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Policy Guidance for Surface Water Withdrawals with Respect to American Shad Recovery in the James River, Virginia
Royster, Daniel
Royster, Daniel
Abstract
American Shad – Alosa sapidissima – is known by many names but the two most notable of them emphasize why this species is so valuable. The translation of its Latin name means “the most savory shad” while historians further highlight its significance by calling it the “founding fish” (McPhee 2002). This species has played an important role for centuries in both precolonial and post-colonial societies. Before English settlers ever stepped foot in Virginia, Native Americans heavily relied on the spring American Shad run to feed themselves after the winter food supply had dwindled (Walburg and Nichols, 1967). When colonists settled on the James River in the early 17th century, they also realized the importance of American Shad. The species became a staple food source before quickly turning into a profitable commercial fishery that served the entire Atlantic coast by the mid-1700s (Atran et al., 1982, Loesch and Atran 1994). Since then, American Shad coastwide have declined precipitously due to multiple reasons that include overfishing, inadequate fish passage at dams, predation, pollution, channelization of rivers, changing ocean conditions, climate change, and water withdrawals. In the James River, American Shad are at their lowest recorded levels ever with the 2023 abundance index being zero (Atran et al., 1982, Loesch and Atran 1994, Hilton et al., 2025). Not only did American Shad feed an untold number of people for centuries but it also played a crucial role in the food web by serving as intermediate trophic level between primary producers and larger predators (Kimmel et al., 2009, Hinrichsen et al., 2013). This paper will highlight surface water withdrawals, how they may limit American Shad recovery, and what related policy gaps can be filled to assist this species. American Shad is one of the most important fish in the James River and its restoration is a crucial element for a healthy ecosystem.
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2025-01-01
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Virginia Institute of Marine Science
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https://doi.org/10.25773/X546-V714