The Greenbrier River Watershed Association is dedicated to continuing our work to preserve and protect our unique environment. We need NEW members and hope YOU will consider joining us, OR please renew your current membership if you haven't yet for 2025. You will be supporting a busy group that monitors the Greenbrier River and it's tributaries, participates in educational events and gets out to pick up trash. Just scan the QR code and join. If you would like to volunteer, just let us know what your interest is. Also, you can join any committee without having to be a board member so if one of our committees matches your interest, just let us know. Thank you!

Volunteer Spotlight

New Volunteers Adrianne Thackery, AmeriCorps member with the USFS out of Marlinton, and Kyle Tasker, her supervisor doing the data recording. We also welcome Dr. Bob Must, a retired physician in the Hillsboro area. We are happy to have new volunteers for our water quality testing in section 2 in southern Pocahontas County.

Greenbrier River Watershed Association Water Quality

Testing at Willowwood

The GRWA water quality testing team is back out for their Feb. testing after having to skip January, due to too much ice. Only this last week did the ice give way and the water rose. This is at our Willowwood testing site with Chris Chanlett and John Farrell board members doing the testing and data recording.

Scarlett Dunn joins GRWA Board of Directors

Welcome Scarlett Dunn, a Conservationist working for the West Virginia Conservation Agency within the Greenbrier Valley Conservation District of Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Monroe counties. Her work includes administering federal funds from the Clean Water Act into the district for section 319 non-point source related watershed projects such as stream restoration, agricultural best management practices, water quality research and septic rehabilitation.

Born & raised in northern Greenbrier County and a graduate of Concord University and Florida State University, Scarlett spent the past 20 years away from the area in the panhandle of Florida, working in conservation with state agencies, such as the Florida Park Service of DEP and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission , before deciding to make the move back home to West Virginia.

With an eye towards building community support and partnerships as they relate to watershed work, Scarlett is thrilled to be back home and working to protect her beloved Greenbrier River.

Clean Energy in West Virginia Webinar

Clean Energy in West Virginia: Tools and Tips to Boost Clean Energy in the Mountain State

Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. ET

Affordable access to clean energy is good for our environment — and our wallets! Access to clean energy is on the rise in West Virginia, with schools, municipalities, businesses and individuals investing in solar, energy efficiency and more. Come learn how you and your community can access these opportunities.

You’re cordially invited to join us for a free webinar on clean energy in West Virginia.

Join Appalachian Voices and the National Wildlife Federation for a virtual training on clean energy focused on resources you can use as an individual or organization to advance and fund clean energy in your community.

Even with the Mountain State’s clean energy growth, there are still actions policymakers need to take to allow more West Virginians to take full advantage of these opportunities. Policymakers benefit when they can hear directly from constituents. During the webinar, we’ll also discuss how to effectively communicate your clean energy story to decision-makers.

Be sure to join us on Feb. 26! Interested but not able to join? Register and we will send you the recording! To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_4cZh-B_MRzi3QuFVbQLesQ

West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show

returns to Lewisburg April 26

LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show (previously known as Earth Day Fashion Forward) is an annual runway show that celebrates sustainability in the fashion industry and features the work of local and regional designers. It will return to the Lewis Theater in Lewisburg, on Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m.

The show spotlights fashion that reuses and repurposes existing fabric and clothing made from sustainable textile manufacturing, decoration, and care processes. 

Professional and amateur fashion designers are encouraged to enter. In addition to the runway fashion show, the event features a musical performance, a silent auction, and a feast of bubbly and bites. Designers will be awarded in several categories, and the best-dressed guest will receive a prize.

Show Director Diane Browning said, “I’m thrilled to announce we’ll have a national leader in sustainable fashion as our keynote speaker. Lynda Grose is a sustainable fashion professor at the California School of Art and co-author of the book “Fashion and Sustainability: Design for Change. She pioneered sustainable fashion standards as the designer for Esprit’s Ecollection.”

A month-long accompanying exhibit at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center will showcase process and performance in sustainable fashion.

The West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show is sponsored by the Greenbrier County Democratic Women’s Club as a fundraiser for their Blue Skies Ahead get-out-the-vote campaign. Go to wvsustainablefashion.com for more details. 

WV RIVERS

#ActionAlert: The Department of Energy (DOE) is accepting public comments on assessing the environmental impacts of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) — but there’s a problem. Despite its “clean” branding, ARCH2’s hydrogen production is powered by fracked gas, posing serious risks to our environment and public health. https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/dirty-hydrogen

Now, the Biden administration’s energy investments in West Virginia are in limbo after the Trump administration froze federal funding for projects like ARCH2. On top of that, the DOE has canceled in-person public meetings, limiting community input.

We can’t let them move forward without a full, transparent review of the dangers of fracking, pipelines, and toxic emissions. This is our chance to insist on accountability. Take action now!

Why Your Voice Matters:

Lack of transparency – Critical details about ARCH2’s many projects are lacking, preventing full public review.

Health & environmental risks – Fracked gas means pollution from wells, pipelines, and toxic wastewater. The DOE must acknowledge these harms in their analysis.

Environmental justice concerns – How will disadvantaged communities be protected without Justice40 funding for community benefit plans?

Economic red flags – With clean energy growing, will West Virginians be stuck footing the bill for outdated, polluting infrastructure?

Submit a public comment calling for a science-based, transparent review of ARCH2’s impacts. The deadline is March 3 — don’t wait!

SAVE THE DATES!

Contact your representatives, often! Participate! Be heard!

Contact your local, state and federal representatives with your concerns.

WV Legislature HERE

VA Legislature HERE

Members of Congress HERE

Listen to the FERC Monthly Virtual Open Meeting

January 16 @ 10:00 AM

Virtual Open Meeting

Commission meeting held in Commission Meeting Room (Room 2C) at FERC Headquarters, 888 First St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426

A  free live webcast is available for this meeting from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. All webcasts are archived for 3 months. Full info HERE          

Volunteer ~ Get involved with what matters to you!

Make your time count by volunteering with your favorite non-profit to do any number of things from helping with river cleanups, to monitoring rivers and creeks, to making phone calls or licking envelopes. You will make a difference.

Donate to a non - profit working to help save your backyard.



Share this newsletter on your social media account or in an email.



Follow these pages ~ Stay informed on the issues.

WV Rivers ~ WV Rivers is the statewide voice for water-based recreation and clean, drinkable, swim-able, and fishable rivers and streams-from the headwaters to wherever water flows in West Virginia. 

Appalachian Voices ~ The Appalachian Voice has covered environmental, outdoor and cultural news in the Appalachian mountains since 1996. We provide thorough and well-researched journalistic news coverage to fit a niche not often covered by standard news media.

New River Conservancy ~ Protecting the water, woodlands and wildlife of the New River Watershed.

Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance ~ Protecting the heritage, resources and economy of the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.

WV Environmental Council ~ Facilitate communication and cooperation among citizens in promoting environmental protection in West Virginia, to assist in organizing grass roots groups, to facilitate interaction among established environmental organizations, and to correspond with all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies involved in the management of West Virginia's environment. 

Wild Virginia ~ Along with our partners, alliances, and citizens like you, we press on in the fight against fracked gas pipelines in our region. The Mountain Valley Pipeline poses a great risk to our forests and surrounding communities. We are also working to improve habitat connectivity for wildlife throughout Virginia and to ensure that all of our waterways are fully protected in accordance with the law.

Stop the Money Pipeline ~ If we can stop the flow of money, we can stop the flow of oil. In early 2020, thirty-two organizations came together to form the Stop the Money Pipeline coalition. We stand on the shoulders of years of movement work pressuring financial institutions to act on climate.

Wanted: New Members

The Greenbrier River Watershed Association is dedicated to continuing our work to preserve and protect our unique environment. We need NEW members and hope YOU will consider joining us, OR please renew your current membership if you haven't yet for 2025. You will be supporting a busy group that monitors the Greenbrier River and it's tributaries, participates in educational events and gets out to pick up trash. Just scan the QR code and join. If you would like to volunteer, just let us know what your interest is. Also, you can join any committee without having to be a board member so if one of our committees matches your interest, just let us know. Thank you!

New volunteer spotlights!

First two photos: Adrianne Thackery, AmeriCorps member with the USFS out of Marlinton, and Kyle Tasker, her supervisor, doing data recording. Last photo: Dr. Bob Must, a retired physician in the Hillsboro area. On Feb. 4th we gathered our water samples with 3 new volunteers! We are happy to have new volunteers for our water quality testing in section 2 in southern Pocahontas county.

Willowwood Water Testing



Greenbrier River Watershed Association water quality testing team is back out for their Feb. testing after having to skip January, due to too much ice. Only this last week did the ice give way and the water rose. This is at our Willowwood testing site with Chris Chanlett and John Farrell board members doing the testing and data recording.

West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show

returns to Lewisburg April 26



LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show (previously known as Earth Day Fashion Forward) is an annual runway show that celebrates sustainability in the fashion industry and features the work of local and regional designers. It will return to the Lewis Theater in Lewisburg, on Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m. The show spotlights fashion that reuses and repurposes existing fabric and clothing made from sustainable textile manufacturing, decoration, and care processes. 

Professional and amateur fashion designers are encouraged to enter. In addition to the runway fashion show, the event features a musical performance, a silent auction, and a feast of bubbly and bites. Designers will be awarded in several categories, and the best-dressed guest will receive a prize.

Show Director Diane Browning said, “I’m thrilled to announce we’ll have a national leader in sustainable fashion as our keynote speaker. Lynda Grose is a sustainable fashion professor at the California School of Art and co-author of the book “Fashion and Sustainability: Design for Change. She pioneered sustainable fashion standards as the designer for Esprit’s Ecollection.” A month-long accompanying exhibit at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center will showcase process and performance in sustainable fashion.

The West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show is sponsored by the Greenbrier County Democratic Women’s Club as a fundraiser for their Blue Skies Ahead get-out-the-vote campaign. Go to wvsustainablefashion.com for more details. 

On December 12, 2025, eleven conservation organizations urged the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to take immediate action to close an illegal coal haul road in the Monongahela National Forest in Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties, West Virginia. In a letter addressed to the agency’s leadership, the groups explained that South Fork Coal Company falsely claimed that its Haulroad #2 would not enter national forest land when it obtained its state mining permit in 2011. Under federal law, surface coal mining operations and impacts are prohibited in the national forest unless a coal company had “valid existing rights” established prior to the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Haulroad #2 is used to truck coal from South Fork Coal Company’s 1,200-acre Rocky Run Surface Mine to a coal preparation plant near Rupert, West Virginia. Both the road and the mine discharge pollutants into designated critical habitat for the endangered candy darter in the South Fork of Cherry River. Both have been cited numerous times in recent years for various environmental violations, including failures to control sediment and prevent pollutants from entering adjacent waterways.

The Rocky Run Surface Mine and Haulroad #2 are about six miles from the popular Cranberry Glades Wilderness Area and only two miles from the Falls of Hills Creek Scenic Area. The South Fork of Cherry River and its tributaries are pristine headwater streams that ultimately flow into the Gauley River, a world-class whitewater rafting, kayaking and tourism destination.

Full story HERE

ACT NOW: US Fish & Wildlife seeking comments for proposed Endangered Species designations

The US Fish & Wildlife Service proposed listing the Eastern Hellbender to be designated as Endangered Species. This rare species can be found in the Greenbrier Watershed near the Mon Forest. The public has until February 11, 2025 to comment.

The Eastern Hellbender makes its home throughout the New River watershed - from NC to VA to WV. Populations have been in decline for many years, and thanks to sustained pressure from environmental groups, it may have a chance to rebound.

With the proposed ruling to place it on the endangered species list, the hellbender, along with the mussels, have the opportunity, if passed, to receive protections to help populations grow. Please send your comments of support before February 11 HERE

Report says Mountain Valley Pipeline has harmed

West Virginia streams

Environmental groups are asking for stronger regulations on pipelines after a report said that the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) negatively impacted 88% of the streams it crosses in West Virginia.

A report published by West Virginia Rivers Coalition and Downstream Strategies found that 88% of the 139 stream crossings and 89% of the 61 wetland crossings from the MVP were negatively impacted by its construction. According to a press release, 14 stream crossings showed “severe decreases in channel stability.”

“Even when ‘enhanced’ erosion control measures are in place, this report documents the destructive nature of pipeline construction,” Mariah Clay, Southern WV Coordinator at West Virginia Rivers Coalition, said in the release.

Full story HERE

SAVE THE DATES!

Contact your representatives, often! Participate! Be heard!

Contact your local, state and federal representatives with your concerns.

WV Legislature HERE

VA Legislature HERE

Members of Congress HERE

Listen to the FERC Monthly Virtual Open Meeting

January 16 @ 10:00 AM

Virtual Open Meeting

Commission meeting held in Commission Meeting Room (Room 2C) at FERC Headquarters, 888 First St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426

A  free live webcast is available for this meeting from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. All webcasts are archived for 3 months. Full info HERE          

Volunteer ~ Get involved with what matters to you!

Make your time count by volunteering with your favorite non-profit to do any number of things from helping with river cleanups, to monitoring rivers and creeks, to making phone calls or licking envelopes. You will make a difference.

Donate to a non - profit working to help save your backyard.



Share this newsletter on your social media account or in an email.



Follow these pages ~ Stay informed on the issues.

WV Rivers ~ WV Rivers is the statewide voice for water-based recreation and clean, drinkable, swim-able, and fishable rivers and streams-from the headwaters to wherever water flows in West Virginia. 

Appalachian Voices ~ The Appalachian Voice has covered environmental, outdoor and cultural news in the Appalachian mountains since 1996. We provide thorough and well-researched journalistic news coverage to fit a niche not often covered by standard news media.

New River Conservancy ~ Protecting the water, woodlands and wildlife of the New River Watershed.

Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance ~ Protecting the heritage, resources and economy of the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.

WV Environmental Council ~ Facilitate communication and cooperation among citizens in promoting environmental protection in West Virginia, to assist in organizing grass roots groups, to facilitate interaction among established environmental organizations, and to correspond with all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies involved in the management of West Virginia's environment. 

Wild Virginia ~ Along with our partners, alliances, and citizens like you, we press on in the fight against fracked gas pipelines in our region. The Mountain Valley Pipeline poses a great risk to our forests and surrounding communities. We are also working to improve habitat connectivity for wildlife throughout Virginia and to ensure that all of our waterways are fully protected in accordance with the law.

Stop the Money Pipeline ~ If we can stop the flow of money, we can stop the flow of oil. In early 2020, thirty-two organizations came together to form the Stop the Money Pipeline coalition. We stand on the shoulders of years of movement work pressuring financial institutions to act on climate.