Last year the Friends of the James River Park and The Boathouse Restaurant at Rockett’s Landing started a new award to honor people and groups who work to make the James River clean, fun, accessible, etc. for all of us in the Richmond area. In 2011, the “River Heroes” were Mike Ostrander, Passages Adventure Camps and the Seven Hills Middle School for Boys, which I featured in a Times-Dispatch column last May.

The nominating process opens on Feb. 14 for the 2012 River Heroes and runs through March 14. Anyone can nominate a River Hero. As the FOJRP website says, the idea is to showcase “those who support, enhance and champion the James River.”

The James at Pipeline Rapid

Here are the ground rules:

Winners will be chosen by a committee that will include the 2011 River Heroes: Mike Ostrander, Passages Adventure Camp, and Seven Hills Middle School for Boys.

1. FOJRP board members, employees of The Boathouse, and past winners are not eligible.
2. Nominations will be accepted Feb. 14 through March 14 here on the FOJRP website or through mail and email. The online form and downloadable forms will be available on Feb. 14.
3. All you have to do is tell us: Why is this person or group a “River Hero?” Please give examples of how this person or group has either improved the condition of the James River in the metropolitan Richmond area, enhanced the use of some aspect of the river, or championed the James River in some other compelling way.