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Fall
River Renaissance – September 15 - October 15 Fall River Renaissance is a citizen involvement campaign designed
to encourage and recognize Virginians of all ages who are working to improve
Virginia's waters and other natural resources. The Fall River Renaissance
has encouraged thousands of Virginians to give of their time and resources
to improve the quality of Virginia's rivers, lakes, and streams,
as well as the Chesapeake Bay. Fall River Renaissance is coordinated by
the Natural Resource agencies of the Commonwealth, but is supported by
corporate and individual contributions. http://www.dcr.state.va.us/temp/frrhome.htm
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Geology
of the New River Gorge http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoles01.htm
The
New River: Older Than Time -- Documentary Film on the New River -- The
second oldest river in the world, the New River, which begins in the Appalachian
Mountains and flows north and west across Virginia, was declared a "wild
and scenic river"-- preventing its being dammed for hydroelectric power--about
fifteen years ago. This film features interviews with some of those who live
and work along the river. They reflect on its history, its importance as a
source of recreation and personal inspiration, and its somewhat doubtful ecological
prospects. 29m, 1/2", $3 VF86-14 Phone: 434/924-6895
http://www.virginia.edu/vfh/resserv/eco.html
Appalachia--Science
in the Public Interest -- Appropriate Technology Demonstration at Livingston, Kentucky, features
a 32-acre site with a cordwood building demonstration office, a new nature
center for the bio-region, examples of solar space and water heating, a total
solar house, the solar greenhouses, cisterns, five types of compost toilets,
yurt, dome, intensive organic gardens, camping sites and pavilions, and miles
of hiking. Martha
Bond, 50 Lair St; Mt. Vernon, KY 40456; phone and fax 606-256-0077 , and fax
606-256-2779. http://www.kih.net/aspi/
Heritage,
Environment, Recreation on the New River (HERON) Program – Concord College,
Athens, W.Va. -- Introduces
high school and junior high school students in rural southern West Virginia
to the heritage, environmental, and economic resources of the New River Watershed.
http://wvnvm.wvnet.edu/~wvcompac/recptyy.htm
Problems
Identified by New River Community Partners
Hazardous
Waste Clean-Up in Radford -- In Radford Virginia, a 3 block
area along the New River has an estimated 100,000 - 300,000 railroad ties,
many unlabeled canisters, and other unknown debris. This site poses an extreme
danger of serious water quality contamination in the New River, and site clean-up
is an urgent necessity. Contact: Darliet Colley, RNC, Radford, VA 540-731-4553
Mike McLeod, Dept. of Environmental Quality, Roanoke, VA 540-562-6721 Charlotte
Burnett, Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Dublin, VA 540-674-2931 Other
partners: Patrick Woodie ? Executive Director of New River Community Partners,
PO Box 1897, Sparta, NC, 28675, 336-372-8118. DEQ Regional Waste Division,
Roanoke VA, 540-562-6700 Location: One Bolling Street in the west end of Radford
Resources needed: Environmental consultant may be needed to identify what
resources are needed. Agencies: FEMA DEQ EPA Current status: 11?2 years of
research completed about the fire and health hazards related to this site.
We have spoken with DEQ and EPA about the status of the site and made a presentation
to city Council articulating the health risks involved. No funding has yet
been made for site cleanup from state legislators or agencies, City of Radford
or area businesses. Steps: a. Contact Patrick Woodie about NRCP?s potential
to assist in efforts to clean up waste sites. From http://www.nrcp.org/
Eliminate
Direct Piping of Sewage This project will promote improved water quality
in the New River by eliminating the direct piping of sewage into the river
and its tributaries. Contact: Mark Sullivan, Alliant Techsystems, Inc. 540-639-8745
Other partners: VA Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ), VA Dept. of Health
(VDH), VA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (DCR), New Century Turning Point,
Darliet Colley RNC. Time frame: 5-10 years Location: The entire length of
the New River, plus the tributaries Resources needed: Funding for: Education
resources; enforcement; removal assistance; septic tank installation; hookup
to municipal sewer lines; project implementation. Agencies: EPA Department
of Environmental Quality USDA Rural Assistance Department of Conservation
and Recreation Department of Health Current status: The project is in the
initial stages. We are just now contacting the partners (federal and state
agencies) who may be able to provide assistance. Steps: a. Seek funding from
state or federal agencies to assist individual property owners (most of whom
have low incomes and meager resources) in remedying problems related to straight
piping or septic tank maintenance. Time frame ? 5 years. b. Seek funding from
state and local agencies to educate the public on the environmental effects
of straight piping and poor septic tank maintenance. Time frame ? 5 years.
c. Campaign to enforce existing laws related to direct piping discharges to
the New River and its tributaries. Indefinite time frame. ? Other information:
We see this project as a function of three critical issues: Poverty: most
straight pipers are poor people who require financial assistance to correct
the problem Education: Many in the community are not aware that straight piping
is still occurring Enforcement: Some people continue to ignore the law even
though they have the means to comply. From http://www.nrcp.org/
Erosion
and Sediment Control in New River Valley This project will promote improved
water quality and stabilized streambanks through riparian landowner education
and support for erosion and sediment control practices. Contact: Gloria Parry,
540-951-1402, parry@math.vt.edu Rick Roth, Radford University, 540-831-5558;
540-951-0403, rroth@runet.edu Other Partners: Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
(Janet Smith) Skyline Soil and Water Conservation District Canoe Livery Radford
University Outdoors and Virginia Tech Outdoors Patrick Woodie, New River Community
Partners Foster Falls Livery Terry Myers, Farm Bureau Dept. of Environmental
Quality, Mike McLeod Virginia Dept. of Health Time Frame: This is a 10-year
project; in the five-year future, there should be on-going dump cleanup and
education of landowners. Location: New River, Little River, Big Walker Creek,
Big Reed Island Resources needed: Funding, legal assistance, educational agency
in process to identify problem areas; agency to prepare workplan to present
for bidding to interested parties for cleanup and education. Agencies: Montgomery
County Improvement Council VA Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries Agencies listed
above Current Status: In the planning process
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