install seven highway signs throughout Morgan County identifying the watershed and encouraging conservation.
- SCWA partners with the EPCD yearly at the Apple Butter Festival and the Morgan County Fair on "Conservation Alley". This is an outreach program that identifies local conservation efforts through a series of educational displays.
- The EPCD has sponsored and participated in multiple trash clean up events.
- Barbara Keech was the first prize recipient of the EPCD's photo contest award. Her photo portraying Sleepy Creek also received honorable mention at the national NACD Photo Contest.
- The EPCD recently participated in a WHIP riparian buffer planting on the Fould's Farm in Morgan County. Gale Fould's is the current President of the SCWA.
Conservation Alley at the Berkeley Springs Apple Butter Festival..
2. List partnerships the watershed group has formed with community, agencies, businesses, etc. (20 points maximum)
Partnering with local, state and federal conservation entities has proven to be an effective method of building a sustainable organization with a holistic approach to watershed management.
The EPCD has provided organizational, technical and financial assistance to the SCWA (see above).
The West Virginia Conservation Agency has provided support in the form of technical and organizational support. The Agency has provided staff to assist in the successful development of a Stream Partners Grant.
USDA NRCS and RC&D has provided technical and administrative support including the assistance in gaining non profit status and implementation of various conservation programs throughout the watershed.
The Blue Heron Environmental Network has been instrumental in building a strong community outreach/educational program.
Friends of the Cacapon served as a mentoring/sister association in the early stages of formation and continues to partner on ongoing projects.
Cannan Valley Institute has provided organizational support and the opportunity for financial assistance with their mini-grant program.
The Morgan County DOH is currently partnering with the watershed association to erect roadside signs identifying the watershed and promoting conservation.
Shepherd College's Science Program is assisting with the development of a watershed management plan and the identification of a summer intern to carry out the data collection process.
Local 4-H groups have participated in trash cleanups and SOS monitoring programs.
WV Department of Environmental Protection has provided the association with a $5,000 Stream Partners Grant and staff to assist in the benthic monitoring program.
The local community has supported the association at local fairs and festivals on a yearly basis.
The Foxglove Garden Club partners with the SCWA on beautification projects.
3. State the watershed group's purpose/mission. (10 points maximum)
To protect and preserve Sleepy Creek and its watershed and to educate the community on the value of this precious natural resource in Morgan County, WV.
Conservationist monitoring Sleepy Creek during the summer of 2002
4. Does the watershed group have a current annual plan? (10 points)
_X______ yes _______no
5. State the watershed group's long range goals related to resource issues. (10 points maximum)
The vision of the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association is to inventory resource concerns and investigate other potential issues that could potentially impact the Sleepy Creek Watershed in a negative manner. We envision our association increasing the public's awareness and fostering the next generation's interest in a holistic approach to watershed management, stressing the importance of clean water.
Long-term Goals
- Maintain a sustainable organization
- Utilize watershed assessment to develop a stronger watershed management plan and attract funding for future funding to mitigate resource concerns
- Educate local community and stakeholders on the wide array of environmental issues our watershed is facing
- To continue monitoring until we have a near complete, holistic picture of our watershed's health
- Restore, upgrade and maintain our watershed
- To create and maintain a stream that is a source of pride within our community
The SCWA understands that these long-term goals will be a challenge and will not be accomplished overnight. But by initiating and understanding the watershed assessment, they will be able to focus our efforts where needed and use this as a tool to educate and garner interest within the community.
6. List the watershed group's accomplishments. (40 points maximum)
Sleepy Creek Watershed Association has been in existence for a reasonably short period of time but their accomplishments are significant and numerous.
- The actual accomplishment of developing and organizing a sustainable, comprehensive association is a feat in itself. Sleepy Creek Watershed Association has approximately 45 members who are building contractors, organic farmers, retired military officers, avid trout fishermen, professional photographers, schoolteachers, inventors, landscape designers, retired journalists, and college professors. Most are local landowners, many of whom own property encompassing Sleepy Creek. We are made up of both natives and newcomers to the watershed. Many of our members are recent retirees who have both the interest and time to keep Morgan County rural with Sleepy Creek viable.
- SCWA has published a member newsletter several times a year to keep members informed of ongoing activities.
- SCWA has organized yearly stream cleanups in all areas of Morgan County.
- The organization has joined with other conservation organizations at the yearly Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs to present an "environmental alley" of conservation programs and activities throughout Morgan County. The Sleepy Creek Watershed Organization has set up a booth at the Morgan County Fair during the summers of 2000 and 2001, both to support the local 4-H program and to highlight the activities of the watershed group.
- SCWA has established a stream monitoring program with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Save Our Streams Program and has held multiple monitoring workshops.
- SCWA was the successful recipient of a $5,000 Stream Partners Grant to begin a new watershed assessment project.
- Published multiple newspaper articles highlighting activities and events the association promotes.
- Successful acquisition of funding to install watershed identification signs.
7. List the group's education outreach activities. (20 points maximum)
Education and outreach play a vital role in the mission and sustainability of SCWA. The association continues to provide the community with an intensive outreach program by educating stakeholders on issues that have been identified as resource concerns.
- Projected partnering with the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District to co-host a contractors workshop familiarizing the industry with proper management practices, recent technological advances in stabilization and environmental impacts.
- Numerous stream monitoring workshops have been held and are scheduled for future dates to attract the interest of citizens and educate on the process of defining a healthy stream.
- Seven roadside signs are being installed throughout the county identifying watershed boundaries and Sleepy Creek.
- During community festivals the SCWA partners with the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District in providing visual learning tools, specifically the Enviroscape, to the youth. The association uses the opportunity of community networking to enlist new membership.
- Two stream cleanups were recently held collecting solid waste and litter around and under the Sleepy Creek Bridge and Mountain Run Bridge. This is a collaboration of the West Virginia Make It Shine Program.
- The SCWA will continue to publish and distribute a quarterly newsletter to members and interested parties, currently numbering eighty. This acts as a tool to encourage community involvement, update ongoing projects and provide environmental "helpful hints".
- SBWA will be cooperating with Shepherd College and nearby higher education institutes with environmental departments to identify candidates for the assessment contractor. Once the contractor has completed the initial assessment, SCWA will be cooperating with Canaan Valley Institute to compile a comprehensive overview of the watershed. This document will be shared with local, state and federal entities to garner interest in additional support and address the identified resource issues. The organization envisions this document as an important tool to enlighten local, state, and federal officials and community leaders on the importance of maintaining Sleepy Creek as a healthy and vital watershed for the benefit of economic and environmental development.
8. Number of active members. (5 points maximum- minimum of 10 active members to receive the maximum 5 points)
Sleepy Creek Watershed Association boasts a strong membership of forty-five citizens.
9. State the trainings the watershed group has attended/or conducted by partners or agencies to improve their understanding of resource issues. ( 15 points maximum)
- Hosted four SOS workshops in cooperation with WVDEP for establishment of a stream monitoring program.
- Hosted several trash cleanups within the watershed involving and educating the local community.
- SCWA plays an active part in the development of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. Members meet monthly with the Bay committee.
- SCWA members participated in WHIP riparian planting in cooperation with the EPCD and USDA NRCS.
Conservation District Watershed Association
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