Op/Ed: James River Fish Kills a Disturbing Sign of Spring

Spring in Virginia’s Piedmont is a glorious time of year. Redbuds and shad bush burst forth with the first blooms in the forest. The latter signals the return of migrating shad and herring to the James River. Osprey couples have reunited along the river after their separate winter vacations south of the equator (some say that is their secret to being lifelong mates). It’s like the poet said, “I rejoice in the spring as though no spring ever had been.”

But over the past two years, there has been another harbinger of spring that is nothing to celebrate — fish kills in the upper James River. This spring looks to be no exception. The first report of a fish with dime-sized lesions has already been circulated to the Virginia Fish Kill Task Force.

The fish kills have occurred in the James River since 2007 and in the Shenandoah River since 2002 and have typically begun around this time each year and continue to appear for 3 to 4 months — well into the summer. One stretch of the Shenandoah lost 80 percent of its prized small mouth bass population in one year as a result of this mysterious blight. We hope that such devastating impacts do not affect the James River.

Just why this is happening remains a mystery. Despite numerous years of study by state and federal agencies, university researchers and conservation organizations, a precise cause has not been determined.

What is clear is that the fish’s immune systems have been compromised, making some weak and killing others, and that a combination of factors is contributing to the kills. Certain types of bacteria are infecting the fish, but not the same types in every case. “Intersex” fish, male fish that have developed female body parts, have been found in the fish kill regions.

Another likely suspect is polluted runoff, the pollution that runs off of farm fields and developed areas, which is also the greatest source of pollution to the James River. Therefore, the fish kills are yet another symptom of underlying problems that currently threaten the overall health of the river.

The James River Association is a nonprofit conservation group solely focused on protecting the health of the James River. To address local issues like the fish kills — as well as broader systemic issues affecting the James — the James River Association has launched the Upper James Riverkeeper program. The Riverkeeper is a full-time steward and advocate for the river from its headwaters to the fall-line in Richmond.  JRA has also achieved recent success in promoting innovative incentives to farmers and developers to help reduce polluted runoff, such as the stormwater offset legislation (see “Appomattox County Farm does its Part to Keep Bay Clean,” March 21, 2009).

Lynchburg is at center court for JRA’s efforts in the upper James River, and this fall area residents will have a chance to contribute to the health of the James firsthand. The third annual Extreme Stream Makeover, a weeklong restoration project involving hundreds of volunteers from throughout the community, will focus on Blackwater Creek, the largest stream flowing through Lynchburg and a James tributary that is bearing a large brunt of the area’s runoff. Look for more information in the months ahead on how you can help.

Meanwhile, our focus will continue to be on creating greater awareness about the ongoing threats to the health of the James River. These annual fish kills are a sign of a river in distress, and we must continue to be vigilant about how we care for this precious natural resource. If we do not, this will be one springtime tradition that is not likely to go away any time soon.

Street is the executive director of the James River Association, a nonprofit organization that has served as the “voice of the James” for more than 30 years. Sligh is the Upper James Riverkeeper. More information about the organization is available online at http://www.jamesriverassociation.org.