New River Currents, the newsletter for the New River. | | |
Dear friend of the New River,
As we enter into the season of gratitude and giving, we thank you for your support of the New River Conservancy.
Many of us, we People of the New, watch our beloved river fight back against assaults of all kinds. The New depends on us, on you, and the work we can achieve together to thrive.
We have our work cut out for us in the coming years as we continue the work of this protection. There are more trees to plant, more clean ups to host, more land to protect. There is always more to do for the New, and with your help, we're here for it. With you by our side, we're up for anything.
If you haven't already, consider joining us as a monthly or yearly donor. This is the best way to support the New River Conservancy. Instead of a product, give memberships to NRC to your family as gifts for the coming holidays that will give back to them and the New. Share this newsletter with your contacts and encourage them to join the work. Shout your involvement from the rooftops of social media and share your love of the New River.
We couldn't do this without you, and next year will will so much more.
Thank you for loving this river and for your support always.
Lisa Stansell - Galitz
Communications and Marketing Director
New River Conservancy
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Middle Fork restoration an environmental success for the
New River watershed
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Partnering with North Carolina Land and Water Fund, National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway, the Town of Blowing Rock, NC, the Middle Fork Greenway, and NC DEQ Division of Nonpoint Source Planning, the New River Conservancy has completed restoration of thousands of feet on the banks of the Middle Fork of the New in Blowing Rock, NC.
This restoration has taken years of persistence and patience of all parties through Covid, personnel changes, and the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Andrew Downs, Executive Director for the New River Conservancy: “Our DNA at New River Conservancy is in projects that transform the watershed. The Middle Fork restoration is indicative of that and will benefit many in the Upper New River watershed and beyond.”
The challenge
Between the Town of Blowing Rock Water Treatment plant and the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 2,000 linear feet swath on the banks of the Middle Fork of the New River threatened infrastructure at the water treatment plant and contributed sediment to trout waters. Sediment is the number one threat to aquatic life in our rivers, creeks and streams.
The 2,000 linear foot stream was highly unstable, with eroding streambanks, and limited riparian vegetation. The channel was generally located along the right side of the valley, against a steep valley wall, but one area, where the stream swung to the left, threatened a building of the Blowing Rock Water Treatment Plant.
Story continues. Click button.
| | A new plan for the future | | |
We are pleased to share our 2026-2030 strategic plan with you all: NRC 2030 – Stewardship, Connection and Lasting Change. As members, volunteers and donors…we want you to see the transformative impact the NRC will have throughout the decade.
Through volunteer engagement, stakeholder conservationist and strategic planning team discussions, as well as document review, staff and board retreats, we collected organizational insights to develop strategic goals and the final strategic plan. This is a plan built by you – the people of the New – to guide the New River Conservancy’s focus, impact and success.”
We will energize, excite and activate New River communities with the work of protecting the River they love for years to come.
See the Strategic Plan HERE
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Signage on Huckleberry Trail highlights restoration work on Stroubles Creek
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The New River Conservancy is incredibly pleased to announce our new Director of Conservation, Kat Diersen, who begins her tenure with us this month.
Conserving biodiversity and wild places is Kat’s personal and professional passion, and she loves pursuing it here in the oldest mountain range in the world. Kat brings 20 years of experience in environmental policy and partner-driven habitat conservation to her role of Director of Conservation at New River Conservancy.
Her early career was spent as a conservation planner at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where she guided the development of state and federally supported incentive-based habitat conservation efforts and pioneered innovative non-regulatory approaches to wildlife conservation.
| New River Expedition filmette online now | |
We were pleased to be able to hold our Fall Board Meeting on the rim of the New River Gorge, within sight of the New River Gorge Bridge, at the end of October on the property of Adventures on the Gorge in Fayetteville, WV.
We are grateful to AOTG for the space and also the partnership that includes the new "Round Up" program that will raise funds for projects in West Virginia.
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What you think matters to us
To help us create a stronger organization, please take a few minutes to share what aspects of New River Conservancy’s work are most important to you, as well as how you first connected with us.
Four survey respondents will be randomly selected to receive a FREE Hydro Flask tumbler. You must provide a valid email address to be eligible for the drawing.
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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.
| | Upcoming Clean Ups in Virginia | | |
We have two clean ups coming up next weekend - November 6 & 7 - in the New River Valley.
Friday, Nov 6, join us for a Clean Up on Stroubles Creek in Blacksburg, VA. Stroubles Creek, a tributary of the New River. Stroubles Creek headwaters begin from Blacksburg’s 16 springs; the stream is subject to a significant amount of urban runoff and trash. It is then routed under Virginia Tech’s Drillfield. The stream resurfaces below the Drillfield where it feeds the Duck Pond and continues through a large area of active ecological restoration.
Saturday, Nov 7, join us for a riverfront Clean Up on the New River at Fairlawn Riverfront to clean up riverside trash and remove invasive plant species along Smith Farm Trail in Fairlawn, VA. We will be cleaning trash and removing invasives along the riverbank from that address southwest to Sheffey Park (located about 1.3 miles upriver, accessible by Hazel Hollow Rd or on foot by Smith Farm Trail). At higher flood stages, this zone becomes inundated by the New River, which may spread or deposit trash and transport invasive species seeds. Our work is crucial to a healthy river ecosystem!
To register, please register below.
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New River Conservancy takes the helm of the Paddling Film Festival
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New River Conservancy (NRC) is pleased to announce that they will be taking the helm of hosting the Paddling Film Festival (PFF) beginning in 2027. Previously the PFF has been hosted by the Blacksburg Parks and Recreation (BPR) department and held at The Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg, Virginia. We are grateful for the leadership of David Goodman, Outdoor Programs Supervisor at BPR for his stewardship of the festival for the last three years. In partnership with the Radford, Virginia office of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, NRC has been sponsors of the PFF for the past two years. This year NRC was able to showcase a short film of the New River Expedition on the big screen.
Story continues at link below.
| | Ways to Give to the New River Conservancy | | |
Whether you make a one time or monthly donation; legacy or memorial gift; include NRC in your will or donate stock, you are making a stronger, healthier New River possible.
We are proud to continually earn a 4-Star rating on Charity Navigator and Platinum Transparency on Candid.
Lyda Adams Carpen, a lifelong supporter of the New River Conservancy, has this to say:
"When I visit the New River now, these places soothe my soul. I take deep, deep breaths without reminding myself to do so. As my grandmother would say looking out across the green, “I rest my eyes upon it.” Like my dad, I also pay attention to all the things that have changed since the last time. Some of them are worrisome. Thank god for the New River Conservancy and all their work to restore, preserve and connect. I will be there for them so they can be there for all of us.”
If you have questions or would like to discuss ways to include New River Conservancy in your legacy giving, please contact Andrew Downs at Andrew@newriverconservancy.org
For further information on a variety of ways to give, please click the link below.
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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! | | | | |
