Family Refuge Center is thrilled to announce its approval for the
National Park Service responds to New River Conservancy call for waders
The National Park Service (NPS) in the New River Gorge has donated 14 pairs of hip and chest waders to the New River Conservancy (NRC), in an effort to help with clean ups in the upper New River region in Western North Carolina and Southern Virginia. NRC put out a call for waders and/or donations for waders and received a huge response from members. NRC Executive Director, Andrew Downs, says “We’ve already outfitted many of our staff and volunteers with waders, and the NPS joined the public in stepping up! We’ve still got a long way to go to clean up the New, but this is a big help”
Most sections of the upper New River region suffered catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene at the end of September. The NRC, along with many other organizations, has been organizing cleanup efforts in the region. Communications Director, Lisa Stansell-Galitz says, “With this donation from the National Park Service, our future river cleanups will be able to work more efficiently and safely as we continue to recover the banks and tributaries of the New River from the devastating effects of Helene.”
The NPS and NRC have a long history of collaboration, most recently this past summer for PopUp Recycling events throughout the New River Gorge. The two organizations also lead the New River Clean Water Alliance, a partnership between nonprofits, state, and federal agencies in Southern West Virginia who work to improve water quality throughout the watershed. Jennifer Flippin, Aquatic Ecologist National Park Service, says “Watersheds connect people and we were heartbroken to see the flooding and devastation experienced by our neighbors in Virginia and North Carolina. The New is a large river, and it takes many hands and resources to care for it. We know NRC will help our old waders find new life in important projects. We appreciate our partners working upstream – it also makes New River Gorge National Park and Preserve a better place.”
If you would like to help outfit our volunteers, please visit http://newriverconservancy.org/donate. The New River Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to protect the waters, woodlands and wildlife of the New River watershed. Any donations are tax deductible.
