Save the Tygart Watershed Association

The River Watchers

 2005, The Year in Review

            Many people might wonder what it is that we do, so I thought that we should give our community an overview of our accomplishments for the year 2005 at Save the Tygart Watershed Association..

            The Association instituted a water monitoring program approximately 2 ½ years ago. Each month, members take samples of the Tygart and its tributaries. Chemical and biological analyses of the samples aid us in determining present and potential water quality problems within the watershed. Our goal is to return our waters to a state of high quality reminiscent of  the days when native Brook Trout dwelled in Three Fork and the Tygart held reproducing populations of Brookies, Browns and Rainbows. We know that this seems pretty unbelievable, but it is definitely not just a pipe dream, it is one of our most important priorities. 

            Thanks to Jennifer Pauer with The Stream Partners Division of the D.E.P., we received a $5,000.00 Stream Partners Grant to purchase much needed equipment for our water monitoring program. A large part of our sampling was previously sent to Alternative Testing Laboratories, Inc., in PA. With the purchase of this equipment, we will now be able to perform most of our testing right here in Taylor County.  Thanks again, Jennifer.

            Several members attended a class taught by Tim Craddock of the Save Our Streams program to become Certified Stream Monitors. The class basically taught us how to identify all the different Macro-invertebrates (living organisms) within a stream and how their presence relates directly to water quality. It was amazing to see how a clean stream had such quantity and diversity of life, and how the Tygart had mostly Trichoptera, or Caddis fly, and not very much of anything else. Caddis are equivalent to the “Rambo” of the aquatic insect world, real survivors. The Watershed would like to once again extend our thanks to Tim. The valuable information we learned will be of monumental assistance to us in our mission.

            In April, we were contacted by Ron Fawcett, Superintendent of the Valley Falls State Park, who sought the assistance of our membership with a clean-up project along the Valley Falls section of the river. We gladly offered our help, and by the end of the day, two dump truck loads of garbage were collected. Several tires and even the remains of a mattress were among the collection. It was a much needed clean up, and the area now looks inviting to all passers by. Channel 5 News was on scene for the event and was kind enough to give us  some much appreciated air time to explain our mission to the viewers. The more we can educate our neighbors, the easier our job will be.

            Speaking of reaching out to the masses, the Mountain Statesman and the Preston County News/Preston County Journal have been kind enough to allow us to put monthly articles in their papers, which have helped our membership and served as  valuable tools for our outreach and education program. A Big Thank You for your continued support!

            During one of our monthly meetings, members from the Fortney Mills area of Three Fork brought to our attention to the existence of a large, grotesque trash dump that had been forming in their backyard for quite some time. A phone call to Mike Park of the D.E.P. brought expedient progress to the clean-up effort. He brought out crews with heavy equipment, and not only cleaned up that site but eight other sites located in and around Independence, WV. When all the clean up was completed, forty-two and a half tons of trash were removed including over four hundred tires. Mike truly went above and beyond what any of us could have anticipated, and we would like to thank him on behalf of all our neighbors, from the bottom of our hearts. Great work Mike!

            Charitable donations are a large part of what funds our efforts. With that said, a special thank you to all those who were kind enough to visit our booth during the 137th Annual Grafton Memorial Day Parade and buy a hotdog , pop, cookie or roll. We actually set up a grill every year and make the hotdogs right there on site! Be sure to stop by this year, during the Sesquicentennial Celebration and Memorial Day Observance in downtown Grafton to sample more of our wares and help support the Watershed.

            We also organized a yard sale along route 50 this year, members donated many unique and treasured items for this cause. These members who continually donate their time, efforts and materials tend to be the ones who greatly value clean water and water recreation, such as fishing. Our booth at the Taylor County Fair serves our goals of educating the public, recruiting members, and raising funding through the raffle of a hand made quilt. It’s good to know that there are so many people out there who care as much as we do.  All our efforts would not bear fruit without the continued support of our patrons, members donors and volunteers. A very hearty thanks to you all, once again.   

            Members attended meetings with City Council and County Commission on sewage problems and projects associated with the Tygart River and it’s tributaries. Although our views sometimes differ, it is clear to see we all have the same goals in mind, and we appreciate their patience in dealing while meeting and working with us. We  look forward to working together in the future. Our watershed members also attend meetings with other State and Federal organizations, as well as local groups, in furtherance of our mission to provide clean streams.

            The services of Martin Christ, of Downstream Strategies, llc., have been acquired,  and he continues to work diligently on a Watershed Based Plan for Three Fork and its tributaries that will chart our goals and tasks through the year 2010. Work on this plan is almost ready to be submitted to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for approval which will put us on our way to cleaner waters.

            There are a lot more thanks that need to be given to those who have helped us so much in 2005. Here are just a few: Thank you Lou Schmidt of the WVDEP; Senator Jon Hunter; Allegheny Products, Inc.; Nancy Roberts from the Office of Surface Mining; Rich Rager; Alternative Testing Laboratories, Inc.; Allegheny Wood Products, Inc. I realize that there are some names that I have omitted. I assure you that it was not intentional. We appreciate everyone’s help in the past and would like to humbly ask for your support in the near future.