Casey Shrader Recognized

Casey Shrader, WV NRCS State Biologist was recognized for Partnership Development to Improve Fish Habitat for Second Creek, WV.

Casey initiated a first time partnership between NRCS, the Greenbrier Valley Conservation District, West Virginia Conservation Agency, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and Trout Unlimited to initiate stream restoration for a trout stream in southern WV. Second Creek is degraded due to installation of a combination dam and low water crossings causing the stream to become braided and during high flow to erode the stream banks. The resulting condition is a loss of deep pools for the trout fishery, elevated stream temperatures and crossing bridges to be undercut. Casey contacted interested parties and formulated a Special Project request using Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)funds. The plan is to use natural stream restoration patterned after the David Rosgen methodology. The request was funded in July 2006 with an appropriation of $107,000.00 of WHIP funds. Casey developed a Contribution Agreement with the Agencies that in the past had divergent single purpose approaches to addressing stream problems. This agreement has coordinated tasks of the Conservation District chairing the restoration committee. The WVCA is surveying and designing the restoration with oversight by the WVDNR. The environmental assessment, public meetings, and long-term monitoring/aquatic surveys are a joint DNR and TU responsibility.

The partnership and plan development by Casey will not only result in restoration of a unique aquatic fishery in southern WV. The coordination has resulted in the development of new partnerships in West Virginia between agencies that defines new goals, improved levels of cooperation and is meeting NRCS goals at reduced federal cost.

State Biologists, State Resource Conservationists, and State Conservationists, nominated individuals who made outstanding contributions to the conservation of this nation’s wildlife and fish resources. The awards were announced in the January 2008 NRCS Biology Newsletter, Special Awards Edition.

<  Back to February News and Views