As the Virginia General Assembly sets the state’s two year budget, it is also shaping how Virginia cares for its land and water. It’s up to all of us to encourage our leaders to prioritize programs that fuel the James River’s comeback by reducing pollution, protecting wildlife, and expanding access to outdoor recreation and environmental literacy programs. 
The James River provides drinking water to 2.7 million people and supports our daily lives through recreation, tourism, farms, and fisheries. A healthy river is essential to a healthy economy and quality of life.
Thanks to decades of investment and public advocacy, the James River has made an extraordinary recovery. But progress is not guaranteed to continue. As lawmakers discuss the biennium budget, they need to hear from constituents that Virginians value clean water and healthy rivers. We’re urging our elected officials to:
<ul>
<li>Protect clean water funding for wastewater upgrades, farm conservation practices, and stormwater projects in our cities and neighborhoods that reduce pollution and flooding.</li>
<li>Invest in Richmond’s Combined Sewer System upgrades to cut bacteria pollution from sewage overflows into the James by up to 70% during heavy rains.</li>
<li>Restore American shad a once vibrant fishery which has all but disappeared from the river.</li>
<li>Strengthen environmental literacy so Virginia students have more opportunities to experience and learn about nature while gaining critical thinking and leadership skills.</li>
<li>Expand public access to rivers and parks so more communities can explore and connect with the outdoors.</li>
</ul>
Now is the time to accelerate progress through investments in clean water. We have a real opportunity to protect and improve the James River – but lawmakers need to hear from you.
Let your representatives know that clean water matters. Take action today.💧

Tell your legislators clean water matters to you! 

Virginia lawmakers are making decisions on the state’s two-year budget - and they need to hear from you! 

As your constituent, I urge you to make protecting clean water and our natural resources a priority during this General Assembly session. You can help restore our waterways and secure a healthy James River by supporting the following items in the 2026-2028 Budget:
 
Protect Fish and Wildlife:
• SUPPORT Item 145#4h (Delegate Dougherty): Funds three priority research projects from the VIMS American Shad Recovery Plan for the James River to inform shad restoration.
• SUPPORT Item 366#7h (Delegate Willett): Convene a workgroup to evaluate the impacts of unpermitted surface water withdrawals on fish and other aquatic life.
• SUPPORT Item 86#2h (Delegate Simonds): Building capacity for Virginia’s marketing and production efforts related to invasive blue catfish.
• SUPPORT Item 376#1h (Delegate Simonds): Conduct an oyster stock assessment across the Commonwealth.
• SUPPORT Item 88 #1h (Delegate Shin): Local Invasive Species Program Grants.

Clean Water Programs: 
• SUPPORT Item 368#11h (Delegate Carr): Richmond Combined Sewer Overflow projects to reduce sewage and bacteria pollution to the James River. 
• SUPPORT Item 368#14h (Delegate Krizek): The Water Quality Improvement Fund provides core funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration, meeting needs to fund wastewater treatment improvements.
• RETAIN Governor’s proposed $43.5M for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund: Provides matching grants to reduce stormwater pollution, prevent flooding, and help communities meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goals. 
• SUPPORT Items 362#19h (Delegate Krizek), 362#7h (Delegate Bloxom): The Virginia Agricultural Cost Share helps farmers implement conservation practices reducing nutrient and sediment pollution to improve water and soil health.
• SUPPORT Item 362#18h (Delegate Krizek): Funding for nutrient load reduction programs, including the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program, Virginia Trees for Clean Water program, and Department of Forestry water quality improvement projects. 
• SUPPORT Item 96#3h (Delegate Dougherty): Funding to support two Virginia Department of Forestry community forestry positions.
• SUPPORT Item 368#9h (Delegate Krizek): Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes pollution reduction program funding. 

Environmental Literacy, Conservation, and Outdoor Access:
• SUPPORT Item 362#23h (Delegate Carr): Establishes an Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Program for school divisions.
• SUPPORT Item 362#20h (Delegate Askew): Funds grants to provide Chesapeake Bay meaningful watershed educational experiences.
• SUPPORT Item 374 #15h (Delegate McQuinn): Funds the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Grant Program.
• SUPPORT Item 438 #8h (Delegate Willett): Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Jamestown to downtown Williamsburg.

Thank you for your leadership and your service to our Commonwealth. I urge you to support these items in the budget to help to secure clean water for the James River and its communities.

Thank you for your consideration.

2-5-2026 Budget Action Alert

James River Association

As your constituent, I urge you to make protecting clean water and our natural resources a priority during this General Assembly session. You can help restore our waterways and secure a healthy James River by supporting the following items in the 2026-2028 Budget:
 
Protect Fish and Wildlife:
• SUPPORT Item 145#1s (Senator McDougle): Funds three priority research projects from the VIMS American Shad Recovery Plan for the James River to inform shad restoration.
• SUPPORT Item 370#2s (Senator Marsden): Invasive species management by the Department of Wildlife Resources.

Clean Water Programs: 
• SUPPORT Item 368#2s (Senator Jones): Richmond Combined Sewer Overflow projects to reduce sewage and bacteria pollution to the James River. 
• SUPPORT Item 368#3s (Senator Locke): The Water Quality Improvement Fund provides core funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration, meeting needs to fund wastewater treatment improvements.
• SUPPORT Items 362#10s (Senator Pillion), 362#13s (Senator Marsden): The Virginia Agricultural Cost Share helps farmers implement conservation practices reducing nutrient and sediment pollution to improve water and soil health.
• SUPPORT Items 362#15s (Senator Surovell), 362#3s (Senator Peake): Funding for nutrient load reduction programs, including the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program, Virginia Trees for Clean Water program, and Department of Forestry water quality improvement projects.
• RETAIN Governor’s proposed $43.5M for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund: Provides matching grants to reduce stormwater pollution, prevent flooding, and help communities meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goals. 
• SUPPORT Item 362#6s (Senator Williams Graves): Community Flood Preparedness Fund to enhance flood prevention, protection, and coastal resilience.

Environmental Literacy, Conservation, and Outdoor Access:
• SUPPORT Item 362#5s (Senator McPike): Funds grants to provide Chesapeake Bay meaningful watershed educational experiences.
• SUPPORT Item 438#14s (Senator Aird): Funding completion of a seven mile stretch of the Appomattox River Trail through Prince George County.
• SUPPORT Item 438#16s (Senator Aird): Funding the Hopewell Downtown Partnership's Riverwalk Expansion Project, a key segment of the regional Appomattox River Trail.
• SUPPORT Item 439#2s (Senator Roem): Study safe and environmentally sensitive alternatives to using road salt. 
• SUPPORT Item 112 #1s (Senator Locke): Management framework for public spaces at Fort Monroe.
• SUPPORT Item 374 #1s (Senator Locke): Funding the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Grant Program.
• SUPPORT Item 438 #11s (Senator McDougle): Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Jamestown to downtown Williamsburg.

Thank you for your leadership and your service to our Commonwealth. I urge you to support these items in the budget to help to secure clean water for the James River and its communities.

Thank you for your consideration.