Gathering of Watershed Groups Takes Place in Martinsburg

Submitted by: Suzy Campbell, WV Conservation Agency

Did you know that approximately 60% or more of the human body is composed of water? It is one of our most precious non-renewable resources and is vital to the life of every cell in our bodies. Protecting water is about more than preserving the environment. Protecting water is protecting you, your children, and your children's children by ensuring that they have clean drinking water. There is a large effort in place in the Eastern Panhandle to protect the water that you drink, swim, fish, and play in. On May 23rd, many of the people involved in this effort attended the "Eastern Panhandle Watershed Group Gathering" in Martinsburg at the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College where 33 representatives from local nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and local governments convened to share resources, ideas, and strategies to achieve their common goal of protecting water and improving local water quality. This event is held annually by the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District (EPCD) and is geared towards local Watershed Groups (nonprofit organizations whose mission is partially or wholly focused on protecting and improving a specific waterway and its feeder streams). The gathering acts as a forum to provide these groups with tools and information that will assist them in their work, provide a platform for them to showcase their programs, and encourage conversation between all attendees so that new working relationships can form that will strengthen the overall effort to protect our water. Communication amongst these individuals is key to effectively and efficiently achieving their common goals.