About the Consortium

About Us

» Download an overview of the Consortium to learn more (PDF)

The Upper and Middle James Riparian Consortium (Consortium) was formed in 2019 to bring together a group of partners around a shared vision of “Growing partnerships to create healthy streamside ecosystems for clean water in the James River today and tomorrow.” We take a holistic approach to restoring our riparian areas across five focus areas: Riparian Forest Buffers, Agriculture Infrastructure, Streambank Stabilization, Wildlife Habitat, and Buffer Protection. Watch the short video to learn more about our group or download our flyer.

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

The Consortium has three Action Teams that support the Vision through associated Goals.

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 knowledge and capacity about best practices, innovation, and by growing partnerships.

2. Team Leads: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

3. Contact: If you’re interested in joining this team email Jenny McGarvey at jmcgarvey@allianceforthebay.org

Implementation Team

1. Goal: Coordinate implementation and outreach based on targeting, funding availability, and potential for impact.

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.

This material is based on work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Assistance Agreement No. CB96358201) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, which promotes community-based efforts to develop conservation strategies to protect and restore the diverse natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.