December Meeting Minutes

12/7/22 @ Legends

• November minutes approved
• Treasurer’s Report approved
  • River warning flip signs
    • Flip sign material needs to be replaced.
    • Go Grant funding: under budget. We can reapply annually. Might also be able to get reimbursed for the sign printing.
• Giles’ JRPS Report
  • 2022 year analysis of visitation is forthcoming. Final numbers need to be totaled. Matt R. will distribute.
  • River safety updates:
    • Physical signage / infrastructure committee: New portage on Dominion easement.
    • Updated river use permit for commercial and group use forthcoming. Still under review; meeting next week. Need to update legislation.
      • Driving forces: being careful managers of the parks and river- ideas for carrying capacity (natural resource mgmt, supporting river use economy)
      • Permits need to be aligned with and managed by those w/working river knowledge.
      • Expanding access and increasing data.
      • Trying to reopen a special parks revenue account so that JRPS gets revenue (outfitters’ fees) instead of general fund.
  • Archeology coming into Pony Pasture in January- doing test pits. Not interfering w/native plants or trails. Looking for evidence of Indigenous history and transient communities there. Last time any archeology was done in the park was 1960.
• Climbing committee
  • JRPS working w/Ross and Sam on climbing mgmt plan to bring climbing resources online and shore up existing ones. Draft in parallel process. Need to balance natural resource mgmt w/recreation mgmt. Looking for input soon (best practices w/in industry to sustain resources that the park offers).
  • Plan released to committee to review to open up to stakeholders. The doc covers mgmt of current climbing areas and potential of future areas.
    • 2 established areas- Manchester Wall and Belle Isle. 
    • Netherwoods Quarry / 42nd St could be access points. Engage climbing community to help clear out invasive plants. Help recreational access be positive for the environment.
    • Buttermilk West- already pirate developed (boulders). Potential issues w/landowners. Va Beach / Seven Cities have lots of climbers coming here as a destination. Urban rangers job about to be posted. They will be unarmed; not law enforcement but educators. Would report directly to Shamar.
    • Wing dams (like First Break) in bad shape. Removal plan? Giles connecting w/DWR contact- to follow up soon. Erosion at the top of belle- signs of changing flow.
• King of the James report
  • River safety shoutout. No complaints from the farmers market. 
  • Netted: just under $16,000 – still to be finalized. This is more than in past (2 Queen sponsors at $5000 level)
  • Post race safety meeting to be scheduled. Ideas from other rivers’ races.
    • Also to discuss: 3rd gender selection option, offering child care for racers, alternative names for the event.
• James River Women updates
  • Pilots in some high schools can expand once successful. Met w/principals. They were excited about it. Figuring out where and how to offer indoor roll clinics.
  • Programs with RPS paused until insurance obtained. Jen looking at different options
  • DWR asked JRW to apply for VA wildlife grant. Awarded $10k to buy boats and gear. Lots more demand. 77 unique participants this year. Over 150 ppl who signed up at some point. Jen can give us more numbers in a report. Capturing demographics now.
  • JRW could one day become independent of JROC; potential long-term goal. 
  • To connect with Diversify Whitewater founder and DCR.
  • DWR- meeting w/ Tom Wilcox tomorrow. Grant process starting again for same kind of grant.
  • Needs: trailer, vehicles, other gear, and long-term storage solution. Left storage unit because of price; now storing with JRPS. ACA certs for instructors, etc. Applications open on the 15th of the month.
  • To look into GO Grant
• Charles Ware- Mayo’s Island
  • They’re approving repair of the current 1913 bridge pillars: 2 years, ~$90 million. 
  • 7pm Mon. 12/12- meeting. Still talking in generalities at this time. Charles helping to represent boaters’ concerns. N side and S side are 2 different projects. Need to find out if there are going to be river closures / lack of access to 14th St takeout.
• Projects
  • On buttermilk headed downstream from reedy- old debris from og boardwalks left there. Good time of year w/low veg to access and remove it. 
  • Leave No Trace signs at Huguenot Flatwater since no trash huts.
• $400 approved for poinsettias for Hillcrest residents- plus calendars and gift cards for holidays