New River Conservancy 2019 Annual Report

“Any river is really a summation of the whole valley. To think of it as nothing but water is to ignore the greater part.

— Hal Borland “

Annual Report 2019

Lovers of the New River, We extend our best wishes and concerns to all in this time of uncertainty. We hope that you are healthy, safe, and finding new and creative ways to spend time in a world of distancing.

No one misses being out on the New River with you more than us! We’ve had to cancel many events, paddle trips, and

George Santucci President, New River Conservancy

river cleanups. But, NRC remains fully committed to doing whatever we have to do to navigate safely through this pandemic storm.

While our staff is currently working remotely, they are working. They’re working on multiple river restoration and land acquisition projects. They’re carefully and safely venturing out to steward conservation easements, to visit new project sites, and to do private river cleanups. Volunteer monitors continue the solitary work of collecting and recording water quality samples. Our contractors are out surveying sites, engineering projects, applying for permits, and implementing and planting. Most importantly, we’re planning for the time when we can all get out together and enjoy our beautiful New River!

The future is bright. Recently, we received a grant that will greatly expand our river restoration work in VA. Another grant will support and expand our water quality improvement efforts in the New River Gorge of WV. And yet another, that will allow us to begin riverbank restoration on Elk Shoals.

The work of protecting the New River is not ceasing; it’s merely going through an adjustment, and we intend to execute that work as fully as ever. We are in this together, and all of what we do, going forward, will reflect that commitment.

Stay safe.

Stay well.

Stay in-touch.

For the River!

Land Protection Since 1993 NRC has protected nearly 9,500 acres of land and over 60 miles of rivers and streams throughout the watershed through land conservation, permanent sustainable management plans and river and stream restoration. In the last decade alone, NRC completed 22 projects protecting over 1800 acres including the Sizemore property in VA, Greenbrier Cliffs in WV, and Elk Shoals, in NC.

Meet Ben Burrows, NRC’s Stewardship Coordinator. Ben monitors each individual easement the New River Conservancy protects to make sure the owners of the property are following the guidelines agreed to by the New River Conservancy and property owners.

2019 Land Protection Expenses: $393,117 10%

90%

n Projects n Stewardship

MEET BEN!

Protecting the Land Through the Decade Project: The Sizemore Property, VA Year: 2011 Acres: 204 This project connected the existing easement to the Jefferson National Forest, enhanced the protection of the Cascades National Trailhead, and protected an additional 1,000 feet of Little Stony Creek. Unfortunately all this great work has been threatened by the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Project: Greenbrier Cliff, WV Year: 2016 Acres: Two properties totaling 350.56 acres This project protected the viewshed from the Greenbrier River, the Greenbrier River Trail, and the Spice Run Wilderness. The success of the project depended on major contributions in time and resources from Greenbrier River Land Trust, WV Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, WV Land Trust, and WVU Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic.

Protecting the Land Through the Decade Project: Elk Shoals, NC Year: 2018 Acres: 269 acres and 15,840 feet of river This project is now managed and protected by New River State Park.

Now the most upstream access of the New River State Park, Elk Shoals is also home to the largest population of Virginia Spiraea on the South Fork of the New River.

“Choosing to save a river is more often an act of passion than of careful calculation.

You make the choice because the river has touched your life in an intimate and irreversible way, because you are unwilling to accept its loss.

— David Bolling, How to Save a River: Handbook for Citizen Action “

Restoration As part of our effort to protect the woodlands and wildlife of the watershed, NRC has had the opportunities to work with private landowners, public land managers, government agencies, nonprofits and other watershed groups for riparian restoration projects.

Meet Chelsea Blount: Chelsea joined NRC in the summer of 2014 as an intern for the River Builder Program.

Now she manages the River Builder Program, larger stream restoration projects, and coordinates our River Cleanup programs throughout the watershed.

2019 Restoration Expenses: $259,556 15% 17%

MEET CHELSEA!

68%

n Planning n River Builder n Restoration

River Builder through the Decade River Builder is NRC’s riparian restoration and enhancement program. It aims to restore native vegetated buffers throughout the entire New River Watershed by offering free consultation, riparian restoration, and educational workshops for landowners.

In the last decade, River Builder reached several milestones:

planted

229,598

hit its

100

mile mark in 2017

native shrubs and trees

36.13 miles

restored of stream buffer in the last decade alone

celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019

“ If it’s life you’re after — real life, the history of life, the ebb of life, the flow of life — the river is the place.”

—­Henry David Thoreau

River Builder Through the Decade 2010 Mrs. Petsy Mezey River Builder planted 500 feet on the Mezey property in Ashe County in 2010 and later in 2019 Mrs. Mezey donated the 66-acre property complete with a waterfall back to NRC.

2015 David and Pat Jones David and Pat Jones privately funded a full restoration of 900 feet along their section of Helton Creek in Ashe County, NC. In 2018, David and Pat were

BEFORE

awarded the Lynn Caldwell Restoration Award for their dedication to restoring Helton Creek AFTER

2018 Naked Creek In 2018, NRC completed a restoration of 4,800 feet of Naked Creek in Ashe County, NC. Naked Creek was

BEFORE

transformed from an impaired stream to vibrant, native habitat owned and looked after by New River State Park!

AFTER

River Cleanups NRC coordinates dozens of river cleanups each year. From the headwaters in Blowing Rock, NC to the whitewater in the New River Gorge, WV, NRC has a network of partners and volunteers that work together to keep the New River clean and safe for all those who live, work, and play in our watershed.

In the last decade, NRC and its partners have:

collected

310,135

Removed

pounds of trash

Leveraged

8,988 5,146 volunteers tires

2019 River Cleanups Expenses: $35,842

27%

73%

n Private Funding n Government Contract

“ Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

River Rats of West Virginia Some of our most consistent partners throughout this decade have been our raft guide friends in West Virginia whose skill and experience allow them to clean up areas in the New River Gorge that aren’t as accessible for less experienced volunteers. These talented gals and guys give it their all every season, rain or shine, and

New River Conservancy would like to say thank you!

River Cleanups Through the Decade 2010 New River Conservancy partnered with Radford University Environmental Club for an international day of climate action.

2014 Our biggest trash haul of the decade collecting 56,340 pounds of trash!

2015 Mountain Alliance, regular River Cleanup participants, show their finds from Mud Sweat and Volunteers.

2019 NRC and Generation New River Gorge pulled in 196 tires and over 1,000 pounds of trash.

Water Quality Through the Decade At the core of our mission is protecting the waters of the New River Watershed. Since 2008 we have relied on our volunteer river warriors for our water quality monitoring efforts, through our new New River Water Watchers program. In 2018 the North Carolina Data Hub was created through a collaborative effort to connect aquatic monitoring efforts across the state in order to better understand the condition of North Carolina’s waters and to maintain and improve them.

Meet Suzanne Joyner, our Water Quality Coordinator. Suzanne has been monitoring her own stream, Big Horse Creek, since 2002. As Water Quality Coordinator. Suzanne trains all of our water quality monitors and collects their data for quality assurance. Suzanne also assists in NCADH workshops.

2019 Water Quality Expenses: $112,440 1% 23%

56%

20%

n NR Symposium n NRWW n NCADH n NRCWA

MEET SUZANNE!

Water Watchers New River Water Watchers, our volunteer citizen science program, began in 2008.

In North Carolina, Scot Pope and Harry Galer (see Harry pictured below) have been faithfully submitting river monitoring data sheets for nearly a decade, with both monitors continuing their work to this day.

Established in 2018, the North Carolina Data Hub was formed out of a partnership based on a desire to better understand the condition of North Carolina’s waters and to maintain and improve them.

NRC and its partners: Created a comprehensive database to enter, store and upload their water quality data to state and federal agencies.

hosted

6

workshops

trained

75 participants in the methods used to monitor North Carolina

A Decade of Dedicated Supporters These River Warriors have given every year from 2010-2019: Michael and Catherine Aiken Chip and Judy Anderson Jo Ann Arey Aubrey Arrington John and Anne Barry BB&T Charitable Foundation Mary Lou Bednosky Carol Broderson Rodney and Martha Brown Anne Caraway Ida Maude and Alison Huskey Collins Arthur and Jean Cooper Alexander Davison Patricia Divine Philip D’Jernes Joseph and Eileen Elrod Alton Franklin and Carolyn Sakowski Robert Franklin and Cheryl Roberts Barbara and Mike Gardner Laura and James Green Hardin and Janet Halsey Jonathan Halsey Donald and Vonda Hart Tom and Patricia Hearron Pamela Hoffman Laurie Holloway Thomas and Miriam Ash-Jones Henry and Dyeann Jordan Robert and Jane Lassiter Dixie and Mimi Leonard

Miriam Lovett Tom and Vicki Lumpkin John MacConnell Mast General Store Larry and Sandra McGee Petsy Mezey Don and Sandra Mikush Richard and Mary Lou Moore Joseph and Sharon Murphy Bruno and Anna Niemitz George Ohrstrom Drew and Sally Overpeck Annie Pardue Richard and Nancy Pardue Mary Louise Powell Phillip and Karen Rea Wade and Kathy Reece Terrence and Nancy Reigel Dav (William) and Eliza Robertson Richard and Joyce Rouse George Santucci and Annette Bednosky Joseph and Linda Slade James Smoak Sue Taylor Arlene Edwards Thompson James and Pamela Groben Tomberg Jim and Alicia Toomey Roger Winsor Linda Yarnell Anna and Bill Parker Ziegler

Over the last decade, your donations have leveraged almost $10 million dollars in grants from foundations and government sources.

2019 Supporters National River Society ($2,500+) John and Betty Allison Chip and Judy Anderson Bill and Laura Barrier Rufus and Linda Edmisten Charlotte Hanes Larry and Sandra McGee Annie Pardue Richard and Nancy Pardue American Heritage River Society ($1,000 - $2,499) Rick and Kim Ehrhart John and Kelly Gilmore Andrew and Pam Guion Katherine Higgins Cindy Hintz David and Patricia Jones Henry and Dyeann Jordan Dale and Linda Kerns Robert and Miriam Lovett John MacConnell Judy Morton James G. and Mary Lily Nuckolls Michael and Elizabeth O’Connor George Santucci and Annette Bednosky Bill and Judy Scurry Thomas Statnick Henry and Nancy Unger Laura Walters and Jeff Arnold Wild and Scenic River Society ($500 - $999) Judson Blevins Laura and Ben Burrows Dee and Joel Carter Carolyn Coram John and Grace Curry Robert Elliot and Suzanne Reynolds Barbara and Mike Gardner

Gary and Bobbi Geiger George and Rebecca Gilbert Christopher and Jane Glass Laura and James Green Mike Horn and Fanny Stronach Peter and Patricia Huber John F. and Stephanie Anderson Mitchell Family Fund Charles and Shannon Johnson Robert and Jeryl Jones Fred and Clare Jordan Robert and Jolyn Kelley Harold and Delores Mick Don and Sandra Mikush Joseph and Sharon Murphy Drew and Sally Overpeck Richard and Joyce Rouse Charlene and George Santucci Joseph and Linda Slade Lillian and Nicholas Sutcliffe Jeff and Carol Thompson Paul and Jan Wiles Outstanding Resource Water Society ($300 - $499) Paul Angermeier Denoe Ashby Bernard and Sandy Barrett Bill and Jan Blackburn Doug and Martha Cutler Blackford Hanes and Lida Boren Ken Carlson Patricia Divine Donald and Vonda Hart Andrew Kilby Robert and Jane Lassiter Roger and Wanda Mathis Terrence and Nancy Reigel Deborah and Gary Sizemore Andrew and Amanda Slade Kenneth Walker

Candy Darters ($150 - $299) Michael and Catherine Aiken Lex and Ann Alexander Kim Andreaus Anne and Alex Bernhardt Mary Lou Bednosky Julia Bishop Monnie and Frederick Blesse Lawrence and Priscilla Blood Karen Bobbitt Eugene Carver and Ann Green Kiersten Clingersmith Concerned Citizens of Giles County LLC Faison Covington David and Darlene Cunningham Ellen and Steven Darden James and Laura Dejuneas John and Cynthia Dixon Roy and Maryl Elmore Karen and Bill Fioramonti Hardin and Janet Halsey Jonathan Halsey Donald and Mary Hart Alan and Gloria Heath Cheryl Heisey and Martin Rogers Pamela Hoffman John Griffith and Alix Johnson Byron and Nancy Jordan Mike and Margaret Jordan Arnold and Rebecca Lakey Reed Lawson Bonnie and Gregg Marland Chris Nielson and Marcia Borden George Ohrstrom Polly Padgette Kate and Jim Parks Sarah and Dean Phillips Mary Louise Powell Pen Sandridge Llyn Sharp and Bob Miller Michael Spidel

2019 Supporters The White Water Women of VA Tech James Tomberg and Pamela Groben Roger Winsor Jerry Withrow and Marcella McIntyre Robert (Bob) and Joy Witman Ellen and Jackie Woodyard New River Shiners ($50 - $149) Aetna Foundation C. Spears and Joyce Alexander Julie S Alexander Chris Almerini Michael and Helen Ruth Almond Jo Ann Arey Alex and Gillian Arnold Kimberly Arnold Aubrey Arrington Julia Atwell Ellis and Barbara Aycock Matt Bales John and Anne Barry Nancy and Paul Bartlett Patricia Beaver and Bob White Joseph and Nancy Bell Richard and Nancy Belton Jim and Karen Blaylock Joe Ray and Margaret Blevins Gregory Bonetti Francis and Kay Borkowski David and Annette Brinson Peter Brisbane Carol Broderson Ezra and Tommie Brown Judi Brown Marty Brown-Posten Rodney and Martha Brown Harry Bunch Richard and Patricia Burgess Richard and Brooke Burr Philip Calland

Robert and Vickie Cannon Tom and Caryle Carr Bill and Frances Casey Lawrence and Jean Caviness Kathryn and John Chefas Bill and Kathy Cissna Elizabeth Clark Roger Clark Rosemary Claudy William and Anna Rivola-Clay Claytor Lake Water Sports LeVonda and Bernard Clouse Austin and Tay Coan Becky and Bill Cobb Robin Cochran Margaret Cogswell Catherine Cole Robert and Barbara Collier Ida Maude Collins and Alison Huskey Conrad Brother’s Marina Contentment on the Cove Bed & Breakfast Arthur and Jean Cooper Mary Lee Cooper John and Lucy Copeland William and Stephanie Cornett Claire and Walter Corta Lonnie and Carol Coulter MP Craft Edith Crutcher Brian and Kathy Crutchfield Mary Dail Patricia W. Davidson Maggie Davis Walter and Jane Davis Alexander Davison Devils Backbone Brewing Company Joe Don and Pam Dickenson Ruth Dickenson Paula Dinnerstein Jerry and Martha Dodson

Melanie Dragan Ian and Jane Dunbar Paul and Jeanne Dunn Misty Dyke Carol Dynesius Paula Eargle David and Jamie Earnhardt Jane Edwards Joseph and Eileen Elrod Laura England and Michael Madritch Mary Evans William and Gisela Feild Elizabeth Fenwick Stephen Flohr Alton Franklin and Carolyn Sakowski Robert Franklin and Cheryl Roberts Earl and Jennie Frick Allen and Camilla Schupp Frick Katherine Friedl Scott Frye and Monica Hoffner Carl Galie Elizabeth Gamble and Peter Lichstein Joseph Gillis and Silvia Lizama Lucinda Glover Andrew Ryan and Toby B Golds Justin Golds Russell Golds Frances and Don Goodhart Robert and Shirley Graham Jeff Grass Amanda B. Gray Richard and Mary Gray David and Sheryl Green Joel and Kelly Greene Thomas and Susan Griffis Sandra Gutcher Kerren Hall Susan and Kyle Hall

2019 Supporters Melinda Hamrick James and Jane Hanes Mona Hanlin Tom Hansell and Sarah Carmichael Gary Harmon R Norman and Nancy Harris William Hawkins Tom and Patricia Hearron Margaret and Terry Henderson Phil Hendrix Sherry Hill Henry and Jill Hobson John and Dianne Holdsworth Karen Hollifield Laurie Holloway Bill and Shirley Humbert Brian Hyder Robert and Kathryn Hykes Geno and Karen Iannaccone G Dan Jarvis David Jenkins Peter Johnson Phillip and Carolyn Johnson Steven and Cathy Johnson Thomas and Charlene Johnson Gentry Jones Meredith Jones Scott and Mary Jones Thomas and Miriam Ash-Jones Warren and Susan Jones Ron and Suzanne Joyner Tom and Sharon Kasel Tom Keith Rita and Tim Kesler Joyce Thompson Kilby William Kohn Jonathan and Anne Kotch Bill Kreutzberger Kevin Kurtz Chris and Pegge Laine Richard and Amelia Lane

Dennis and Laura Lawson Bonnie LeGrand Dixie and Mimi Leonard Suzie and Randy Leslie John D and Mary Love Elizabeth and John Lovett Heather Lukacs Tom and Vicki Lumpkin Mike and Kari Lusk Arthur and Joan Mackey Larry Mallett Betsy Maloney Joy Marr Teresa Marshall Becky and Kent Marsten James Mashburn and Ken Frazelle Patricia Mauldin Charlie and Nancy Maus Sue Osborne McBride Susan and Kevin McCarter Bob and Susan McClanahan Lynn and Jim McClary Robert and Kathleen McCloskey D. Keith McKenzie John and Connie McLendon Donald and Rebecca McLeod Lee McMillan Parham McNair James and Ruth Mead Susan Meredith David Lee Miller Edgar Miller Rob Mitchell Richard and Mary Lou Moore Randolph and Christine Morrison Stephen and Jane Motsinger Joy Murray Shannon Nelson Scott and Colette Nester Alan and Cathy Nichols Robert Nichols and Marilyn Butler

Robert Nicholson David and Susan Nickell Bruno and Anna Niemitz Beth Obenshain and Fred Carlisle James and Melinda Ogburn Don and Claire Olander Rodney L. Pace and Louise S. Law Bob Pearson Bill and Carol Perdue Mike and Kathy Phillips Piney Creek Watershed Association Jean and Ron Pudlo Michael and Karen K. Ratcliffe Mary Anne Redding and Roger Atkins Wade and Kathy Reece Lynn and Hugh Rees-Jones Nancy Reynolds Larry and Martha Rhodes Ann Roach Dav (William) and Eliza Robertson Rick and Liza Roth Nora Rudd Ingrid and Gary Ruppalt Rebecca Saunders and William Kennedy Benjamin and Ann Seagle Allen and Pirjo Seaman Melanie Seiler Lillian Sharp Karen Sheets Bob Shepherd Kathleen and Rocky Shiplett Alex Shuford Daryl Siefert Joanne and James Smith James Smoak Beth and Ralph Sorrell Sue and Bill Stiles Trenton Stover

2019 Supporters Bill Stroupe Claudia and Warren Stutzman Brooke Suiter Jackie Maurice and Pamela Thomas Arlene Edwards Thompson James and Linda Todd Bill and Jane Tucker Ruel and David Tyson Melissa and Joseph Van Wey Virginia Vanstory Fannie Watson and Virginia Dodd Joel and June Weaver Patrick and Niki Weir Dewey Wells Charlotte and Charles R White Connie and Frank White William and Marilyn Wood Helen Williams and Shari Zehr Paul and Jean Wilson Rebecca Witko David and Carolyn Womble Laura Yaeger Margaretta Yarborough Linda Yarnell Max and Catherine Yates Mary and Jerry Young Philip and Becca White Young Anna and Bill Parker Ziegler Carl Zipper Kanawha Minnows ($1 - $49) W. Roger Angles Zach Armentrout Leigh Ashby Dottie Atkins-Neikir Jay and Pat Baskette Lee and Colleen Beauchesne Clyde Beck Emilie Booker T and Lindley Butler

Anne Caraway Lee and Smadar Chaffee Martha Chapman Doris Church James Clay R. Kelly Coffey Virginia Cox Joan Croteau Philip D’Jernes Duane and Pratt Davis Jennifer Dotson Charles Drum Ted Fillette and Ellen Holliday Beverly Fleming Tom Ford Nicholas Frankel Christine and Joe Franklin Friends of Claytor Lake, Inc. Friends of Peak Creek Kevin Gillies Wesley and Jessica Golds Mary Lou Green Robert Green Dallas and Margaret Greer Barbara Guthrie Sidney Harmon Lee and Sherry Herbert Marcia Herman-Giddens and Doug Berg David and Sherry Hoffman Jen and Tim Houck Romer Howell Richard and Pattie Huffman Roy and Irby Hutchins Paul Hutchinson Missy Jacobs Jeremiah Johnson Kathryn Kellet Joe Kennedy Richard and Glenda Lance Michael and Barbara Linker Jack and Eva Lynch Debora Mauserqe Jacquelin McDonald James and Kerry Mcgrath

Dick and Betty McPhatter Rob and Harriet Meinecke Lumini Merced Glenn Miller Carol Moody Crystal Mueller William Mullis Network for Good Frances O’Banion Mildred Overman Paypal Giving Fund Dana Powell Elizabeth and Jason Powers Phillip and Karen Rea Ruth Renfro David and Diane Reynolds Brad and Gwen Rich Summer Rich Gary and Diane Roark Harold and Martha Robertson Tim and Emily Roland Debra Sain-Bissette Sharyn P House Shaw Larry Skipper Lee Stephens Janice Stoudemire Sue Taylor Steven and Barbara Tedder Brittney Tessar Mike Tibbs Jim and Alicia Toomey Jeffrey Turner and Kathy Gorton Shelda Upchurch Valencia Van Orsdel Justin and Rebecca Wells Sally Wieringa Kay Wilson Phil and Alice Wilson Doug and Linda Worsham Thomas and Cynthia Worth

Financials 2019 Expenses: $867,226 4% 4%

n Administration n Fundraising n Program 92%

2019 Program Expenses: $800,957 5%

2019 Revenue: $827,795 7%

14% 26%

49%

32%

60% 7%

n Water Quality n Restoration n Land Protection n Cleanups

n Individual/Corporate n Foundation n Government n Fee for Service

Contact Info: New River Conservancy 1 North Jefferson Avenue, Suite D West Jefferson, NC 28694

Mailing Address: PO Office Box 1480 West Jefferson, NC 28694

Phone: (336) 846-6267 Fax: (336) 846-6433 Email: info@newriverconservancy.org web: newriverconservancy.org