In 1975, Mac Thornton, who would later become our co-founder and current board chair, drove into the mountains with a canoe strapped to the top of his car. He was chasing adventure that one can only find in wild and wonderful West Virginia. But he found more than just an adventure; Mac stumbled into a deep connection with the mountains and the rivers that carved through them.

As Mac continued to spend more time in the Mountain State, he also began to see the mounting threats. Bulldozed riverbeds, acid mine drainage, and aggressive clear-cutting were damaging the very landscapes he had come to love. Then, in 1988, came the tipping point — a proposal to build five dams in the Cheat River watershed. That was when Mac realized: The rivers had no voice. 

In 1990, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition was born out of that realization. A group of paddlers, advocates, and conservation organizations came together to form what would become the first and only statewide water advocacy organization in West Virginia. With just $1,000 in the bank and no paid staff, this group of community champions set out to do something bold, to give our rivers the voice they had always deserved. 

With support from the Outdoor Industry Conservation Alliance, the team hired our first executive director, and we started building real capacity. By 1994, WV Rivers was hosting watershed conferences and modeling a new approach to conservation — one that inspired similar work across the region. 

Over the next 35 years, WV Rivers grew into a trusted leader in water policy and protection, working with communities across every corner of the state to advocate for clean, safe water. We’ve taken on major polluters, safeguarded West Virginia’s most valuable rivers and streams, and pushed for stronger state and federal water protections. Our work spans from protecting headwaters and trout streams to holding agencies and industries accountable for unjust pollution. We’ve resourced communities in response to water crises, supported grassroots advocates, and driven statewide programs to ensure safe drinking water.

Through legal action, public engagement, and coalition-building, we continue to lead the charge for clean and healthy West Virginia waters for all.

Every step of the way, you have been a part of this story. Whether you’ve given your time or your support, or simply stood up for the rivers in your own backyard — you’ve helped shape this movement.