Guardians of the West Fork Watershed
Dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the ecological integrity of the West Fork River, its tributaries, and its watershed
Yuck! Much of our watershed is impaired for recreation and for fish and other aquatic life, and fecal coliform is a major source. Here’s an opportunity to learn about causes, cures, and how we can help.
Visit https://bit.ly/WVWNWastewaterWebinar to register.
A new book by USGS fisheries biologist, WVU professor, and West Virginia native Stuart Welsh with central Appalachian fish stories, Hornyheads, Madtoms, and Darters.
“Most people are not scientists, but many have an interest in nature and are, in their own way, naturalists. This book is for those people willing to peer beneath the water’s surface.”
The ebook is available at WVDELI
If you are from Lewis County or the upper end of the watershed, which includes parts of Upshur County, you are particularly invited to come and share your concerns and hopes for the watershed. We will have a brief presentation on our watershed’s health and the history and work of the Guardians, followed by a listening session for watershed residents to share their interests, concerns, and the watershed health and recreation work they are doing. The City of Weston has graciously agreed to host.
We hope this will be an opportunity for you to not only meet the Guardians, but also meet others from the area with common interests.
The program begins at 7 p.m., and the Guardians Board will meet before that, at 6:00 p.m. at the Weston Municipal Building and online.
If you are interested in attending online and not on the email list, please email admin@guardiansofthewestfork.org for the online meeting logon information.
The Guardians Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024 at the Clarksburg Water Board and online, followed by a membership meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Our outreach meeting in Weston will be rescheduled.
We will be reviewing our new presentation on the history and work of the Guardians and the new “Get Involved” pages on our website, and discussing our Stream Partners grant, which includes monitoring Lambert Run construction, signage for Water Trail access points, expanded pop-up paddles and weekend paddles, and a new Watershed Champions program.
If you are interested and not on the email list, email admin@guardiansofthewestfork.org for the online meeting logon information.
The Guardians are pleased to have been awarded a Stream Partners Grant, sponsored by the West Virginia Conservation Agency, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Natural Resources and Division of Forestry.
There will be many opportunities to get involved. More details on the projects, and volunteer job descriptions, coming in January.
The grant will help us carry out and expand a number of projects:
As is our custom, there will be no meeting in December. We will be starting our meetings up and down the watershed on January 17, in Weston.
Enjoy the holidays!
If you are interested in email meeting announcements and information and not on the email list, email admin@guardiansofthewestfork.org for the logon information.
The Guardians Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, 15 November 2023 at the Clarksburg Water Board and online, followed by a membership meeting at 7:00 p.m.
We will be meeting the US Fish and Wildlife Service Americorps members and hearing about their work in our watershed.
If you are interested and not on the email list, email admin@guardiansofthewestfork.org for the logon information.
The Guardians Board will host a brainstorming session for potential partner organizations and anyone interested in the health of our watershed – land, water, plants, animals, and people – at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, 18 October 2023 at the Clarksburg Water Board and on Google Meet.
The Board will meet for business at 6 p.m., before the brainstorming session. Members and visitors are welcome to attend.
If you are interested and not on the email list, email admin@guardiansofthewestfork.org for the logon information.
Two opportunities for volunteer training in stream monitoring coming up soon.
From West Virginia DEP Save Our Streams with Callie Sams next Tuesday, October 10, on Gandy Creek in Mon National Forest
Save our Streams Workshop Tuesday, October 10
Participate in this citizen science training and learn how to conduct a biosurvey to monitor the health of a stream. The workshop will be conducted at the Swallow Rock Campground but we will arrange a carpool from Buckhannon/Elkins. Please email jessica.a.bryzek@wv.gov for more information and to sign up for the training.
And from West Virginia Rivers on the Greenbrier later in October
Volunteer water monitors: citizen scientists- Public News Service
Our last pop-up paddle of 2023 got rained out. Paddles will start up in April 2024, and we hope to expand to more locations. We had over a hundred participants.
Thanks to Kim Drummond, VISTA Jessica Bryzek, Robert Helfer and Lisa deGruyter for organizing and leading.
Guardians of the West Fork Watershed