The Annual James River Regional Cleanup will be held this year, Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m.-noon. Due to COVID-19 the Cleanup will look different as we will follow social distancing requirements and guidelines. JRAC will host a self-directed event instead of a large cleanup, we have reduced the number of participants for each site.
Due to limited capacity, if you are unable to register, we encourage volunteers to clean up in areas near their home or neighborhood streams. Please bring your own water, bags, gloves, insect repellant, masks and snacks. Wherever you cleanup, please take photos, count your trash bags and email cleanup results to info@jrac-va.org.
Each of the following sites will be available for cleanup with limited capacity noted beside each location:
Appomattox and Buckingham Counties
James River State Park – CAPACITY 25 – Paddlers and Walkers
751 Park Road, Gladstone, VA 24553
Volunteers will be collecting trash from the river and shoreline between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing, which is approximately a two mile stretch of the James. Volunteers can paddle or walk the shore. Canoes will be provided, anyone requesting a canoe must have some paddling experience. You are welcome to bring your own kayaks/canoes. Personal Floatation Device’s will be required and provided.
Special Note: Vehicles will be parked at Dixons Landing and drivers will be shuttled to Canoe Landing to begin cleanup. Anyone who is not vaccinated will need to wear a mask while traveling in the shuttle. Cleanup will conclude at 1 p.m.
Chesterfield County
Dutch Gap Boat Landing and Conservation Area– CAPACITY 80 – Boaters needed!
441 Coxendale Road, Chester, VA 23831
The Dutch Gap Boat Landing and Conservation Area provides excellent access for those wanting to clean up trash while walking or by boat. The Conservation Area is divided into two main sections. The first is accessed at the parking lot near the registration area. An easy and flat one-mile trail along the James River allows access to tidal beaches, wetlands and forest. It is a one-way (nonloop) trail. The second section of the conservation area is accessed by a 4.5-mile loop trail that circles a tidal lagoon and provides access to wetlands and forest. A shuttle will transport volunteers from the registration area to the trailhead of this section. The boat landing at the parking lot is on a broad and flat tidal section of the James River. It gives boaters access to many miles of riverfront and several small creeks. Motorized boats and paddle craft can access the river here. Paddle craft (canoes, kayaks, etc.) are ideal for some of the smaller creeks and shallower parts of the river that are not maintained for commercial navigation. There is plenty of deep water access for larger boats, as well.
Falling Creek Ironworks Park – CAPACITY 50 – FULL
6201 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chester, VA 23831
Falling Creek Ironworks Park has recently been improved and will open to the public this summer. The park was added as a JRAC site in 2005 and has been growing in participation every year. Access to the creek creates challenges in most places, due to thick vegetation and steep slopes, but has been improved on the south bank near the falls. Prepare to get dirty and work in pairs for safety. In the future, new parkland downstream and along the James River will be added for cleanup activities, as access areas are developed .
Falling Creek Reservoir – Canoes/Kayaks needed – CAPACITY 30
4339 Reservoir Lane, North Chesterfield, VA 23235
Falling Creek Reservoir is a 110 acre lake located on the Chesterfield County/City of Richmond border within the Upper Reservoir District. It feeds directly into the James River. Visitors will see blue herons, eagles, osprey and a host of other water fowl. Volunteers will clean up trash from the shore line and water. Volunteers who have canoes/kayaks are needed as well as Reservoir residents who have boats. There is trash for shore-line volunteers to pick up along the roadways that surround the Reservoir.
Parking – Street parking in cul-de-sac and driveway available.
Water access – Volunteers should bring their own canoe or kayak. No gas-powered boats are allowed on Falling Creek Reservoir. For boat access follow the hill to the right of the house down to the water.
Litter collection – Bring your own trash bags. Trash collected during the cleanup should be bagged and left in the Driveway at 4339 Reservoir Lane.
City of Lynchburg
Percival’s Island – CAPACITY 40
1600 Concord Turnpike, Lynchburg, VA 24504
Percival’s Island is a familiar landmark in downtown Lynchburg. Volunteers will clean up all over the island, including along the water’s edge. Visitors may see herons, migrating waterfowl and many native plants and animals as they follow the paved trail. There is a flat, handicapped accessible, paved trail on the island. Percival’s Island is located at 1600 Concord Turnpike. Participants should use the entrance near Jefferson Street and Concord Turnpike.
City of Petersburg
Lakemont Neighborhood – Walkers – CAPACITY 20
Church of God Prophecy at Nash Street and Richmond Avenue
Come join the James River Association, Lakemont Neighborhood Watch, and volunteers to clean up litter from the historic Lakemont Neighborhood. By cleaning up trash here, stormwater infrastructure can be relieved and local flooding can be reduced. Trash bags and litter grabbers will be provided. Please bring your own gloves, insect repellant, water and snacks. Boaters and walkers please check in with site staff.
Volunteers can expect to work from 9-11 a.m.
University Blvd Trailhead of the Lower Appomattox River Trail – Capacity 20 – FULL
527 University Blvd., Petersburg, VA 23803
The University Blvd Trailhead of the Lower Appomattox River Trail is a new native plants garden for people and native wildlife to enjoy. We will be cleaning the area by removal of weeds such as invasive species. The trailhead and surrounding area include an ADA-compliant trail, and a river overlook seating area. The Appomattox River is a major tributary of the James River. Volunteers will remove any trash from the area, and we will clean out weeds from the 3 garden beds and tackle some invasive species along the first half mile of trail.
Gloves, tools, and buckets for trash and weed removal provided. No plant knowledge required. Please bring your refillable water and insect repellent or sunscreen. Wear closed toe shoes. Snacks and extra water bottles provided!
City of Richmond
Belle Isle – Walkers – CAPACITY 40
300 Tredegar St., Richmond, VA 23219
The main access to Belle Isle in Richmond is by pedestrian footbridge from Tredegar St. on the north shore (zip code 23219). Parking tends to be crowded at Tredegar St. on weekends — about 50 spaces. Children volunteers must be supervised. This cleanup is co-sponsored by Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University. Bags and data cards will be provided at a table near the Tredegar Street parking lot. Please bring your own water, gloves and snacks. Show up ANYTIME between 9 – 10:30 a.m. Cleanup will end about 12:30 p.m.
Brookland Park Boulevard – CAPACITY 15
2901 Woodrow Ave. Richmond, VA 23222
Brookland Park Boulevard RVA Clean Sweep launched in 2015 in collaboration with various civic groups including Brookland Park Area Association, Battery Park Civic Association, and Embrace Richmond. BPB RVA Clean Sweep volunteers lead a monthly trash pick-up in the community. For this special collaboration event we invite volunteers to join us to focus on the Richmond-Henrico Turnpike corridor, from Brookland Park Boulevard to Valley Road.
We will meet at 2901 Woodrow Ave. Richmond, VA 23222 – The Brookland Park Community Garden located behind Richmond Community High School. The garden bloomed from a plan that students from Richmond Community High School created in 2014. Their vision for the open space and greenhouse next to the school was to establish a safe and nurturing place for residents and students to teach, learn, grow, collaborate, and build a sense of community around healthy food. In partnership with The Brookland Park Collective and Richmond Community High School, the garden now includes neighborhood growing plots, tree arbor, outdoor education, agricultural research, and garden to table opportunities.
We desire to help preserve and protect the environment and promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and hope to bring awareness to these goals through picking up litter in the wooded and green space areas surrounding the community garden, and alongside the 1.9 mile stretch of the Cannon Creek Greenway bike and walking trail. Come join us!
Pony Pasture Rapids – Paddlers welcome! – CAPACITY 30
7200 Riverside Drive, Richmond, VA 23225
Like Reedy Creek, Pony Pasture Rapids is part of the James River Park System and is a natural park within the city limits of Richmond. The waters at Pony Pasture Rapids are excellent for wading, depending on the river level, and there is plenty to clean up along the shoreline and the many trails throughout the park. There are always extra projects to do at Pony Pasture Rapids during the river cleanup, including mulching, painting and clipping along trails and roadways. It’s an excellent place for paddlers in kayaks and canoes to float the river between Huguenot Flatwater and Pony Pasture Rapids. There are plenty of small islands that can always use some sprucing up.
Goochland County
Tucker Park at Maiden’s Landing – Paddlers and Walkers – CAPACITY 25
1300 Maidens Road, Goochland, VA 23102
Tucker Park is located along the James River with about 35 acres of open space on either side of Route 522. The western portion of the park is made up of a mile-long walking trail, environmental outdoor classroom, stage/amphitheater, and picnic areas. A non-motorized boat launch will be constructed in June 2016 on the eastside of Route 522. The park is frequented by many County residents and needs to be cleaned up often, as well as the park’s river banks. Litter cleanup is also needed along nearby roads.
Henrico County
Osborne Park and Boat Landing – Boaters needed! – CAPACITY 30
9680-B Osborne Turnpike, Henrico, VA 23231
Osborne Park and Boat Landing is located on the lower, tidal portion of the river in eastern Henrico. It is predominantly a site for boaters due to the outstanding launch facility located at the park. Cleanup times for this location are between 9 – 11 a.m. Boaters and walkers please check in with site staff. Please bring your gloves, water, snacks and insect repellant. Trash bags and litter grabbers will be provided.
