VCU's River Campus

The VCU Rice Rivers Center, VCU's river campus, supports scholarship and student instruction across diverse disciplines, including water resources, climate science, wildlife conservation and wetlands restoration.

Located midway between Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia along the historic James River, our 360 acres of riparian marshes, tidal creeks and mature forests represent a unique outdoor laboratory for important applied research and innovative, experiential classes. The center’s modern facilities offer offices, classrooms, laboratories and overnight lodging for students, faculty, visiting scholars and community groups. State-of-the-art technologies are deployed onsite to collect information on air and water quality, fish and avian migrations, changing sea levels and a host of other critical data sources. Our ongoing partnerships with state and federal natural resource and earth science agencies provide significant training opportunities for student scholars.

Science that matters to everyone

News

Chris Gough stands on a dock at the Rice Rivers Center

Oct. 8, 2025

VCU ecologist Chris Gough named new Rice Rivers Center executive director

As the field station marks its 25th anniversary, he shares three top goals as it expands its footprint.

A photo of four students sitting on a tree branch.

Oct. 2, 2025

How many trees are on VCU’s campuses?

Student interns with the Rice Rivers Center are counting trees, and the comprehensive inventory could highlight the environmental and financial impact of the urban forest.

A group of people wearing hiking backpacks pose next to a trail sign and trail.

Sept. 11, 2025

Students’ summer field research gets a payoff in the fall

Summer@Rice program hosted by VCU’s Rice Rivers Center offers experiential ecology that carries into the new semester – and it comes with a stipend.

Research and Restoration

a warbler perched atop someone's hand

VCU researchers and partners study the breeding biology of the prothonotary warbler along the lower James River using the project and its data to explore population genetics, disease and migration ecology, the role of song and plumage in reproductive fitness, and the impact of climate change on diet and timing of breeding.