Environment and Ecology

Herald Dispatch: Solar Holler and Coalfield Development Train West Virginians in Solar Energy

04.17.18

Solar Panels

BY DAVE LAVENDER FOR THE HERALD DISPATCH

It was John F. Kennedy who once said, ”The sun does not always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do.”

While that may be the case, a small group of people here are indeed “Mining The Sun,” as is the motto of Shepherdstown-based Solar Holler, which has been working with the nonprofit Coalfield Development Corp. of Wayne to help train workers here to install solar panels.

These days, those workers for Solar Holler are installing panels on everything from nonprofits and businesses – like Ed Tucker Architects in Huntington – to an increasing number of homes in West Virginia.

Read the full story from The Herald Dispatch here »

Daily Yonder: Roaming Elk Are Helping Boost and Diversify Local Economies

02.12.18

An elk grazing along a hill.

BY ANDREW MOORE FOR THE DAILY YONDER

Rumor had it that a herd of elk had returned to West Virginia.

To find out if it was true, one year ago this month, a few hundred people gathered on a muddy hilltop in Logan County, back in December 2016, to catch a glimpse of the large mammals that hadn’t graced these hills for nearly 150 years. But the elk were nowhere to be seen–they wouldn’t budge from cover. After some time, a gentle spook from an official from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) encouraged the animals to trot out from behind their bushes and into a grassy opening.

And then there they were. Folks smiled and took pictures. Then-Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and several others spoke about the importance of this moment and this project — the official reintroduction of elk into West Virginia. But most attendees didn’t stand near the speaker’s platform. Rather they were off to the right, looking down on the grassy opening, eyes fixed on an unusual sight in the Mountain State: A real, live, herd of elk.

We weren’t very close — the elk looked smaller from this distance — but with tan-brown coats and their size, you wouldn’t mistake them for deer. We also noticed that all of the bulls had their antlers removed…

Read the full article on The Daily Yonder’s site »

Yale Environment 360: Group bringing native forest back to reclaimed mine site in WV

01.23.18

Green Forests Work Cheat Mountain project from the organization’s Facebook page »

BY ELIZABETH MCGOWAN FOR YALE ENVIRONMENT 360

Near the top of Cheat Mountain in West Virginia, bulldozer operator Bill Moore gazes down a steep slope littered with toppled conifers. Tangled roots and angled boulders protrude from the slate-colored soil, and the earth is crisscrossed with deep gouges.

“Anywhere else I’ve ever worked,” Moore says, “if I did what I did here, I’d be fired.”

Moore is working for Green Forests Work, a small nonprofit, as part of a project to rehabilitate a rare red spruce-dominant forest on 2,000 acres that were mined for coal in the 1970s and 1980s. The mine became part of the Monongahela National Forest in 1989 when the U.S. Forest Service purchased more than 40,000 contiguous acres known as the Mower Tract.

Moore and other bulldozer operators hired by the nonprofit first knock down non-native Norway spruce and undesirable red pine. Then they score the heavily compacted dirt with three-foot-long steel blades; openings formed by this “deep ripping” allow newly planted native saplings, shrubs, and flowering plants to take root and thrive. The downed trees are left in place to curb erosion, build soil, and provide brushy habitat for birds and mammals…

Read the full article on Yale Environment 360’s site »

Land & Water Conservation Fund applications now available

01.09.18

The West Virginia Development Office’s application cycle for 2018 Land and Water Conservation Grant Funds is now open.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund program for FY2018 will prioritize new or renovated public park spaces. Projects that demonstrate collaboration among area businesses, community-based organizations and government entities will be given preference.

The program is designed to help increase the quality of life across West Virginia for both residents and visitors alike by promoting community culture, leisure activities and healthy lifestyles.

Applications must be postmarked on or before April 15, 2018. Electronic submissions are allowed and encouraged.

Download the PDF with details »

“Almost a reality” – Whitesville awaits decision to create ambitious rail trail project

09.08.17

In 2014, the town of Whitesville, WV, population 500, won more than 10,000 votes in support of the community taking part in Turn This Town Around, an initiative administered by The Hub in partnership with the Benedum Foundation and New South Media.

At the program’s first meeting in 2015, 143 of the town’s residents participated in a brainstorming session of possibilities to improve the area and local economy. Their perspective delivered 20 ideas for small projects, such as new street signage, planters and murals – along with one bold idea to address economic development and transform a rail corridor into a multi-use recreational rail trail.

Today, the Clear Fork Rail Trail is almost a reality.

Approval of the Clear Fork Rail Trail proposal will green-light Whitesville’s most ambitious Turn This Town Around project to date.

An opportunity presented itself for funding last month when the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection announced the 2017 AML Economic and Community Development Pilot Program. The proposed rail trail corridor and an abandoned mine intersect, offering the opportunity to reclaim the site and develop the Clear Fork Rail Trail during the process. Whitesville and the project partners are now anxiously awaiting the decision of the grant committee. They expect to hear from the committee in mid-September.

Approval of the Clear Fork Rail Trail proposal will green-light Whitesville’s most ambitious Turn This Town Around project to date.

The rail trail will help build up the community and transform the town of Whitesville into a recreational trail destination.

The trail will span 15.2 miles through the scenic Clear Fork Valley. Three staging areas will offer public access with the possibility to establish private bicycle rental and shuttle services from Whitesville. Signage along the trail will allow users to interpret the relation of industry and immigration while enjoying the natural surroundings.

Typical of any bold idea, community members and project partners did the homework. Engineers from Chapman Technical Group performed the initial feasibility study and later performed a structural assessment of the trestles. Concord University and West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics assisted by providing insight to potential outcomes from trail development.

Progress, combining thousands of volunteer hours, public support, new private investments and ranging attitudes of optimism and grit prove Whitesville is still turning. Though premature to claim the town is turned around, Whitesville is now a visibly different place turning firmly toward the future.

The following people and groups signed on to support the Clear Fork Rail Trail:

Senators Shelly Capito and Joe Manchin
State Senator Ron Stollings
Delegate Rodney Miller
Boone County Commission
Raleigh County Commission
Town of Whitesville
Region I Planning and Development Council
New River Gorge Regional Development Authority
National Coal Heritage Area Authority
West Virginia Community Development Hub
Active Southern West Virginia
Visit Southern West Virginia
The National Park Service/Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Hello, Adam.

Outside Magazine: Kentucky Community Starts Hiking to Change their Outlook

07.30.17

Source: Flickr user prodigy130

by Lindsey Gilpin

One Sunday every month, always after church, the Breathitt County Hiking Club meets outside the public library in Jackson, Kentucky to caravan to a trailhead. On an afternoon in early June, Stephen Bowling, the library’s executive director, eagerly waited inside the glass doors for the group to arrive for their trip to Copperas Creek Trail in Red River Gorge, about 40 minutes away.

As people trickled in, Bowling happily fielded questions about the hike. “How long is it again?” asked Phyllis Light, a 74-year-old wearing clean white Skechers. Her friend Doris Newton, an outspoken middle-aged woman who works at the local hardware store, hopped out of the car with her dog. “What’s the difficulty level?” Newton asked as her husband took a drag of his cigarette and laughed about how he wore swim shoes instead of hiking boots.

Bowling, a 45-year-old father with a toothy grin, has been hosting these monthly field trips since the beginning of the year. An avid backpacker, he has hiked hundreds of miles on the Appalachian Trail and elsewhere in the Southeast, an experience he’s determined to share with others. Bowling’s new hiking club, sponsored by the Breathitt County Public Library, is his latest effort to get people in this rural town out into nature…

Read the article on Outside Magazine’s website »

Mountain Statesman: WV Community Throws a Party to Bash Trash

07.29.17

Getting Ready for the Party (All Aboard Grafton Facebook Page)

By Nicki Skinner, Mountain Statesman Editor

Two Taylor County citizens, frustrated with the illegal dumping of garbage, decided to organize an event, in conjunction with Taylor County Project HOP2E, to shed a light on the growing issue.

Sherri and Louis Friend were instrumental in organizing the first-ever Thornton Trash Bash, which was held on Saturday.

Despite the heavy rain and storms that moved through the area, S. Friend said that they felt really good about the turnout of people at the event.

“We were very happy with the community’s turnout for the bash,” shared S. Friend. “Throughout the day, we had probably 50 people who came to see what we were offering.”

During the bash, volunteers took the time to help pick up litter along Route 50, near the old Thornton School, and Tygart Valley Watershed volunteers took part in a creek clean-up.

Vendors were set up selling goods, and Nanny’s Ice Cream was present, offering a cool treat, on the humid summer day.

Guests were able to grab some food, while they visited booths or gathered information about the importance of recycling and properly disposing of trash.

In addition, Taylor County Project HOP2E held a food distribution, for families in need…

View the full article on the Mountain Statesman website »

Gazette-Mail: Coal River Becoming Stronger Recreation Tourism Draw

06.13.17

Photo by Coal River Group

By Rick Steelhammer/Charleston Gazette-Mail

While barely three dozen paddlers turned out for the first Tour De Coal community float event in 2005, more than 1,000 people made the 11-mile drift from the base of Upper Falls of the Coal River at Meadowood Park near Tornado to the Gateway Shopping Center in St. Albans last year, with a like amount expected during this year’s Tour, set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

“Back in the beginning, we only had about 40 people join us for the Tour De Coal,” said Kris Radford, president of the Coal River Group, the event’s founder, organizer and principal beneficiary. “The event was experimental at that time. We didn’t know if anyone would even come out.”

The experiment turned out to be a success, gradually becoming the state’s biggest non-whitewater paddling event.

“It’s not a race, but rather a community’s celebration of its most important natural resource — its rivers,” said Bill Currey, co-founder of the Coal River Group…

Read the full story at www.wvgazettemail.com

Lincoln County Bursting With Community Activity This Summer

05.18.17

Photo by Guyandotte Water Trail

People in Lincoln County have a great opportunity this Saturday to get out and enjoy this fantastic spring weather, and help their community!

From 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, the Guyandotte Water Trail will host a Lower Guyandotte River Cleanup at Branchland Park. More info at www.facebook.com/guyandottewatertrail/

They are calling all volunteers to come join members of the Guyandotte Water Trail and the people of Lincoln County to help cleanup the beautiful Branchland Park and Guyandotte River to ready it for some great spring and summer activity.

And here’s some other events coming up:

June 3 – National Water Trails Dedication and River Float
Celebration of Lincoln County’s 150th Founding
10 a.m. Branchland Park
Info: www.facebook.com/guyandottewatertrail/

June 3 – Free Annual Kids Fishing Tournament
Mud River Lake WMA Boat Launch
Registration 9 – 9:30 a.m.
Info: mary_napier@aol.com / 304-824-3336 x 221

June 24 – Regatta Race and Float
11 a.m. Branchland Park
Registration on site that day.
Info: www.facebook.com/TheLincolnLogWV

July 15 – Going Off the Deep End
Homemade and Modified Floating Water Crafts
Various Categories and Prizes
11 a.m. check-in. Branchland Park.
Info: ckarr@coalfield-development.org / 304-951-8223

July 22 – Mt State Anglers Tournament on the Guyandotte
Location TBA
Info: mskawv@gmail.com / 304-942-1122
www.facebook.com/mskawv

August 5 – Special Family Kayak Float
10 am. Branchland Park
Bring your own kayak. Also limited kayaks for rent.
Info and kayak rental: ricmacdowell@gmail.com / 304-824-2643

All Summer
Free Wednesdays at Camp Lake View
June 7, 14, 21, 28.
July 5, 12, 19, 26.
August 2, 9.
Supervised swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and light lunch.
10 am – 2 pm. Left Fork of Mud River Lake
Info: ricmacdowell@gmail.com / 304-824-2643

Events on the Guyandotte River depend on water levels. Check in advance!

Get involved in Lincoln County this Saturday, and for the rest of the summer!

WFPL: In Kentucky, New Energy Plan Shaped By Priorities of Citizens, Not Energy CEOs

05.02.17

Holmes Hummel at Empower Kentucky Summit. Photo by Empower Kentucky

By Erica Peterson/WFPL

A Kentucky social justice organization has completed an ambitious plan for the state’s energy future.

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth released its Empower Kentucky plan late last month. The plan is the result of two years of talking to people around the state about their vision for Kentucky’s future electricity generation.

Amid uncertainty about whether state regulators would create a plan, KFTC announced it would crowdsource one.

It began as a response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, which set carbon dioxide reduction goals for each state. Under that regulation — which is unlikely to go into effect under the Trump Administration — states were encouraged to create their own compliance plans.

Amid uncertainty in 2015 and 2016 about whether state regulators would create a plan, KFTC announced it would crowdsource one.

To do this, the group met with more than 1,200 people around the state, holding dinners and discussions in all six of Kentucky’s congressional districts. KFTC member Cassia Herron said the participants and their concerns ran the gamut.

“We know that people live this every day, and regular Kentuckians want to know what our future energy consumption looks like and how we can diversify our energy consumption and use,” she said. “So we thought that it would make sense to reach out to Kentuckians and develop a plan and a vision from what people want…”

Read the full story at wfpl.org