Environment

Restore the Coal River
New sewer program to clean up the Coal River
Cleanup
Water monitoring and water studies conducted by the Coal River Group
Water monitoring and education - the key to long term river restoration

ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS-COAL RIVER WATERSHED

RESTORE THE COAL RIVERS

The Coal River Group established an evironmental program in 2004 that was designed to bring together all of the potential reasources necessary to fully restore the Coal Rivers. The program was based on basic problem solving principles.

1. Reaseach and identify problems

2. Create partnerships and develop the Government, Business and Community support necessary to address the issues.

3. Implement the programs and constantly evaluate the results.

4. Communicate with the general public and seek citizen support and advice on every aspect of the environmental program

WV DEP stream restoration structure on the Little Coal River- one of 100 structures to be built in the watershed.

The WV DEP has worked closley with the Coal River Group to help restore the rivers. The Stream Restoration program on the Little Coal River is just one example of how much effort and attention the State of West Virginia has focused on the Coal River Watershed.

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New sewer program to clean up the Coal River

The Coal River group was advised in 2005 0f a long neglegted sewer project that could clean up the Coal River. The officials indicated that the project needed support from a public group if it was ever to become a reality.

The CRG contacted the Greater St. Albans PSD and offered assitance in promoting the project in public forums and the media. The PSD agreed and the race was on.

The CRG members attended public infrastucture council meetings and spoke out on the need for the sewers to be built in order to clean up the Coal River. The group conducted public meetings and worked with the news media to bring further attention to the project.

In 2007 the WV infrastucture Council approved a total of approximately $20 Million for the proposed project. The project was build ready. In 2008 the Stimulis money became available for Build Ready Projects. The Greater SA"s PSD project was ready and funds from that Federal program helped to finance the first phase of the project.

The Sewers are coming to the Coal River- The attached article describes the project. However it incorrectly indicates that the full $20 million was funded. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. The first phase has been approved and it will cost approximately Eight Million dollars. The important point is that the Coal River Groups efforts have paid off and the Sewers are coming .

Phase II and Phase III are shown on this graphic.Phase II of the project is now being built.

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Cleanup

CLEAN UP OF 88 MILES OF RIVERS REQUIRES A HARD WORKING ORGANIZER WHO CAN "GET ER DONE".

KRIS RADFORD HAS BEEN THE CRG CLEAN UP CHAIRMAN SINCE 2005

She has organized and assisted in the organization of Clean Up programs which have collected hundreds of tons of trash. Kris has the ability to pull together many diverse agencies, community groups and individuals to get a job done. She is a 'hands-on' worker who leads by example.

PICTURES OF PRIOR CLEAN UP PROJECTS TELL THE STORY

The Big Coal Branch- Peytona Beach Clean up

Mary Browning-Chairman Big Coal Branch

The Big Coal Branch Chairman, Mary Browning, has brought together many members of the local community to help Clean up the Big Coal River. The Group is also working on education programs and developing a river front walking trail from Ashford to Dartmont in Boone County. These hard-working community members are truly "bringing life back to the Coal Rivers".

Cleaning up the Coal Rivers is a never ending job. The volunteers working in Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha Counties have developed many new community-based programs that today, are generating local cleanups. The job requires parners to get it done and Richard Milam, the former Mayor of St. Albans, has been the CRG go-to guy to get the job done with the help of many government agencies.

RICHARD MILAM, GOVERNMENT COORDINATOR - CLEAN UP PROGRAMS

Richard serves the Coal River Group in a wide variety of jobs. His former job as Mayor of St. Albans, WV provides the Group with many contacts but his 30 years with the WV DOH gives him the contacts that help bring important partners to all CRG projects. He has coordinated with the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department's program to bring prisoners to the clean up projects. Along with Richard's volunteer work, Janie, his wife, also volunteers and provides even more contacts to help clean up the Coal.

Top

WATER MONITORING AND WATER STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE COAL RIVER GROUP

The WV DEP provided a $65,000 grant to the Coal River Group to conduct a two-year series of studies on the Little Coal River prior to construction of the new river restoration structures.

The student team led by Dr. Tom Jones, an Aquatic Ecologist, conducted an extensive series of water monitoring and biological studies on the Big Coal River. They also conducted one of the most extensive e-Coli tests ever attempted on the entire Coal River Watershed.

The following pictures illustrate an in-stream shock study on the Little Coal River at a location where new river restoration structures are scheduled to be built. The results of the studies done by the Marshall University team showed an amazing diversity of aquatic life but the size of game fish was smaller than expected. The studies are on-going and more information is being developed throughout the Coal River Watershed by the MU team along with new reaseach teams from West Virginia University.

Yes. that is Bill Currey dressed in waders and ready to help with the shock test. Fishermen just want to catch fish. Some will even stoop to shocking fish to see what's in the water.

Restoring the Coal Rivers requires that we understand the chemical and biological condition of the rivers and streams in our region. Once the condition of the rivers is understood then solutions to the problems become attainable.

E-coli testing on the watershed illustrates how the three rivers are impacted by high levels of e-coli that are brought to the rivers via streams. The hot spots are nearly all located at the junction of streams flowing into the river. Tests further down stream at isloated locations with no presence of incoming streams show very low levels of e-coli. It should be noted that the Big Coal and Little Coal Rivers flow over many rocky rapids and the water is fast moving.

The Coal River Group is developing programs that would help pump out residential septic systems located along tributary streams. Many other programs are being developed with the help of experts to address the problems created by untreated sewage in the Watershed.

Top

WATER MONITORING AND EDUCATION THE KEY TO LONG TERM RIVER RESTORATION

MARY BROWNING- CRG Education Chairman and Director of the Big Coal River Branch

Mary Browning has helped to develop the school based water monitoring and education program in Boone County. Her efforts are responsible for involving 7 schools in the county in teaching students the value and responsibilty of clean water and clean streams.

The programs have been operating since 2005. The CRG is very proud of the fact that the student water monitoring and education programs has inspired students to learn more and to become involved in career programs that will enhance their future job opportunities.

Students have embraced the water monitoring classroom programs and have won both local and now national awards for their work in reasearch related to water monitoring and testing.

The CRG has worked hard to bring responsible environmental education to the students in the Coal River Watershed. The news Science and education Building now being constructed by the group will serve as a destination center for students throughout the region to learn more about the value of river restoration and clean water.

Top


About Us River Information Recreation Barnette Preserve Science Center Merchandise & Classifieds Links & Partners Contact Us Quick Links Big Coal Branch River Scouting Reports Walhonde River Trail Map Member Float Trips Water Level Information Contact the Webmaster	Environment Restore the Coal River New sewer program to clean up the Coal River Cleanup Water monitoring and water studies conducted by the Coal River Group Water monitoring and education - the key to long term river restoration ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS-COAL RIVER WATERSHED RESTORE THE COAL RIVERS The Coal River Group established an evironmental program in 2004 that was designed to bring together all of the potential reasources necessary to fully restore the Coal Rivers. The program was based on basic problem solving principles. 1. Reaseach and identify problems 2. Create partnerships and develop the Government, Business and Community support necessary to address the issues. 3. Implement the programs and constantly evaluate the results. 4. Communicate with the general public and seek citizen support and advice on every aspect of the environmental program WV DEP stream restoration structure on the Little Coal River- one of 100 structures to be built in the watershed. The WV DEP has worked closley with the Coal River Group to help restore the rivers. The Stream Restoration program on the Little Coal River is just one example of how much effort and attention the State of West Virginia has focused on the Coal River Watershed. Top New sewer program to clean up the Coal River The Coal River group was advised in 2005 0f a long neglegted sewer project that could clean up the Coal River. The officials indicated that the project needed support from a public group if it was ever to become a reality. The CRG contacted the Greater St. Albans PSD and offered assitance in promoting the project in public forums and the media. The PSD agreed and the race was on. The CRG members attended public infrastucture council meetings and spoke out on the need for the sewers to be built in order to clean up the Coal River. The group conducted public meetings and worked with the news media to bring further attention to the project. In 2007 the WV infrastucture Council approved a total of approximately $20 Million for the proposed project. The project was build ready. In 2008 the Stimulis money became available for Build Ready Projects. The Greater SA"s PSD project was ready and funds from that Federal program helped to finance the first phase of the project. The Sewers are coming to the Coal River- The attached article describes the project. However it incorrectly indicates that the full $20 million was funded. THAT IS NOT CORRECT. The first phase has been approved and it will cost approximately Eight Million dollars. The important point is that the Coal River Groups efforts have paid off and the Sewers are coming . Phase II and Phase III are shown on this graphic.Phase II of the project is now being built. Top Cleanup CLEAN UP OF 88 MILES OF RIVERS REQUIRES A HARD WORKING ORGANIZER WHO CAN "GET ER DONE". KRIS RADFORD HAS BEEN THE CRG CLEAN UP CHAIRMAN SINCE 2005 She has organized and assisted in the organization of Clean Up programs which have collected hundreds of tons of trash. Kris has the ability to pull together many diverse agencies, community groups and individuals to get a job done. She is a 'hands-on' worker who leads by example. PICTURES OF PRIOR CLEAN UP PROJECTS TELL THE STORY The Big Coal Branch- Peytona Beach Clean up Mary Browning-Chairman Big Coal Branch The Big Coal Branch Chairman, Mary Browning, has brought together many members of the local community to help Clean up the Big Coal River. The Group is also working on education programs and developing a river front walking trail from Ashford to Dartmont in Boone County. These hard-working community members are truly "bringing life back to the Coal Rivers". Cleaning up the Coal Rivers is a never ending job. The volunteers working in Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha Counties have developed many new community-based programs that today, are generating local cleanups. The job requires parners to get it done and Richard Milam, the former Mayor of St. Albans, has been the CRG go-to guy to get the job done with the help of many government agencies. RICHARD MILAM, GOVERNMENT COORDINATOR - CLEAN UP PROGRAMS Richard serves the Coal River Group in a wide variety of jobs. His former job as Mayor of St. Albans, WV provides the Group with many contacts but his 30 years with the WV DOH gives him the contacts that help bring important partners to all CRG projects. He has coordinated with the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department's program to bring prisoners to the clean up projects. Along with Richard's volunteer work, Janie, his wife, also volunteers and provides even more contacts to help clean up the Coal. Top WATER MONITORING AND WATER STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE COAL RIVER GROUP The WV DEP provided a $65,000 grant to the Coal River Group to conduct a two-year series of studies on the Little Coal River prior to construction of the new river restoration structures. The student team led by Dr. Tom Jones, an Aquatic Ecologist, conducted an extensive series of water monitoring and biological studies on the Big Coal River. They also conducted one of the most extensive e-Coli tests ever attempted on the entire Coal River Watershed. The following pictures illustrate an in-stream shock study on the Little Coal River at a location where new river restoration structures are scheduled to be built. The results of the studies done by the Marshall University team showed an amazing diversity of aquatic life but the size of game fish was smaller than expected. The studies are on-going and more information is being developed throughout the Coal River Watershed by the MU team along with new reaseach teams from West Virginia University. Yes. that is Bill Currey dressed in waders and ready to help with the shock test. Fishermen just want to catch fish. Some will even stoop to shocking fish to see what's in the water. Restoring the Coal Rivers requires that we understand the chemical and biological condition of the rivers and streams in our region. Once the condition of the rivers is understood then solutions to the problems become attainable. E-coli testing on the watershed illustrates how the three rivers are impacted by high levels of e-coli that are brought to the rivers via streams. The hot spots are nearly all located at the junction of streams flowing into the river. Tests further down stream at isloated locations with no presence of incoming streams show very low levels of e-coli. It should be noted that the Big Coal and Little Coal Rivers flow over many rocky rapids and the water is fast moving. The Coal River Group is developing programs that would help pump out residential septic systems located along tributary streams. Many other programs are being developed with the help of experts to address the problems created by untreated sewage in the Watershed. Top WATER MONITORING AND EDUCATION THE KEY TO LONG TERM RIVER RESTORATION MARY BROWNING- CRG Education Chairman and Director of the Big Coal River Branch Mary Browning has helped to develop the school based water monitoring and education program in Boone County. Her efforts are responsible for involving 7 schools in the county in teaching students the value and responsibilty of clean water and clean streams. The programs have been operating since 2005. The CRG is very proud of the fact that the student water monitoring and education programs has inspired students to learn more and to become involved in career programs that will enhance their future job opportunities. Students have embraced the water monitoring classroom programs and have won both local and now national awards for their work in reasearch related to water monitoring and testing. The CRG has worked hard to bring responsible environmental education to the students in the Coal River Watershed. The news Science and education Building now being constructed by the group will serve as a destination center for students throughout the region to learn more about the value of river restoration and clean water. Top

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