The rope swing tree at Huguenot Flatwater has fallen

Have you ever spent time down at Huguenot Flatwater on the rope swing? For at least the past 20 years, that tree has been a constant source of fun and entertainment for thrill-seeking river rats on the James River.

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Watch chicken feathers float down the James Saturday

Saturday from 1-4 p.m. you should make your way down to the river to watch the James River Environmental Art Project.  The James River UFO environmental art performance event by a University of Richmond student features recycled poultry feathers that will travel downriver contained within a floating sculptural barrier.  View it from Huguenot Flatwater to Pony Pasture along trails and Riverside Drive. See more from Hills & Heights:

The motivation for the work is to call attention to nonpoint source nutrient pollution and water quality legislation. Chicken feathers are being used since they serve as a natural absorbent of heavy metal ions from water effluent. Style Weekly had an article in December about the first attempt to launch this project and the first link provides more details including the best spots to view the work.

Riverside Drive is a ‘Scenic Byway,’ not scenic highway

Riverside Drive from Huguenot Flatwater to the Robert E. Lee Bridge is designated as a ‘scenic byway’ and the speed limit is designated to be 25 mph. It is one of the most popular place to walk, run or bike in Richmond, yet the roadway is narrow and has little to no shoulder space and there are no sidewalks for refuge.

The subject of sharing Riverside Drive has been brought up before and brought several good comments, but as we prepare for spring and an increase in traffic to the area, it has come up again.

Access Week: Support for boat landing under Willey Bridge?

Phil Riggan – James River News Hub

Access Week! One of the first complaints most people have when discussing the James River in Richmond is that there aren’t enough access points. This is Day 2 as James River News Hub tackles the topic of access points.

The Edward E. Willey Bridge is just east of Bosher’s Dam (discussed Day 1) and is located in an exclusive neighborhood. The property that could make a good access point for the James is located under the bridge’s two “S” shaped spans on the south bank of the river off Cherokee Road.

There is potential for a boat landing, potentially similar to the one at Huguenot Flatwater. There is very little attractive landscape to this area under the bridge, and it is sandwiched in between some very high-priced homes. Cherokee Road is narrow, hilly and sometimes dangerous in this area.

Kayaking the James: Bosher’s Dam

For many, the James River isn’t about the rapids and rocks. Solitude and serenity draws many to the calmer waters above the Falls of the James and Huguenot Flatwater is the place to launch for a quiet paddle.

If you need a destination, Bosher’s Dam is about a mile up river from Huguenot Flatwater and is a scenic, peaceful and pleasant spot to enjoy the James.

See more including a full slideshow at Richmond.com