Should the Mountain Valley Pipeline Get an Extension
By John McFerrin The developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline have asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for an extension of its deadline to complete the project. A collection of groups, including the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, is opposing the extension. A little background The Mountain Valley Pipeline is a proposed—and partially built—natural gas pipeline [...]
July has been a very active month at the Conservancy as you will see in many of the articles in this month’s Highlands Voice and the efforts of all involved to get the job done are greatly appreciated. Old Growth Forests Executive Order As mentioned last month, the Executive Order signed by the President and aimed [...]
Candy Darter/Hellbender Snorkeling Outing Successe
By Cory Chase After a couple years of hibernation, the Conservancy’s outings program has been emerging back into the hills and hollers of the Highlands. Our outings program had an exciting re-launch this year with a Candy Darter/Hellbender Snorkeling Outing on the Greenbrier River. (See our recap video on Facebook) Upcoming outings—including our annual Fall [...]
Each year the Fall Review allows us time to look at one topic in a little more depth, and to hear speakers we don’t otherwise get to hear from. This year’s Fall Review is October 14th – 16th at North Bend State Park. We hope that many of you will join us. So, why talk about energy at the [...]
(Details on our Events Page): Watoga Old-Growth Forest Exploration August 7, 1-4PM at Watoga State Park: Explore a stand of old-growth forest with ecologist/naturalist Doug Wood. Meet at Ann Bailey Overlook Trailhead.Mushroom Meander (Already Full…Sorry!) August 28, 10AM-12PM at Canaan Valley Resort: mushroom hike with Kristen Wickert, professional entomologist, botanist and plant pathologist who also has [...]
Blue Hydrogen: Yuck! Dear Editor, I wish to commend you on the excellent piece by Sean O’Leary on blue hydrogen and the effort to have us all subsidize the building of a hydrogen hub in the Ohio River Valley. I’d like to add a couple of points, mostly from a Zoom I watched yesterday through [...]
Forest Service Says Sedimentation Is from Natural Causes, not Its Management
By Rick Webb On January 3, 2022, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy filed an objection to the pending approval of the Greenbrier Southeast (GSE) project, a Monongahela National Forest (MNF) project involving timber harvest and related roads in the East Fork of the Greenbrier River watershed (see The Highlands Voice, March 2022). On March 18, 2022, [...]
Now Hiring: Communications Director
The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy is the oldest conservation organization in West Virginia. Since 1967 we have worked to fulfill our mission of the conservation and appreciation of the natural resources of West Virginia. During that time, our primary tool for communicating with our members and the public has been our monthly publication, The Highlands Voice. [...]
By John McFerrin Treasurer Bob Marshall presented the financial information for the first half of 2022. Our revenue for memberships is down a little bit but that might be a result of the transition in the Membership and Fulfillment Secretary position. For a short time in the late spring the renewal notices, etc. were not going out [...]
WV Nonprofit’s Legal Challenge Produces Positive Precedent
By: Lynn Delles (Director of Strategic Communication, Jefferson County Foundation, Inc.) Advocacy organizations in West Virginia will want to review the recent opinion issued by West Virginia’s highest court in Jefferson County Foundation, Inc. v. West Virginia Economic Development Authority. In its June 8 opinion the Supreme Court of Appeals addressed the issue of standing and [...]
