A Cleaner James River produces bumper spawning numbers for Sturgeon

The State of the James provides a report card on the ongoing effort to bring the James River back to full health. This comprehensive assessment of the health of the river is published every two years. The latest grade for the river is -B.

The good grade is also a good sign for baby sturgeon–150 baby sturgeon have been found in the river this fall.

The Rice Rivers Center at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) surveys in the James for Atlantic sturgeon. Over eight years of surveys, the survey has found more than 600 sturgeon. Normally, under ten babies are found, which makes this total extraordinary.

The heavy rains may have helped clear out sediment in the river, which may have aided the spawning process.