Looking for a unique Valentine gift that also gives back to the New River watershed? The New River Conservancy is hosting its first ever “Hellbender Adopt-a-thon” to benefit the New River. The Valentine’s gift is a crocheted hellbender, hand-made in Ashe County, NC. These adorable and cuddly versions of the giant salamander are available to adopt from now until the end of February for a donation of $50, 100 percent of which will go towards the Bob West Water Watcher Scholarship Fund, created from a transformative donation by John Stewart to honor Bob West, a devoted volunteer and supporter of the New River Conservancy, to support volunteer water quality monitors throughout the watershed. The hellbender will come with an official adoption certificate as well as small tokens of crayfish, a preferred food of the hellbender. Supplies are limited!
Bob West says “The Eastern hellbender is the original water watcher.” Hellbenders must live in cool and clear water as they breathe entirely through their skin, which contains numerous folds to increase oxygen absorption. Hellbenders only thrive in the most healthiest of streams, and are thus indicators of poor water quality. Its survival depends on a consistent flow, temperature, and availability of dissolved oxygen – circumstances found only in swift waters, which limits its habitat from the outset. The Eastern hellbender is currently being considered for placement on the Endangered Species list. Should this occur, the hellbender will receive much needed safeguards and protections to help its population rebound.
Hurricane Helene took a toll on the hellbender population in the New River watershed, specifically in Western North Carolina. Flooding of the New River and its tributaries not only wreaked havoc on hellbender habitats, hellbenders were found on roads and in fields trying to find their way back to their home waters.
In 2024, the New River Conservancy (NRC) 27 Water Watcher volunteers spent over 500 hours collecting samples, analyzing data and sharing results. Water Watchers monitor their assigned creeks and streams in North Carolina and Virginia once a month throughout the year. Andrew Downs, executive director for NRC says “Our Water Watchers program is one way we empower communities to directly connect with the health of their river. By training local volunteers to monitor water quality, the data collected can inform projects, educate governmental agencies and bring meaningful insight into the complex ecosystem of the New River.”
Volunteers collect data each month on air and water temperature, weather conditions, turbidity (a measure of sediment in the water column), dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and E. coli, which requires culturing a sample for 24 – 48 hours. This process not only takes time, it also takes funds. Water monitoring materials cost approximately $500 per participant, which is quite often paid by the volunteer. The intent of the Bob West Water Watcher Scholarship Fund is to begin to fund the scholarship program with a match of up to $5,000.
To adopt your own hellbender, please visit the website and social media pages of NRC. The New River Conservancy organization has worked every day since the early 1970’s to protect the woods, waters and wildlife of the iconic New River and its watershed. NRC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Donations are welcome and tax deductible. For more information, please visit the website at newriverconservancy.org, or any of the NRC social media pages.”