West Virginia Groups Push for Clean New River

The New River Clean Water Alliance invited the public to learn about clean water challenges and solutions with a first ever review of the new Draft Lower New River State of the Watershed Report on Thursday, March 3.  Alliance member organizations, including the National Committee for the New River, National Parks Conservation Association, New River Gorge National River, Plateau Action Network, Piney Creek Watershed Association, West Virginia Professional River Outfitters Association, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Mountain Resource Conservation and Development, and Southern Conservation District.

Alliance members spoke to attendees about the draft report’s contents, and solicited suggestions for the refining and implementation of important findings affecting the New River in the region.  Because the Lower New River is the beating heart of the region, reflecting a rich cultural heritage, and influencing its economic future, the goal of the report is to highlight, define and communicate the clean water challenges facing the river.  Alliance members will, with the public’s input and assistance, recommend focused strategic actions that will promote clean water in the river and its tributary creeks.  According to Alliance member Mark Lewis, who represents WVPRO, West Virginia Professional River Outfitters, citizens need to use the report to “Create the community and political support we need – we know the solutions – we need the funding to carry them out.”

The report includes stories and images of the Lower New River that illustrate its importance to the region and the country.  And, the report documents the State of the New River Watershed today and outlines the clean water challenges.  Key findings include recognition of the impaired status of the New River in West Virginia, which means the river does not meet clean water standards for pollutants in all weather and all seasons.  The report also outlines the most common source of pollutants as local creeks, which run heavy and high during rainfall events, when pollution is most likely to be found at unsafe levels.

By working with active citizen groups, the Alliance will work to reduce pollution in the New River and tributary streams by creating a community-based regional plan to monitor water quality.  And, the Alliance will target infrastructure solutions, including private and public sewer facilities in need of repair.   The National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River Superintendent Don Striker said that the Alliance, “Represents the power of the team” and noted that the report does a good job “setting incremental steps for water quality.”

The report is an invitation to be part of this exciting initiative and to invite concerned citizens to take steps to ensure our Lower New River communities have clean water.  You can see the report and an Executive Summary at:  http://www.npca.org/newrivercleanwater.

Here’s the link to the report.