Apply for Cost Share

What is the James River Cost Share Program?

The James River Living Shoreline Cost Share Program is a program administered by the James River Association to assist homeowners with installing a living shoreline on their property. The program is available to homeowners whose property is within the James River watershed (see map to the right).  If your property is not within our watershed, check out the other assistance programs available in the region. 

Program Details

​For eligible homeowners, JRA provides guidance and support to establish a living shoreline from start to finish, including:
  1. Free site visit and shoreline advice
  2. Project designs
  3. Assistance with the permitting process
  4. Construction management
  5. 75% of construction costs*
  6. Three years of maintenance
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​To be selected for the program, homeowners must meet the following requirements:
  1. Own a tidal shoreline in the James River watershed that is eroding or at risk of erosion
  2. Have a desire to improve water quality and habitat in their local waterways
  3. Agree to keep the shoreline as a living shoreline for 10 years
  4. Provide the remaining 25% of construction costs *
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* Need-based financial assistance is available to property owners who qualify and is based on where the household falls within the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). See the attachment below for details.
additional_financial_assistance_requirements_2023.pdf
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Fill Out Interest Form

Is your property in the James River watershed? Does the James River Living Shoreline Cost Share Program seem like a good fit for you? If so, fill out the interest form below! A staff member will then reach out to you shortly.
Note: If you are interested in a living shoreline and live in the Elizabeth River Watershed, please fill out an application through the Elizabeth River Project’s website.

Locate your Property

Use the map below to determine whether your property is in the James River Watershed. 

Is a living shoreline right for you?

While living shorelines are excellent solutions to erosion in tidal areas, they may not be suitable in all instances. Properties that are inappropriate for the James River Association's  cost share program may include:
  • High eroding bluffs, which are prevalent along the south bank of the James
  • Located away from tidal bodies of water, i.e. along creeks and streams in the woods
  • Adjacent to beds of submerged aquatic vegetation or other similarly sensitive and protected habitats
  • Areas where access for construction equipment or maintenance are limited or unfeasible
* Contact [email protected] with site specific questions

James River Cost Share Program Success Stories 

The James River Cost Share Program has helped homeowners in the tidal James River Watershed construct Living Shorelines on their properties since 2021. Check out these homeowner testimonials on how the James River Cost Share Program has helped them and their property!

The Curry Living Shoreline 

Learn about John Curry and why he and his wife decided to build a Living Shoreline on their property to combat erosion. 
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lsc_1pager_john.pdf
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Phoebus Living Shoreline

The Phoebus Neighborhood Association, led by Joe Griffith, saw the need for a Living Shoreline in a local park. Learn about the project and how it has shaped the community's view of Living Shorelines.
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lsc_1pager.pdf
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