What’s Happening at WV Rivers – August 2023
Picture yourself surrounded by the towering trees of the Monongahela National Forest, your easel set up by the tranquil Shaver’s Fork, or standing atop a breathtaking overlook. Whether you’re a painter, a photographer, a poet, a musician, or an artist in any other medium, the Monongahela National Forest invites you to let the wilderness spark your creativity.
Feel the connection between your art and the environment as you immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the forest on National Public Lands Day. On September 23, 2023, we’re calling all artists to come together and #CreateTheMon – a celebration of art, nature, and the Monongahela National Forest.
We ask creators to tag WV Rivers and West Virginians for Public Lands in their posts use the hashtag #CreatetheMon. Submit your artwork/video/photos to be featured in a digital gallery and shared on WV Rivers and Public Lands social media.
Remember we are visiting the Mon Forest, and the forest is home to many animal and plant species – some that live only in the Mon. Please do not move, rearrange, damage, or destroy any part of the forest or any element found in the forest.
You can submit your art here: https://forms.gle/wFaQWEmDsYsQuGZFA
P.S. Can’t make it to the Mon Forest on September 23 but have previously created Mon Forest-inspired works of art? Send them along! We’d love to feature your work.
Our collective efforts have yielded a win for our Ohio River Communities – the permit for the Medical Waste Facility in Jackson County, near Ravenswood, WV, has been denied. Thank you for your advocacy!
This is a remarkable achievement, and it speaks volumes about the power of community engagement and our shared commitment to safeguarding the Ohio River and the health of our neighborhoods.
Heather Sprouse, our Ohio River Coordinator, focuses on connecting with the communities along the West Virginia portion of the Ohio River, listening to their concerns, and collaboratively crafting strategies to create healthier and more inviting environments for everyone.
Heather stated, “On my drive home to Putnam County, I was thinking about neighbors and what it means to be a good one. That community meeting showed me what it means. Good neighbors show up when there is a problem — to protect those you care for and the place everyone loves to live, the place they want to see healthy for their children and grandchildren.”
The Ohio is also the most polluted River in the country. Historically, and today, the Ohio River serves an essential role in the nation’s transportation, manufacturing and energy production systems. These industries have left a legacy of polluted water, causing disproportionate harm to our communities.
WV Rivers and our partners are actively working on an Ohio River Restoration Plan to be delivered to Congress later this year calling for sustained and substantial federal investment to restore the Ohio River for generations to come.
Together, we can continue to be good neighbors to one another, safeguarding this precious resource and creating a new legacy of environmental stewardship in the region.
After a brief rescheduling, we’re excited to share that the eagerly awaited Mon Forest Snapshot Day will take place on Sunday, October 1st, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the stunning Stuart Recreation Area in Elkins, WV.
Nestled within the serene embrace of the Monongahela National Forest, this event offers a chance for concerned citizens and seasoned water quality monitors to come together, contribute to science, and celebrate a decade of environmental stewardship.
The primary objective of Snapshot Day is to assess the water quality of the headwater streams within the region. With your participation, this event aims to create a comprehensive overview of the current state of these vital and pristine water sources. By gathering data from various sites, participants will contribute to establishing baseline water quality conditions and tracking changes over time to ensure the health of these ecosystems.
This year marks a milestone – a full decade since its inception – a special segment will recognize and celebrate the active monitors and volunteers who have been an integral part of the WV-VA Water Quality Monitoring Program since its earliest days. Their dedication and passion have helped shape the program into what it is today.
We hope to see you there!
As the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) continues its construction across its 303-mile path, the need for monitoring and community engagement has grown more urgent.
In a recent interview, Program Director Autumn Crowe told Atmos Earth, “Community members are often the ones to spot pollution events first. They’re the ones most familiar with their streams. They’re the frontlines.”
WV Rivers has been at the forefront of the effort to hold MVP accountable for their destruction, training over a thousand volunteers in the last ten years. These volunteers play a key role in our pipeline monitoring program, but even before MVP restarted construction, volunteers were gathering baseline data to establish a foundation for identifying and addressing anomalies.
With approximately 550 waterbody crossings underway, volunteers are stepping up to ensure that MVP construction activities are carried out without causing harm to the environment and water quality.
If you are available today at 4 PM, we are hosting a training for volunteers who will monitor the Greenbrier River crossing. If you can’t make it today, but are still interest in conducting pipeline visual assessments. You can sign up for either through the buttons below.
Greenbrier River Crossing
Monitor Training – 4 PM Today!
MVP Construction Monitoring
Interest Form
Upcoming Events from our Partners
Fayetteville First Friday
September 1 | 5 PM – 9 PM
Fayetteville, WV
Freshwater Folk Festival
September 9 | 10 AM – 5 PM
White Sulphur Springs, WV
Heal The North Fork
September 10 | 2 PM – 5 PM
Harpers Ferry, WV
Go North – Corridor H Fundraising House Party
September 9 | 2 PM – 5 PM
Davis, WV
Barrels & BBQ: Rain Barrel Painting
September 10 | 2 PM – 5 PM
Harpers Ferry, WV
How We Protect Us: Pipeline Safety Call
September 12 | 7 PM
Zoom
March to End Fossil Fuels WV Bus Registration
September 17
New York City, NY
Harvest the Vision Music Fest
September 24 | 2 PM – 5 PM
Parkersburg, WV
Walk in the Woods: Sam Michael’s Park
October 21 | 2 PM – 5 PM
Harpers Ferry, WV
P.S. THANK YOU to everyone who has given to protect our Appalachian rivers and streams. It’s humbling to know we have the support of people like you all across West Virginia and beyond. Right now, we are still behind on our August fundraising goal by about $4,500. If you haven’t given yet this month and you’re in a position to give today, you can pitch in at the link below.
P.S.S. From all of us at WV Rivers, have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend!
