Grayson County New River Protectors

12/16/2024

The Eastern Hellbender makes its home throughout the New River watershed - from NC to VA to WV. Populations have been in decline for many years, and thanks to sustained pressure from environmental groups, it may have a chance to rebound. With the proposed ruling to place it on the endangered species list, the hellbender has the opportunity, if passed, to receive protections to help populations grow. Please send your comments of support to:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R3-ES-2024-0152-0001
We have 60 days to comment. 📸Watauga Democrat

10/07/2024

PLEASE SHARE!

River Property Owners and New River Patrons! If you see these signs or any of these hotspot components as you're conducting your clean ups, please DO NOT THROW THEM AWAY! Call 276-773-8002 and we will come pick them up! Thank you!

08/31/2024

Community Works volunteers were in the New River this morning, cleaning out tires and other debris from the river.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this cleanup event.

It was a great morning on the river and everyone had a good time doing a good thing on a Saturday morning.

08/25/2024

Buck Portage Closure PSA

Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian) needs to affect repairs to damaged flashboards at the Buck spillway, which is part of the Byllesby/Buck Hydroelectric Project on the New River located within Carroll County, Virginia. Therefore, Appalachian will be temporarily lowering the Buck reservoir water surface elevation (i.e., drawdown) by approximately 8 feet to allow for the flashboard repair work. This will necessitate temporary closure of the Buck portage. The reservoir drawdown will begin at approximately noon on Sunday, August 25, 2024, with the goal of reaching the target elevation of approximately 1 foot below the spillway crest elevation (i.e., approximately 1,994.0 feet) at approximately noon on Monday, August 26, 2024. The flashboard repair work is expected to be completed in one to two weeks. However, high flow conditions on the New River may alter the planned schedule and/or duration of the work, should they occur.

Appalachian will post signs regarding the Buck canoe portage closure at all public upstream access points along the river and has issued a news release today, and will post a notice to its HYDRO PLANT LEVELS & FLOWS webpage at https://www.aep.com/recreation/hydro on Sunday, August 25, 2024. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource will likewise post a notice on its webpage at https://dwr.virginia.gov/alerts/.

08/23/2024

Community Works--Grayson will participate in a river cleanup as part of Grayson County's Clean River Month.

We will meet on August 31st at 9:00 a.m. at the New River Wildlife & Conservation Club, located at 7107 Riverside Drive.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help clean up a section of the New River with us is welcome and should let me know in the comments below.

08/18/2024

08/16/2024