Dunloup Creek Watershed West Virgina

2009 Year In Review

2009-12-28T12:08:00.000-05:00

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

2007-02-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

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

2006-11-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

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

2006-09-22T11:46:00.000-04:00

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

2006-09-07T11:24:00.000-04:00

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

2006-08-13T19:02:00.000-04:00

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

2006-07-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

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.

In the NEWS - DCWA Announces Mtg Date

2006-07-12T14:01:00.000-04:00

DATE: MONDAY, 17 July ‘06 TIME: 7:00pm

LOCATION: NATL GUARD ARMORY in GLEN JEAN

TOPIC: -STATUS OF HOME BUYOUT PROGRAM-

-STATUS OF WATERSHED ASSESSMENT PLAN-

-KILSYTH PONDS & CONCERNS-

Since our last meeting on 15 May when we had approximately 100 members and guests in attendance, much has taken place and will be discussed at this upcoming meeting. As you may know by now, the Governor sent two representatives from his Homeland Security & Emergency Services Department to our May meeting. The fact that our efforts have been briefed to the Governor’s staff is very important as the process continues to move forward. You may have seen a number of folks touring our watershed back on 14 June from the National Water Management Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. NRCS Morgantown folks were their hosts and its all a part of the ongoing process to get to the final version of the Watershed Plan & Environmental Assessment. We look forward to seeing you ALL at our meeting so everyone can stay informed.

NRCS will be briefing the Fayette County Commissioners at 10:30am on Friday 14 July ’06 at the County Courthouse. You may want to attend this session to offer support to our cause.

“ Don’t forget or miss this meeting”

17 July ’06 @ 7:00p.m. Natl Guard Armory in Glen Jean

Latest Dunloup Creek Meeting

2006-07-05T13:38:00.000-04:00

Pam Yost from the NRCS office in Morgantown addresses the Dunloup Creek Watershed and community homeowners over the status of the Watershed Plan and Voluntary Home Buyout Program. This meeting took place on 15 May 2006 and was attended by approximately 100 people.

Dunloup Creek Signs Installed

2006-07-05T13:36:00.000-04:00

DCWA installs three new roadside signs marking the boundaries of support for Dunloup Creek communities and homeowners.

2001 Dunloup Creek Flooding

2006-07-05T13:32:00.000-04:00

2001 Dunloup Creek flood overruns Glen Jean and makes the New River Gorge National River HQ facilities an island surrounded by raging flood waters.

IN THE NEWS: March 20th, 2006

2006-04-08T15:47:00.000-04:00

Louis Aspey ( Assistant State Conversationist - Natural Resources Conservation Service ) addresses the homeowners who reside within the boundaries of Dunloup Creek. Mr Aspey provided the audience with status updates on the Watershed Assessment Plan and the Voluntary Buyout Plan. Dunloup Creek Watershed Association had turnouts of 214 homeowners for their 19 Jan and 147 for their 20 March meetings. Next meeting is scheduled for 15 May 2006 at the National Guard Armory in Glen Jean at 7:00pm.

In The NEWS - DCWA Announces Mtg Date

2006-01-31T17:16:00.000-05:00

The next meeting of Dunloup Creek Watershed will be held at the Natl Guard Armory in Glen Jean on Monday, 20 March @ 7:00pm. Additional information from the NRCS staff in Morgantown will be briefed and discussed. We invite everyone to stay abreast of the latest info and attend. Please exercise caution in entering and exiting the roadway leading to and from the armory.

Community Home Owners Participate

2006-01-31T16:22:00.000-05:00

In The News - TV 59 Reports 2006

2006-01-31T16:06:00.000-05:00

Fayette County Floodplain Area Faces Buyout
Posted 1/19/2006 11:26 PM

Communities from Kilsyth to Thurmond are getting answers
Story by Rontina McCann Email | Bio

A community meeting Thursday night in Glen Jean provided answers for many people.

People who live in the communities from Kilsyth to Thurmond, along Dunloup Creek, could get relief from floodwaters. This is a landmark decision by a division of the U.S.D.A., because that agency has never participated in a major floodplain buyout in West Virginia.

But people who there have concerns.

For Anita D'Angelo of Glen Jean and her family, this is a big decision. Leave the family home, full of memories and history, or stay and remain in danger. But there's also the economic concern of being able to move out of a floodplain. "My main concern is the market value. We keep putting money in our homes to make improvements, but our homes are worthless," D'Angelo says.

Since May 2004, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or N.R.C.S., has been performing a study and collecting data. The agency is part of the U.S.D.A. The conclusion is that the most efficient thing to do is buy out the homeowners, starting with the houses that are most threatened. Ernest Wickline, who's the chairman of the Dunloup Creek Watershed, says this is going to be a big process, and it'll take time.

The N.R.C.S. should have a complete proposal of the buyout by July. "People, then, will make their decision of whether or not to take the voluntary buy and sell and not live in a floodplain," Mike Shumate says.

Shumate is on the Dunloup Creek Watershed Association. He says that the N.R.C.S. has looked at every engineering solution to fix the problem and protect the homes. But none is as efficient, safe and economic as the proposed voluntary buyout.

Close to 200 homes are in the area.

The next public meeting hosted by the Watershed and N.R.C.S. will be on March 20th. The location is still to be determined.

In The News - The Register-Herald 2006

2006-01-31T16:03:00.000-05:00

OAK HILL — A packed house speaks louder than words in expressing interest. Mike Shumate, a board member on the Dunloup Creek Watershed Association, described Thursday’s meeting at the National Guard Armory in Glen Jean as nothing short of tickling.

“I’m tickled to death. I just kept seeing more and more cars coming up to the armory before the meeting,” Shumate exulted as he spoke of just under 200 people who packed the facility to hear about potential flood solutions for the Dunloup Creek watershed.

“Folks got to hear for the first time the initial discussions of this voluntary home buyout program being put together. The program will probably be completed by this summer, along with the parameters of how it will be managed, so that everyone will understand how it works.”

Shumate emphasized the program comes under the auspices of the Natural Resource and Conservation Service, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is not, he said, a Federal Emergency Management Agency buyout, nor is it affiliated with the state Office of Emergency Services.

“This is a brand new program. Those who are interested will have to apply once all of the parameters are built into the program. This has nothing to do with any prior applications you may have filled out. Everyone has to understand that, from this day forward, this is an NRCS/USDA program.”

Understanding that a move from one dwelling place to another is easier said than done for some — particularly the elderly — Shumate said DCWA hopes to acquire funding for movers to come in and transport some of the older participants in the program or pay for their relocation costs if they have a mobile home.

- - -

NRCS economist Pamela Yost made her presentation on Understanding the Buyout Options at Thursday’s meeting. She was overwhelmed with more questions than she could exchange for answers.

Shumate said it only indicates the fledgling steps the idea has taken. All who were left with unresolved questions at the meeting, he said, will be supplied with answers in the future.

“We also hope to form a committee that will provide feedback to NRCS before the summer, and we want to involve as many people on this as possible. In particular, we would like to have someone from the county — such as a county commissioner or an elected official from the Southern Conservation District Board — on there.”

He hopes to have the committee formed and in place before DCWA’s next meeting on March 20. At that time, NRCS will return for a second presentation on how it is building the buyout program. The key, Shumate said, is to keep people informed and abreast of what is taking place.

“We will constantly keep people advised. This was a good first step in gathering everyone to hear about this program. It’s voluntary, it’s evolving, and we will keep everyone informed by these monthly meetings and our quarterly newsletter.”

The Dunloup Creek watershed encompasses an estimated 190 homeowners in the areas of Glen Jean, Harvey, Kilsyth, Mount Hope and Red Star. DCWA is also eying Carlisle, Scarbro and Whipple for future incorporation into the group.

In The News - The Fayette Tribune 2006

2006-01-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

OAK HILL - Mike Shumate wants those in the Dunloup Creek watershed to know that before the next flood comes, there might be options other than desperately seeking higher ground or building an ark. The National Guard Armory in Glen Jean will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. At the town hall-style meeting, Shumate hopes the estimated 190 homeowners in Glen Jean, Harvey, Kilsyth, Mount Hope and Red Star will come out and learn more about how they may qualify for government buyouts. This has been an ongoing campaign for the last three weeks, explained Shumate, a board member of the Dunloup Creek Watershed Association. The presentation Understanding the Buyout Options will be made by the Natural Resource and Conservation Service, a Morgantown-based federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Were trying to come up with solutions to the flooding, and one option we have available is to offer buyouts to folks. Since last May, he said , the NRCS has been studying flood conditions and solutions along Dunloup Creek. Pamela Yost, an economist with NRCS, will talk about the buyout option Thursday. That initial discussion will be followed by the watershed associations receipt of a draft report by NRCS in February. According to Shumate, the draft environmental impact statement will go into more detail about possible engineered flooding solutions, namely, construction of dams on Mill Creek in Raleigh County and just above Kilsyth in Fayette County and their costs. We will then provide our consolidated comments back to NRCS at our March 20 meeting in Glen Jean. They will produce their final report in the summer. We have continued to keep Sen. Robert Byrd and Rep. Nick Rahall apprised of our progress. He emphasized that invitations to Thursdays meeting have been extended to both men, along with area legislators. Rahalls Beckley spokesman, Paul Gonzalez, will represent the congressman, Shumate said. Future meetings will open for discussion the idea of bringing the communities of Carlisle, Scarbro and Whipple into the Dunloup Creek association. They are all along White Oak Creek, which intersects Dunloup at Glen Jean, Shumate explained. He added that the 2001 flood cost roughly $30 million in cleanup and assistance to those affected. If thats not enough to bring a crowd to Glen Jean on Thursday, Shumate asked, what will? I think people should be interested, he said. One of our biggest assets is our home, and the floods decrease the value of our homes every time we get flooded. The cost of that to both the homeowner and governments is staggering. I think this speaks volumes to why people should be interested in what DCWA is doing on their behalf to find a solution.

Meeting: January 19th, 2006 @ 7pm

2005-10-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

Dunloup Creek Watershed announces the January 2006 meeting will be held at the Army National Guard facility in Glen Jean. Meeting date is Thursday, 19 January 2006 @ 7:00p.m.

Stream Partners Grant Award

2005-09-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

Mr. Ernie Wickline (L),Chairman, Dunloup Creek Watershed Association receives Stream Partners Grant ($5K) from Mr.Alvan Gale, WV Dept of Environmental Protection. The presentation was made at the monthly meeting of Dunloup Creek Watershed on 19 September 2005 at the Historic McKell Bank Bldg on the campus of the New River Gorge National River facility in Glen Jean.

Newsletter #5

2005-08-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

TOWN HALL MEETING
DATE: 19 JANUARY 2006
LOCATION: REGIONAL ARMY NATL GUARD FACILITY in GLEN JEAN
TIME: 7:00 p.m.

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING A VOLUNTARY BUYOUT OPTION for HOMEOWNERS along DUNLOUP CREEK

DCWA has been extremely busy over the past 20 months and especially so in the months of October and November 2005. Our partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Morgantown has grown in trust and we are working together for the right solutions for flood control along Dunloup Creek and its affect upon our lives and property. NRCS will deliver the first draft of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in February 2006 and the final documents for implementation planning and solution costs in June 2006. DCWA will review the draft EIS and present our comments back to NRCS at our 20 March 2006 meeting at the Historic McKell Bank Bldg on the campus of the Natl Park Service in Glen Jean.

Dunloup Creek Watershed would like to take this opportunity through our “Newsletter” to thank some people and agencies who have been so supportive with positive advice and guidance over the past two months. We could not have moved this process along without the input from each and everyone or be in a position to hold our 19 Janurary 2006 meeting at such a fine facility as the Regional Army National Guard Facility in Glen Jean. Thanks.

- Southern Conservation District, Fayette County Supervisor – Alan Wickline
- Fayette County Commission, President – Matt Wender
- NRCS Pam Yost, Louis Aspey, Tim Ridley, Greg Stone, Tom Tamasco
- Regional Army Natl Guard Facility, Col. Ramon Lopez (Ret.); Major Chris Selvey
CALL TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND HOMEOWNERS:

IN

KILSYTH -- MT HOPE -- GLEN JEAN RED STAR – HARVEY –THURMOND

*************YOU MUST ATTEND****************

*************BECOME INFORMED***************

**********UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS**********

************VALUE YOUR PROPERTY************

---DUNLOUP CREEK WATERSHED LEADERSHIP--- HAS WORKED HARD FOR YEARS

NOW IS YOUR TIME TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT

BE THERE ON 19 JANUARY 2006

--POST THIS NOTICE ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR-- “FRONT DOOR”
DON’T FORGET THIS MEETING:
LOCATION – DATE -- TIME