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