Dear Friends of the Cacapon River,                                                                              April 2008

Spring is here and we have gotten through another winter without any serious flooding, so far.  This  letter will bring you up to date on some of our activities. 

The Board met in March and re-elected the current group of officers, the only change is that Abby Chapple is now the treasurer.  We will continue doing many of our usual activities: Make-It-Shine river cleanup was in early April, Adopt-a-Highway cleanup at the end of April and several other times, booth at the Morgan Co. Fair and at the Apple Butter Festival,  continue to monitor hydrilla growth, and revitalize our river water quality monitoring efforts. To help promote and support the river monitoring, we will be selling very cuddly, small, stuffed otters.  Remember, our slogan is “You Otter Join Us,” and yes, there are otters in the river, I have seen them near my cabin downstream from Largent.  We are working with a researcher at George Washington University on a program to reintroduce harperella (an endangered plant) to the river and we will be working with WV University to conduct a survey of landowners along the river.  All the projects will require help, so please volunteer. We are still in the process of developing our online newsletter, so check it out at www.cacaponcurrents.org as well as our regular website at www.cacaponriver.org.

I think the most important activity this coming year should be a major effort to revitalize the FCR by increasing participation in our activities by local members.  This does not mean we do not need the help of weekenders! More than half of our Board members are weekenders.   However, the people who live here are the ones who can really keep our group involved in the important issues effecting the river.  There are many local activities, committees, public hearings, etc, that most weekenders are not able to cover. We need to know what is happening locally on a timely basis to be able to take actions on important issues. The board will be devoting its next meeting to discuss ways of increasing local involvement.  If you have any ideas for us, please let me know, either by email or phone or letter.

Another activity we are working on is the establishment of an email network to facilitate letting members know what is happening and what they can do.  Email can take the place of some of our mailings for those with email.  While cost is not a major problem, it just takes time to fold, stuff, address and stamp a mailing.  We will also set up separate email lists for selected announcements/activities that you can request to receive.  These will include: FCR regular meetings, social/fun activities, work projects, local FCR related environmental action needs (letters, emails, phone calls), and local or state level environmental issues not directly FCR related (e.g. Coal issues, forest development issues, other indirect Cacapon river issues, etc). If you would like to be included in this system, even if just to get our letters,  email Rob Reiffen, at <reiffen@msn.com>, and indicate which type of notices you would like to receive. PLEASE DO THIS ASAP, so we can get this system started. (We do not sell our list!)

I hope to see you on the river.  Wave when you pass my cabin.

Ron Wilson,  President