The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is working with the Reedy Creek Coalition, a grass-roots group in Richmond, to help homeowners in the creek's watershed to reduce polluted runoff from their properties.

Volunteers are performing audits of homes in and around the watershed that feeds Reedy Creek, which is one of the five biggest tributaries of the James in Richmond. Homeowners are given concrete suggestions -- such as breaking up clay or adding strategic beds of plants -- that can help them reduce runoff and keep polluted water out of the waterways.

Reducing runoff helps keep flooding and erosion in check, and can help prevent expensive water damage.

Read more in the Richmond Times-Dispatch....