Report on WVDEP Watershed Improvement Grants and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has allocated $95,800 in subgrants for Fiscal Year 2024, funded through the federal Clean Water Act §319 program. These grants support seven community-based organizations in projects aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution and restoring impaired watersheds. The initiatives directly contribute to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a primary focus on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Grant Allocation and Project Alignment with SDGs

The following projects have been approved, each contributing to specific sustainable development targets:

1. Experience Learning, Inc. – Appalachian Watershed and Stream Monitors ($15,000)

   • Project Focus: Expansion of student-led water quality monitoring and environmental science education programs.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): Enhances education for sustainable development by providing students with practical skills in environmental science and stewardship (Target 4.7).
     • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Contributes to the monitoring of water quality, a key component of protecting water-related ecosystems (Target 6.3, 6.6).

2. Friends of the Cheat, Inc. – Protecting Cheat River Investments ($15,000)

   • Project Focus: Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of established restoration sites within the Cheat River watershed.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Ensures the long-term effectiveness of water quality improvement projects (Target 6.3).
     • SDG 15 (Life on Land): Supports the protection and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems and their services (Target 15.1).

3. Friends of Deckers Creek, Inc. – Ladder and Hatch Retrofit ($15,000)

   • Project Focus: Improving the operational efficiency and safety of an active acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment system.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Improves water quality by enhancing the treatment of pollution from mining activities (Target 6.3).
     • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Upgrades infrastructure critical for environmental remediation and sustainable resource management.

4. Guardians of the West Fork Watershed – Lambert Run Maintenance ($15,000)

   • Project Focus: Maintenance of passive AMD treatment systems to improve stream health.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Directly addresses water pollution from historical mining to restore stream health (Target 6.3).
     • SDG 15 (Life on Land): Contributes to the restoration of degraded land and soil and the protection of freshwater biodiversity (Target 15.3, 15.5).

5. Save the Tygart Watershed Association, Inc. – Streamside Outreach Site ($3,800)

   • Project Focus: Development of an outdoor learning site featuring streambank stabilization and riparian zone improvements.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 4 (Quality Education): Creates a platform for public outreach and education on sustainable development and watershed health (Target 4.7).
     • SDG 15 (Life on Land): Demonstrates and implements best practices for restoring riparian ecosystems (Target 15.1).

6. West Virginia Rivers Coalition – WV Watershed Network ($15,000)

   • Project Focus: Statewide coordination, training, and capacity-building for local watershed groups.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Strengthens multi-stakeholder partnerships by building the capacity of civil society organizations to achieve sustainable development objectives (Target 17.17).

7. West Virginia University Research Corporation – Beneficial Application of AMD Sludge ($17,000)

   • Project Focus: Research and demonstration of methods to extract valuable materials from AMD sludge for commercial use.
   • SDG Alignment:
     • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Promotes a circular economy by transforming a waste product into a valuable resource, reducing waste generation (Target 12.5).
     • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Fosters innovation for sustainable industrial processes and resource recovery.
     • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Provides a sustainable solution for managing waste from water treatment processes.

Collaborative Impact on Sustainable Development

This grant program exemplifies a multi-level partnership approach, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By channeling federal funds through a state agency to empower local non-profit and academic organizations, the initiative effectively leverages diverse expertise to address complex environmental challenges. The requirement for a local match further strengthens community investment and ownership of projects, ensuring a more profound and lasting impact on the protection and restoration of West Virginia’s water resources and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
3. SDG 4: Quality Education
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The article explicitly states that the grants help “reduce nonpoint source pollution, which includes runoff from stormwater, agriculture, and abandoned mine lands.” Projects like those by Friends of Deckers Creek and Guardians of the West Fork Watershed directly address “acid mine drainage remediation.”
   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels. The program represents a coordinated effort involving a federal program (Clean Water Act §319), a state agency (WVDEP), and local community organizations to manage water resources at the watershed level.
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The article highlights projects focused on “watershed restoration,” “maintenance and monitoring of key restoration sites,” and improving “stream health,” which directly contribute to restoring freshwater ecosystems.
   • Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. The entire grant program is designed to “support community-led projects,” empowering seven local organizations to take action in their watersheds.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The projects funded aim to protect and restore inland freshwater ecosystems, as seen in the efforts of Friends of the Cheat to protect the “Cheat River watershed” and Save the Tygart Watershed Association’s work on “streambank stabilization and riparian zone improvements.”

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The article mentions the Experience Learning, Inc. project to “Expand student-led water quality monitoring programs and environmental science education in West Virginia schools.” Additionally, the Save the Tygart Watershed Association project supports a “watershed-based outdoor learning site.”

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The initiative is a clear example of a public-civil society partnership, where a government agency (WVDEP) provides federal funds to civil society organizations (the seven awardees) to achieve shared environmental goals. The requirement for a “local match” further strengthens this partnership model.

5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. The project by West Virginia University Research Corporation aims to “Demonstrate methods for extracting iron and aluminum from acid mine drainage sludge to create commercially viable products.” This represents an innovative approach to turning industrial waste (AMD sludge) into a valuable resource, promoting a circular economy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Indicator for Target 6.3: The article implies progress can be measured through “water quality monitoring programs” and the improved performance of “acid mine drainage remediation systems.”
   • Indicator for Target 6.6: Progress is indicated by the “maintenance and monitoring of key restoration sites” and the implementation of projects like “streambank stabilization and riparian zone improvements.”
   • Indicator for Target 6.b: The number of community-led projects supported (seven) and the total funding awarded ($95,800) serve as direct indicators of local community participation.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Indicator for Target 15.1: The number of watersheds with active restoration and maintenance projects (e.g., Cheat River, Deckers Creek, Lambert Run, Tygart) serves as an indicator of progress in restoring freshwater ecosystems.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Indicator for Target 4.7: Progress can be measured by the expansion of “student-led water quality monitoring programs” and the number of schools involved, as well as the establishment of the “watershed-based outdoor learning site.”

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Indicator for Target 17.17: The amount of financial resources mobilized (“$95,800 in subgrants”) and the number of civil society organizations engaged (seven) are explicit indicators of this partnership’s effectiveness. The WV Watershed Network’s activities, such as the “biannual Watershed Symposium” and “quarterly newsletters,” also indicate the strength of the partnership.

5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Indicator for Target 9.4: The successful demonstration of “methods for extracting iron and aluminum from acid mine drainage sludge” and the subsequent creation of “commercially viable products” would be a key indicator of progress.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: mybuckhannon.com