By John Seevers

If you are from Virginia, odds are you have been out on some section of the James River. This river plays a pivotal role in our community here in Virginia, while also being an enormous part in the settlement of the United States. When the first English settlers arrived in 1607, it was John Smith and Christopher Newport who first sailed up the James River and established a colony at Jamestown Island, as it was the right distance from the sea, had deep water for ships around the island, and was an easily defendable location. The river continued to play a crucial role in the development of our state and country. 

My interest regarding the James first began when my father Jim Seevers bought a standard, bright orange two-seater kayak to use with my brother Jay (‘22) and me. One of my earliest memories is taking out the kayak on the Fourth of July the summer after Kindergarten. We would paddle around Huguenot Flatwater, and on this beautiful Fourth of July, an elegant bald eagle swooped in from over our heads, let out an American screech, speared a fish, landed on a rock, and proceeded to gorge on said fish. All of this happened within 20 yards of our kayak. This encounter started my infatuation with the James River and the opportunities it offers us.

Recently, I purchased a muscled-up Jon boat, and my friends and I have been taking it out frequently on the James, opening my eyes to all the river has to offer. On a recent weekend, my friends and I were out on the James chasing the shad, striped bass, and rockfish that run up the James every spring to reproduce. When asked about our recent evening fishing trips, Junior Frank MacNelly (‘25) said, “I don’t even care if we catch any or not. Going out at sunset on the river that’s been in our backyards forever, and riding around with others who share a passion, is enough for me. The beautiful spring weather and catching fish is just a cherry on top.”

In the winter, we also enjoy chasing waterfowl on the James. These trips are a little bit colder but are still just as enjoyable, as typically we are the only ones out there in such harsh conditions. In the summer, we visit the numerous rope swings tied to trees on the river. These rope swings are without a doubt a safety hazard, but the treacherous climbs up make the swing all the more fun. We also have mastered skimboarding behind the boat. The 17-foot Jon boat and 25-horsepower outboard has been a vessel for adventure, as it has only broken down once.

The James River consistently treats its visitors well, but modern society and the city of Richmond has repeatedly failed it, resulting in recent efforts to restore the river, as outlined by Frances Melvin (’18) in The Match in 2017. Annually, a little over 10 percent of our city’s sewage enters the James River. This occurs due to our sewage treatment system, which is designed to overflow into small tributaries, or the river itself, and this raw combined sewage overflow (CSO) has detrimental effects on the river.

This occurs because our sewage system is combined with rainwater from storm drains throughout the city. In the 1980s, hundreds of millions of dollars were thrown at the task of separating our sewage and stormwater system, as well as investing in larger pipes to hold more fluid.

The storage tunnels built, combined with a retention basin, could hold up to 60 million gallons of fluid, which seems like a large amount. But these can be filled from a simple 10-minute rainstorm. When asked about making changes to prevent future CSOs, a Richmond official stated on Virginia Places’ website, “it just takes time to rebuild a city from underneath.” Raw sewage still overflows into the river, but not nearly at the rate it once did. 

While sewage plays a role in polluting the James, it is not the only thing that trashes the river. Multiple trains have spilled their contents into the James, as the majority of our railroad systems run just a few feet from the bank. Some of these have been coal spills, which are awful for the river. There was also a power plant in Hopewell dumping kepone into the river in the 1960s and 70s.

We are already on the right track to restoring and preserving the James River, and the city continues to make efforts, as more and more bills will be passed to put money towards the task of cleaning up our river. Individual efforts have also proven to make a difference in the status of the James.

All photos by John Seevers.