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This report calculates a community-wide 2012 baseline inventory of GHG emissions for the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, including West Virginia University. This inventory lays the foundation for identifying the most promising energy-saving policies and projects that will save the City, its residents, and its businesses money while reducing GHG emissions and other associated pollution.

The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition is hosting the West Virginia Food Mapper application. This application maps and provides detailed information about various local food outlets, meat processors, and displays key statewide agricultural information. The web-mapper will allow West Virginia consumers and local-food businesses to easily connect and show where the West Virginia agricultural “Hot Spots” are located. Each location is a clickable feature that provides additional information, such as products offered, summary of services, location, contact information, and operating hours.

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This report provides a preliminary assessment of sites that, if improperly managed, could contaminate West Virginia American Water’s drinking water intake on the Elk River in Charleston. It was presented to legislators as they completed work on a bill to prevent future spills and to upgrade the protection of public water intakes across the state. It will also be useful as public utilities, local governments, and citizens across West Virginia engage in new source water protection efforts. This report was produced in partnership with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition.

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On February 7, Evan Hansen and Marc Glass sent a letter to legislative leaders summarizing initial results from in-home testing conducted by Downstream Strategies in the area affected by the Freedom Industries spill. 4-MCHM was detected in four of 10 samples of water distributed by West Virginia American Water to homes and businesses after flushing according to recommended procedures and after purging by Downstream Strategies personnel. These detections are not indicative of any potential pollution that may remain in plumbing systems (including, for example, hot water tanks).

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On January 21, Evan Hansen presented recommendations from this report to a joint House Judiciary/Health Committee Informational Meeting. On January 22, he presented an updated presentation to the Joint Water Resources Commission.

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On January 9, 2014, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection received an odor complaint for the Freedom Industries Etowah River Terminal site—a bulk storage distribution center holding thousands of gallons of chemicals along the Elk River, approximately 1.5 miles above the drinking water intake for West Virginia American Water's treatment plant. West Virginia American Water supplies drinking water to approximately 300,000 people in a nine-county area, including Charleston. MCHM and other chemicals are stored at the Freedom Industries site. This report outlines specific policy recommendations necessary to protect drinking water sources and prevent future chemical spills. It focuses on key issues, information gaps, and policy remedies as they relate to three environmental laws most relevant to the chemical spill, including the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. This report was produced in partnership with the West Virginia Rivers Coalition.

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Solar energy has the potential to be part of a bright economic future of West Virginia—a future built on a thriving and just economy rooted in the Mountaineer spirit of self-sufficiency. This report explains the benefits of solar energy and provides an overview of state policies needed to expand its deployment in West Virginia. This report was produced in partnership with The Mountain Institute’s Appalachia Program.

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In recent years, West Virginia and Pennsylvania have improved their regulation and oversight of water use and pollution from Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction. Both states now require recordkeeping and public reporting of key water quality and quantity information. In this report, we use these databases to document water withdrawals, fluid injections, and waste recovery and disposal, including the transport of waste to neighboring states. We also apply the concept of life cycle analysis to calculate the water footprint of the extraction phase of natural gas from Marcellus Shale. In addition, we provide recommendations for improving data collection and reporting requirements to appropriately inform future management decisions by policy makers, regulators, and operators. This report was written in partnership with Dustin Mulvaney at San Jose State University on behalf of Earthworks and was funded by a Network Innovation Grant from the Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation. Our archived webinar presents key results and recommendations.

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Downstream Strategies was contracted by the Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership funded through the Plains and Prairie Pothole Landscape Conservation Cooperative, to create a spatially explicit data analysis and modeling system for assessing fish habitat condition across the northern Great Plains. This report summarizes the data, methods, and results of the models created for five guilds of fish found across the Great Plains: darter guild, madtom guild, northern headwater guild, southern headwater guild, and turbid river guild. Generally, the results of this project are intended to enable a unique, broad, and spatially explicit understanding of the links between natural habitat conditions, human influences on aquatic habitats, and aquatic health.

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Downstream Strategies was contracted by the Midwest Fish Habitat Partnership to create a spatially explicit data analysis and modeling system for assessing fish habitat condition across the Midwest based on a range of metrics. This report summarizes the data, methods, and results of the three predictive models created for coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater fish assemblages, as well as the climate change vulnerability of each response. Generally, the results of this project are intended to enable a unique, broad, and spatially explicit understanding of the links between natural habitat conditions, human influences on aquatic habitats, and aquatic health.

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A multi-phased sustainable planning initiative may transform Ronceverte, West Virginia into one of the greenest small towns in rural Appalachia. Downstream Strategies and stakeholders at the Ronceverte Development Corporation's (RDC) Main Street program developed the Ronceverte Eco-Community Plan to enhance local economic growth and environmental sustainability. Stakeholders established a framework for the plan based on three primary components—water, energy, and community—with a particular focus on stormwater management, energy efficiency, renewable energy development, and enhancing quality of life for residents.

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This report explores the economic impacts of national monument designation in east central West Virginia. National monument designation is a special status bestowed upon federal lands possessing unique natural, cultural, or historic features. The proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument could support over 140 jobs and bring approximately $5.2 million in economic activity to the region. Click here to view a project brochure for the Birthplace of Rivers initiative.

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A poultry litter baling facility can help reduce West Virginia’s pollutant discharges to the Chesapeake. By creating compost, which is more stable and consistent than fresh litter, and exporting the compost from the watershed, nutrient loads delivered to the Bay are reduced. Among poultry growers, private foundations, and others, there is an interest in creating a self-sustaining business that creates and sells a value-added product like compost to help reduce nutrient loads in the Bay watershed. This study investigates how to quantify the environmental benefits of a poultry litter baling facility.

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There are very few certified organic farms in West Virginia. Based on surveys and interviews of West Virginia farmers, combined with economic, policy, and GIS analyses, this report identifies barriers and proposes recommendations for the expansion of organic agriculture across the state. This research was conducted in collaboration with the Indiana University School of Public Health.

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This report analyzes the fiscal impact of the coal industry on the Illinois state budget for Fiscal Year 2011 and finds that the overall impact amounted to a net cost for Illinois and its taxpayers. Key recommendations include implementing a state severance tax on coal, creating a permanent mineral trust fund, and conducting a detailed analysis of the full costs and benefits of grant programs supporting coal-related projects. The report was commissioned by the Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network, Faith in Place, and Eco-Justice Collaborative.

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The Central Appalachian coal industry has experienced a sharp decline in recent years, and the region faces significant challenges that are expected to result in an even greater decline in the coming years. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the numerous market and regulatory influences that are having an impact on demand for Central Appalachian coal and identifies which of the region's coal-producing counties are most vulnerable. Key findings can be downloaded here.

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Downstream Strategies was contracted by the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies through the Sportfish Restoration Program to create a spatially explicit data analysis and modeling system for assessing fish habitat condition within the Great Lakes Basin. This report summarizes the data, methods, and results of the models created for brook trout, walleye, coldwater species, large river species, and lithophillic species. Generally, the results of this project are intended to enable a unique, broad, and spatially explicit understanding of the links between natural habitat conditions, human influences on aquatic habitats, and aquatic health.

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Downstream Strategies coauthored this guidance document for West Virginia's municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). It provides definitions, details, and resources to help MS4s implement off-site mitigation and payment in lieu programs within their service areas. This report was produced in collaboration with the Center for Watershed Protection for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

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The Sandy Creek watershed in Barbour, Preston, and Taylor counties of West Virginia has been impacted by acid mine drainage pollutants. This watershed-based plan addresses nonpoint source contaminants from acid mine drainage and details stream remediation procedures that can be used to reclaim the waterway.

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This report analyzes the fiscal impact of the coal industry on the Virginia state budget for Fiscal Year 2009 and finds that the overall impact of the industry amounted to a net cost for Virginia and its taxpayers. Future costs associated with potential funding shortfalls for reclaiming abandoned mines were also examined. Key recommendations include the elimination of the two largest tax credits supporting the coal industry, the creation of a permanent mineral trust fund and increased funding for economic diversification in coal-producing counties. The report was funded by the Rockefeller Family Fund and the Sierra Club. The Executive Summary can be downloaded here.

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As energy costs rise across Appalachia, local governments are examining ways to increase efficiency and stabilize costs while also promoting the development of new economic opportunities. Two ways to achieve these goals are by improving the energy efficiency of aging public buildings and installing solar panels to replace traditional fuels whose prices are increasingly volatile. This project, headed by the Town of Alderson resulted in the development and adoption of a Community Energy Plan for Alderson, West Virginia that was adopted by the Town Council in May 2012. The plan provides a model for sustainable energy and economic development that may be adapted for other towns and counties across the Appalachian region.

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There is increasing demand for locally grown and raised food in West Virginia, and a growing number of farmers and local food businesses are working to meet this demand. This report examines the existing local food supply chain infrastructure in the state, including processors, aggregators, distributors, and retail markets. The report includes profiles of some of West Virginia's local food businesses and a directory of local food resources. The report was produced for West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition and West Virginia Community Development Hub, with funding from the Benedum Foundation and the blue moon fund.

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This report analyzes the fiscal impact of the coal industry on the Pennsylvania state budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 and finds that the overall impact of the industry amounted to a net cost for Pennsylvania and its taxpayers. Future costs associated with potential funding shortfalls for abandoned mine reclamation and the legacy costs resulting from longwall mining damage were also examined. Key recommendations include the implementation of a coal severance tax and the creation of a permanent mineral trust fund. The report was commissioned by the Center for Coalfield Justice.

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The Elk River headwaters in West Virginia provide habitat for a diverse range of species including trout, birds, and rare crayfish. This watershed protection plan provides a blueprint to ensure that, even with development, sediment and fecal coliform levels remain low and the watershed's sensitive surface waters are protected. It identifies causes and sources of pollution, including streambank erosion, agriculture, developed areas, and wastewater. It then identifies management measures and cost estimates, documents potential partners and funding sources, and outlines milestones and a schedule for watershed projects.

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Several coal-producing states in Appalachia also boast significant wind resources. This report identifies barriers to wind development in Appalachia and suggests methods for overcoming these barriers. Barriers include those related to geography, environmental impacts, policies, and economics. The report concludes that there are many opportunities for wind development in Appalachia, even in its coal-producing counties. This report was produced in partnership with The Mountain Institute, with funding from the US Department of Energy.

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This report provides information and analysis illustrating the opportunities for developing distributed forms of renewable energy in Kentucky and finds that Kentucky has enough renewable energy resources to provide at least 34% of the state's electricity generation in 2025. Distributed energy generation is defined as the generation of electricity and heat, or the capture and reuse of waste heat, at or near the point of consumption. The technologies and related resources examined for this report include solar photovoltaic electricity, solar heating and cooling, small and community-owned wind power, forest biomass, combined heat and power, landfill gas-to-energy, small and low-power hydroelectric, and geothermal heating.

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This report, published by the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, examines the creation of a permanent mineral trust fund in West Virginia - the Economic Diversification Trust Fund, which would convert non-renewable natural resources into a source of sustainable wealth that serves the state today and in the future through targeted investing. Income from the fund could be used to diversify the economy, make much-needed investments in infrastructure and human capital, lower future tax burdens, and deal with costs associated with past and future mineral extraction. Downstream Strategies contributed research and analysis of future production of coal and natural gas in West Virginia and the resulting performance of the trust fund.

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Despite West Virginia's mountainous terrain, many farms and much agricultural land exist in the state. However, much of the produce consumed in West Virginia is imported from out-of-state. This report examines how increased vegetable and fruit production could benefit the state in terms of food security, local economies, and increased revenue for farmers. The report was produced for West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition and West Virginia Community Development Hub, with funding from the blue moon fund.

7.7mb Spatial Analysis of Coal Mining Impacts on Eastern Kentucky Watersheds (2010)
Surface coal mining has historically been and continues to be a prevalent industry in the eastern coalfields of Kentucky. Surface mining methods of coal extraction impact the land, air, water, watersheds, local communities and public health. When overburden is cleared or the surface is impacted in order to extract coal, those impacts to the watershed can be calculated based on area and proximity to certain sensitive features. Using publicly accessible data, this report uses GIS to model, quantify, and report those impacts.

5.2mb Central Appalachia Prosperity Project, Phase 1-Objective 1: Collect Existing Research and Information Instructive for Appalachia (2009)
1.4mb Central Appalachia Prosperity Project, Phase 1-Objective 3: Identify Federal, State, and Local Funds, Programs, and Policies that Can Help Appalachia Transition Toward a Green Economy (2009)The Central Appalachia Prosperity Project (CAPP) is a one‐year privately funded initiative to create a plan for the region’s transition to a clean energy economy built on green jobs and industries, healthy communities, protection of natural resources, and restoration of assets that have been depleted or damaged by past activities. Modeled loosely on the Presidential Climate Action Plan, the CAPP plan will contain detailed recommendations for changes in federal, state, regional, and local policies and programs to help the region accomplish this transition.

3.6mb Taxing West Virginia’s Coal Reserves: A Primer (2009)
Downstream Strategies and the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy reviewed the Reserve Coal Valuation Model used by the West Virginia State Tax Department and published a primer on the system.  Downstream Strategies is continuing research utilizing GIS to recreate the state model using coal and landowner data. This GIS-based model assesses coal reserve values and links those values to owners.