|
Meet a Few of Our New Staff Members | |
|
Meet the New Urban Forestry Coordinator: Tanner Haid
Cacapon  Institute
Cacapon Institute (CI) is pleased to announce the hire of Tanner Haid as our new Urban Forestry Coordinator, a position made possible by a grant from the USDA Forest Service in partnership with the WV Division of Forestry, Division of Highways, and WV Conservation Agency's Project CommuniTree. Click to Read Full Article |
|
Meet the New Conservation Specialist for the EPCD: Suzy Lucas
WVCA 
Hello! My name is Regina Lucas, but, you can call me Suzy. I'm proud to announce that I have joined the WV Conservation Agency as a Conservation Specialist in the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District (EPCD).Click to Read Full Article |
|
Meet the New Outreach Specialist for the EPCD: Kate Hendershot
Eastern Panhandle Conservation District 
Hello, my name is Kate Hendershot! I began my work with the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District (EPCD) as the Education Outreach Specialist in August. Since then, I have not been able to stop and catch a breath. I am amazed at how many education opportunities there are in the Eastern Panhandle. Click to Read Full Article |
|
Hampshire County South Branch Watershed Group Meeting: Jan. 17!
-WVCA
You are invited to attend an informal meeting at the Bank of Romney Community Center on January 17, 2011 at 6:00PM to discuss ideas for improving the water quality of the area and steps in creating a watershed group for the lower South Branch River Watershed. The goal of this meeting is to gain community input on local natural resource concerns and how to work together to make positive changes in the watershed. This meeting will build on last month's meeting in determining steps to address concerns of the South Branch River.
|
|
|
Greetings!
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Update
Ashby Ruddle, Environmental Specialist
West Virginia Department of Agriculture
As you all know, the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is still an ongoing process. In 2010, Phase I of the Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) was completed by all jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Phase I WIPs provided a roadmap for how and when each jurisdiction intends to meet pollutant allocation reductions.
West Virginia's WIP development team submitted a draft Phase II WIP to USEPA on Dec. 15, 2011. Phase II of the WIP will explain how West Virginia and other Chesapeake Bay Watershed jurisdictions will achieve EPA's pollution reductions on a more localized level. A description of how the WV partners sought input from local stakeholders is part of the Phase II WIP document. The final draft of Phase II is to be prepared after EPA's comments are made public after Feb. 15, 2012. West Virginia will review EPA's comments and will make necessary adjustments. The Final Phase II WIP will be submitted to USEPA by March 30, 2012.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is active in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL process to ensure that the agricultural community is represented and their concerns are heard.
If you are interested in learning more about the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and what it means for West Virginia, please browse our website or use the "contact us" feature at the top of the website. Meanwhile, please enjoy the articles we have compiled for this winter edition, to showcase projects and efforts that are making a difference for local streams and rivers, and for the Chesapeake Bay. Please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues. |
|
Sleepy Creek Project Happenings
Barbie Elliott, West Virginia Conservation Agency
The Sleepy Creek Project Proposal for fecal coliform impairment was finalized in December 2007 and funding was secured to target the fecal coliform, sediment and nutrient pollutants. The Project Team has been working diligently t o address residential, agricultural and urban issues facing the watershed. One of the more successful achievements was the reduction of pollution from residential areas by upgrading 43 septic systems and pumping 69 septic septic systems.
On Saturday, September 24th, twenty-seven volunteers and members of the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association planted 200 trees on Washington Homeopathy property in the Morgan County Business Park. Participants represented the Berkeley Springs Lions Club, Morgan County Master Gardeners, Berkeley Springs High School Leo Club, Eastern Panhandle Conservation District, and local residents. The goal of the tree planting project is to aid in slowing storm water pollution into Sleepy Creek and tributaries. Herb Peddicord, Chesapeake Bay Forester provided instruction to the 35 participants on accurate tree planting techniques.
The 319 grant provided $20,000 for the porous or permeable paving of a 5,000 square foot parking lot in cooperation with Mountain View Solar located at U.S. 522 Business Park. The permeable materials allow precipitation to percolate through areas that would traditionally be impervious. This innovative project will be a demonstration that showcases solutions to control storm water runoff and result in less sediment, pesticides, nutrients, oils and other contaminants reaching Sleepy Creek and the Chesapeake Bay.
"The West Virginia nonpoint source program does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, gender, or handicap." Funding is provided through Section 319 from the US EPA, WV DEP and WVCA. |
|
"What's My Watershed?"- New Mapping Feature in the Eastern Panhandle
Matthew Pennington, Chesapeake Bay Program Coordinator
Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council ("Region 9")
A new feature has appeared on Region 9's website. With help from Region 9's GIS Analyst, Matthew Mullenax, they were able to develop a "What's My Watershed" map that can be accessed through Region 9's website. Several watershed groups are very active in the Panhandle. They are always looking for new members and even offer incentives for property owners located with the watershed boundary. To find out what programs residents may be eligible for they have to simply click the link and type their home address in the space provided. When the map zooms to their address they must click the colored portion to bring up information on the watershed where they're located.
The "What's my Watershed" feature is located on the bottom of the page: What's My Watershed?
|
|
 EPCD Farmer is selected as 2011 West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year
Eastern Panhandle Conservation District
Each year districts across the state select farmers who stand out in their community because of their dedication to conserving our natural water and soil resources. In May, Glascock's Produce of Morgan County, WV was selected as the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District Farmer of the year. Glascock's Produce is owned and operated by Mark and Laura Glascock and their two children Rachel and Zach. They are located in Berkeley Springs, WV, where many soil conservation and water quality practices have been implemented over 56 years. When the Glascock's were selected, little did they know that 5 months later they would be selected as the 2011 West Virginia Conservation Farmer of the Year. The farm fortunate enough to hold the title of Conservation Farm of the Year also receives a check in the amount of $1000.00, an award plaque as well as 200 hours or 4 months use of a new John Deere Tractor courtesy of Middletown Tractor Sales of Fairmont, WV.Click to Read Full Article |
|
"PLANT 9 ON ROUTE 9" HAS BEGUN!
Herb Peddicord, WV Division of Forestry
 | | Cub Scout Troop 82 and members of the Leetown Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and Jefferson High School FFA |
Two tree plantings on Nov 12th along the new Route 9 bike path in the Eastern Panhandle kicked off the "Plant 9 on 9" initiative. Sponsored by the WV Division of Forestry, WV Division of Highways, and the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District, the goal is to plant groups of 9 trees that will eventually provide shade for the asphalt path that runs for 12 miles along the new Route 9 expressway. A total of nine trees were planted at the western terminus in Berkeley county and 27 trees were planted on either side of the path across from the Shenandoah Junction Road intersection in Jefferson County. Most of the 8 to 12 foot tall trees were purchased from local nurseries, and funding was provided by the Chesapeake Bay Community Grant through WV Department of Environmental Protection. Click to Read Full Article |
|
Hampshire County Revives South Branch Watershed Group
Melissa Merritt, West Virginia Conservation Agency
 | | The WVCA has been facilitating public meetings to discuss the water quality of the South Branch Watershed. |
The health of the South Branch River watershed inspired a public meeting on water quality in Hampshire County November 7, 2011 in Romney, WV. The meeting was hosted by the West Virginia Conservation Agency. Other agencies represented were WV Division of Natural Resources, WV Department of Environmental Protection, and the WV Department of Agriculture. The goal of the meeting was to gain community input on local natural resource concerns as well as towards solutions. Guest speaker, Lou Scavnicky, President of the Opequon Creek Project Team, discussed the reasons why a watershed group can benefit the area. The meeting was filled with discussion on what steps need to be taken to help protect the South Branch River Watershed.Click to Read Full Article |
|
Lost River Improvements- One Foot of Streambank
at a Time
Carla Hardy, West Virginia Conservation Agency
 The Lost River watershed in Hardy County has been the focus of NPS 319 cost share funding to address fecal coliform contamination over the past five years. The project has been responsible for the implementation of significant fencing, relocation of cattle from the streambank area, alternative watering systems for livestock and riparian buffer installation. During the summer and fall of 2011, conservation partners in the Potomac Valley successfully restored over 3,621 linear feet of streambank utilizing natural stream restoration techniques. The West Virginia Conservation Agency Stream Section designed a series of rock structures, bankful bench construction, and livestock crossings to mitigate the natural erosion of the stream and hoof shear caused by livestock accessing the stream. Click to Read Full Story |
| 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 |
|
