Geography of the James (Earth Lodge)

During our visit to the James River Association’s Buzzard Education Center, a moment that stood out to me was observing the river’s flow. In particular, I was impressed by the paradox between the river’s size and power and the intricate nature of its ecosystem that can be impacted by even small environmental changes. Seeing this dynamic from the elevated vantage point of the classroom was a profound experience for me. I thought about how the river has become larger and deeper over time on a geological scale as it continued to carve and erode its channel. However, I doubt that its size and scope has changed much during the time period in which humans have interacted with it. In that time, what has changed are the ways the river has been used, including commerce and industry. In addition, the river’s surrounding have changed from a heavily forested landscape to one containing some remaining wilderness and green spaces, but also significant development surrounding cities such as Richmond and Norfolk. These changes coincided with increased human interferences leading to changes in the river’s flow (e.g., dams) and negative impacts on water quality through a variety of sources (e.g. combined sewer systems in urban centers). In the future, I hope that Richmond community and others prioritize the health of the river in order to support a thriving ecosystem that provides for the fauna and flora that rely on it as well as human needs (e.g., clean water). If that occurs, I believe that the positive trajectory of the river’s health will continue as it has over the last few decades. Lastly, the visit deepened my understanding of the interconnected nature of the river ecosystem and community. For example, if the river is polluted, the entire food chain is impacted (e.g., bald eagles eat contaminated fish meat and die off). Additionally, people rely on clean water and use the river for a variety of purposes, such as fishing, recreation, and transportation.

While being in Richmond, the eco-corridor has always been a big part of campus. Besides Central Park, the eco-corridor was one of the largest “natural” areas I have seen and walked through. On April 11, we did a local event with high schoolers to learn more about the ecology of the wetlands in the eco-corridor. While we went to the first station that described the different kinds of soil to differentiate between wetlands and plains, I tried to compare it to what I have seen in the city. However, I couldn’t come up with anything there because most of the areas are filled with concrete. When I came to Richmond, it was the first time that I had gone outside a city environment, and it was a very new experience for me. Adjusting to the new environment, I decided, I learnt and adjusted to how you can’t really walk anywhere, as sidewalks aren’t as common. Although we were in the rain, it was easier to observe the environment around me and acknowledge how much this area has changed throughout the years.

Afterwards we went to a macroinvertebrate organism station and learnt about the different organisms that live in the area. Before we went to this station, a hawk flew in and perched along the station. This was the closest and one of the first hawks I have seen, and I reflected on how natural Richmond is, even though it is still considered a city. As the NYC has some artificial “natural” areas, the wildlife has yet to accustomed to the city environment. In Richmond, the wildlife have adjusted to the area around them, and they have seemed to prosper within it. In the future, I hope that NYC can incorporate more wildlife within the urban atmosphere. They can do this with more integration of wildlife that are able to adapt to the urban infrastructure.

When we observed the aquatic wildlife that live in the James River, we viewed the aquatic invertebrates. These aquatic invertebrates included dragonflies and scuds. These aquatic creatures can show a new side to the aquatic life in the James. This experience made me feel somewhat proud as these aquatic creatures can appear in the James River despite all the hardships that the river has faced. The recovery of the James River is very prominent now. As from 1966 to 1975, Kepone, a toxic pesticide was illegally dumped into the James River. This dumping caused for many organisms such as oysters and fish to be contaminated with Kepone and created for a very unhealthy river. Ever since this disaster, the James River was able to slowly recover with more species of aquatic life can be in better health according to the James River Report. Following the upwards trend from a previous D to B, I believe in the future that the James River will be able to transform into a river of good health that is able to assimilate to the urban location that surrounds it. Our visit to the James River Education Center showed how the river plays a much greater impact to us than what we once believed. As the local ecosystem that the James River can provide allows for aquatic and avian life to thrive. It allows for Richmond as a community to unite under a cause to better the state of the river. Allowing for the citizens of Richmond to become more united and whole as we seek to better the health of the James as it not only impacts us but the branches out to many other ecosystems that go beyond us. With the continued care, education, and engagement, I believe that the James River can continue to thrive and develop the natural assets that merge very well with the urban landscape of Richmond around it. However the tale of the James River, is a cautionary one as it has had a rough past, the healing of the James seems to be possible if people in the community come together and unite themselves for a greater cause.

Image 1: The James River Education Center

Environmental leadership and maintenance faces a variety of interconnected challenges that stem from the complexities of environmental, political, economic, and social dynamics that come with it. In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges in environmental leadership, especially park maintenance, is limited resources and funding. When thinking about such an expansive park system like the James River, the level of resources and manpower needed to keep the entire area maintained is extreme. So much of the work is done by volunteer support, like we saw with invasive species removal at the Richmond Slave Trail, and that can be extremely unpredictable. Staffing to oversee maintenance, cleanliness, and recreation activities, for a park system of this size requires massive amounts of funding that often aren’t present.

I was really interested to learn about how the James River Park System is managed. While it is owned by the city of Richmond’s Parks, Recreations, and Community Facilities Department and managed by 9 full time employees. However, maintenance and leadership is heavily supported by two key organizations, the James River Association and the Friends of the James River Park. Both of these organizations are non-profits. I found this to be a really interesting system of management, both governmental and local organizations taking part in leadership. However, I do think this can create some challenges with fragmentation in leadership/decision-making. Involvement of City government, non-profit organizations, and volunteers can give rise to conflicting stakeholder interests and priorities. Another aspect of leadership and management that can be challenging for the JRPS is its sheer size and range. During our Belle Isle visit, I remember thinking about the difficulties that must come with managing just that one location. When considering how expansive the JRPS, the issues that come with management a clear. Overall, the challenges that face managing environmental areas and park systems, especially as expansive as the JRPS, and numerous and stem from many complex factors.

Green spaces were never a concept I had ever truly considered until learning about them. It was an interesting realization, actually giving thought to these spaces I had so often been around but never acknowledged. Once I was able to reflect on the idea of green spaces, I began to appreciate them and the positive impact they have had on me. As someone who has always preferred natural spaces, the integration of nature into urban and other developed spaces greatly enhances my experiences. After this realization I began to be more conscious and aware of green spaces, like parks and gardens. I find that in addition to the aesthetic beauty of a place, green spaces tend to make me feel more grounded and connected to the world around me. I can imagine that this is a common phenomenon, many people don’t ever give any substantial thought to the green spaces they enjoy but are so positively impacted by them. 

There is a neighborhood by my house, in North Carolina, I like to walk through often. There is one part of this walk that always sticks out as my favorite; the neighborhood garden and adjacent park. While it is a suburban and primarily paved neighborhood, the park with a small lake in the middle makes the area so much more naturally beautiful. I love to look at how the crops are doing and how much they have grown. I also always find myself being inspired to start gardening. These green spaces are something so simple, like walking through a neighborhood, so much more fulfilling, inspiring, and enjoyable. I always see people playing in the park, fishing in the lake, and tending to the garden. It is clear that they spark a real sense of community. Not only do green spaces like this enhance beauty and draw people to areas, they inspire people to enjoy nature and foster community.

Visiting the JRA River Education Center was a great opportunity to learn, through first hand experience, about the research that is taking place along the James River and how it used to create conservation goals for restoring and improving the health of the James. In doing water quality tests, like pH, temperature, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, we were able to really understand what goes into understanding the river’s health and determining what the next steps are for restoration. The James River Report Card does a great job at balancing non-expert literacy and relaying important scientific information in a comprehensive way. This is especially important considering scientific reports are often too dense, complex, and difficult to understand without some level of experience. I think the idea of giving the James River’s health a grade is really great for communicating its environmental condition in an aggregated way.  

In my opinion, scientific research should be the basis on how environmental policy is made. Policy without consideration or understanding of the true problems leads to ineffective, insufficient solutions. Education inspires both community and policy action. From a community perspective, if citizens aren’t aware of the environmental issues in their community they won’t know to act. Increased public salience and community involvement is very likely to incentivize policy makers to act. Policy action through funding and community action through volunteer efforts would greatly support and assist the work being done by the JRA River Education Center and other similar organizations. Scientific research is necessary for understanding environmental issues and creating conservation goals and solutions. So communicating scientific findings without regurgitating mass amounts of data that many people won’t read or won’t see isn’t the best way to promote action. Through an easily accessible and understandable graphic and grading system, people can educate themselves and become inspired to act.

Since starting college here, I have visited the campus eco-corridor multiple times, and the experience has been slightly different each time. In my freshman and sophomore years, I enjoyed walking and jogging on the trail with my friends to breathe fresh air and refresh our minds, so the eco-corridor was an excellent community recreational space. During other visits, I accompanied my classes. On a spring afternoon in my sophomore year, I participated in a small group discussion about climate change with two classmates from my Sustainability 101 class at the tables near the park entrance. However, it was not until this semester that I learned about the multiple benefits of parks and green spaces, like the eco-corridor, beyond their recreational value.

In my first observation log, I discussed the idea of having a tour guide present the history of the space of the eco-corridor as a part of a prosperous trading town called Westham/Beverley in the 18th century, as visitors walk in the park and feel the ripple of the Little Westham Creek. Indeed, green spaces like the eco-corridor contain exciting stories of history that are worth sharing with the community. The eco-corridor not only tells the story of its evolution from a trading town to a Richmond suburb but also highlights the conservation efforts by the UR faculty and students with partnerships to establish this park, restore the health of the stream, renovate the recreational trail, remove invasive species, and manage stormwater runoff. These restoration efforts have shaped the eco-corridor as a multi-functional ecosystem that provides habitats for diverse species, offers recreational value, and serves as an outdoor learning hub for students and our community.

On April 11, our class visited the eco-corridor to learn about its ecology. The speakers at the stations taught me many fun facts about the soil, macroinvertebrates, and native fish species at the park. At the first station, I learned to distinguish between the wetland soil near the creek and the upland soil. Wetland soil is characterized by a bluish-grey surface, an orange interior, and a sticky texture and contains more organic matter than the upland soil (Figure 1). From the fish station, the speaker showed us some native fish species that indicate the healthy status of the stream, such as the brown bullhead, a native catfish in the James River watershed (Figure 2). We had a fun activity at the macroinvertebrate station: picking some of these species using tweezers and examining them under the microscope. We also saw a red-tailed hawk seeking prey on a tree near the tent, which added additional fun to our learning experience (Figure 3).

My experiences at the eco-corridor tell me the park is a shared green space for recreation and education. Based on the discussion in this journal, I genuinely believe that we can better showcase the immense value of the eco-corridor to our community members by presenting the history and restoration efforts happening in this space and organizing more hands-on learning activities that enable members to learn about the ecosystem.

Figure 1: The soil station at the eco-corridor. The soil on the left is wetland soil, and the one on the right is upland soil.

Figure 2: A picture of a brown bullhead caught from the creek.

Figure 3: A red-tailed hawk looking for prey near our tent.

My cabin trip to the VCU Rice River Center with my Endeavor group was enjoyable. We cooked our food, watched March Madness, and made a fire. My favorite part of this cabin trip is the fire. Before coming to Richmond, I never had the chance to build one, but I’ve now made two fires here – both with my Endeavor group. Although that night was chilly, the fire warmed me up a lot. I enjoy sitting around the fire and chatting with friends – it’s so chill! Also, I will never forget s’mores. The gooey marshmallows, melted chocolate, and crispy graham crackers tasted even better under the stars (though I still think it is too sweet for me).

On the next day, we went to the Westover Plantation. It is a huge house, and the view of the James River is amazing. When the docent introduced us to the severe damage to the home caused by a cannonball during the Civil War, it made me think of the disruption of warfare on land. During the war, cannon fire and troop movements would have torn through the forests, trampled the soil, and driven away wildlife. It reminded me that war doesn’t just affect people; it leaves lasting scars on the environment.

Yet, I left feeling hopeful. Our earlier visit to the battlefield park showed how, over time, nature can begin to heal. The once war-torn land is now home to native plant species and farmlands. This transformation, however, didn’t happen on its own. Much of the recovery has been made possible through the dedicated efforts of organizations like the National Park Service. Through conservation projects, habitat restoration, and careful land management, they have helped restore these landscapes while preserving their historical significance. These parks now serve a dual purpose: honoring the memory of the past and fostering the renewal of the environment. Seeing this gave me optimism that, even after great destruction, both nature and people have the power to rebuild and heal together.

Learning about the 2023 James River Report Card and collecting water data at the James A. Buzzard Education Center have significantly enhanced my understanding of how scientific research guides environmental policies and community efforts. Scientific findings inform policies and community actions by identifying and prioritizing areas of weakness through targeted funding and collective initiatives. They also increase individual awareness of the most pressing issues and encourage participation in programs that address these concerns.

During the water quality testing at the education center, I was satisfied with the dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphorus, and macroinvertebrate results of the river, but I was not pleased with the turbidity result. Although, understandably, the turbidity result was worse after heavy rainfall overnight, the high turbidity may also indicate issues, including combined sewer overflow and sediment pollution in the James River. On the report card, I identified three problems that require special attention from policymakers and our community: stormwater pollution, the declining or near-extinction status of multiple native fish species, and the significant amount of sediments in the river resulting from agricultural runoff and land development. Addressing these issues requires increased regulation, legislative funding, and community and individual initiatives.

The 2023 report card shows that the stormwater pollution controls only reached 33% of the 2025 target, and the sediment controls only achieved 45%. Stormwater pollution after heavy rains is caused by combined sewer overflows, as the combined sewer system overflows and discharges untreated or partially treated wastewater and stormwater into nearby water bodies. The discharged water into the river contains pollutants such as dirt, nutrients, bacteria, and chemicals, which harm aquatic species.

Actions from all levels should be enforced to mitigate stormwater pollution and the sediment issue. At the policy level, federal and state governments should allocate more funding to the City of Richmond to upgrade the combined sewer system and promote green infrastructure projects. More land development restrictions should be imposed to reduce stormwater and sediment pollution. At the community level, more green infrastructure projects should be implemented near streams to store stormwater runoff and allow it to infiltrate the ground. At the Buzzard Education Center, I learned about and observed various green infrastructure designs to prevent stormwater runoff into the river, including living green roofs, living walls, permeable bus loops and driveways, and native landscaping, which was exciting. (See figure 1 for two examples of green infrastructure near the center.) As individuals, we should raise awareness of the issue and actively participate in community events like tree-planting programs. Landowners should register for the James River Buffer Program to cover parts of their land with riparian buffers. These initiatives are also crucial in restoring fish species in the James River watershed.

Figure 1: The permeable gravel driveway and the sunken green belt at the front of the James A. Buzzard Education Center can retain and infiltrate stormwater runoff.

Regarding the status of native fish species in the James River, the report card highlights the dire situation of American shad over the past five years and the declining populations of smallmouth and striped bass. Several factors contributed to these situations, including warming water temperatures, loss of habitats, dams, water withdrawals, invasive fish species (e.g., blue catfish), and overfishing. These factors suggest the measures required to protect or restore native fish species. For instance, planting more riparian buffers can help cool the streams and address the rising water temperatures. More scientific research can be done to investigate the habitats for American shad in other watersheds so targeted restoration efforts can be made to recover the species in the James River. The fish passage program run by the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) can remove more barriers for migratory fish species. The government can grant more funds for American shad restoration. We, as individuals, can participate in invasive species removal programs organized by the DWR to help catch more blue catfish and Alabama bass. Protecting and restoring native fish species is a crucial task for our community because these native species play an important ecological, economic, and cultural role in our society.

Figure 2: A sculpture of an Atlantic sturgeon at the front of the James A. Buzzard Education Center. Migratory fish species like Atlantic sturgeons and American shad play an essential ecological, historical, and cultural role in the U.S. Hence, protecting or restoring them in the James River is vital.

In conclusion, my experience at the James A. Buzzard Education Center taught me a lot about the implications of scientific research on policies and community actions. Scientific findings, such as the James River Report Card, inform us of the pressing issues we should prioritize in our watershed and provide guidance for policy implementation. We can work together to implement these measures strictly and make the James a healthy river for every species and an enjoyable place for our community.

One moment that stood out to me was observing the small wildlife in the water. These tiny organisms, many barely visible to the naked eye, serve as critical water quality indicators. The more they are in an area of water, the healthier the water tends to be. I was surprised to learn how such seemingly insignificant creatures can play such a significant role in understanding the health of the ecosystem. It made me feel more connected to the river and more aware of how every part of the environment, no matter how small, contributes to the bigger picture.

The James River has changed positively over time. The James River was once called one of the most polluted rivers in the country. During industrialization, more companies set up factories next to the James River. Allied Chemical Corporation, one of those companies, dumped Kepone, a toxic, nonbiodegradable insecticide, into the James River, causing the river to become so contaminated that commercial fisheries were closed. However, the James River we saw at the JRA River Education Center is not like that anymore. It is clean and thriving. Thanks to the tireless efforts of environmental organizations like the JRA, the river has been restored to a much healthier state, and the James River earns from a D to a B on the report card. Seeing the clear water, active wildlife, and educational programs in place made me hopeful about the future.

The visit deepened my understanding of the river’s role in the local ecosystem and community. I saw how it supports life, not only for plants and animals but also for people. Our field trip was a great example of how the river provides meaningful educational experiences. Through the large, clear floor-to-ceiling windows at the JRA River Education Center – which I loved – I saw people jogging along the river trail and fishing from the riverbank. It was a beautiful reminder that the river is a shared space that brings people and nature together. Overall, it reminded me that environmental protection is not just about saving nature but about sustaining our communities as well.