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Upcoming
Events with ECRR
Cliffs American Chestnut
Project
Friday, March 26th,
2010. ECRR will be conducting the Cliffs American Chestnut
Project in Wyoming County. We intend to plant 9
acres of pre-regulatory mine land with a variety of hardwood trees
including 600 American Chestnut Hybrids! For details call 304-294-1005.
July 29th - August
1st. ECRR will be holding a summer training series at Concord
University. A wide variety of courses will be available from
Save Our Streams certified water monitoring to GIS mapping.
More details are forthcoming. Scholarships will be available
for members of watershed groups.
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Join Our
Mailing List!
Photo by Dvon Duncan. Wild turkeys. Wyoming
County, WV. March 2010.
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Water Being of the Week
The Kelpie is a
Scottish water demon found near moving waters. It is described as a
young, sleek, black or brown horse, though it is in fact an
amphibian. It also is reputed to have the ability to
shapeshift into human form. The Kelpie
is covered in a sticky glue-like substance. When it manages
to entice victims to ride it, the individual is stuck as the Kelpie rides
back into the water where it devours its rider.
There is only one
means of dispelling a Kelpie. Kelpies
can only survive in moving water and cannot tolerate
still water. Travelers are encouraged to carry a bottle
of puddle, rain, or tap water with them at all times while in Kelpie
territory.
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Kelpie
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ECRR Call fro Grant
Writing Instructor
Grant writing
instructor needed to present during the ECRR Summer
Practicum. Call for bids is available on the ECRR website at www.easterncoal.org
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News
Can Green Technology Propel Economic Development?
With states looking
to kick-start their economic engines, green technology is
increasingly viewed as the piston helping drive it. Full article here.
PA DEP Restores 750 Acres of Dangerous Abandoned Mine
Lands, Begins Construction on Two Major Mine Drainage Treatment
Plants
Pennsylvania's mine reclamation program made dramatic
progress in 2009 by reclaiming abandoned sites that threaten health
and safety and restoring streams poisoned by mine drainage,
according to Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. Among
the most significant achievements in the past year were contracts
the department issued to reclaim nearly nine miles of dangerous
highwalls and to break ground for a mine drainage treatment plant
that will restore life to more than 35 miles of the West Branch
Susquehanna River. Full article here.
How to Provide Relief to Rural Americans, Create Jobs,
and Lower Emissions ... all at once.
Most homeowners in the U.S. would come out ahead if
they invested in energy efficiency improvements -- new insulation,
sealed windows, more efficient boilers, and the like. So why don't
they do it? Simple: the upfront costs are steep and the paybacks
can take a long time. Many homeowners don't have access to the
capital to cover the costs, or they worry that they will move
before the the costs are repaid, thus leaving subsequent owners to
reap gains they didn't pay for. Full article here.
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Grants
Save America's Treasures Grant Program
Save America's
Treasures grants are available through the National Park Service
for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant
intellectual and cultural artifacts and nationally significant historic
structures and sites. Projects must meet the program Selection
Criteria.
Fiscal Year 2010 - Pollution Prevention Grant Program
Request for Proposals
The Pollution Prevention (P2) grant program supports
state and tribal technical assistance programs
which help businesses identify better environmental strategies and
solutions for reducing or
eliminating waste at the source. Full description here.
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Events
West Virginia Watershed Network 2010 Spring Meeting
May 5, 2010
Reymann Memorial Farm, Wardensville, WV
Registration Deadline: April 22, 2010
Come for sessions
on watershed restoration, conservation, agriculture practices, and
farm tours.
Global Health & Innovation Conference
Presented by Unite For Sight, 7th Annual Conference
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Saturday, April 17 - Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Global Health
& Innovation Conference convenes more than 2,200 students
and professionals from 55 countries who are interested in global
health and international development, public health, medicine,
social entrepreneurship, nonprofits, philanthropy, microfinance,
human rights, anthropology, health policy, advocacy, public
service, environmental health, and education.
2010 Ohio Stormwater Conference
June 10-11, 2010
Kalahari Resort Sandusky, Ohio
A Conference for Stormwater,Watershed, Water Quality,
and Water Resource Professionals.
Presented by:
Ohio Stormwater Association
Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners
Ohio
Woodland Stewards Program
The Ohio Woodland Stewards Program is offering 2, one
day workshops for those interested in learning more about
identifying and controlling a variety of invasive species.
Landowners are faced with a daunting task when it comes to invasive
species and the lands they manage.
2010 Sustainable Living Fair
April 16-17, the 2010 Sustainable Living Fair will be
on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in Elkins,
WV. Register to
attend any or all of the events.
2010 Fair Highlights: "A Sustainable Feast" Benefit
Dinner-held at Halliehurst mansion on the campus of Davis
& Elkins College; Evening Benefit Concert with
lively, local musicians; Booth Exhibits: Over 50 juried
booths, speakers, demonstrations, workshops, and organic food &
beverage vendors; Seminars on sustainable living
subjects; Juried Art Exhibit, "30 minutes or Less:
The Art of Sustainability", with wine & cheese reception.
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Resources
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Indentification Chart
The Missouri Stream
Team Program has recently developed a new chart for identifying the
benthic macroinvertebrates with line drawings on the back. It
can be found on their website.
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Sidelines...
Nanotech Yields New Way of Producing Electricity at
MIT
A moving pulse of
heat traveling along a nano-sized wire of carbon atoms can drive
electrons along, creating a powerful electrical current, a team of
scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced
on Sunday. They say the discovery that carbon nanotubes can produce
powerful electron waves demonstrates an entirely new way of
producing electricity. Full article here.
Plague Poses Widespread Risk to North American
Wildlife
Sylvatic plague - a close cousin of the dreaded
disease that killed one-third of all European residents in the six
years between 1347 and 1353 - persists in rodents in the American
West even when the disease does not erupt into epidemic form, new
research demonstrates. Full article here.
Foodborne Illness Costs U.S. $152 Billion Annually,
Landmark Report Estimates
A new study by a former U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) economist estimates the total economic impact
of foodborne illness across the nation to be a combined $152
billion annually.
Full article here.
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Bear
Tracking in Southern West Virginia
By Jenifer Garlesky
OSM/VISTA
Watershed Coordinator
Morris Creek Watershed Association
During the first
week of March I was able to participate in a black bear tracking
event with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WV
DNR). Since 2000 the WV DNR has been tracking black bears
throughout the state to monitor the bears' feeding patterns and
reproduction rate.
Tracking
I participated in two bear tracking events in Kanawha County. On
March 4, I went with DNR officials to Collins Branch in the Paint
Creek Watershed Area. The snow from the previous day caused us to
hike much farther than officials expected. We parked our vehicles
and trekked about a two miles up the mountain side in a foot of
snow. The mama bear was denned in a hollowed oak tree. Gary Sharp,
DNR wildlife biologist's tranquilized the bear, which takes
approximately 30 minutes for the drug to take affect. During this
time everyone waits patiently until she falls asleep. The
biologists then move her out of the den and retrieve her cubs. This
particular mama bear had three cubs, two girls and a boy weight in
at two pounds a piece. The cubs are weighed and then measured. The
cubs are then placed back in the den, the mama is placed back
inside and Vicks Vapor Rub is placed under her nose in order to
remove the scent of humans.
It was a surreal experience holding a baby bear cub for the first
time. The cubs' eyes were not fully open. Handlers had to hold the
cub away from the body in order to keep the human scent from
getting onto it. The cubs started to whelp for its mama; which made
you want to hold it close to you. The whole process took about less
than five minutes but the rush you got from the experience was
unbelievable. The ability to hold an animal at that stage in there
life was incredible.
After participating in the Paint Creek event, Sharp invited me to
participate in the bear tracking in Morris Creek on March 9. Since
I am the watershed coordinator there I accepted the invite
immediately. This event occurred on a bright sunny day. I was happy
that we didn't have to hike again in the snow. The mama bear was
denned in Possum Hollow a section of the Morris Creek Watershed
Area. We drove on an old gas well road to a clearing and then hiked
to the top of the ridge line. After a mile of hiking we reached her
den, an old root ball. She was tranquilized and the biologists
obtained her cubs. This particular bear had two cubs, a boy and a
girl weighing in at 5 pounds a piece. These cubs were much more
active than the previous set. The little ones were quite squirmish
when holding them. They twisted and turned in your hand, it was
just like holding a puppy, only except by the end of the summer the
cubs will grow to be over 100 pounds.
First Encounters
The Morris Creek Watershed area located in Fayette and Kanawha
counties has an abundance of black bears. I know this because I
have had several encounters with the animals since moving to
Montgomery.
When I was first offered the position as a watershed coordinator
for the Morris Creek Watershed Association my site supervisor Mike
King warned me about the bear population. He told me that I would
encounter several of them while working here and that I would be
able to participate in one of the DNR tracking event.
At first I did not believe him about the bears. Before returning to
West Virginia I lived in Western North Carolina, which is home to
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway,
Nantahala Gorge and Joyce Kilmer National Forest. These specific
natural areas are known for its rugged mountains and abundant
wildlife, especially its black bear population.
I lived in the Smokies for two years and I did not encounter one
bear. It wasn't until I moved to Montgomery West Virginia is where
I had my first black bear encounter.
I am an avid hiker and outdoorswoman. Working as a watershed
coordinator for the Morris Creek Watershed Association I am able to
venture outside and enjoy the wonderful rugged scenery and terrain
of the southern Appalachian mountains. I walk daily in 5,000 acres
that encompasses the Morris Creek Watershed area. One afternoon
while walking my dog, Gypsy Rose, I ran into a bear. Well I should
say, a bear ran into us, well he didn't run but he jumped.
The MCWA has four passive treatment systems in the watershed area.
The area surrounding the systems is heavily covered with the
invasive species Japanese Knotweed, which limits your visibility.
My dog Gypsy keep on looking into the woods but after a quick scan
of the area I did not see anything, that is until I hiked 100 yards
further. In the brush was a big black bear. When he saw my dog and
I approaching he jumped out onto the trail at us. I was taken aback
because I have never been approached by a bear and I was shocked at
how far the animal jumped.
I remember reading magazine and listening to hunting stories from
family friends to not run. I just turned around and started walking
back to my car. I was nervous that my dog would start barking at
the bear and aggravate it. Dogs and bears are natural enemies due
to that fact that hunters use them to track the bears. Luckily
enough my hound dog did not make a whimper or bark and we went home
safely.
Reflection
After participating in an event like this I have a deep
appreciation for the black bears that room throughout Appalachia.
The data that biologists collect from this study will help the
black bear population survive. Conservation efforts will be
developed in order to enhance or protect the area that these
animals call home. Also, my perception of the animals has
completely changed. I have never really had an encounter with a
black bear until last year. Efforts such as the WV black bear study
helps educate the public about the animal and that knowledge
will be passed down and taught to future generations about the
importance this particular animal plays in our ecosystem.
To view more pictures about the event visit www.morriscreekwatershed.org.
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