River by spending a day on or around the river. Spend a day swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, writing, sunbathing, hiking, or fishing and pause for a moment to realize how important the resource is that we are trying to protect.
In this Section:
  • Rain Garden Initiative
  • Richmond Regional Pet Waste Campaign
  • James River Watershed Education Activity Sheets
  • Storm Drain Markers
  • Coaster Project