CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginia faces increasingly complex questions about water quality, drinking water, development, and environmental policy, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WV Rivers) is bringing new scientific and technical perspectives to the table. The organization has formed a Technical Advisory Council composed of scientists and policy professionals from across the region who will provide new expertise and guidance to support WV Rivers’ work protecting the state’s water resources.

The council brings together specialists in water quality, fish and wildlife biology, hydrology, public health, environmental data science, and water policy and regulation. Members draw on experience from universities, state and federal agencies, and the private sector, providing WV Rivers with a broad range of scientific discipline and practical experience on the challenges facing West Virginia’s waters and communities.

In just two weeks, the council received more than twice as many applications as available seats, highlighting the wealth of scientific and technical knowledge in West Virginia and the strong interest in putting that expertise to work protecting our waters for generations to come.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Technical Advisory Council members into our work here at West Virginia Rivers,” said Maria Russo, Policy Specialist at WV Rivers. “These individuals bring a tremendous amount of individual and collective knowledge to the table, and I am excited to see how we can take our work to the next level with their guidance and support.”

“The water challenges we face in West Virginia don’t fit neatly within a single scientific discipline,” said Dr. Nathaniel “Than” Hitt, Senior Scientist at WV Rivers. “That’s why we need to bring together different perspectives to better understand these issues and find effective solutions.”

“Protecting our waters requires strong laws and regulations, strong enforcement, and an understanding of the economic and institutional forces that shape environments and policy,” said Dr. Brooke Baker of Marymount University. “It also takes an interdisciplinary approach; this council brings together a broad range of technical expertise to better protect West Virginia’s waters and communities.”

More information on the charter and the individual members of the TAC can be found here: wvrivers.org/tac

About West Virginia Rivers Coalition
West Virginia Rivers Coalition is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean and healthy West Virginia waters for all. Learn more at WVRivers.org.

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