On Saturday (the 21st), in conjunction with the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT) and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), we are coordinating a large tree-planting event. We will be planting roughly 2800 trees on 5 acres. We will be meeting at the Campbell's Branch Community Center at 8:00 in the morning to begin transporting the volunteers to the site.
Here are the directions from Highway 15:
From Highway 15 North, enter Isom & take a left onto KY 7
Stay on KY 7 for 13 miles
then turn left onto KY1103
Stay on KY 1103 for 3.1 miles, The Campbells Branch Community Center (which looks like an old brick school) is on the right.
We will also have some entertainment (Lee Sexton) Saturday evening at the Community Center after the planting (around 6:30). If you have any questions please call or email me.
phone: 606-634-8669
email: letcherwater@gmail.com
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Test Results
In response to the petroleum spill and water advisory that began on Monday (February 16th) in Letcher County, The Head of Three Rivers Project conducted several independent tests of both the stream and tap water. These test results can be found on our data/reports page here. These samples were collected on Thursday (February 19th).
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Projects Update
There are a few Headwaters events coming up this month.
March 14th:
We are having a water-testing training workshop for volunteers this Saturday. We are meeting at 9:00 in the morning in front of the Harry Caudill Library in Whitesburg. This training is required for volunteers to participate in water-testing events with The Head of Three Rivers Project. Please register at www.krww.org and click on the "register for volunteer training here" link.
March 21st:
The Head of Three Rivers Project, in conjunction with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, is organizing a large tree-planting project on top of an abandoned strip mine on March 21st. This event is a pilot project that showcases reforestation techniques that could be used on the 741,000 acres of similar land across Appalachia. We will be meeting in the morning at the Campbell's Branch Community Center (where out-of-town volunteers will be able to stay). This will be an all-day event in which food will be provided. More details will be provided soon.
March 28th:
There will be a Carcassonne Arbor Day Celebration on the same site as the tree-planting. There will be an exciting line-up of speakers from several different organizations including the American Chestnut Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme. More details on this event will also be provided soon.
If you have any questions about any of these events, please call (606-634-8669) or email me (letcherwater@gmail.com).
March 14th:
We are having a water-testing training workshop for volunteers this Saturday. We are meeting at 9:00 in the morning in front of the Harry Caudill Library in Whitesburg. This training is required for volunteers to participate in water-testing events with The Head of Three Rivers Project. Please register at www.krww.org and click on the "register for volunteer training here" link.
March 21st:
The Head of Three Rivers Project, in conjunction with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, is organizing a large tree-planting project on top of an abandoned strip mine on March 21st. This event is a pilot project that showcases reforestation techniques that could be used on the 741,000 acres of similar land across Appalachia. We will be meeting in the morning at the Campbell's Branch Community Center (where out-of-town volunteers will be able to stay). This will be an all-day event in which food will be provided. More details will be provided soon.
March 28th:
There will be a Carcassonne Arbor Day Celebration on the same site as the tree-planting. There will be an exciting line-up of speakers from several different organizations including the American Chestnut Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme. More details on this event will also be provided soon.
If you have any questions about any of these events, please call (606-634-8669) or email me (letcherwater@gmail.com).
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ignorance is Bliss but Compliance can be Deadly
Why do we allow ourselves to be victims again? Not only do individuals and industry behave in a manner that is irresponsible for the welfare of the environment but the public health as well. Our government officials do not seem forthcoming with information regarding our recent water non-consumption advisory. Therefore, not only do we NOT have ample information to make wise decisions regarding our personal health but also our own compliance with the recent petroleum contamination of the public water supply puts each of us at danger for this type of event to happen again and again.
When gasoline or diesel fuel and their components contaminate the water supply, aromatic (ring) carbon compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylene all of which are carcinogenic can then be at toxic levels. With concentrations as low as parts per million long term effect of human conception is cancer and in high doses can cause immediate death because these toxins attack vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. These toxins are highly volatile and not only are consumption (drinking or eating) but breathing the volatiles off these components can be a health risk. I have not begun to explain the toxins formed when ring carbon compounds are exposed to the chemicals that are used to treat drinking water. Carbon based compounds that contain such elements as chlorine and other halogens can be very dangerous for public exposure. I feel that I have a little knowledge about the possible dangers of the chemicals that might be in the water and I can say for sure that I would not drink, wash, or have any contact with the water until I was sure the levels of these toxins.
I feel most people do not realize the danger with these recent spills. We do not seem to be outraged with this threat to our health. Many complain and point fingers at who is to blame for this situation but we are all to blame when we do not stand up and DEMAND that this type of treatment of our environment will NOT be tolerated.
When gasoline or diesel fuel and their components contaminate the water supply, aromatic (ring) carbon compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylene all of which are carcinogenic can then be at toxic levels. With concentrations as low as parts per million long term effect of human conception is cancer and in high doses can cause immediate death because these toxins attack vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. These toxins are highly volatile and not only are consumption (drinking or eating) but breathing the volatiles off these components can be a health risk. I have not begun to explain the toxins formed when ring carbon compounds are exposed to the chemicals that are used to treat drinking water. Carbon based compounds that contain such elements as chlorine and other halogens can be very dangerous for public exposure. I feel that I have a little knowledge about the possible dangers of the chemicals that might be in the water and I can say for sure that I would not drink, wash, or have any contact with the water until I was sure the levels of these toxins.
I feel most people do not realize the danger with these recent spills. We do not seem to be outraged with this threat to our health. Many complain and point fingers at who is to blame for this situation but we are all to blame when we do not stand up and DEMAND that this type of treatment of our environment will NOT be tolerated.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Independent Water Test
The Head of Three Rivers Project is conducting independent tests of the both the stream and tap water of Letcher County. The stream samples were taken last Thursday (Febuary 19th) from sources above and below the contamination site and the tap samples were taken here in Whitesburg. We are testing for gasoline-range organics and diesel-range organics in the stream and volatiles and semi-volatiles in the tap water. We should have the results of these tests back in about 9 days.
The water advisory is still in effect. According to www.letchercounty.ky.gov/emergency/, the earliest that the non-consumption advisory could be lifted is late Wednesday or Thursday (Febuary 25-26).
The water advisory is still in effect. According to www.letchercounty.ky.gov/emergency/, the earliest that the non-consumption advisory could be lifted is late Wednesday or Thursday (Febuary 25-26).
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Water quality Advisory
This is from http://www.letchercounty.ky.gov/emergency/.
"The Kentucky Division of Water has issued a non-consumption advisory for residents in the communities of Black Bottom, Crafts Colley, Cowan, Camp Branch, Doty Creek, Isom, Jeremiah, Little Colley, Mayking, Sandlick, Spring Branch and Whitesburg. This non-consumption advisory means that customers should not drink, shower, or use their water for cooking. This is being done as a precautionary measure due to complaints of petroleum smells within the Whitesburg distribution system. The Division of Water is collecting samples and waiting for test results. If you have any questions, please call the Letcher County Health Department at 633-2945 or visit www.letchercounty.ky.gov Only the communities of Blackey, Fleming-Neon and Jenkins are not affected. "
I will do my best to keep you all updated on what I hear about this advisory.
"The Kentucky Division of Water has issued a non-consumption advisory for residents in the communities of Black Bottom, Crafts Colley, Cowan, Camp Branch, Doty Creek, Isom, Jeremiah, Little Colley, Mayking, Sandlick, Spring Branch and Whitesburg. This non-consumption advisory means that customers should not drink, shower, or use their water for cooking. This is being done as a precautionary measure due to complaints of petroleum smells within the Whitesburg distribution system. The Division of Water is collecting samples and waiting for test results. If you have any questions, please call the Letcher County Health Department at 633-2945 or visit www.letchercounty.ky.gov Only the communities of Blackey, Fleming-Neon and Jenkins are not affected. "
I will do my best to keep you all updated on what I hear about this advisory.
Monday, December 22, 2008
An Introduction
Hello everyone! My name is Reuben Liebe, I am from Nashville, and I am the new OSM/VISTA for the Head of Three Rivers Project. Unlike the previous two VISTAs (Evan and Sam), I am not from the area, so I will be spending as much time as possible getting to know Letcher County and its citizens these first couple of months. After moving into town and meeting some of the people who have been involved with this project, I can say that this is an incredible area. I feel privileged to be serving in such a unique and beautiful region of our country.
This will be an exciting year for The Head of Three Rivers Project with some very interesting volunteer events, including a big reforestation project on a local abandoned strip-mine. We have not yet worked out a specific weekend for this project, but a good estimate at this time would be the 2nd or 3rd week of March.
I have taken over Sam Adams’ old phone number (606-634-8669) and e-mail (letcherwater@gmail.com). Considering the fact that The Head of Three Rivers Project directly impacts everyone that lives in this area, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and/or feedback on any aspect of this project. My primary goal during my term as your VISTA is to help increase the level of involvement and interest regarding environmental issues, so please let me know what you would like to do.
Sam will still be in the same office with me, but he will be serving as Kentucky Coordinator for the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, the umbrella group with which all of us OSM/VISTAs serve. His new number is (606) 634-9467. His new email is accwtky@gmail.com.
This will be an exciting year for The Head of Three Rivers Project with some very interesting volunteer events, including a big reforestation project on a local abandoned strip-mine. We have not yet worked out a specific weekend for this project, but a good estimate at this time would be the 2nd or 3rd week of March.
I have taken over Sam Adams’ old phone number (606-634-8669) and e-mail (letcherwater@gmail.com). Considering the fact that The Head of Three Rivers Project directly impacts everyone that lives in this area, I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and/or feedback on any aspect of this project. My primary goal during my term as your VISTA is to help increase the level of involvement and interest regarding environmental issues, so please let me know what you would like to do.
Sam will still be in the same office with me, but he will be serving as Kentucky Coordinator for the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, the umbrella group with which all of us OSM/VISTAs serve. His new number is (606) 634-9467. His new email is accwtky@gmail.com.
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