Elkhorn Creek cleanup completed by Trout Unlimited Southern WV

By RealWV staff,

“We’ve been at this for many years now,” says Micah Bates, a member of Trout Unlimited Southern West Virginia. “We cleaned up four tons of trash and 96 tires last year alone.” 

Trout Unlimited is a national nonprofit with local chapters dedicated to stream and river conservation. According to their national website, they have more than 300,000 members across the country, “dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.”

Earlier this month, Micah Bates (Fayetteville, WV) and other members of the local chapter were back at it, cleaning out Elkhorn Creek in McDowell County. 

“It’s an exceptional trout stream,” Bates says. “We have grown to love it so much and want to continue to keep it productive.”

A crew of more than a dozen volunteers cleared several more tons of trash from the creek two weeks ago. 

Additionally, they installed informational kiosks “in hopes of educating anglers about the future issues of this area and that there are people who care not just about the fish but their public health.” If you are interested in joining Trout Unlimited Southern WV or participating in stream cleanups, contact Micah Bates at  mbates5640@gmail.com.