United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
West Virginia Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





West Virginia Chesapeake Bay

Abram Creek, part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Grant County, is being restored. Acid mine drainage from previous mining activities in the area has resulted in the loss of aquatic life in Abram Creek and many of its tributaries.
photo of partners The goal of the project is to improve water qualityrestoring aquatic life and recreational fisheries. In 2006, NRCS provided $60,000 through WHIP to improve aquatic habitat. West Virginia State Conservationist, Kevin Wickey (third from left) joined Governor Joe Manchin III and other partners announcing the Abram Creek Restoration project on April 19, 2008. ...More Info

West Virginia’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed is the land that drains into the Potomac River and its tributaries and a small area that drains into the James River. Fourteen percent (14%) of West Virginia drains into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay drainage area in West Virginia includes Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton, and small portions of Preston and Tucker counties. The headwaters of the James River is in Monroe County.

Like all of the Bay States, West Virginia has been actively involved in pollution reduction programs for over twenty years.

Bay program partners agreed to develop and carry out cooperative and voluntary Tributary Strategies to reduce the flow of nutrients and sediment loads to the Potomac River, and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay.

Additional Chesapeake Bay resources

Success Story Service Center | RC&D Office Program
acrobat icon Diamond of the East Potomac Headwaters

PDF (727 KB)

WV Potomac Headwaters Watershed Partnerships for Conservation Action
Jefferson County WHIP Partnership Projects Benefit Bay and Farmers Ranson WHIP
Riparian Buffer Establishment in Hampshire County Romney CREP
Preserving Farms Protects the Bay Philippi-East Area Office FRPP
Riparian Buffers Benefit Farm to Potomac Moorefield CTA, WHIP
FRPP Grand Slam Philippi-East Area Office FRPP
WV Potomac Headwaters Land Treatment Watershed Project Moorefield Service Center PL-534
Abram Creek Restoration State Office WHIP

Last Modified: 04/30/2008

< Back to West Virginia Home