Mission: To improve the natural qualities of, increase the public concern for, and promote the enjoyment of the Deckers Creek Watershed.
Deckers Creek is a scenic tributary to the Monongahela River in north central West Virginia. From its headwaters outside the historic town of Arthurdale, Deckers Creek meanders through Preston County into Monongalia County, where it descends through a steep scenic gorge.
This beautiful section of Deckers Creek is filled with waterfalls, boulders, and rock slides, contains world class kayaking, and is frequented by kayakers, rock climbers, bikers, and swimmers. From here, Deckers Creek passes through several communities and into Morgantown, where it empties into the Monongahela River.
The biggest threat to the watershed is acid mine drainage (AMD). This product of abandoned coal mines destroys the environmental quality of Deckers Creek and its tributaries, turns the waters red-orange, and creates acidic conditions in which fish and macroinvertebrates cannot live.
Over the years, Deckers Creek has been degraded by numerous pollutants. These pollutants include, but are not limited to, AMD, bacteria from combined sewage overflows, heavy metals, sediment, trash, and general abandonment, which negatively impact the 64-square-mile watershed.
Through remediation projects, trash clean-ups, community outreach, and environmental education, FODC has managed to more sustainably clean and manage Deckers Creek, turning the creek from a liability into a community asset.
Friends of Deckers Creek is working to clean up the decades of environmental degradation that have been inflicted on the watershed. To learn how you can help or to become a member, please visit our Join page.
