Pollution

Pollution is the greatest factor affecting the health of the James River. There are many forms of pollution including bacteria, heavy metals and toxins, but the most prevalent forms of pollution affecting the James are sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus. These pollutants cause a variety of problems including decreased water clarity and excessive algae growth, which in turn degrade water clarity, habitat and food sources for many aquatic organisms. Pollution also greatly diminishes people’s enjoyment of the river and can be a threat to drinking water supplies and human health.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort, has established specific limits for the average amount of sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that the James River can withstand and still be healthy. Pollution reductions throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, including the James River, have not met the goals and as a result, in 2010 the EPA was required by court order to initiate a new cleanup process. In turn, Virginia has developed a new cleanup plan for the James River detailing how it will meet the pollution limits. Virginia is also conducting a more detailed 3-year study on the health of the tidal James River, which may change the pollution limits when the study is completed.

JRA tracks annual monitoring data for pollution levels which have a significant influence on the River’s health year to year. However, we measure progress toward the established pollution limits by using a 10-year rolling average that removes the influence of annual weather variations, and reflects progress on actual pollution controls.

Sediment Pollution Reduction - 25%
(-35% 2-year change)

Over the past 15 years, although the annual sediment pollution levels were below the target levels roughly 50% of the the time, the long-term average sediment level for the James River has not improved at all. In fact, the 2010 average pollution level is higher than it was in 1998. This lack of progress is largely caused by the extremely high sediment pollution levels in 2003 and 2010 when sediment pollution increased dramatically even when adjusted for the increase runoff volume. This indicates that the James River is still susceptible to high pollution levels during years with heavy rainfall. In order to make stronger progress in protecting the James River from sediment pollution impacts, it is very important to restore the river’s natural filters, like riparian forests, wetlands and filter feeders, as well as continued erosion and pollution controls.

Nitrogen Pollution Reduction – 34%
(-1% 2-Year Change)

Despite ongoing efforts to implement pollution control projects, nitrogen pollution in the James continues to exceed the limits set for the river. The long-term adjusted average shows significant progress made from 1994 to 2000 but since then pollution reductions have leveled off. Since 1985, nitrogen levels have only achieved target levels four times, and based on the long-term adjusted average, only 34% of the goal has been reached. In order to achieve the nitrogen pollution reductions needed for the James, even more care needs to be taken to ensure that nitrogen input is controlled from all sources, including wastewater, development and agriculture.

Phosphorus Pollution Reductions – 81%
(+2% 2-Year Change)

From 1994 to 2002, steady progress was made in reducing phosphorus pollution in the James River. This is largely due to strong actions like the phosphate detergent ban and improvements at wastewater treatment plants. However, similar to nitrogen levels, progress has stalled over the past 10 years. After pollution reductions improved an average of 7% per year from 1994-2002, the improvement over the past 9 years was only 1% per year. In 2010, 81% of the required reductions have been met. The slowing of phosphorus reductions indicates that greater effort will be needed in order to reach the pollution reduction goal for the James River.