New River Currents, the newsletter for the New River. | | |
New River Expedition reaches
Gauley Bridge, WV
In a bittersweet, and almost anti-climatic paddle, the NRX26 crew has made it to the end of their 320 mile journey down the New River. The confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers is marked by a very distinct muddy line in the middle of what is now the Kanawha River. After paddling rapids and lakes, through wind and rain and sun, they have finished their journey.
In her Substack entry, crew member Anastasia Jeffcoat said "It’s crazy to think that it’s over. We’ve now paddled all of the New River! What a remarkable experience it’s been this summer to see the changing character of the New River through three different states and to meet all the incredible people of the New!"
It is a bit crazy that we sent a crew down almost the entire length of the New River - 320 miles is not nothing. One of the goals of the NRX26 was to encourage and motivate people to take their own expedition - be it 3, 30 or 360 miles - on the New River; to introduce communities to each other and unite the communities along the New River and in the watershed.
Another was to identify gaps in access or infrastructure for the New River Water Trail Action Plan, which will expand the trail to include all 360 miles of the New River. With this expansion, folks from all over the watershed and beyond will be able to enjoy the New River, it's communities and all it has to offer.
Learn how you can become involved and help make this dream a reality in the coming months and years.
| | Journey's End celebration | | |
Did you miss "Journey's End" at the The Gaines Estate We've got you covered! We taped the presentation from the crew so you can watch it at your leisure.
Take some time to get to know the Anastasia, Lucy, Dave and Abbey as they talk about their journey down 320 miles of the New River this past summer.
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2025 Annual Report now online
Our 2025 Annual Report is now available to you on our website. The Annual Report highlights what we have been able to accomplish with the help of volunteers, members, partners, sponsors and donors.
With a big mission to protect the waters, woods and wildlife of the New River watershed, we need your support in many ways throughout the year. Find out how you can become a:
Volunteer * Member * Donor * Sponsor * Partner
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WV Rivers awarded
Advocacy Group of the Year
We were pleased to award the Wallace & Peggy Carroll Vigilance Award for Advocacy Group of the Year to WV Rivers this year at our Journey's End celebration.
The Advocacy Group of the Year recognizes a group of individuals bound together with a common purpose. The group may or may not be a regular, standing organization, but must have worked together to accomplish a specific goal within the past year. Advocacy may involve any or all of the following efforts: stopping or limiting development inconsistent with the goals of River protection; successful lobbying for legislation to protect the River; advocating for the River through education and outreach.
Marketing and Communications Director for NRC, Lisa Stansell - Galitz, said "“The staff and team have been incredible partners in our mission to protect the watershed. They have participated in clean ups on the New, helped with the huge lift of Conservation Day at Grandview State Park in WV, pitch in whenever we need a little extra help in West Virginia, continue to show up for the watershed in ways many smaller organizations cannot, and with every move show the care and accountability of an advocate.”
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Post-Helene Resiliency study published
Working with a broad regional partnership including the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Appalachian Voices, the Ohio River Valley Institute, and the National Parks Conservation Association, the New River Conservancy has published findings from a year-long study of the resiliency system emerging from Hurricane Helene’s response.
Funded with a grant from the Volgenau Climate Initiative, the study focused on providing recommendations for regional resilience-focused networks, systems and coalitions by analyzing the response to 2024’s devastating Hurricane Helene. Brendan Muckian-Bates of the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, a non-profit law firm based in Kentucky’s coal country and project partner spoke about the importance of sharing the resilience experience across the Appalachian region: “The resilience shown by one part of the greater Appalachian region can offer critical learning as other parts our landscape build resilience partnerships and prepare for future natural disasters.”
*Read further and download the report below.
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Seeking locations for Helene debris removal in Ashe County, NC
In partnership with Ashe County, North Carolina, the New River Conservancy (NRC) is seeking grant funding from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to remove the remains of Helene debris in the New River and its tributaries with the help of public reporting.
Soon after hurricane Helene struck in September of 2024, NRC made a similar request, asking the public to report debris piles and other damage which resulted in over 200 responses. Since then, the NRC, partners and volunteers have removed over 100,000 pounds of trash and debris out of the New River and its tributaries by hand.
Today the Conservancy is making every effort to continue to serve the public and address what remains.
Landowners can report debris piles or significant pieces of debris in the flood plain of the New, or adjacent to tributaries or creeks by filling out the Helene Debris from HERE.
The requested information includes; address of the debris, a description, photos and contact information. Debris must be associated with Helene.
If funds are secured, NRC staff will reach out to respondents and work with local contractors to address the reported issues.
The deadline for reporting is Wednesday, September 9th.
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Land Trust Reaccreditation
input needed
Through the Accredited Land Trust Program, New River Conservancy (NRC) has helped to protect over 10,000 acres of land and over 100 miles of New River and tributaries through land conservation, permanent sustainable management plans, and conservation easements. We have worked closely with the New River State Park to add over 1,700 acres of land to the park to be permanently protected and accessible to the visitors and local community. Acquisitions like this help us protect areas in and around the New River by donating them to a government entity that will protect them in perpetuity.
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. New River Conservancy (NRC) is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation. A public comment period is now open. Comments received before March 19, 2027 will be most useful.
More information on how to submit comments can be found at the link below.
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Ownership transfer of Deep Ford River Access Park to Ashe County
New River Conservancy, Ashe County and The Conservation Fund are proud to commemorate the transfer of the Deep Ford River Access Park property to Ashe County, marking an important milestone in our shared effort to create the first formal public access to the North Fork of the New River near Lansing, North Carolina.
The approximately 3-acre property, acquired through a partnership between The Conservation Fund and the New River Conservancy, an accredited land trust that has developed two additional river access projects with the State Park system and Ashe County, was transferred to Ashe County to be preserved and operated as a permanent public park on August 14, 2026. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to protecting the North Fork of the New River while creating meaningful recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
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Walmart SparkGood lets supporters round up to New River Conservancy
Did you know that every time you shop on Walmart.com you can round up your change and donate it to the New River Conservancy?
New River Conservancy is happy to announce we have joined the SparkGood program with Walmart to make donating to your favorite charity easy as one click. Think about it. Extra change adds up pretty quick and will make a big impact to our work in the New River Watershed. An extra quarter, or dime, or more, could make a huge difference if lots of people are donating.
Small acts can lead to big impact at #WalmartSparkGood.
Choose the New River Conservancy to round up and donate your change.
Walmart launched Walmart Spark Good Round Up so customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the change to their favorite charity. We would love for you to choose us as your charity to receive these donations every time you shop on Walmart.com.
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Create your legacy of conservation. Find out how HERE
Create your lifetime of conservation. Join us TODAY
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NOTICE ON OUR MAILING ADDRESS:
WE CAN ONLY RECEIVE MAIL AT OUR PO BOX IN WEST JEFFERSON. PLEASE DO NOT SEND MAIL TO OUR PHYSICAL ADDRESS.
** PLEASE USE: PO BOX 1480, WEST JEFFERSON , NC 28694 **
| | The staff, board of directors, and volunteers of the New River Conservancy have been dedicated to protecting the waters, woodlands, and wildlife of the New River Watershed for over 50 years. We're here for 50 more. Join us! | | | | |
