2009 Year In Review

As we look back upon this year about to end, we can feel good about our Partnerships with our Sponsors and our Accomplishments. Here are a few of the things we got done which benefit many.

-- Received 2nd Stream Partners Grant from WV Environmental Protection Agency
-- Increased our mailing list from 234 to 355
-- Held four public meetings for our residents with the average attendance of 145
-- Published three NEWSLETTERS
-- Eighteen letters were penned to representatives and agency heads in Wash. D.C.
-- Removed two large fallen trees from Dunloup Creek in Glen Jean
-- Installed new roadside sign in Glen Jean noting “Entering our Watershed”
-- Made two trips to Washington D.C. on behalf of our efforts toward funding
-- Saw the Kilsyth mine reclamation project completed; improves water quality
-- Received funds from two earmarks amounting to $2.246 million dollars
-- Voluntary application process commenced on 10 June/ended 1 Sept
-- Ranking letters from NRCS Beckley were mailed to residents who made application
-- Met the new Chief, David White of NRCS/USDA in Washington D.C.
-- Visited offices of Senator Byrd & Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Rahall
-- Office of Management & Budget approved Dunloup Creek Watershed Project
-- House Agriculture Committee grants authorization to Dunloup Creek Project
-- Senate Agriculture Committee grants authorization to Dunloup Creek Project
-- NRCS/Fayette County Commission join forces in preparing for surveys/appraisals

Dunloup Creek Watershed Association is very thankful for Senator Robert C. Byrd and his staff. We are thankful for our state representatives and to all the members of agency sponsors who have been extremely helpful in advancing our cause. We appreciate the members of our executive staff and board members of Dunloup Creek Watershed Association who allowed us to implement a new strategy that began back in May 2004.

Yes, this year has seen advancements in getting relief from the flooding and improving the quality of water within Dunloup Creek. WE will ALL benefit from these actions. Lets hope that 2010 will be kind to our neighbors and us. Dunloup Creek Watershed Association appreciates you all.

West Virginia Conservation Partnership Award

Officers & Board Members present led by Ernie Wickline, Chairman, accept the WV Conservation Partnership Award during ceremonies at the 2006 WVCA Conference in Charleston on 26 October. Congratulations to Dunloup Creek Watershed.

Official Final Watershed Plan

The official "FINAL" Watershed Plan was posted on NRCS website on Monday, 26 Feb. '07. All internet users can access this plan by clicking HERE.

Dunloup Creek Watershed - Nominated for 2006 Conservation Partnership Watershed Award

Dunloup Creek Watershed Association (DCWA) has been nominated for the 2006 WV Conservation Partnership Watershed Award. DCWA gave a presentation to the selection committee on Wednesday 13 September at the historic McKell Bank building on the campus of the New River Gorge Natiional River HQ in Glen Jean. The winner of this years award will be announced at 2:15pm on Thursday 26 October 2006 at the Charleston Marriott. The other watersheds in contention for the award are Sleepy Creek and Campbell Creek. The award ceremony is part of a three day conference sponsored by the WV Conservation Agency which runs Tuesday through Thursday 24-26 October.

NRCS Sponsored Public Workshop - 20 Sept. 2006

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced the date for their public workshop which will be on Wednesday, 20 September 2006 at the National Guard Armory in Glen Jean. The NRCS sponsored session will run from 4:00pm to 7:00pm which will allow Dunloup Creek residents to come and go at anytime during that 3 hour period. This workshop is part of the process which is deemed a scoping session and allows NRCS to gather comments from the residents who reside in the floodplain. Reminder.....this is not a 3 hour meeting but a 3 hour period of time where residents can meet and discuss issues with members of the NRCS staff. Please take advantage of this opportunity.

Dunloup Creek Watershed Association will have a registration table setup at the entrance to the meeting room where we've conducted previous monthly meetings. Look forward to seeing everyone participate in this NRCS sponsored workshop event.

Chairman - Ernie Wickline

Dunloup Creek Watershed Meeting Information

Dunloup Creek Watershed Association (DCWA) had the opportunity to participate in three (3) very important meetings on 3…..9…..and 10 August 2006. On the 3rd we participated in discussions with the City of Mt Hope, NRCS Morgantown, Army Corps of Engineers, Region 4 Business & Planning Council, Public Service Commission, and WV Dept Environmental Protection. The issue was over the Kilsyth Sewer Extension Project and the NRCS Voluntary Buyout Program. The convergence of these two projects and its impact upon the ability of the City of Mt Hope to meet its bond obligations were paramount. The summary assessment following these discussions was for the funded Kilsyth Sewer Extension project to proceed and the NRCS sponsored voluntary buyout program would monitor impact upon the city’s utilities and offer possible compensation. Public Service Commission stills holds the final approval before the City can proceed with announcement for bids on the sewer project. Hopefully, this approval will come before September 2006 and bid process will occur in the last quarter of 2006. The project construction period is expected to take one year.

DCWA participated in the 2006 WV Conservation “Congressional” Tour at the historic McKell Bank building in Glen Jean on Wednesday 9 August with participants coming from the offices of Senator Byrd, Senator Rockefeller, Congresswoman Shelley Capito, Congressman Alan Mollohan, alongwith Delegate David Perry and Congressman Nick Rahall appearing in person. Louis Aspey (Assistant State Conservationist) of the NRCS Morgantown office gave an insightful presentation on the voluntary buyout project underway for the residents along Dunloup Creek. DCWA got to offer comments at this session which were well received and then lead a tour of the area from Kilsyth to Harvey. The benefit of access to these participants will prove invaluable as the project moves from the delivery of the final Watershed Plan to the Congressional appropriations process. Thanks go out to Carolyn Hefner, Russ Campbell, and Michael Sykes of the WV Conservation Agency in Charleston who served as host for this tour and extended an invitation to DCWA to participate. THANKS to ALL who attended.

DCWA gave a status briefing to the Southern Conservation District (SCD) board on Thursday, 10 August. The brief covered the Voluntary Buyout Program, Kilsyth Sewer Extension Project; Kilsyth/Price Hill ponds; DCWA/SCD Education Program for the elementary schools in Mt Hope and Scarbro; and Congressional support todate. This briefing was deemed important being the Southern Conservation District is one of our most supportive sponsors with Mr Alan Wickline & Mr Doug Kincaid being our Fayette County representatives. Their service has proven to be extremely important as we continue to pursue flood relief for our friends and neighbors.

Chairman, Ernie Wickline

In the NEWS: Monday, 17 July 2006 DCWA Meeting

In the NEWS……..Monday, 17 July 2006 DCWA Meeting

Dunloup Creek Watershed Association held their 5th meeting of 2006 with 101 community residents in attendance.

Chairman Ernie Wickline opened the meeting with a roll call of the watershed officers and board members.

Betty Lilly gave an update of her efforts to locate the responsible agency with jurisdiction over the ponds in Price Hill / Kilsyth. Dunloup Creek Watershed received a letter dated 5 June 2006 from the WV Dept of Environmental Protection Agency (WVDEP) in Charleston stating the ponds are designated WV PA Site# 5648 and were added to the National Abandoned Mine Lands inventory in 2002. The WVDEP intends to obtain Abandoned Mine Lands funds in the future for some level of reclamation. DCWA has drafted a letter back to the WVDEP signed by all association officers and board members voicing the concerns of all residents along Dunloup Creek requesting prompt action to reclaim this site.

Mayor Michael Martin gave a brief update on progress toward construction of the Kilsyth Sewer Extension project. The City of Mount Hope has sent in their certificate of Convenience & Necessity to the Public Service Commission in Charleston for approval which must be granted before the city can post a contract for bid to perform the work. The City’s certificate was dated 27 June 2006. Their will be an important meeting on 3 August 2006 with all the agency players involved in this project. Those being the City of Mount Hope; Army Corps of Engineers; Region 4 Planning & Development Council; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Fayette County Commission; and Dunloup Creek Watershed Association. Issues around this meeting are funding and project coordination around the sewer extension and the NRCS buyout program.

Ms Pam Yost gave the NRCS presentation by announcing the review of the Dunloup Creek Watershed Plan had been completed by the National Water Management Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. In fact, the three (3) member team from Arkansas toured the watershed on 14 June ’06 and NRCS Morgantown is now in receipt of their report. One major change was the requirement to provide a Environmental Impact Statement vice a Environmental Assessment. NRCS is close to having the DRAFT Watershed Plan for distribution at a public hearing to be announced soon. Its anticipated that September ’06 will be the expected date for such a public hearing. Announcement of such will appear in local newspapers; radio & TV; and the Dunloup Creek Watershed “NEWSLETTER” and website.

Their will be an organization meeting of Dunloup Creek Watershed on Monday, 21 August 2006 at the National Park Service conference room in Glen Jean. All officers and board members are expected to attend this planning and strategy session.