New report highlights concerns and goals for Ohio River Basin waterways

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – Concerns about water quality are common throughout West Virginia and the greater Ohio River Basin, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation and the Ohio River Basin Alliance.

The report is based on 31 listening sessions conducted throughout the region, including several in West Virginia and Appalachian Ohio. The report shows widespread concerns like contamination from sources like PFAS chemicals, flooding, and the quality of water infrastructure.

Heather Sprouse of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, which helped run the listening sessions in West Virginia, said these concerns are universal. “We spoke with communities in Southern West Virginia, we spoke to folks in Wheeling and Huntington and Parkersburg, and, while each community has its specific set of priorities, the overarching themes are the same,” Sprouse said.

The report also shows that people support investing in restoration of the region, both to support public health and to drive economic growth.

Sprouse said this report is a milestone that the Ohio River Basin Alliance and its partners will use to design a region-wide restoration plan for the waters Ohio River Basin. The groups aims to deliver that plan to Congress before the end of this year, with the goal of securing federal funding to support restoration efforts.

Read the report here.

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