$2.2 million in grants being used to create 900 acres of natural buffers in Middle James River; improves water quality, protects against erosion

     The James River Buffer Program, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and the James River Association (JRA) to establish over 900 acres of “riparian forested buffers” in the river's Middle James region, is underway.

     This initiative to restore river and streamside forest buffers is funded through a Virginia Environmental Endowment’s James River Water Quality Improvement Program grant, recently awarded to VDOF ($750,000) and the JRA ($1.45 million).

      Riparian forested buffers, or forested streambanks, are the trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vegetation that grow alongside local waterways. Along with providing valuable habitat for wildlife, these streamside forests are one of the most cost-effective mechanisms for capturing pollution from the land, and, improving the water quality of a river, like the James.

Riparian forested buffers, or forested streambanks, are the trees, shrubs, grasses, and other vegetation that grow alongside local waterways. Along with providing valuable habitat for wildlife, these streamside forests are one of the most cost-effective mechanisms for capturing pollution from the land, and, improving the water quality of a river, like the James. (Courtesy photo.)

     To date, the improvement program administered by the endowment has awarded over $4.4 million in grants to six organizations, including VDOF, as part of a $15 million initiative designed to produce significant water quality benefits in the James River through targeted, on-the-ground investments and initiatives, over the next several years.

     For more information about the James River Buffer Program, visit www.jamesriverbuffers.org.