Category Archives: Trips

Rafting the James: A Reflection on Urban Integration and Wildlife (OBL #6)

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Nomar Mejia

On April 25, we experienced the natural environment of the James River firsthand as we went rafting down the river past Belle Isle. While we rafted, we witnessed the wildlife of the James and observe how the contribution of the … Continue reading →

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Working to Make a Tireless James

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Benedict Roemer

On a cold and crisp Saturday fall morning, a group of sleepy college students and Garret set out to pull tires out of the James River. As odd as this task may sound to many people who might reasonably wonder … Continue reading →

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Reedy Creek (Restoration?)

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Benedict Roemer

Reedy Creek has become a source of severe contention between citizens and politicians in the city of Richmond. This little creek, a minor tributary to the mighty James River, plays a central role in a movement that has spread lawn … Continue reading →

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The Tree Killers

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Rachel Lantz

Paintbrush in hand, I timidly reached toward the freshly cut stump and applied the dark blue chemicals. I had killed my first heavenly tree. To this day, I have not come to terms with the invasive tree removal we participated … Continue reading →

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Solving the Wrong Problem

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Rachel Lantz

We rounded a corner and immediately saw rows of white and red signs opposing the Reedy Creek “Restoration.” We were surely in the right place. Andrew and I pull up in the car and immediately see a bearded man in … Continue reading →

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Reedy Creek: Revealing the DEQ’s Absurdity

Posted on October 31, 2016 by John DeAngelis

Bill Shanabruch’s concern was palpable as he waded deeper and deeper into Reedy Creek.  The water furiously rushed over his waders while he explained the intricate relationship between the locals, politicians and environment.  His knowledge of the controversial topic was … Continue reading →

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Learning and Living Reedy Creek

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Parr

As we drove longer the signs became more and more frequent. If one was to plot out the location of each sign on a map, you could clearly see where we were headed. Right in the middle of the map, … Continue reading →

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The Tireless James Adventure

Posted on October 27, 2016 by

The moment I saw my first tire in the water, the exhilaration I felt filled up my muddy canoe to the brim. We hadn’t yet seen a tire despite our best efforts, and during the first mile of our journey, … Continue reading →

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Keeping the James River tireless

Posted on October 24, 2016 by

As we pull into Howardsville ready to take part in efforts aimed at keeping the James River tireless, a question lingers in mind- why would people dispose tires into the James such that their act would necessitate this kind of … Continue reading →

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An Upstream Battle

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Rachel Lantz

We set course from the Huguenot Flatwater access point on the James River towards Bosher Dam.  The air was showing signs of a chill and the water was murky due to the recent heavy rainfall.  The riparian zone was saturated … Continue reading →

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