River watch: James River levels will fluctuate over next few days as snow melts

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- It's been a crazy week for river lovers in the River City. The James River rose to more than 16 feet this week -- putting the community at a high flood risk.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, 8News crews toured Central Virginia to check in on the status of riverside areas in the region. Overall, it appeared to be the calm after the storm. The James River appeared notably tamer than Monday and Tuesday.

"Floods occur quite frequently across the Commonwealth," said Angela Davis with the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). "Anywhere can rain, it can flood."

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On Monday and Tuesday, water levels peaked at above 16 feet. According to the National Water Prediction Service, the James River sits at around 10 feet as of Thursday evening in the Richmond zone. Though it may fluctuate for a few days as the recent snow melts, overall, water levels are projected to continue to decrease -- but only gradually.

Davis serves as the DCR's Floodplain Management Division Director.

"As snow melts, it's upstream of Richmond and drains into the smaller tributaries," Davis said. "It will certainly cause increased water levels over the next couple of days."

Davis said flooding occurs frequently across the Commonwealth. That's part of why the work her team does is so crucial. A large part of her work focuses on promoting "flood resilience."

"Flood resilience is the capability to anticipate, prepare, respond and recover from hazards -- to minimize damage to social well-being [and] help the economy. as well as the environment," Davis said.

Davis told 8News that "Flood Awareness Week" is coming up as her team continues analyzing data on Virginia flood conditions, risks and vulnerabilities. It's all about keeping Virginians safe.

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"Flooding is very serious," Davis said. "It can be fatal, in the worst instances."

According to the DCR, those who live in areas considered at "high risk" for flooding have a 25% chance of experiencing flooding during an average 30-year mortgage.

"So we highly encourage Virginians to do what they need to do to prepare in advance of the potential for flooding," Davis said.

According to Davis, when it comes to flooding, it's important to know your risk and make sure you have flood insurance.

"Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program and most Virginia communities are eligible for flood insurance," Davis said.

For more information about how the Department of Conservation and Resources can help Virginians, visit the department's website.