Key People

PRESIDENT

Lisa deGruyter

Lisa grew up in Spencer, West Virginia, in the Little Kanawha watershed, but is mostly descended from early settlers of the West Fork Watershed, from Simpson Creek up to Hacker’s Creek. She lives in sight of the West Fork in Clarksburg and researches 18th century frontier history. She and her husband flatwater kayak to enjoy the scenery and flora and fauna. She worked in public library management and consulting in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas, particularly with rural libraries, and came home to West Virginia in 2008. She was also a computer systems administrator and has created and managed websites and their servers since 1993.

SECRETARY

Sally Egan

Sally is a resident of the West Fork Watershed. She has been the secretary of the Guardians of the West Fork Watershed since 2017. In 2016, Sally began kayaking with the Morgantown Area Paddlers (MAP), and it was suggested by the MAP coordinator, Mary Wimmer, that she become involved with the Guardians. Sally lives close to Simpson Creek and  enjoys walking the trail at the Bridgeport City Park which borders the creek. She is an avid paddler and enjoys exploring the West Fork and other nearby rivers, creeks, and lakes. Sally especially enjoys birding and identifying wildflowers. She is proud to be part of the Guardians’ ongoing work to improve the West Fork River Water Trail, improving river access, signage, littering, and acid mine drainage in conjunction with other state agencies. Sally also enjoys working with like-minded people to improve a local treasure for us and future generations!

TREASURER

Paula Bomhoff

BOARD MEMBER

Al Cox

BOARD MEMBER

Randy Kesling

 NORTHERN BASIN COORDINATOR

Martin Christ

Martin is the Northern Basin Coordinator for the WV Department of Environmental Protection and provides assistance to local watershed groups. He first became interested in working with watershed groups through Friends of Deckers Creek. He admired the hands-on work the group was doing through trash clean ups, and he could not resist volunteering for the group. He volunteered and worked for FODC until he joined WVDEP in 2012. He met John Eleyette, a founder of Guardians, in the late 90s and always admired the long-standing determination of the Guardians, as well as all the work they did on Lamberts Run, a tributary of the West Fork, to improve water quality. He has been on one trash clean-up float on the West Fork and two just-for-fun floats. He is looking forward to more, maybe collecting all 75 miles!

CONSERVATION LEGACY STEWARDS VISTA

Hannah Blakely

WEBMASTER AND TECH SUPPORT

Lisa deGruyter

See President for her bio.

ADVISORY BOARD

Sam England
Kent Spellman

BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS

Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy is a longtime resident of the West Fork Watershed and lives near Lumberport. He has been a member of the Guardians for nearly 20 years. He is very passionate about the river, having fished the West Fork since the 1970’s. The sights and sounds of the river, as well as the beauty and abundant wildlife motivate Mike to help protect the integrity of the West Fork. He especially loves seeing great blue herons, kingfishers, eagles, and listening to the chortle of the red bellied woodpecker. Mike has helped collect water quality samples and has helped solve the water quality issues in Lambert’s Run. 

PAST PRESIDENT

John Ciesla

John Ciesla served as President of the Guardians of the West Fork from 2018 – April 2023. John was instrumental for many current projects the Guardians are currently involved in, as well as helping move the organization forward. One of many examples is John’s vision and efforts in establishing the “Float the Fork” events, which have been highly successful in educating people about the West Fork and helping people get on the water. John also contributed many technical knowledge and experience, which were essential in working with the WVU Water Research Institute in the ongoing efforts to improve water quality in the Lambert Run, a tributary of the West Fork. These are just two of many significant things that John has done.  Most of all, however, we are thankful to have known John, to have benefitted from his leadership, and to have shared the love, appreciation, and care for our waters with him.

PAST PRESIDENT

John Eleyette

John Eleyette was from Farmington and lived in Shinnston. He served in the Air Force in Korea and worked for 27 years for Consolidation Coal Company, retiring from Robinson Run Mine in 1991. After his retirement, he founded the Guardians. John developed the plan for the Guardians’ Lamberts Run restoration project, which was the first watershed-based plan in West Virginia. He passed away September 30, 2020.