Our friends at the James River Association recently released the volunteer opportunities they’ll have in the coming year, from trash cleanups to becoming a JRA RiverRat to monitoring water quality in the James watershed. Check it out and get involved.

        FEBRUARY

February 9, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, RiverRats Training
Training for JRA’s RiverRats program, to be held at JRA’s Office located at 9 S 12th Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, VA. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Visit our website at www.thejamesriver.org for more information. Pre-registration is required.

February 27, 6:30-8:00 pm, Rain Barrel Workshop
This is not a volunteer event, but participants will build a barrel to take home with them. The workshop will be held at REI located at 2020 Old Brick Road, Glen Allen. The cost is $65 per barrel for the public or $35 for River Hero Homes.  Pre-registration is required.

MARCH

March 6, 10:00 am – Noon, Rain Garden Maintenance and Cleanup
Help with weeding, planting, and mulching of several rain gardens. We will also be cleaning up trash along the creek. All tools will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Meet in the parking lot behind Advance Auto, 6300 W Broad Street, Richmond. Pre-registration is required.

March 30 – James River Watch: Citizen Water Quality Monitoring
Training will be in Richmond, but exact location and time is to be determined.
JRA is launching a new water quality monitoring initiative across the James River watershed – from Buchanan to Newport News. JRA will introduce you to the types of harmful bacteria, and provide an overview of sampling methods and analysis. Sampling will occur weekly from May to September, and data will be made available to the public on JRA’s James River Watch website (thejamesriver.org/jrw).  No monitoring or science background is required. JRA will assign volunteers to sampling teams, and work with each volunteer to help establish a sampling schedule that fits individual schedules/availability.

APRIL
April 5, 9:30 am – Noon, Trash Cleanup and Storm Drain Marking
We will be cleaning up trash from the creek and along the streets and installing education storm drain markers in the Bellemeade neighborhood. Please meet at the park entrance located at Minefee Street and Gunn Street in Richmond, VA. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Supplies will be provided. Pre-registration is required.
April 6 – James River Watch: Citizen Water Quality Monitoring
Training will be in Williamsburg, but exact location and time is to be determined.
JRA is launching a new water quality monitoring initiative across the James River watershed – from Buchanan to Newport News. JRA will introduce you to the types of harmful bacteria, and provide an overview of sampling methods and analysis. Sampling will occur weekly from May to September, and data will be made available to the public on JRA’s James River Watch website (thejamesriver.org/jrw).  No monitoring or science background is required. JRA will assign volunteers to sampling teams, and work with each volunteer to help establish a sampling schedule that fits individual schedules/availability.

April 10, 6:30-8:00 pm, Rain Barrel Workshop
This is not a volunteer event, but participants will build a barrel to take home with them. The workshop will be held at Ellwood Thompson’s located at 4 N Thompson Street, Richmond. The cost is $65 per barrel for the public or $35 for River Hero Homes. Pre-registration is required.

April 20 – James River Watch: Citizen Water Quality Monitoring
Training will be in Lynchburg, but exact location and time is to be determined.
JRA is launching a new water quality monitoring initiative across the James River watershed – from Buchanan to Newport News. JRA will introduce you to the types of harmful bacteria, and provide an overview of sampling methods and analysis. Sampling will occur weekly from May to September, and data will be made available to the public on JRA’s James River Watch website (thejamesriver.org/jrw).  No monitoring or science background is required. JRA will assign volunteers to sampling teams, and work with each volunteer to help establish a sampling schedule that fits individual schedules/availability.

April 22, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Earth Day Trash Cleanup
We will be cleaning up trash at Great Shiplock Park and along the roadside. Please meet in the parking lot at Great Shiplock in Richmond, VA. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Supplies will be provided. Pre-registration is required.
MAY

May 4, 10:00 am – Noon, Shoreline Trash Cleanup
We will be cleaning up trash along the shoreline at Huntington Park Beach in Newport News. Please meet in the parking lot at the beach. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Supplies will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

AUGUST

August 3, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, RiverRats Training
Training for JRA’s RiverRats program, to be held in Lynchburg. Exact location to be determined. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is required. For more information visit our website at www.thejamesriver.org

SEPTEMBER

September 21, 9:30 am – Noon, Rain Garden Maintenance and Cleanup
Help with weeding, planting, and mulching of several rain gardens. All tools will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Meet in the parking lot behind Advance Auto, 6300 W Broad Street, Richmond. Pre-registration is required.

NOVEMBER

November 9, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, RiverRats Training
Training for JRA’s RiverRats program, to be held at JRA’s Office located at 9 S 12th Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, VA. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is required. For more information visit our website at www.thejamesriver.org

ONGOING

Become a River Hero Home! River Hero Homes is a way to recognize homeowners who are successfully taking steps to improve water quality by reducing the amount of stormwater and pollution leaving their property.  Becoming a River Hero Home is a simple way to help protect the James River. For more infomation visit www.jamesriverhero.org