Liability Converted to Asset

Program or Category: Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), Conservation Education

Overview: In 2001, a major flood on the Elk River in Kanawha County, West Virginia, left a wake of destruction. One of the most visible damages was the loss of a large area of riverbank on the campus of Herbert Hoover High School. The washout area undermined and exposed the foundations of two classroom buildings and created problems for the school.

Accomplishments: A site visit by Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel indicated the site was eligible for technical and financial assistance through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). The washout area was filled with rock and the actual riverbank was restored by constructing a toe of large shot rock, then rebuilding the bank using graded limestone rock. A large bench was created to break the slope and create extra stability.

Program Benefits to Community: As expected, the area has been very stable and no further erosion has occurred. An unexpected benefit was that the area turned out to be a natural outdoor classroom. While not intended, the area took the shape of a small amphitheatre, complete with a bench for facilitated seating, overlooking the scenic Elk River. Several of the teachers at the high school wasted no time in utilizing the area for an outdoor education center. The area has since been enhanced with wildlife nest boxes and bird feeders, and students are continually coming up with ideas for further improvements.

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