DANVILLE – The West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA) and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will hold a public information session at 6:00 p.m. on June 21, 2012 regarding the Little Coal River Stream Restoration Project. The meeting will be held at the Madison Danville Community Center at Lick Creek Community Park in Danville. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public about the Little Coal River Stream Restoration Project and answer any questions the public may have in regard to the project.

“We are having this meeting so that the general public can gain an understanding of the project,” said Judith Lyons, WVCA Watershed Manager for Southern West Virginia. “We hope to separate some of the fact from fiction about this project and gain support from the community.”

This summer, the WVCA, in cooperation with the WVDEP, will restore a 15-mile stretch of the Little Coal River. The stretch of river, which starts near Danville and ends near McCorkle, is located in the Guyan Conservation District. The Coal River Watershed, which includes the Big Coal River, Little Coal River and the Coal River, has been severely impacted over the years.

The primary goals of the restoration project are to reduce sediment entering the river, improve water quality and enhance fish habitat. This will be accomplished by placing wood and rock structures in the river. The structures will be placed at certain points in the river, which will accelerate water flow and flush away silt. These sediment-free pools allow fish and other aquatic habitat to flourish.

The Little Coal River Stream Restoration Project is a cooperative effort of the West Virginia Conservation Agency, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Guyan Conservation District.