Fifty years ago in December, Virginians learned what can happen to the James River if we let our guard down. An environmental disaster, public health emergency and economic blow to the fishing industry was caused by two factories in Hopewell illegally dumping waste from their production of the pesticide, Kepone, which eventually entered and contaminated the river.
At the James River Association, we carry that lesson with us every day. The Kepone crisis is a chapter in our history that we must remember, not just to mark how far we’ve come, but to remind ourselves that our river is only as safe as our vigilance.
On Dec. 17, 1975, the river hit what many consider its lowest point. Then-Gov. Mills Godwin shut down all fishing and shellfish harvesting on the entire tidal James, a ban that lasted 13 years. Imagine that today: 110 miles of river being off-limits to the people whose livelihoods depend on it.
The pollution was staggering in scale. Thousands of pounds of the neurotoxin pesticide, Kepone (chlordecone), had been illegally discharged into the James over the course of more than 10 years. Factory workers were poisoned and the contamination spread through the river’s food web, damaging ecosystems and destroying commercial fisheries.
The disaster reshaped how an entire generation of Virginians viewed the James River. The pollution drew national attention, including a segment on “60 Minutes,” and made the James River a symbol of what happens when industrial pollution goes unchecked.
But Kepone also sparked something powerful: lasting stewardship. In 1976, citizens formed the James River Association to serve as the river’s guardian and voice. Soon after, the companies responsible for the pollution were held accountable in what was then the largest environmental fine in U.S. history. Eight million dollars from that settlement established the Virginia Environmental Endowment, a grantmaker that continues to support conservation efforts around the state.
Today, the James is dramatically cleaner than it was in the 1970s. The James River Association’s 2025 State of the James report gives the river a “B” grade, reflecting decades of restoration, smarter policy and citizen action. Key species such as eagles and sturgeon have rebounded, access for recreation has expanded, and communities across the watershed once again rely on the river for livelihood, health and enjoyment.
Still, a “B” grade does not mean our work is finished, or that the river’s health is “good enough.” The Kepone legacy warns against complacency. Like a scar after a major injury, traces of Kepone remain buried in river sediments. They no longer actively cause harm, but serve as a reminder of how fragile progress can be.
The James River continues to face real threats today, such as polluted runoff from rapid development, invasive species, industrial discharges, aging sewer systems and new chemicals whose long-term effects are still being studied. We must fight for stronger safeguards for the James, including eliminating sewage overflows, securing safe storage of toxic chemicals, upgrading wastewater treatment plants, controlling pollution from urban stormwater and agricultural lands, and advancing protections for iconic species such as American shad and freshwater mussels.
If Kepone taught us anything, it’s that the river can’t defend itself: We have to be its voice. Healing the river is only possible with strong policies, responsible practices, consistent monitoring and public involvement. We can’t wait for another catastrophe before we act.
The James is a shared resource and a shared responsibility. It’s proof that when Virginians fight for their river, recovery is possible. As we mark this anniversary, we owe it to the fishermen, families and wildlife who depend on this river to finish the job and pass on a fully healthy James to the next generation.
Bill Street of Richmond is president and CEO of the James River Association, which was founded in the wake of the Kepone disaster and serves as the voice for the whole James River and its 25,000 miles of tributaries.