Mission Statement
Working with the community to conserve the Rivanna River and its watershed through water quality monitoring, restoration, education, and stewardship.About Rivanna Conservation Alliance
The Rivanna Conservation Alliance (RCA) protects and restores the streams and rivers at the heart of our community. Not only is the Rivanna River the source of drinking water for most watershed residents, it also draws swimmers, paddlers, anglers, and nature-lovers all year long. RCA’s small and dedicated staff leads volunteers, students, and community partners in efforts to improve the quality of our waterways. RCA invites our community to take ownership of shared outdoor spaces, and instills a sense of belonging among everyone who calls this area home.
We monitor the health of our water. RCA’s bacteria monitoring program helps protect public health and water quality by identifying microbial pollution in our waterways. We train volunteers to collect water samples throughout the year, then test those for E. coli, a type of bacteria that can indicate unsafe water conditions. We share results on multiple platforms so the public can make informed decisions before getting in the water. During the summer, this program ramps up to provide weekly readings at popular river access spots in the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Fluvanna County.
Twice a year, we assess the biological health of 50 stream sites by collecting and identifying benthic macroinvertebrates, small organisms that live at the bottoms of our streams and rivers. Though small, these organisms are important indicators of environmental stressors. RCA uses this data to calculate stream health scores that determine whether streams are meeting Virginia’s water quality standards. RCA is the only nonprofit with both monitoring programs certified at the highest level by the VA Department of Environmental Quality.
We restore streams and forests. What happens on the ground around a stream has a big impact on the water flowing through it. RCA plants native trees and shrubs along streams and rivers, removes invasive vines that smother forests, stabilizes eroding banks, and installs green infrastructure that filters polluted runoff. These projects improve water quality, wildlife habitat, public health, and community resilience to floods, droughts, and the growing impacts of extreme weather.
We clean up our rivers. Each year, RCA mobilizes volunteers in litter cleanups that result in tons of trash being removed from our rivers, streams, and trails, keeping plastics and debris out of the water before it breaks down into microplastics. We lead cleanups year-round and provide self-guided cleanup kits for volunteers to lead their own cleanups in the places they love.
We raise the next generation of river stewards. RCA brings nearly 1,500 students from across the watershed out to their local streams each year to test water quality, collect and learn about aquatic indicator insects, and discover how they are connected to our waterways. We also lead youth groups on the water, providing first-time paddling and Rivanna River experiences to a diversity of kids. RCA believes healthy waterways and green spaces are essential to a vibrant, resilient community, and we translate that belief into action every day. Our programs equip our community with the training, knowledge, and resources to be champions for the Rivanna River. Join us in making a difference together!