A swollen James River flows by the railroad bridge near Brown’s Island. Fueled by recent heavy rains upstream, the river rose above flood stage running through Richmond. Data show the river crested at 15.4 feet Monday at the Westham gauge, or about 3 feet above flood stage. A kayaker who got stuck Monday in the rapids nearly drowned before he was rescued by city emergency personnel. On Tuesday, when this photo was taken, the river was still running above 11 feet at the City Locks near Shockoe Bottom, also 3 feet above flood stage. The river fell below flood stage Wednesday. The U.S. Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey are forecasting that the river will drop to a less treacherous 7 feet by Friday.
