WV Rivers News: New WV Rivers’ T-shirts, Meet our Newest Staff Member, WQS Update
New WV Rivers’ T-Shirt – Order by 12/17 for Christmas Delivery
Just in time for your holiday gifting are new WV Rivers’ t-shirts! Designed by West Virginia artist Rosalie Haizlett, our new t-shirts and stickers features the endangered candy darter. A tiny colorful fish found only in the New, Greenbrier and Gauley River watersheds.
Stock is limited so snag your tee today! All t-shirt orders ship Dec. 18. Buy your WV Rivers’ gear here.
Legislative Committee Votes to Weaken Water Quality Standards
Delegate Barbara Fleischauer spoke passionately in favor of protective water quality standards.
Last week, the Joint Legislative Rulemaking Review Committee met to debate updates to the human health criteria in our water quality standards. This committee meets before the regular session to review, amend and vote on recommended rules for the full Legislature’s consideration. Sadly, a majority of the committee decided to support less stringent limits for 13 toxins in our water quality standards.
What’s next? The full West Virginia Legislature will consider and vote on the water quality standards rule when they commence in February. In the meantime, we encourage you to sign-up to receive weekly water policy updates throughout the session. We’ll keep you up to date on water policy news and actions your can take for our water.
Meet Our New Team Member: Chett Pritchett
We’re so excited to introduce our newest team member, Development Officer, Chett Pritchett!
Chett grew up along the banks of the Ohio and from a young age understood the personal impact of clean water. He attended college at West Virginia Wesleyan where he learned how to advocate for social and environmental justice. Chett then moved to Washington, DC to complete his master’s degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, where he gained broad experience in the non-profit sector, including serving as Executive Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. In 2016, Chett moved back to the Mid-Ohio Valley and has since worked in higher education fundraising.
Chett is excited bring passion for clean water and healthy communities to the work of philanthropy at WV Rivers!
MVP Tries to Change the Rules to Cross Streams – Comment Now
The Mountain Valley Pipeline is at it again, trying to skirt environmental laws and regulations. Because a federal court has issued a stay on stream crossing construction, MVP has requested a certificate amendment from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to bore under 69 streams and wetlands in the first 77 miles of the route to connect to the WB Xpress Pipeline.
We have reviewed their environmental report and found their plans to be lacking critical information needed to protect waterbodies from negative impacts associated with the underground boring. WV Rivers has partnered with Appalachian Voices and POWHR to help citizens submit comments on MVP’s request by December 21. Read our fact sheet on MVP’s requested certificate amendment.
Job: Contracted Facilitator for Mon National Forest Campaign
WV Rivers is looking to contract with a consultant to assist with design and facilitation of a public listening project relating to the future of West Virginia’s public lands. The consultant will drive a process of information gathering and fostering buy-in with stakeholders primarily around the conservation, use, and management of the Monongahela National Forest (“the Mon”). Information gathered in listening sessions will inform the creation and roll-out of a pro-active campaign.
There will be opportunity for the contractor to remain on the project for the campaign development and roll-out phase. We expect to offer an initial one-year contract beginning in January 2021. Read the full position description.
WV Rivers’ Year End Report and 2021 Priorities
WV Rivers depends on donations from supporters like you to advocate for clean water and wild public lands. Last year, we made great strides for healthier streams, which you can learn about in our special year-end report.
And we’re ready to keep the momentum moving forward! We’ve already set six immediate clean water priorities for 2021. These priorities range from beating back attempts to weaken water quality standards to providing citizen activists new ways to connect with decision-makers. Read about them here.
You can also watch a recording of our Holiday Shindig to hear more about these priorities from our board of directors! Click here or the picture above to watch the Shindig.
We’re counting on your donation to carry our mission forward.
