RICHMOND — The James River Association released the State of the James report in October and announced that investments in water have helped the James River earn a “B-” grade.

According to a press release, the overall score for the river rose to 62 percent, which is an increase of 10 points since the report was first published in 2007 and three points over the past two years.

“New for 2017, the State of the James report features indicators that show how a healthy James River supports surrounding communities,” officials said in the release. “These indicators include vital necessities to everyday life, such as drinking water, information on outdoor recreation, a key driver for tourism and economic development, as well as the total economic value of the benefits provided by the James River.”