New River Conservancy

09/01/2026

New River Currents, news from the New!
Stay up to date with the work of the New River Conservancy, discover volunteer opportunities, and become a member.
September 2026 issue.

Email from New River Conservancy New River Currents: Stay in the know with new volunteer opportunities, upcoming events and special announcements New River Currents, the newsletter for the New River.

09/01/2026

The New River watershed is an amazing place, with wonders we have yet to see. However, we did get a chance to visit the source of Liquid Death in Bland, VA recently at the Wilderness Mountain Water's artesian source, which lies 3,300 feet underground and naturally flows out of the ground at 570 gallons per minute. This ancient geologic fossil water is estimated to be 500,000 – 1 million years old and is free from contaminants such as PFAS, pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants.

This spring flows into Kimberling Creek, which flows into Walker Creek, a tributary of the New River. We're looking forward to future partnerships with this incredible company!

08/31/2026

It takes an entire village and then some to protect the New River from all comers. This past weekend staff of NRC joined the Renew the New river clean up effort in Giles County, others joined the effort in Radford and still others in Montgomery County. Young and old, new volunteers and lifelong volunteers, Boy Scouts, county workers, those here for the day, and those in it for the long haul.

Our partnerships are so important to our mission, and the New River appreciates every single volunteer, every single hour or minute, every single good deed done to keep it safe, healthy and free of debris and litter. Want to help? Keep on eye on upcoming clean ups in your area.

Huge thanks to the organizers and all the volunteers for this incredible event!

08/29/2026

We are so grateful to our sponsors for the for helping make our dreams come true! The Thrasher Group, Inc was one of those dream-weavers, and also make others come true.

The Thrasher Group partnered with the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and the City of Oak Hill to deliver a series of park trail improvements at Needleseye Park. Located just outside the New River Gorge National Park, the 283‑acre park serves as a key outdoor recreation destination for both local residents and visitors looking to explore the region’s natural landscape.

As part of the mission of the Expedition, as well as the New River Water Trail, is to highlight the areas we can visit on our own expeditions, our crew took some time to visit Needleseye Park in Oak Hill, WV to experience the trails.

Where have you been in the New River watershed that others should visit? Let us know in the comments.

08/28/2026

Bob and Jonathan, two of our incredibly dedicated volunteers, made pass number four from Summer Haus to Hartzog Ford on Friday, got 9 tires and a few hundred pounds of debris. There is still a little debris on the island at mile 41, but the waterway itself has been thoroughly cleaned!

Why are tires bad for the river? Tires accumulated in the river, and along the riverbank, poison our aquatic ecosystems and wildlife like hellbenders. Tires sink to the bottom of the river releasing rubber and toxic materials that plague our drinking water.

Tires shed approximately 6 million metric tons of particles annually, making them the second-biggest contributor to microplastic pollution globally—right after single-use plastics.

Removing tires, trash, and debris from our beloved New River is just one of the ways we at the New River Conservancy protect the watershed. Join us!

08/27/2026

We continue to reflect on the with the staff and the crew. Lucy Bolin, one of our crew members, understands the phrase "People of the New" now. The river changes you, and connects you to the legacy of thousands of experiences that happened before you came along.

Lucy says "This expedition changed my understanding of the landscape that surrounds me. These places used to feel anonymous, but now I feel tied to the entire river and the communities along it."

This is why the New River Conservancy spends every day working to protect the waters and wildlife of the New River watershed. For the wildlife that gets to live in healthy waters, for the communities that live along it that get to do the same.

The New River Water Trail will connect us all. Join us and make a difference in your own back yard.

08/26/2026

9 Volunteers pulled out 1,300 pounds of trash and debris including 9 tires, 2 tables, a TV, and a mini fridge, much of which remains to be Helene debris the New River continues to kick back up. This crew, including some young ones, spent hours in the river near Independence, VA getting dirty for clean water.

With a mission to protect the New River watershed, the staff, members and volunteers of the New River Conservancy work every day to help make the river healthy and safe for everyone, including you. Like Will says, "I am incredibly grateful for the volunteers that came out to help clean the New for the overall well-being of the wildlife and recreationists that enjoy the river."

Won't you join us? Become a member, volunteer or donate today. https://newriverconservancy.org/

08/24/2026

Wanted to meet the crew of the NRX but couldn't get to our events? Did you miss "Journey's End" at the The Gaines Estate We've got you covered! We taped the presentation from the crew so you can watch it at your leisure.

Take some time to get to know the Anastasia, Lucy, Dave and Abbey as they talk about their journey down 320 miles of the New River this past summer.

On June 2, 2026 four intrepid paddlers set out for a 320-mile adven...

08/21/2026

Restoration of South Beaver Creek in Ashe County, NC in the works!

New River Conservancy (NRC) and the Open Spaces Resiliency Project (OSRP) have partnered to restore a stretch of South Beaver Creek on privately owned property, marking a new phase of collaborative conservation work on Beaver Creek, a direct tributary to the South Fork of the New River entering just upstream of New River Access Park on Route 163, which NRC and partners built just two years ago.

The two-year partnership aims to restore wetlands and stream habitat along South Beaver Creek. The project aims to improve downstream water quality, reduce sediment transport, enhance biodiversity, and create opportunities for community members to take part in hands-on conservation work.

Erosion of South Beaver Creek into the area floodplain is contributing sediment pollution into Beaver Creek, and ultimately the New River. Sediment is the largest threat to water quality. One of the ways to return this wetland in South Beaver Creek back to a healthy state is the use of beavers and beaver dam analogs.

Increasingly, restoration conservationists are using beavers and beaver dam analogs (BDAs) for stream, wetland, and floodplain restoration. Both natural beaver dams and BDAs utilize natural materials to impound water and retain sediment in shallow pools. Such wetland areas provide benefits to plants, fish, and wildlife while improving downstream water quality and flood resilience. Full story: https://newriverconservancy.org/restoration-of-south-beaver-creek-in-the-works/

Photo: NRC AmeriCorps Grizzly Team work on a BDA in Montgomery County, Virginia. Beaver dam analogues (BDAs) are constructed with material that is similar to what beaver use to build their dams. Depending on what type of BDA is constructed, this may include sediment ranging in size from cobbles, gravel, sand, silt and clay, vegetation such as the stalks of emergent vegetation, and the branches and stems of deciduous trees and shrubs.

08/20/2026

Our NRX crew will be taking over Thursday's on our social media channels for a few weeks with some reflections of their journey! Enjoy!