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Working to improve the Clinch, Holston, and Powell rivers in Virginia.
Our membership drive is underway to raise much-needed funds for our river programs. Each and every contribution makes a difference in our work! Just click on the donate button above, or if you prefer to mail a check, send it to UTRR, P.O. Box 2359, Abingdon, VA 24212. Many thanks for your support!
UTRR awards outstanding work
UTRR will present 2022 awards at the fall membership meeting September 15.
It is our delight to announce the Roundtable's 2021 award winners, even more so because we cancelled our 2020 awards program. We presented awards to these deserving and dedicated community members:
Local Group: Stream Sweepers for their hard work and perseverance in cleaning up the Clinch River, removing hundreds of tires and other debris.
Educator/Citizen: Maddie Gordon shown at left, owner of Clinch Life Outfitters in St. Paul, who leads the Stream Sweepers and also takes time to educate others about the Clinch as an important natural treasure.
Agency: VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation for all the efforts in launching the Clinch River State Park, an asset to our region for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Soil and Water Conservation District: Tazewell SWCD for providing outstanding alternatives for education and outreach during a pandemic. When education events had to be cancelled, educator Elizabeth Bennett began developing her filming skills through training and practice. She produced several videos that are posted online for schools and others to view. She also assisted the Roundtable director with alternate ways of safely hosting outdoor events, including the showing of the film, Hidden Rivers, with the assistance of the town of Tazewell.
Business Awards: We presented two, one to Abingdon Vineyards for hosting our successful art auction fundraiser (this is the second year) and allowing us to post art a month in advance to promote the event and the artists. The winery also partnered with us last year on a successful canoe/kayak river cleanup. The second award went to Tumbling Creek Cider Company for hosting our first fundraiser at their production facility. The outdoor event raised much needed funds and provided a fun evening for all.
Two Special Recognition Awards: The Virginia Highlands Festival received the first award for hosting a variety of environmental activities planned through Merry Jennings' committee, including a showing of the film Hidden Rivers, with the Master Naturalists, Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, Hungry Mother State Park, and the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center.
The second award went to the Holston Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists for their work on the Highlands Festival film showing, as well as another showing with the same partners in 2020 at a drive-in movie theater in Marion.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Local Group: Stream Sweepers for their hard work and perseverance in cleaning up the Clinch River, removing hundreds of tires and other debris.
Educator/Citizen: Maddie Gordon shown at left, owner of Clinch Life Outfitters in St. Paul, who leads the Stream Sweepers and also takes time to educate others about the Clinch as an important natural treasure.
Agency: VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation for all the efforts in launching the Clinch River State Park, an asset to our region for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Soil and Water Conservation District: Tazewell SWCD for providing outstanding alternatives for education and outreach during a pandemic. When education events had to be cancelled, educator Elizabeth Bennett began developing her filming skills through training and practice. She produced several videos that are posted online for schools and others to view. She also assisted the Roundtable director with alternate ways of safely hosting outdoor events, including the showing of the film, Hidden Rivers, with the assistance of the town of Tazewell.
Business Awards: We presented two, one to Abingdon Vineyards for hosting our successful art auction fundraiser (this is the second year) and allowing us to post art a month in advance to promote the event and the artists. The winery also partnered with us last year on a successful canoe/kayak river cleanup. The second award went to Tumbling Creek Cider Company for hosting our first fundraiser at their production facility. The outdoor event raised much needed funds and provided a fun evening for all.
Two Special Recognition Awards: The Virginia Highlands Festival received the first award for hosting a variety of environmental activities planned through Merry Jennings' committee, including a showing of the film Hidden Rivers, with the Master Naturalists, Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, Hungry Mother State Park, and the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center.
The second award went to the Holston Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists for their work on the Highlands Festival film showing, as well as another showing with the same partners in 2020 at a drive-in movie theater in Marion.
Congratulations to all the winners!
UTRR accomplishments in 2021
As we kick off our annual giving campaign we want to tell you how grateful we are for you.
Your support is beneficial in our continuing quest toward cleaner rivers as you can see from theses highlights of our 2021 accomplishments where we:
· Built rain barrels for water conservation for 100 citizens with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) support;
· Developed curriculum, “Teach The Clinch 2.0,” for the Clinch River Valley Initiative, edited by Carol Doss and Christopher Anama-Green, with Virginia Department of Forestry support;
· Funded high school student projects at their schools following their participation in the Clinch River Valley Initiative Youth Summit with Virginia Department of Forestry support;
· Provided citizens with safe disposal of their hazardous waste in partnership with Tazewell SWCD, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Dept., SATIRA, with Tennessee Valley Authority support;
· Prevented minerals from polluting the Clinch by assisting Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District create livestock mineral feeders for farmers;
· Interacted with citizens after the film, “Hidden Rivers,” at Virginia Highlands Festival with Holston River Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists. Showed the film earlier in the year with Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District, Tazewell, SATIRA with DEQ support;
· Regrouped when a project site was no longer feasible and moved plans to the Saltville Outdoor Classroom and the 4-H Center for 2022 work with Dominion Charitable Foundation support;
· Engaged a dozen excited children in their discovery of tiny macroinvertebrates in Clear Creek and other adventures in our summer camp with Norton Parks and Recreation Department;
· Involved 24 volunteers who removed 18 bags of litter, recycling 6 of those, from Wolf Creek at the historic Muster Grounds through our partnership with Sustain Abingdon; and
· Reduced pollution entering the Clinch River through projects done in partnership with Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners Program, and Canaan Valley Institute with DEQ support (see details on page two of the enclosed newsletter).
As we plan for even more accomplishments in 2022, we would really appreciate your support during this season of giving. We wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season.
Your support is beneficial in our continuing quest toward cleaner rivers as you can see from theses highlights of our 2021 accomplishments where we:
· Built rain barrels for water conservation for 100 citizens with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) support;
· Developed curriculum, “Teach The Clinch 2.0,” for the Clinch River Valley Initiative, edited by Carol Doss and Christopher Anama-Green, with Virginia Department of Forestry support;
· Funded high school student projects at their schools following their participation in the Clinch River Valley Initiative Youth Summit with Virginia Department of Forestry support;
· Provided citizens with safe disposal of their hazardous waste in partnership with Tazewell SWCD, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Dept., SATIRA, with Tennessee Valley Authority support;
· Prevented minerals from polluting the Clinch by assisting Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District create livestock mineral feeders for farmers;
· Interacted with citizens after the film, “Hidden Rivers,” at Virginia Highlands Festival with Holston River Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists. Showed the film earlier in the year with Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District, Tazewell, SATIRA with DEQ support;
· Regrouped when a project site was no longer feasible and moved plans to the Saltville Outdoor Classroom and the 4-H Center for 2022 work with Dominion Charitable Foundation support;
· Engaged a dozen excited children in their discovery of tiny macroinvertebrates in Clear Creek and other adventures in our summer camp with Norton Parks and Recreation Department;
· Involved 24 volunteers who removed 18 bags of litter, recycling 6 of those, from Wolf Creek at the historic Muster Grounds through our partnership with Sustain Abingdon; and
· Reduced pollution entering the Clinch River through projects done in partnership with Tazewell Soil & Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners Program, and Canaan Valley Institute with DEQ support (see details on page two of the enclosed newsletter).
As we plan for even more accomplishments in 2022, we would really appreciate your support during this season of giving. We wish you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season.
Welcome to our watershed
The Upper Tennessee River Roundtable is a non-profit organization with an overall interest in improving water quality in the Upper Tennessee River Watershed. Don’t let the name confuse you: the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable is based in Southwest Virginia and covers from the very tip of Virginia, Lee County, toward Wythe County. The Roundtable represents a total of seven counties and two cities. Our major rivers include the Clinch, Holston (pictured at left), and Powell. (Left image: USDA, top image: CRVI)
The Upper Tennessee River watershed covers three rivers in Virginia: the Clinch, Holston, and Powell rivers. The Roundtable is active in water quality improvement efforts in all three of these rivers. The greater watershed is host to numerous species of fish, mussel, and other aquatic life species. In fact, according to the Nature Conservancy, the Upper Tennessee River watershed greatly exceeds all other watersheds in the lower 48 states in terms of species richness and diversity!
At last count, our watershed had 48 imperiled and vulnerable fish and mussel species. This includes 21 federally endangered or threatened species! The Roundtable has been active in efforts to improve the numbers of individuals of threatened and endangered species in our region. Most recently, following a localized project undertaken by the Roundtable, the Lee County Isopod (pictured at left), at the time in danger of extinction, rebounded in greater numbers. (Image: Shane Hanlon, US Fish and Wildlife)
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Physical Address:
330 Cummings St
Abingdon, VA 24210 |
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2359
Abingdon, VA 24210 |
Phone/Fax:
Phone: 276-628-1600
Fax: 276-623-1185 |