Since February of 2014, Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance has been educating the public and working to protect West Virginia's water, safety, and public health, by hosting public meetings, contacting landowners, writing op-eds and letters to the editor, meeting with other conservation organizations, and communicating with our public officials. We do regular water monitoring, and partner with several organizations.
Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance offers internships for students interested in environmental science, community safety, social justice, graphic design, GIS mapping, historical records, and more. College credit is available through West Virginia Wesleyan College and others in conjunction with MLPA. Contact April Pierson-Keating (304-642-9436) for more information.
We also offer volunteer opportunities to help further our work. We are currently:
- regular stream monitoring along actual and potential pipeline routes
- research and community education
- coordinating and assisting with tours of gas development in the area
- writing (for website, articles, letters to editors, op-eds, letters to government officials)
- working with the WV DEP to monitor gas activity
- networking with community groups such as Buckhannon River Watershed Association
- networking with other conservation and action groups, both locally and regionally
- visiting our local officials on a regular basis
- participating in a Princeton study on fugitive gas emissions
- engaging local, state, and federal officials
- working with WV Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to assure the safety of our community
- attending conferences and trainings
- promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in WV
- and more
We are working toward:
- procuring funding
- increasing membership
- having a budget and staff
- performing a water survey for landowners along the MVP and ACP routes
- increasing our media presence
- increasing our community presence
- monitoring of FERC records on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
- non-violent direct action campaigns
- and more