Every Friday from now through Labor Day, the James River Association (JRA) will send a report on river bacteria levels heading into the weekend. The report pulls together data from water samples gathered by volunteers across 36 regional sites the day prior (Thursdays).

Why Thursdays? So samples have enough time to be properly tested, and reports can be as timely as possible for recreational weekends.
What’s tested? Bacteria levels, air temperature, water temp, turbidity (cloudiness), conductivity, water flow, and stage.

All volunteers head out on Thursday with a standard testing kit. | Photo by RICtoday

Testing experience

Last Thursday, I joined GIS and Water Quality Program Manager Michael Gillert and Director of Marketing and Communications Anna Luke to sample the testing process firsthand.

We met at the Chapel Island testing site at Great Shiplock Park.

Our site observations, according to the report: "Heavy rain last night (Wednesday night). Osprey and cormorant seen."
The results: Last week’s main data point featured a big red circle, indicating excessive bacterial levels and unsafe recreational conditions, likely due to the slew of midweek rain. Pro tip: Rainfall is the primary driver of poor water quality, according to JRA.

Out with the old

This week’s report might tell an entirely different story. The river is constantly flushing itself out, but the swings in environmental conditions make it crucial to check in each week for your safety. Look for those bright green dots, which indicate safe recreation conditions, when scouting for a good river spot.

To stay informed, you can subscribe to receive the Friday email report or bookmark this online map. Both the email and map will be updated around 5 p.m. today. Until then, reports will indicate last week's data.