West Virginia Highlands Conservancy

Welcome Mike Jones, the new Organizational Director for the West Virginia Rivers Coalition! We’re excited to have such a dedicated advocate for WV’s public lands on board. Read more about Mike using the link below! ⤵️ ow.ly/BCP550Vg2bK

The Biden administration's National Old-Growth Amendment aimed to protect forests but ultimately did not establish new safeguards. Read more about the challenges of defining old growth, policy hurdles, and the broader impact on conservation efforts: ow.ly/v6sW50V5qCi

West Virginia will now regulate its own carbon injection wells, but critics question its ability to enforce safety. With thousands of unplugged wells and concerns over landowner rights, is the state prepared for this responsibility? Read more ⤵️ wvhighlands.org/article/carbon…

BREAKING: Coal River Mountain Watch, @WVHC, Appalachian Voices and @SierraClub filed a lawsuit challenging the decision to grant a Clean Water Act permit for four valley fills associated with the Turkeyfoot Surface Mine in West Virginia. appvoices.org/2025/02/19/cha…

South Fork Coal Company and its parent entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The move follows the company’s well-documented pattern of water pollution and mine clean-up violations, which have drawn mounting public scrutiny and legal actions. @WVHC appvoices.org/2025/02/18/sou…

Lawmakers in WV are trying to limit community air monitoring— why don’t they want you to know the quality of the air you breathe? Access to air quality data is a right, not a privilege. Learn what’s at stake & how you can fight back: ow.ly/8ACc50V28LJ

Do you like hearing from us on socials? Well, we’re taking the conversation to BlueSky! 📲 Follow us there for updates on the WVHC efforts, advocacy, and ways to protect West Virginia’s wild places. Follow us by clicking the link below: bsky.app/profile/wvhigh…

We'll match your love for land & streams. 🌲💙 Let's show some extra love for what makes the Mountain State so special -- wild & wonderful natural resources! Thanks to a generous $25,000 matching gift, your donation will be doubled to protect what we love: wvrivers.salsalabs.org

“Kathleen Sgamma would be an unmitigated disaster for our public lands,” said Taylor McKinnon at the @CenterForBioDiv. "Sgamma has breathtaking disdain for environmental laws, endangered species, recreation, or anything other than industry profit.” bit.ly/3EF2Tn6

Intense rainfall + thawing ground from warm temperatures = New or worsened #AbandonedMineLand problems. 🚨 But the federal funding freeze is disrupting states' ability to proceed with #MineReclamation. Read our statement: appvoices.org/2025/02/11/aml…

West Virginia outdoor lovers—your voice matters! 🌳 Take this quick survey to help shape the future of outdoor recreation in our state: surveymonkey.com/r/wvscorp

The first week of 2025 brought wildfires and winter storms, highlighting climate risks. As new leaders take office, calls for local climate action grow. Investing in clean energy, resilience, and emergency preparedness can protect our communities. Read more down below. ⤵️

Lawmakers proposed a special session to attract a data center to Logan Count, WV, highlighting renewable energy potential. However, questions remain about water usage, infrastructure, and transparency. Click the link below to read the full story from West Virginia Watch⬇️

"This is a property rights nightmare," West Virginia Highlands Conservancy board member Tyler Cannon said during the EPA's Dec. 30 hearing. "We all learn as kids that you can't just take something without permission. Yet that's exactly what is happening here." Full story below⬇️

“Enough is enough: a mine owned by former governor and now Sen. Jim Justice’s family cannot be allowed to perpetually flout environmental standards,” said Andrew Young, chair of WVHC's extractive industries committee. wvhighlands.org/2025/01/13/wes…

📣ICYMI: The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and @AppVoices are suing South Fork Coal Company for pollution violations at five Greenbrier County mines. 🔗Click the link below for the full story. wvrecord.com/stories/667050…

Don't Let Them Disappear: Save the #Hellbender! Take action with West Virginia Rivers Coalition today and tell the US Fish and Wildlife Service that you support listing the #EasternHellbender as endangered under the #EndangeredSpeciesAct. wvrivers.salsalabs.org/savethehellben…