About the Consortium
About Us
Vision
Mission
Values
- Collaboration
We can go further together and seek opportunities to support, collaborate with, and learn from diverse partners both within and outside the James River watershed. - Stewardship
We care for our existing riparian buffers and believe that stewardship is vital to sustained improvements in water quality and successful buffers. - Holistic
We integrate practices such as livestock exclusion fencing, streambank stabilization, grass and forest buffers, and conservation easements that respond to landowner, landscape, and habitat needs. - Initiative
We are proactive and take initiative to create solutions that respond to the needs of Consortium partners and our streamside ecosystems for long-term health of the James River and our communities.
Action Team Goals
- Planning: Increase collaboration and strengthen partnerships through developing an effective network of Riparian Consortium members.
- Knowledge Network: Build knowledge and capacity about best practices and innovation to ensure the use of the best researched methods for the greatest success of riparian restoration.
- Targeting & Outreach: Build awareness of the importance of riparian areas and deliver outreach based on identified partner priorities, landowner interests, and restoration opportunity areas to increase strategic riparian investments.
- Implementation: Coordinate implementation and fill funding gaps to support a holistic approach to riparian restoration projects that leverage partner resources and expertise.
Where We Work
Our area of focus is the freshwater region of the James River watershed from the Blue Ridge and the Valley and Ridge regions of Virginia to the Piedmont region of Virginia. Click on map at right for more detail.
Consortium Goals and Action Teams
Outreach & Targeting Team
1. Goal: Build awareness of the importance of riparian areas and deliver outreach based on identified partner priorities, landowner interests, and restoration opportunity areas to increase strategic riparian investments.
2. Team Leads: Center for Watershed Protection, Conservation Partners LLC
3. Contact: If you’re interested in joining this team email Lisa Fraley-McNeal at lfm@cwp.org
Knowledge Network Team
1. Goal: Build awareness of the importance of riparian areas and deliver outreach based on identified partner priorities, landowner interests, and restoration opportunity areas to increase strategic riparian investments.
2. Team Leads: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Conservation Landscape Council, and Stroud Water Research Center
3. Contact: If you’re interested in joining this team email Jenny McGarvey at jmcgarvey@allianceforthebay.org
Implementation Team
1. Goal: Coordinate implementation and fill funding gaps to support a holistic approach to riparian restoration projects that leverage partner resources and expertise.
2. Team Leads: JRA, Trout Unlimited
3. Contact: If you’re interested in joining this team email Amber Ellis ataellis@thejamesriver.org or Sammy Vest at svest@tu.org
Consortium Partners
The James River TMDL established a goal to restore almost 70,000 acres of riparian buffers, but only 11% of this goal has been achieved. To meet this goal, there is a great need for organizations to collaborate and leverage resources.
As the sole organization focused on the James River, the James River Association is in a unique position to coordinate this effort.
Dialogue + Design Associates is a community engagement and design firm based in Charlottesville that serves as the Consortium facilitator.
See the list of partner organizations below.
