Eastern Coal Regional
Roundtflhle: Hope and Hard Work
Acid mine drainage seeps into
streams, where the iron-rich
contaminants form a solid known
as "Yellow Boy" which coats the
stream bed.
Volunteers are ready to monitor water
quality on the Cheat River.
Kick-off Roundtable of ECRR
constituents near Mullens, WV to
develop training curriculum.
Photo courtesy Bruce Go/den, Western
Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine
Reclamation.
Targeted Watersheds
Capacity Building Grant
Hope and Hard Work is a collaboration of private
and public partners, led by the non-profit Eastern
Coal Regional Roundtable (ECRR). Founded in 2001,
the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable serves mine-scarred
Appalachian watersheds through training, capacity building
and providing a collective voice for underserved communities
seeking to restore the well-being of their citizens and
environment.
Watershed Capacity Building Efforts
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is Appalachia's primary water
quality problem. AMD is a highly acidic liquid flowing from
abandoned coal mines. This iron-laden liquid often turns the
streams orange, coats streambeds and destroys aquatic habi-
tat. AMD negatively affects the recreational and potable water
potential of the streams. Further degrading water quality,
large populations in Appalachia still do not have sewage treat-
ment systems, so untreated wastewater is discharged through
"straight pipes" directly into streams.
The Hope and Hard Work project will provide training and
support for at least 50 grassroots watershed groups in Appa-
lachian Coal Country. Two three-day trainings will take place,
one in northern Appalachia and one in southern Appalachia.
Trainings and practicum will be offered to watershed stew-
ards in the states of Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky and Alabama. Each train-
ing will be divided into two tracks—water monitoring and fiscal
sustainability. Participants will each develop and carry out a
practicum to put their new skills and knowledge into prac-
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West Virginia
ntucky virgin!
Watershed stewards
from these states
will participate in
Eastern Coal Regional
Roundtable trainings.
tice. Practicums may include, for example,
developing water monitoring teams, writing
watershed plans, writing fundraising plans,
applying for grants or determining Board of
Director roles. Six to ten participants from
the first year will be selected to help guide
participants in the second year of training.
Each participating organization will receive
a membership to River Network, a national
watershed support organization, to further
their access to trainings and resources.
Results from the practicum and lessons
learned by the participating groups will be
compiled into a State of the Region report. A
Coal Country Watersheds Roundtable Sum-
mit will follow the final training session and
allow participating groups, as well as local
land use and policy decision makers and
stakeholders, to share information and pro-
vide further discussion.
For More Information:
www.easterncoal.org
Dvon Duncan, Executive Director
Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable
info@easterncoal.org
EPA's Targeted Watersheds Gra
program is a competetive grant
program designed to encouragi
collaborative, community-drive
approaches to meet clean water go
For more information about
e selected watersheds, please vi
http://www.epa.gov/twg
840-F-08-001R
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