McClure River Restoration Project

Contact Information

Background

The McClure River Restoration Project (MRRP) began in 2001 when local residents became concerned about the quality of their water and the health of their communities. The MRRP’s mission is to improve the lives of the watershed’s citizens by restoring and protecting the river and its surrounding environment. Since 2001, with help from its many partners the MRRP has helped install new septic systems, clean illegal dump sites, perform bacteria water monitoring, and educate local residents (in particular youth) about the environment. For the past six years MRRP volunteers annually donate approximately 700 hours of their time and energy.

• Located in the economically depressed coal region of southwest Virginia, the McClure River faces many challenges, most prominently E. coli contamination from failing or non-existent septic systems. Due to high poverty rates many people in the region cannot afford proper septic systems. Two communities along the McClure River were rated as the two most in need of decentralized sewage systems in southwest Virginia.
• Other problems facing the McClure River watersheds include sedimentation, illegal dumping, and AML/AMD related problems. High sedimentation rates are due primarily to steep mountain terrain, which is aggravated by “resource extraction” from coal mining, poor timber harvesting practices, and gas well access roads. Illegal dumping is another major problem in the watershed. Materials left from dumping often aggravate flooding problems in the area by clogging drainpipes. Unknown chemicals may also seep out of large dumpsites causing localized chemical pollution problems.

Goals and Accomplishments of the OSM/VISTA:

Through partnering with other organizations, agencies, and local schools the McClure River Restoration Project is addressing the serious problems listed above and working to meet the needs of our communities. The major goals and accomplishments of the OSM/VISTA include: coordinating monthly bacteria water monitoring within the watershed, assisting the organization with fundraising and grant writing, providing outdoor education to local residents/students, building capacity within the community to further remedy these environmental and human health problems.

• Bacteria water monitoring program: The MRRP’s monitoring program is certified through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The MRRP partners with three area high schools and the local Kiwanis Club to conduct monthly E. coli water monitoring at 20 sites within the McClure River watershed. Eight science teachers and over 100 high school students (ages 14-18) participate in the monitoring program giving local, rural students a chance to learn about the ecology of their backyards and a unique opportunity to make a difference using the science they conduct.
• Fundraising and Grant Writing: The OSM/VISTA assists the MRRP to continue receiving support from the local board of supervisors and local government. With the VISTA’s help the MRRP receives $10,000 annually from the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors. The VISTA also helps the group write one grant per quarter and assists local governments in receiving larger community block grants to address inadequate sewage systems.
• Education Outreach: The OSM/VISTA is very involved in education outreach throughout the year. In addition to the heavy involvement of local high schools in the MRRP’s bacteria monitoring program, the VISTA participates in various annual education programs including Kids In The Creek Day, Forestry Field Days, and the Virginia Environthon Program. The MRRP has partnered with various groups to write, fund, and publish a local watershed book targeted at area high school students.
• Capacity Building: The OSM/VISTA provides training opportunities to the MRRP volunteers and members. The VISTA recruits two MRRP members each year to attend ACCWT trainings focusing on fundraising, board development, and water monitoring. The VISTA also holds small workshops for volunteers on subjects such as data entry and website design/updating.

What the OSM/VISTA set out to do, how it is going about achieving those goals, and progress to date

There are many challenges to address both in the McClure and Pound River watersheds. With the support and energy of local residents and partners, the OSM/VISTA will tackle each problem head on.

• Although progress has been made regarding the McClure River there is still important work to be done. The OSM/VISTA for the McClure River focuses their efforts on removing remaining straight pipes and installing proper waste water systems in the McClure River watershed. The VISTA is also working to coordinate an oral history project with the local schools, interviewing McClure residents about their lives, in particular life in a mining community.
• Volunteers are key to the MRRP’s success. The OSM/VISTA will focus on engaging local residents in stream projects and creating a sense of ownership and stewardship toward their respective watersheds. Success in this area will come through working closely with local residents and creating strong relationships with the communities.

Grants and Donations:
Over the past 5 years the McClure River Restoration Project has received $460,000 in grant monies (not including many in kind services). In the first few years alone the group received over $360,000 for water quality improvement and educational materials. This includes a $79,000 water quality improvement grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Each year the MRRP receives approximately $40,000 of in-kind contributions from agencies, businesses, and individuals.

Number of volunteers and amount of hours worked:
On an average basis, volunteers put in at least 700 hours of service per year. During any one year, fifty to sixty volunteers are involved in the McClure Project in some form or another.

Partners

• McClure River Kiwanis Club
• Ervinton High School
• Haysi High School
• Council High School
• Pound River Watershed Coalition
• Lonesome Pine Soil and Water Conservation District
• Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District
• Dickenson County Litter Control
• Dickenson County Health Department
• Dickenson County Board of Supervisors
• Virginia Dept. of Mine, Minerals, and Energy
• Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
• Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality
• Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Forest Service (USDA)
• Office of Surface Mining (USDI)
• Black Diamond Resource Conservation and Development Inc.