JROC Minutes:

JROC Meeting

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Brian Mutchler, Presiding

Meeting Called to Order: 6:08PM

• Attendance: Greg Velzy, Rich Young & Sandy, Brian Mutchler, Tricia Pearsall, Ralph White, Nathan Burrell, Margaret Maslik, Chris Hull, Weston Spivey, Susanne Smith, Sally Wetzler, Vernon Simmons, Martha James, Rhianna Garner, Jim Juritsch

• Approval of March 4, 2009 Meeting Minutes: Minutes approved as amended.

• Treasurer’s Report: Approximately the same less about $600.00 so, $12,400 in bank, $4,000 committed leaving $8,400 for projects

• Recent/Current Projects & Issues:

Trails: Nathan Burrell, Trails Manager for the City Of Richmond

· Attended the PTBA (Professional Trail Builders Association) Conference and received volumes of knowledgeable information on trail building including building ecological stream crossings, respecting and dealing with archaeological sites, funding sources for trail building…which might assist in building connection between North Bank and Pumphouse - bridge) Nathan is investigating grants.

· Has been working on Powhite Trail connector to Park property

· Working with Friends of Forest Hills Park to effect ½ mile trail in Forest Hills Park link to Patrick Henry School. This group is very much in favor of redevelopment of FHP trails.

· Replaced Rattlesnake Creek Bridge.

Pumphouse Update: Should complete this weekend. Need 6 people to finish off ramp.. Also need invoices for proposed $4800 from Ralph White for Pumphouse construction. This is for materials, Ralph said, and asked that we round it off to $5000. It was moved, seconded and approved by vote to do so.

Gear Swap: April 18, 2009 10 – 2 at Plant Zero, 220 Hull Street in conjunction with Earth Day…Between 1^st Street and the fence next to the railroad track.

· Posters – get them out. Talk it up. Many thanks to Wade Kinker of Kinker Press…should put his logo on flier and poster.

· Will need tables, clothesline. Please e-mail Sally if can help with tables, set-up etc. Need volunteers!!!! Need a truck to haul stuff.

• New Business:

Park Watch: Meeting held 3.25.09. Information session. Another to be held 4.8.09 and another either April 22^nd or 29^th…work session with Police Department and Greg Rollins. Then plan to start up

Three components:

1. Need folks on the trail

2. Need folks in boats

3. Lend assistance with parking at Pony Pasture.

Looking at providing funding for jerseys or t-shirts after 50hrs of service – or maybe volunteers buy t-shirts and money is reimbursed after number of hours of service.

Recent rash of break-ins at Ready Creek up on Hillcrest. Ralph looking into getting ‘dummy’ cameras for surveillance. Officer Cooper at the 3^rd Precinct is particularly interested in this issue.

14^th Street Takeout Gravel: Could do this after Pumphouse this Saturday. Still need to look at future project involving handrail. Also woodchip pile requested to be laid down at Take Out. Looking at a day in May. It was suggested that we look to the Sportsbacker’s Fund to pay for the gravel. Chris will call and see + suggested putting it down on a Monday or Tuesday early in the day . Develop a berm to define the road.

• Ralph Report:
1. On the 18^th – Earth Day – need kayak fishing for the fish festival
2. Slaughter–Rama on Belle Isle April 3-4 not officially sanctioned. many trashcans on hand
3. Shad fishing heavy now.
4. April 25^th tour for City Council
5. Ralph is working with JRAC to develop a Power Point on the James River Park Philosophy in Spanish. Also doing a radio program to reach out to the Latino community.
6. New sign on the pipeline walk re: Heron Rookery
7. Fishing guide going to the press
8. Summer school. T. Clarkson giving a discount in his fishing school on weekends.
9. James River Days brochures are out

• Missing Rail on the Pipeline: Jim Juritsch brought it to attention. Dangerous and needs repair.

Adjourn: 7:17PM

Of Interest:

The healthier spots for swimming in the James River

Posted: May 1, 2009 07:42 PM EDT

Updated: May 1, 2009 11:30 PM EDT

By Andrew Freiden - bio | email

Posted by Terry Alexander - email

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - There is good news for fans of the James River. A large chunk has been removed from the impaired list. That means it's safe to swim. But there is still a lot of work to be done before the river is truly clean.

"Earlier this decade, 16 miles from Mayo's Island to the Henrico county line didn't meet standards. It really wasn't safe for swimming," said Alan Pollock from the Virginia Department Of Environmental Quality. 

But things have improved. A recent report shows the river is not impaired west of the Boulevard Bridge. That's good news for swimmers. But below the Boulevard Bridge, fecal coliform levels aren't low enough to be declared safe.

"If you go in the river, and swim, and swallow water, especially after a storm event, the health department advises against doing that," said Pollock.

There are no reports of illnesses from swimming in the James but if you do drink the water it could be unpleasant.

"Intestinal sickness, upset stomach, diarrhea that kind of thing," Pollock said. 

So what is causing high fecal bacteria levels? One part of the problem is Richmond's combined sewers. In heavy rainstorms, raw sewage can be flushed into the river. This rarely happens anymore as the system has been cleaned up.

"We are making incremental improvements!" Pollock said.

Other, more consistent sources? Cow manure from farms west of town washes into the water. And a source that looks awfully cute, Canada geese. But don't feed those geese! What comes out the other end is bad for your health!

And that third source of bacteria comes from streets, neighborhoods just like yours and mine, a lot ends up in the Powhite Creek, and Reedy Creek.

A good rule of thumb if you want to go swimming? Avoid the water just after it rains. That's when all the harmful bacteria gets washed into the water.

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