Woodrow Wilson High School Wetland Restoration

A FY2018 §319 Project

Klancey Burford

November 14, 2022

The Piney Creek Watershed in southern West Virginia has been plagued by high fecal coliform loads, with the Watershed Based Plan noting Cranberry Creek being of particular concern.

Investigation of this problem showed the man-made pond at Woodrow Wilson High School as a major contributor to fecal coliform loads due to a large waterfowl community living at the pond.

The Piney Creek Watershed Association & their many partners decided to undertake a large restoration project to restore the pond to a wetland, adding an intermittent stream channel, and pollinator garden.

This change would be more inline with the natural conditions of the area and help reduce fecal coliform by making it less desirable for waterfowl. Over time, natural processes in the wetland should trap bacteria and other pollutants keeping them out of nearby streams.

- Intermittent Stream Channel
- Pond
- Pollinator Garden
- Woodrow Wilson High School
- Beckley ARH Hospital

Map of project area

The project was created with the following timeline:

Project Proposal Finalized: July 2017

Design Completed: March 2020

Phase 1: April 2021

Animal relocation and pond dewatering

Phase 2 May 2021 - July 2021

Construction of stream channel and wetland

Phase 3 May 2021 - September 2022

Pollinator Garden Planting & Accessibility Features

October 2022 Project Completion

Phase 1: Dewatering

Dewatering was completed with the help of the Raleigh County School Board personnel over a period of a couple days

Two temporary stone sediment basins were created to filter the out flowing water during dewatering.

The pond embankment was then breached. The excavated materials were placed upstream, with the sides and bottom of the breach cut being covered with mulch and straw.

The sediment basins were removed before moving onto Phase 2.

The next step was to relocate the wildlife of the pond.

Relocating the wildlife of the Woodrow Wilson Pond

Over 100lbs of fish including bass, catfish, carp, and small crappie were caught and moved to a private pond by Ameri-corps Associates, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, WVDNR, and WVDEP. Further eight ducks were unable to fly to adjacent waterways, and were moved to a private duck pond in Wyoming County by a group of concerned local residents.

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Phase 2: Construction

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service engineers designed a plan to restore the wetland and drainage channel. ALL-CON LLC won the contract as the low bidder.

The drainage channel being lined with jute matting.

July 6, 2021 was the final inspection of earthmoving

At this point, the wetland was created but quite far off from the inspiration renderings of the site.

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Phase 3: Enhancement

WWHS biology students started seeds of native pollinator species in May 2021. Volunteers maintained the seedlings in the greenhouse on the campus of WVU Institute of Technology over the summer.

In August, volunteers from WWHS, the New River Master Gardeners, the Beckley Rotary Club, Raleigh County 4-H, the WVU Tech Women's Soccer Team, and others came together to plant the garden.

The Beckley Fire Department watered the newly planted garden as needed throughout the fall.

One of the interpretive signs for the pollinator garden.

During the fall of 2021, carpentry students from the Raleigh County Academy of Careers and Technology built and installed walking bridges across the drainageways. Lumber and materials were purchased with a grant from the Beckley Area Foundation

On Earth Day 2022, the first organized educational event was held at the wetlands. Over 30 Girl Scouts attended and learned about the importance of wetlands, the water cycle, and other environmental topics.

Scouts also helped plant trees and shrubs in and around the wetland.

Is it working?

Initial water quality improvements show promise with better results expected as the wetland matures.

Map showing the decrease in Fecal Coliform across the site

Phase 4?

Two enterprising tenth-grade students Ram Asathambi and Thomas Spencer, began a campaign to fund a boardwalk to the wetland to provide easy access to view the site and serve as an outdoor classroom. The students started a fund-raising campaign by notifying local businesses, elected officials, friends, and fellow students of their project. So far, they have raised over $40,000.

Ram Asathambi (left) and Thomas Spencer (right) stand before the wetland area.

This project would have been impossible if not for the coordination and collaboration of a huge array of partners. We thank them for their contributions and efforts.