Celebrate 30 years of wins with Friends of Deckers Creek this Friday, August 21.
Thirty years ago, volunteers at Deckers Creek cleanups didn’t just pick up litter from the rocks and roots on its banks—they hauled tractor tires and major appliances out of the creekbed. The creek was heavily polluted by acid drainage from abandoned coal mines, and it was widely treated as a garbage dump. The hardy carp was one of the few species that could tolerate its waters.
Three years ago, Brandon Cook had a radically different experience: “I started my Deckers Creek journey by catching a nice trout.”
That’s the difference that Friends of Deckers Creek has made in just three decades, says Cook, development director at the WVU Cancer Institute and the organization’s board president.
When a group of outdoor lovers formed FODC in 1995, Deckers Creek was very much in need of friends. Now, all of the creek’s major sources of acid mine drainage are being treated. Litter is at a minimum, and many species live in the creek—including sensitive trout, which FODC and its partners stock each year.
On Friday, August 21, at Friday for a Cause at The Co-op, FODC marks its long-term wins, along with ongoing accomplishments:
- “This spring, we completed a streambank restoration project, restoring 480 feet of streambank,” says FODC Executive Director Brian Hurley. Healthy streambanks prevent sediment and pollutants from running off into the creek.
- “FODC has collected hundreds of samples in the watershed,” Hurley continues. Ongoing scientific monitoring gives the organization a clear picture of water quality over time and sets a baseline for planning future projects.
- The organization has detected hundreds of bats at “bat nights,” including some that are threatened and endangered, he says. “These events amplify the ecological value of bats and better inform the public of the importance of the animals we coexist with.”
“We’ve done a lot,” Cook says. “It’s been amazing, and we’re trying to grow the momentum.”
If you’re not familiar with Deckers Creek, Cook recommends visiting the upper gorge. “Park at the Masontown rail-trail parking lot and hike down to the creek,” he says. “That is absolutely gorgeous. You wouldn’t think it’s only 15 minutes from town.” In town, he suggests a walk alongside the creek at the Mushroom Trail under the South High Street bridge. And zooming out to a larger, watershed-wide perspective, he recommends becoming familiar with the West Virginia Botanic Garden.
At the Friday for a Cause fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. on the 21st, FODC board members will tend bar, and Hurley and Operations Manager Maya Mier-Thomas will be on hand with information about the creek and the organization. Raffle items include fly fishing gear and a print donated by Morgantown artist Mike Green, and live entertainment will be provided by The Leftover Stews.
Whether you attend or not, consider contributing to the momentum by becoming a financial supporter of FODC. “Grants do a great job of paying for grant activity, but donations go straight to operations,” Cook says. “They keep the lights on.”
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