Lost Creek, WV — The Guardians of the West Fork Watershed are hosting their first-ever West Fork Watershed Day at Watters Smith State Park on October 12, 2024, from 10 AM to 4 PM. This event is open to everyone and will feature a variety of activities for both kids and adults.
Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a full day of fun. You can take a walk on the trails, visit the historic Watters Smith Farm Museum, or bring your mountain bikes to explore the park. If you can’t stay for the whole day, feel free to drop in for just a morning, afternoon, or a single activity.
One of the highlights will be creek walks led by staff from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. They will show participants how to test water quality, check for stream life like fish and insects, and explain how healthy streams benefit the environment. There will also be tours of the Duck Creek Mitigation Bank, a stream restoration project, where people can learn how to improve local creeks, prevent erosion, and create wildlife habitats.
For nature lovers, local experts, including Master Naturalists and bird watchers, will lead walks to explore birds, bugs, and plants around the park. There will also be nature crafts and games for kids, making it a fun day for all ages.
In addition to the activities, information tables will provide tips on things like maintaining healthy gardens, how watersheds work, and proper septic tank care. You can also learn about West Virginia programs like Adopt-A-Stream, WV Make It Shine, and how to report environmental concerns.
The event will introduce the Watershed Champions Program, which encourages residents to take simple steps to improve water quality at home. People who participate will be recognized for their efforts to protect the environment in their own yards and gardens.
Lisa deGruyter, President of the Guardians of the West Fork Watershed, hopes the event will inspire people to learn more about how watersheds affect everyone’s daily life. “We want people to understand that keeping our watershed clean helps everyone, and this event is a fun way to get involved,” she said. “We hope families come out to learn, enjoy the park, and find ways they can make a difference.”
Watersheds are important because they collect water from rainfall and snow, which eventually flows into rivers, lakes, and even our drinking water supplies. In the West Fork River Watershed, some of the main problems are pollution from sewage, dirt roads, farms, and abandoned mines, which can affect both wildlife and humans.
The Guardians of the West Fork have been working to protect the area since 1997. They have organized projects to clean up local waterways, such as efforts to address abandoned mine drainage, and have also created events like the Float the Fork paddle, which encourages people to explore the river.
For more details, visit guardiansofthewestfork.org or contact Lisa deGruyter at 304-931-4895.