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OSM/VISTAs In Action

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Our Partners

Friends of Deckers Creek


Contact Information

OSM/VISTA: James Nutaitis
Supervisor: Sarah McClurg
Sponsoring Organization: Friends of Deckers Creek
Address: PO Box 877, Dellslow, WV 26531
Phone: 304.292.3970
Fax: 304.292.2452
E-Mail:jnutaiti@mix.wvu.ed (James); info@deckerscreek.org (Sarah)
Website: http://www.deckerscreek.org
U.S. Congressional Districts:
County:

Background:

Friends of Deckers Creek (FODC) is a nonprofit watershed association whose mission is to improve the natural qualities of, increase public concern for, and promote the enjoyment of the Deckers Creek watershed. Deckers Creek is a scenic tributary to the Monongahela River in north central West Virginia. From its headwaters outside the historic town of Arthurdale, Deckers Creek meanders through several communities to Morgantown, where it empties into the Monongahela River. Over the years the creek has suffered abuse. Acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines seeps into the creek. City collection pipes run under and through it, runoff from commercial and industrial facilities pollutes the water, and solid waste is dumped into and along the creek. All that is changing; however, as Friends of Deckers Creek works to revitalize the Deckers Creek watershed and to restore the creek to a viable aquatic habitat. Through our successes, residents are seeing the possibility of fishing and swimming in the creek once more. This is the first year that Friends of Deckers Creek has teamed up with AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA.

Goals and Accomplishments:

FODC’s OSM/VISTA volunteer works primarily on watershed research and project development and implementation, community education and outreach, grant-writing/capacity building and community revitalization. The specific ways in which the OSM/VISTA is achieving these goals, are listed below.

  • Watershed Research and Project Development/Implementation: Since beginning his term in August, OSM/VISTA James Nutaitis has lead numerous volunteers in the monitoring of acid mine drainage (AMD) points throughout the watershed, an activity which includes sampling water chemistry and collecting flow measurements. In addition to monitoring AMD James has also maintained the Clean Creek Program (CCP), leading volunteers to 13 sites throughout the watershed to collect water quality data. The data collected from this monitoring is vital to FODC, because of its importance in steering restoration projects. Due to need to track the water quality of Deckers Creek more frequently, James samples a site on Deckers Creek near the FODC office weekly. This data, which is posted on FODC’s webpage, allows the community to track the water quality on a more regular basis.
  • Community Education and Outreach: The OSM/VISTA has begun a program with the Boys and Girls Club of Morgantown with the help of his supervisor, Sarah. Meeting with these children of ages 10-12 we have begun to educate them about watershed and water quality and will eventually take them to Deckers Creek to do some hands on water sampling. James has also written multiple press releases and a letter to the editor which was printed in the Dominion Post. In addition to these activities, James has contributed to the organization of multiple public events and fundraisers such as Deckers Creek Adventure Day (DCAD), the FODC Holiday Social, and the Spring Meltdown.
  • Grant-writing/Capacity Building: The OSM/VISTA has successfully recruited and managed numerous volunteers to help with stream monitoring, DCAD, community education and outreach. He has written 4 grants, securing $13,200 and has successfully taken over, and is currently maintaining, the FODC membership database as well as its electronic mailing list database. Currently FODC has partnered with the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), and has received multiple volunteer service projects. James shares responsibility in monitoring, and assigning these volunteers to their service learning projects.
  • Community revitalization: The OSM/VISTA has organized a No Dumping Campaign along the Rt7/gorge section of Deckers Creek. With the help of 20 volunteers, more than 1 ton of trash and debris, and over 30 tires were removed, with the help of the WVDEP.

    • Partners and Contributors:

    • Morgantown Boys and Girls Club
    • West Virginia University
    • WVDEP
    • Friends of Cheat
    • MRTC
    • NRCCE
    • WVU American Fisheries Society
    • WVU Wildlife Society
    • Mountaineer Audubon Society
    • West Virginia Botanic Garden
    • Casa D' Amici
    • Adventures Edge
    • Budget Truck Rental
    • The Dominion Post
    • Outlaw Motor Sports
    • Tirelady's Rainbow Tire Services, Dave and Marilee Hall
    • CompuHigh
    • The Boston Beanery
    • Enterprise Rent-a-Car
    • East/West Printing
    • Morgantown Carpenters Local 604
    • The Spring Hill Suites, Morgantown Power Equipment
    • Shrout Excavating, Waterfront Place Hotel
    • Sheetz in Sabraton
    • Citizens Bank
    • Oliverio's
    • Stream Partners Program
    • Gibbie's Pub & Eatery
    • OSM
    • Blue Moose Café
    • Almost Heaven Desserts and Coffee Bar
    • Forks of the Cheat Winery
    • 123 Pleasant St
    • Black Bear Burritos