The James River from Richmond to· Hampton Roads serves not only as a valuable artery of commerce for ship-borne freight to and from the ports of Hopewell and Richmond but, in the lower reaches, is the foundation of the State's oyster industry. Almost the entire supply of seed oysters comes from the lower part of the James River and seed oysters are essential to the commercial production of oysters.

The depth of the present channel is 25 feet. The Army Engineers have proposed that the channel be dredged to a depth of 35 feet and a width of 300 feet from Deepwater Terminal in Richmond to Hampton Roads. The dredging is contingent upon a commitment that the State or the city of Richmond hold the Army Engineers harmless from any damage caused in dredging the river; such assurance can only be given through legislation adopted by the General Assembly of Virginia.

At the 1958 Session of the General Assembly, legislation was adopted which, essentially, provided that the Commission of Fisheries would have to approve the dredging before it could be undertaken. Proposals were made at the 1960 and 1962 Sessions to remove this power from the Commission of Fisheries but these were not successful.

At the Session of 1962 Your Excellency stressed the importance to the State's industrial development of improving the James River channel. Accordingly, Senate Joint Resolution No. 36 was adopted creating a Commission to study the merits and demerits of dredging the river in the area indicated.

Following the adoption of the resolution, and shortly after the adjournment of the General Assembly, Your Excellency appointed the following to membership upon the Commission: Marvin L. Amory, former member, Hampton City Council, Hampton; Paul Brown, Civil Engineer, Honaker; Colonel Robert P. Carroll, Department of Biology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington; Thomas N. DeLashmutt, Bank Director and Contractor, Aldie; Orval J. Hand, President, Virginia Water Pollution Control Association, Petersburg; Reuben B. Hicks, Engineer, and Manager, Prince William Electric Cooperative, Manassas; Dr. Percy H. Warren, Dean, Madison College, Biologist, Harrisonburg.

The Commission, at its organization meeting, assembled in the office of Your Excellency and discussed various aspects of the proposal with you. Thomas N. DeLashmutt was elected Chairman and Orval J. Hand was elected Vice-Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr. and F. W. Harkrader, Jr., served as Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Commission. Mr. Harkrader left State employment and was succeeded by Charles A. Christophersen.

The Commission has consulted with many persons and groups having an interest in, or knowledge of, the problem under study. It held five public hearings, after considerable publicity and, in addition, invited several scientists to testify before it concerning certain technical aspects of the problem. Also, individual members consulted with scientists and marine biologists. Visits were made to the Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station at Vicksburg, Mississippi, to see models first hand and how they are employed to gather data concerning various river and harbor problems involving siltation, circulation patterns, and changes in the physical condition of the water due to changes in the environment. A visit was also made to the United States Fisheries. Laboratory at Beaufort, North Carolina. After mature consideration of the suggestions made to us, the evidence presented, the available scientific and technical advice, and such knowledge and experience as we have been able to bring to bear upon the subject, we submit the following recommendations.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. A hydraulic model of the James River should not be constructed.

2. The James River between Richmond and Hampton Roads should be deepened and widened as proposed by the Corps of Army Engineers.

3. Consideration should be given to the repeal of § 28.1-147 of the Code of Virginia.

4. Consideration should be given to conferring on the city of Richmond the power it sought in 1958 to cooperate with the United States government and to give the required assurances in connection with dredging the James River channel.

We will now set forth the reasons for these recommendations. The reasons will be numbered to correspond therewith.