Background

Nestled in Southwest Virginia (Wise County) the roaring waters of the Guest River flow. Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, resource extraction has been the economic backbone of this region. With this extraction also come environmental degradation. 

Despite the Guest River’s remarkable beauty these waters are hazardous to your health. The Guest River is the most polluted tributary to the biologically significant Clinch River. Guest River impairments are due to non point source pollution runoff, high sediment loads due to historic and current resource extraction methods, unstable stream banks and poor best management practices (BMPs). The Guest also suffers from severe bacterial levels due to failing septic tanks and illegal straight pipes. Because of this sedimentation and bacterial pollution, aquatic life is vanishing in the Guest River. 

In 1998 The Guest River Restoration Project was founded from a collective agreement of local agencies and organizations concerned with water quality issues in the Guest River. The GRRP’s mission is to ultimately restore the watershed back to health, thus creating economic and recreational opportunities for the people of Wise County.

Goals

1. Assist in writing grants, attend relevant meetings, conduct direct recruitment for citizen involvement, assist in planning and implementation of community watershed projects.

2. Improving water monitoring and research surrounding the ever-changing conditions of the watershed.

3. Promoting watershed education and outreach activities.

OSM/VISTA Accomplishments

·         Received  $3,580 in grant monies to increase water monitoring initiatives in the watershed.

·         Facilitated with the installation of 7 new septic systems in the watershed. Identifying and convincing homeowners with failing systems to replace their system using cost share monies.

·         Created Guardians of the Guest, a program designed to increase water quality awareness in the Guest River Watershed, and give local landowners and businesses an opportunity to financially sponsor river miles. Donations raised from this program will be used for stream restoration and outreach projects.

·         Partnered with other agencies to organize a Landowner’s Assistance Program for landowners in the Guest River Watershed to learn about the importance of implementing best management practices and riparian buffers on agriculture lands and to hear about government sponsored cost share programs available to help with property improvements.

• Assisted the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable with managing a rain garden construction project at a local high school. The OSM/VISTA organized a rain garden planting day for students and educated the student volunteers about storm water runoff and pollution.
   
• Surveyed the Crab Orchard community to locate failing septic tanks and distribute information to homeowners about the importance of picking up pet waste.
   
• Organized stream cleanups and tree plantings in the watershed. 
   
• Participated in education and outreach program to increase environmental awareness among citizens.

 

Partners and Contributors

USDA, Lonesome Pine Soil & Water Conservation District, Wise County, NRCS, Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Tennessee Valley Authority, Wise County Health Department, City of Norton, US Forest Service, VA Department of Mines Minerals and Energy, Black Diamond RC&D, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Nature Conservancy, The Master Gardeners, Keep Wise County Beautiful, Upper Tennessee River Roundtable and many other concerned citizens.