WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling Jesuit University biology students, along with Professor Dr. Ben Stout, will assist the West Virginia Water Research Institute and West Virginia University with a $350,000 grant to expand a regional water quality monitoring program called Three Rivers QUEST.

The Colcom Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based private foundation dedicated to fostering a sustainable environment, provided for the launch of the Mon River QUEST in 2010 after monitoring began in 2009 on the Monongahela River through a U.S. Geological Survey grant. The effort expanded to become Three Rivers QUEST (3RQ), with Colcom Foundation contributing more than…

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CLARKSBURG — Area cities participating in a statewide program on how to address vacant and run-down properties are pacing themselves, officials say.

Weston, Shinnston and Fairmont are among 17 municipalities in the BAD Buildings Program, an initiative of the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University.

Morgantown, WV – Andrew Stacy has joined the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI) as its new public relations coordinator. WVWRI is a program of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University (WVU). Stacy is a 2010 graduate of WVU, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations.

In his new role as public relations coordinator, Stacy will coordinate and implement the outreach activities of the WVWRI. He will be responsible for developing communication strategies that enhance WVWRI’s image as well as promote its mission.

Stacy will play a key role in the development and distribution of email news announcements, program brochures, newsletters, fact sheets and website content for WVWRI. He also will assist with all aspects of event planning and implementation from inception to conclusion. Stacy is eager to dive into his new role and looks forward to what a day on the job will bring.

“I most look forward to meeting new people, facing new challenges and spreading the word about the great projects the WVWRI is working on,” said Stacy.

Prior to joining the WVWRI, Stacy worked for the West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA), a non-regulatory state agency. There, Stacy worked along with his colleagues to help landowners implement conservation best management practices on their land.

“We provided cost-share programs as an incentive to help landowners (primarily farmers) implement conservation best management practices on their land,” said Stacy. “We also did stream restoration using natural stream design methodologies. During a declared state of emergency, we would be among the first responders to clear out any blockages of streams caused by flooding.

“Working for the WVWRI is similar in that it is in the environmental field,” he continued. “Because of this, there hasn’t been as much of a learning curve. I was able to come in and hit the ground.”

In addition to his work in the environmental field, Stacy also has experience with legislative issues. His work as an intern for the WV Legislative Office of Reference and Information provided him with a thorough understanding of the relationship between federal, state and local agencies. That understanding will be a huge benefit for him in this role with WVU.

While he comes with extensive experience in public relations and environmental issues, WVWRI and WVU are also proud to welcome this veteran to their ranks. Stacy served his country in the U.S. Navy as a second class Petty Officer stationed aboard the USS Chosin (CG-65) out of Pearl Harbor, HI, from 1999-2004.

“Since my time in the Navy, I have always known that whatever I did I wanted to help people,” said Stacy. “I wasn’t always sure how I would help them. That’s why I have stayed in the environmental field. It’s a hot button topic right now and will always be an issue we have to deal with—and it is something that affects everyone.”

In his role with WVWRI, he will be able to fulfill his dream of helping people and providing environmental assistance.

“We are very fortunate to have acquired Mr. Stacy as an addition to our staff,” said Tamara Vandivort, WVWRI associate director. “His experience and education are a great fit to the WVWRI dynamic. With Mr. Stacy on board, we look forward to the opportunity to interact and engage more with water resource stakeholders not only in West Virginia, but nationwide.”

Besides having a job that brings him pride, Stacy also is happy to be back home. “I am thrilled to be back in Morgantown and working for the WVWRI,” he said. “I missed the community and people of this area.”

Contact: Andrew Stacy; WVWRI; (304) 293-7085;

Andrew Stacy; [email protected]

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About the West Virginia Water Research Institute

WVWRI is a program of the National Research Center for Coal and Energy at West Virginia University. Founded in 1967, WVWRI is funded through federal, state and private sources. It serves as a statewide vehicle for performing research related to water issues. WVWRI is the premier water research center in West Virginia and, within selected fields, an international leader. Information about WVWRI may be found at www.wvwri.org.

MORGANTOWN - A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that changes in the quality of water in the Monongahela River are minimal, despite 8 years of steady oil and gas drilling in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Most contaminants found in groundwater during this survey were attributed to coal mining, not gas extraction. According to a local expert, that has been the trend since close monitoring of the Monongahela River began in 2009.

“People jump to the assumption that the problem was with the gas industry, and they may have had perfectly good reasons to think that, but when we started monitoring the river in July of 2009, we very quickly found out that a lot of the salts are the sort of things you’d find out of coal mine drainage,” said Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute.

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