A new state law may mean changes for water districts like the James River Water Development District. The law, which went into effect on July first, will move water management into natural resource districts, based on drainage basins rather than county lines.
James River District Manager Dave Bartel says he isn’t sure what those changes mean for their district………

Bartel says in the meantime, they are expanding some programs, including helping expand wildlife conservation areas along the river. He says producers are willing to let more ground go back……….

Bartel says while they don’t directly pay for the conservation programs, there are federal programs that will…………

Bartel says they have conservation and wetland restoration programs going on all along the river.