Celebrating the Elk River with the Elkspedition
A BIG thank you goes out to everyone who joined WV Rivers’ Elkspedition Picnic & Paddle on Labor Day! You can check out some of our favorite photos from the day here. If you have photos you’d like to share, send them to us on Water Reporter with the hashtags #LovetheElk and #SaveWVRivers. Learn more about Water Reporter here.
The Elkspedition wouldn’t be possible without our partners. Many thanks to the Waterkeeper Alliance and Toyota for sponsoring the Elkspedition, ACE Adventure Resort for providing rafts and shuttle service for paddlers, and the West Virginia Conservation Agency and the West Virginia Division of Forestry for sharing information and activities with attendees. Thank you!
The Elkspedition Picnic & Paddle is part of the Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH event series and benefits the West Virginia Headwaters Waterkeeper, a program of WV Rivers. For more information on the SPLASH Event Series, presented nationally by Toyota, please visit www.splashseries.org.
Deadline Extended for Clean Water Rule Comments
Last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers announced an extension of the Clean Water Rule comment period. Through September 27, you can make your voice heard on this attempt to rollback the Clean Water Rule, which clarifies what water-bodies are protected under the Clean Water Act.
Rescinding the Clean Water Rule eliminates protections for headwater streams, and puts the drinking water for more than half (54%) of all West Virginians at greater risk for pollution.
Send a letter to the EPA letting them know you oppose any action to repeal the Clean Water Rule! Comments are due September 27, 2017. Already sent a letter? Forward this email to a friend.
3 Major Pipelines Move Closer to Approval
The site of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline Greenbier River crossing.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had a busy summer, releasing the Final Environmental Impact Statements for 3 major pipelines proposed to cross WV, the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), and Mountaineer XPress Pipeline (MXP). Likewise, the Forest Service issued their Record of Decision (ROD) and approved the use of public lands for the ACP and MVP. Many organizations, including WV Rivers, filed objections to the RODs. While WVDEP issued the permits needed for MVP, two of which have been appealed, no state permits have been granted yet for ACP. FERC is expected to issue their final decisions this fall. Stay tuned to WV Rivers as we stay on top of developments.
Help Collect Water Quality Data in the Mon National Forest
Saturday, 9/23 – Elkins, WV
Join WV Rivers and Trout Unlimited for the WV-VA Water Quality Monitoring Program‘s 3rd Watershed Snapshot Day! Help monitor as many sites as possible within the northern Monongahela National Forest during a one-day monitoring blitz! The data collected will help establish baseline conditions and show changes in water quality over time. Learn more and register.
Safe Water Events Reach New Advocates
When WV Rivers championed the Source Water Protection law in 2014, supporters showed up and spoke up for public involvement in drinking water protection pans. For Jefferson County’s Safe Water Shenandoah project, that includes taking the safe water message to community events, like the WV Rivers-sponsored film nights with the county parks and recreation department, speaking to homeowner associations and churches, and tabling at street festivals. Our goal is to inform everyone about where their water comes from and how to help protect it.
In Buckhannon, WV Rivers is partnering with local watershed organizations to promote public participation in drinking water protection. In August, our Safe Water Celebration, connected folks to efforts to protect local drinking water. Check out this Record Delta article on the celebration.
Events Around the State
Sept. 9 Tygart River in Philippi Clean-Up
Sept. 9 The Great Kanawha River Cleanup
Sept. 14-17 American Whitewater Gauley Fest
Sept. 15-17 West Virginia Highlands Conservancy 50th Anniversary Celebration
Sept. 16 Greenbrier River Watershed Double Crossed Pipeline Event
Sept. 23 WV-VA Water Quality Monitoring Program Snapshot Day
Sept. 29 Safe Water Movie in the Park, featuring Beauty and the Beast
Oct. 7 Save the Greenbrier River, Monroe Co & Peters Mountain Event
Oct.12-13 Mid-Atlantic Water Resources Conference
Oct. 13 Safe Water Movie in the Park, featuring Hocus Pocus
WV Rivers in the News
Labor Day float attracts paddlers to the Elk River
Labor Day brings Elk River Elkspedition
Watershed volunteers honored for efforts
West Virginia Rafting Company To Hold Free Trip On Elk River
‘Our water is not invincible’
West Virginia Rafting Company to Hold Free Trip on Elk River
ACE Adventures to assist rivers group with Elk event
Letter: Lawmakers should leave national monuments alone
WV DEP ignored water quality in MVP permit, court filing argues
Public invited to take part in Elkspedition
Outdoor Recreation in WV: 90,000 Jobs, $9 Billion Economic Activity
