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Check out WV's Progress with the Chesapeake Bay's TMDL
Chesapeake Bay Program
The Chesapeake Bay TMDL Tracking and Accounting System (BayTAS) was developed to inform EPA, the Bay Jurisdictions, and the public on progress in implementing the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL). Future versions of BayTAS will include reporting of Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation and verification. Click Here to Check out WV's Progress!
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Sign Up for Opequon Creek Fun Float: Sept. 15, 2012!
Opequon Creek Project Team
On Saturday, September 15, 2012, 10:00AM, folks are invited to join the Opequon Creek Project Team for a fun float on the creek. They will launch from Payne's Ford Road public access area and take out just
past the Route 9 Bridge at Nahkeeta Campground-a 7 mile trip. A picnic will follow along the banks of the creek. For more information, and to sign up, Click here! |
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5k and 10k Run in Honor of Conservationist to Kick Off Heritage Weekend
Hardy County 
In honor of Arthur Halterman, a dedicated teacher and conservationist in West Virginia, the Wardensville Scholarship Fund Association (WFSA) 5K and 10K Run will be held September 29, 2012, for all who want to add a bit of fun to their weekend.
This run is helping kick off the Hardy County, West Virginia Heritage Weekend September 28-30 2012. For more information, Click Here! |
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Sign up For the Chesapeake Watershed Forum at NCTC Sept. 27-30, 2012!
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Sign up for the annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum, held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV! This three day, two night conference offers a variety of workshops, networking opportunities and social activities geared to showcase the latest advocacy tools and emerging issues concerning the Chesapeake Bay. For more details and to register,Click Here!
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Cacapon Institute Develops Stream Cleaner Pinball: Available Now!
-Cacapon Institute
Stream Cleaner Pinball is a fully functional, fun, and engaging tool for teaching youth and adults alike about best management practices (BMP's), stormwater runoff pollution, and watersheds. To read more,Click Here!
To use Stream Cleaner Pinball at your fair, conference, camp, or school, contact Cacapon Institute at ci@cacaponinstitute.org or by calling 304-856-1385.
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Watershed Groups and Local Governments Help to Implement the WIP
Alana Hartman - WVDEP Potomac Basin Coordinator
Since submitting the final Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) for the Chesapeake Total Maximum Daily Load, West Virginia partners have kept up the momentum by competently carrying out strategies that the WIP outlines. Our local watershed associations are especially committed to, and effective at, increasing public awareness about the need to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution. Recently, at least two WV Potomac Basin groups have hosted clean-ups and fun events on the water. Two others have been deeply involved in watershed planning this summer. Some groups work with students in the schools and summer camps, and others (or the same ones!) plant trees and create stormwater management practices like rain gardens and rain barrels. In September, the West Virginia Watershed Network will honor WV's watershed associations with a luncheon, training opportunities and awards at Watershed Celebration Day near Charleston. Also in September, our local groups will benefit from the organizational advice, technical support, and networking at the Chesapeake Watershed Forum (see announcement below), an annual occurrence in Jefferson County.
These volunteers can be assured that they are not alone in the effort to implement the WIP. Several county and municipal governments have begun reviewing ordinances to ensure that they adequately control runoff from new development projects. Charles Town and Ranson (Jefferson Co.) together acquired a design grant for a large "green infrastructure" park to showcase innovative stormwater management practices. In addition, all of the communities with significant municipal wastewater facilities submitted applications on-time in June, for state funding to help defray the cost of facility upgrades required by the WIP. Ground was broken this summer on one of the biggest projects, just north of Moorefield (Hardy Co.), and the Frankfort Public Service District's facility (Mineral Co.) has been upgraded to achieve the WIP standards.
These actions are complementary to all the projects you will read about in this issue. Please let us know which of the above activities we should feature in future newsletters. Finally, if this article inspired you to help a local watershed group, please see the "What's My Watershed" site to contact them, or inquire with Alana Hartman at Alana.C.Hartman@wv.gov.
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EPA Meets with Local Stakeholders
West Virginia Chesapeake Bay Program
 | | Click to read July 12, 2012 EPA Meeting with WV Stakeholders Summary |
On July 12, 2012 The Environmental Protection Agency met with local partners and stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities facing the implementation of West Virginia's Phase II of the Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP).
EPA committed to using the collective feedback and direction from the meeting as its principle 'to do' list in working with West Virginia state, local, and federal partners in support of the implementation of West Virginia's Watershed Implementation Plan for the Potomac River watershed. To read the summary of the meeting, Click Here.
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CommuniTree Announces 2012 Fall Grant Awards!
Tanner Haid, Urban Forestry Coordinator
WV Project CommuniTree (CTree) would like to formally thank all of the spring 2012 volunteers for all of their hard work and dedication to increasing the health, beauty, and urban tree canopy in the
 | | 2012 Grant Awardees have been chosen! |
Potomac Headwaters of West Virginia. Your volunteerism exemplified CTree's motto - "Building communities from the roots up." Your work is greatly appreciated!
CTree has the pleasure of announcing that the fall 2012 grant awardees have been chosen. We look forward to working with each of these groups and invite any interested groups or individuals to come out with us to plant some trees! Tree planting dates TBD and will be announced online at The Cacapon Institute's Website.
Click to View Grant Award Winners! |
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Stormwater Management-
Agencies Partner for Demo Rain Garden along Interstate 81 South
Carla Hardy, West Virginia Conservation Agency
If you happen to be travelling south into West Virginia from Maryland on Interstate 81 and crossing the majestic Potomac, it's always a treat to catch a glimpse of boaters and fisherman enjoying the water.
 | | A new raingarden has now been planted on the grounds of the I-81 WV Welcome and Rest Center |
As soon as you cross the state line you will see the West Virginia Welcome and Rest Center; you'll want to take the exit and check out the newest addition to the facility's stormwater management plan, which is assisting in allowing those outdoor enthusiasts to continue enjoying the river.
West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) recently completed the installation and planting of a 3,560 square foot rain garden that is handling a portion of the stormwater runoff from the impervious surface of the parking area and sidewalks. For more info and pictures, Click Here! |
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WVCA Summer Internship- Data Capture of Historical Farm Practices Will Go Towards Bay Model
West Virginia Conservation Agency
 | | Andrea Walker- WVCA's Summer 2012 Intern |
Meet the West Virginia Conservation Agency's 2012 Chesapeake Bay Summer Intern, Andrea Walker. Andrea was selected by the WVCA to work in assisting West Virginia with achieving its Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) goals over the summer months. Andrea was hired in response to a Memorandum of Understanding with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to collect historical implementation practice data on waste management and mortality disposal systems on farms. Andrea worked alongside NRCS field office staff to sift specific information pertaining to animal type, number of animal units for which the facilities were built, installation dates and county locations. This task entailed sorting through drawers full of contracts dating back to 1996 to accurately capture the data. The work that Andrea completed will ensure the agricultural sector will be getting the most precise data credit within the Bay model.
Andrea lives in Old Fields, WV and is a graduate student at WVU, earning a Masters degree in Agriculture. |
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EPCD Now Offering DIY Rain Barrel Kits
Eastern Panhandle Conservation District
 | | The EPCD is now offering Rain Barrel kits for $20! Each kit contains all of the hardware needed to make one rain barrel. |
The Eastern Panhandle Conservation District (EPCD) is sponsoring a DIY Rain Barrel Kit. This is a "Fair Special" that EPCD is offering at this time. It is a promo for this year and the drive will kick off in the spring of 2013. A purchaser can buy just the kit for $20 or the kit and 55 gallon barrel for $30. Once a picture is taken and sent back to the office by October 1, a complete refund is issued and in essence, the kit is completely free. Many homeowners are not aware of rain barrels and EPCD has found that this promotion is a great way to provide education on all levels to the homeowners while offering a simple way to obtain a kit for free. Questions about the kits can be answered by calling 304-263-4376. |
| About WV's Potomac Tributary Strategy Team
Fourteen percent (14%) of West Virginia drains into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. In June of 2002, Governor Bob Wise signed the Chesapeake Bay Program Water Quality Initiative Memorandum of Understanding. By signing this memo, West Virginia agreed to develop goals and objectives to reduce nutrient and sediment loading to the Chesapeake Bay.
To help WV accomplish these goals, Project Teams began working in targeted watersheds. These groups build partnerships, gather funding, and identify priority projects that are most important to their local communities. Reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in local creeks and rivers will mean healthier water resources that are better able to sustain tourism, fishing, drinking water supplies, wildlife habitat, and other uses. Each one of us can act locally to help achieve these goals. WV's Potomac Tributary Strategy Team |
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