Protecting the waters, woodlands and wildlife of the New River Watershed | |
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Hurricane Helene Resources | |
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Recovery efforts are underway in some areas following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Our cup overflows with gratitude to responders of all walks. Both the event and the spirit of the Appalachian people has been overwhelming. Neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers. As we see videos and stories of heroic acts large and small, the phrase "People are at their best when things are at their worst" comes to mind again and again. We will get through this together.
Our staff is in the trenches with you - helping with the clean up efforts in Creston, West Jefferson, or Asheville NC, delivering much needed supplies to the region, or hiking into the forests to check on folks that have been stranded. The devastation is unimaginable, however the determination and grit of people affected by Helene is awesome and humbling to see and experience.
Our staff has also been passing along information about supplies, drop off and pick up points, road and utility updates. Please continue to follow our social media stories for this information.
Should you wish to donate to the recovery efforts, please consider local fire departments, chambers of commerce or perhaps your favorite outfitters. Recovery needs now include Personal Protection Equipment and cold weather items such as heavy blankets and sleeping bags. Please also remember the furry ones in the region. The Humane Society Disaster Relief evacuates animals from shelters before and after disasters.
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NRC Director of Ops and Projects, Joe Johnson (above), and NRC Executive Director (below) in Helton Creek, NC complete wellness checks in some of the most remote places in the watershed. | |
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Unless you're officially invited, it's best not to go to the affected areas to volunteer. Disaster response teams and reputable organizations are already on the ground, and while the willingness to help is commendable, untrained volunteers may lack the necessary safety and medical training for effective disaster recovery.
Ashe County, NC: Contact Jennifer Richardson, Ashe County Volunteer Coordinator, at (336) 246-4347 or (336) 877-7764 or email jenniferrichardson@ashecountygov.com
Lansing, NC: Please reach out to Molley Chomper Cidery. The cidery is currently serving as a soup kitchen and respite for the community and volunteers.
American Red Cross
Appalachian Medical Reserve Corps (WNC)
Samaritan’s Purse – Buncombe County (NC)
Samaritan’s Purse – Watauga County (NC)
Boone, NC:
Giles County, VA: A large, coordinated effort is happening on Saturday, October 5. Use this form to submit to Giles County your availability and skill sets so we can coordinate your placement in cleanup efforts: SIGN UP HERE Request clean up support HERE
Virginia Tech: Students, faculty, and staff can also participate in Giles County Cleanup Days, organized through VT Engage. Trips from the Blacksburg campus are scheduled for Oct. 3, Oct. 4, and Oct. 10. Spots are limited; sign up online.
New River Trail State Park: Please email erin.pitts@dcr.virginia.gov with your information to become a volunteer and be placed on the list.
Pulaski County, VA: Call 540-994-2574 with your contact information and how you are willing to assist.
Damascus, VA: If you would like to assist residents in cleaning up their property and homes, please sign up at the Volunteer & Donations Coordination Center, 744 N Beaver Dam Ave, Damascus, VA. They are open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri.
Radford, VA: Volunteers may be needed after damage assessments are completed. People interested in helping can contact Melissa Skelton at melissa.skelton@radfordva.gov. She will be in touch with needs as projects become available.
Sign up to answer calls to Crisis Cleanup hotline: English and Spanish volunteers ARE DESPERATELY needed for our hotline. Info is located here: https://tinyurl.com/ms3nmw53. You must be affiliated with an organization to volunteer. If you don't have an organization contact sabrina.mcgee@mdcinc.org.
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Molley Chomper Cidery is one of the few entities functioning in Lansing. The town of Lansing and broader community are NOT ok and need your help. | |
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Rebuilding the forests one tree at a time
The New River Conservancy is seeking projects across southwest Virginia and areas within the New River watershed in North Carolina and West Virginia to plant native trees and shrubs in urban and/or streamside locations.
Eligible sites are to be on 'public' lands within designated disadvantaged communities. You can determine if your site is considered disadvantaged by viewing the "climate and economic screening tool" at https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov.
Please contact Tom at tom@newriverconservancy.org with any questions or inquiries.
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Ann Rose and Andrew Downs meet up in Lansing, NC as they each run wellness checks on the outlying community. | |
Good News ~
Ann Rose completes her 1987 mile journey!
September 27, the same day that Hurricane Helene was battering her hometown of Lansing, NC, Ann Rose reached the Gulf of Mexico. 1,987 miles from the pristine trout waters of Big Horse Creek in Lansing, NC, Ann traveled into some of the worst rated waters in Ohio, and the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico over the span of almost 13 weeks in her kayak. Ann hopes that the filming, water testing and the trip in general brings awareness to how much we depend on the veins of this land. Upon her return, Ann has rolled up her sleeves and is helping in the recovery efforts in Lansing. Lansing was hit particularly hard and will need our support for many months to come.
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Happy 49th Birthday New River Conservancy!
On October 25, 1975, at Hawks Nest State Park, the Committee to Save the New River became a national organization, becoming The National Committee for the New River, (NCNR) our ancestral organization.
Then Vice-President James Watkins III said that public opposition voiced nationally would prod federal officials into taking the action neccessary to block the utility company's (APCO) plans [to dam the New River].
See the first newsletter of this NCNR in our new ARCHIVES.
Vintage style The New River...Like It Is! bumper stickers will be available on our website by October 25th.
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September River Clean Ups -
Stay tuned for info on future clean ups
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New River Conservancy Archives now online
Thanks to McKenna Spencer, our intern through Tigermoth Creative this past summer, and to Lyda Carpen, Creative Director of Tigermoth, and daughter of Ed Adams, a founder of NRC, we now have archival newspapers and documents available on our website.
McKenna scanned original documents from Ed Adams and converted those to PDF's. She then embedded metadata into the PDF's, which allows the collection to be searchable on our website. Finally, she uploaded all 50 documents to our website, giving us a valuable tool to research our origins.
We have many more documents to convert and upload. If you have, or know someone who has, documents relating to the APCO dam fight, the New River prison fight, or anything that might be of interest to our origin or past, please contact Lisa Stansell - Galitz at lisa@newriverconservancy.org
Take a look: Archives
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Piney Creek Gorge Hike, WV
October 8, 2024
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Take a hike! In partnership with WV Explorer, we'll be hiking into Piney Creek Gorge with publisher David Sibray and NRC New River Gorge Program Coordinator, Dave Bassage.
The hike will explore the Piney Creek Gorge Grey Flats Trail system with WV Explorer publisher & editor, Dave Sibray, Piney Creek Gorge Trail system builder, Gary Morefield, Piney Creek Watershed director Nate Sydnor, and NRC Program Coordinator, Dave Bassage.
Learn the history of the Beckley Mill at the bottom of the gorge, the trail system and how Piney Creek fits in the New River Watershed.
We will meet at the YMCA soccer complex off RC Byrd Drive in Beckley, WV , hike across level land, and then descend into the gorge to the Beckley Mill site before climbing back out.
The hike is 3.5 miles and will take about 3 hours with time to take photos of Piney Creek Falls and Mill Branch Falls. This is a strenuous hike with steep sections – beginners can do this if you are in good shape. Wear appropriate shoes, layered clothing, and bring a filled water thermos and snack. Meet at 10 am – finish between 1 and 2.
Registration is not required but suggested at info@newriverconservancy.org
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16 Frogs Walking Tour, VA
October 9, 2024
10:30 - 11:45 am
Take a stroll! We'll be walking through downtown Blacksburg, Virginia with Downtown Blacksburg, Inc for a walking tour of the 16 Frogs.
16 small, bronze frog statues been strategically placed throughout town and the surrounding area to call attention to the fresh water flowing under and around the streets and buildings of downtown Blacksburg.
Join Downtown Blacksburg, Inc Executive Director, Tracie Hughes and NRC Marketing Director, Lisa Stansell-Galitz to visit at least 10 of these.
Downtown Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus are underlain by numerous streams and waterways that have been piped, channeled or covered over the last 200+ years.
The 16 Frogs campaign seeks to restore the health of Stroubles Creek, the broader watershed, and the water quality of downstream communities through increased public interest and awareness.
We will meet in the parking lot of the Blacksburg Library on Miller Street at 10:30 am. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing. If case of inclement weather, this event will be cancelled.
Registration is not required, but suggested at info@newriverconservancy.org
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Website updates:
Do you know your watershed address?
Find it HERE
Vintage "I live in the New River watershed" stickers will be available on our website soon!
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