W.Va. (WOAY) – In West Virginia, with streams winding through hills and past coalfields, the health of waterways often falls into the hands of those who live closest to them. With state agencies stretched thin and pollution incidents on the rise, residents are increasingly stepping up where regulators can’t. The West Virginia Stream Watch app was created to bridge that gap.
“This app was created to bridge a gap that is currently in place between community observations and real action,” said Maggie Stange of West Virginia Rivers Coalition. “It empowers anyone who wants to make a difference.”
When something looks wrong in a local waterway – an oily sheen, foam buildups, discolored water – there hasn’t always been a clear path for West Virginians to do something about it.
This app puts the power back into the hands of the people.
“There is one thing that residents and anglers and folks that live out here can do to monitor the streams and rivers. And this is called the West Virginia Stream Watch app,” said Than Hitt, senior scientist with West Virginia Rivers Coalition.
The West Virginia Stream Watch app is a free, easy-to-use tool that empowers residents to document water quality issues in real time. Designed by West Virginia Rivers Coalition and Trout Unlimited, the app allows users to submit photos, GPS coordinates, and field observations straight from their phones. Those reports go directly to scientists at WV Rivers, who review them and, if necessary, escalate them to state agencies.
“What it allows you to do, is to use your cell phone to document stream conditions and take photos that are reported to my office,” Hitt continued by saying, “If there appears to be a water quality violation, we’ll work with you to report that to the state.”
The app works through a survey-style app called Survey123. It doesn’t require cell service to use, and the step-by-step setup instructions are available online at wvrivers.org.
Every report goes straight to Hitt’s desk. He cross-references them with existing permits and known trouble spots, helping identify patterns that may indicate illegal discharges or pollution events.
“It lands on his desk, and he [Dr. Hitt] will cross-reference those reports with existing permits or other environmental issues that we know are in the area or the region,” Stange said.
In a state where clean water is often promised but rarely delivered, experts say the laws aren’t the problem.
“The picture has to get into the right hands. Otherwise, our water quality standards are only written down on paper. We’ve got to make them real. This matters; it matters for public health, and it matters for economic development. Water security is for us all,” Hitt said.
The app has already been seen to make a measurable impact. A report submitted through the app from Shannon Branch, a tributary to the Tug Fork River, prompted an investigation by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
“They witnessed stringy white material showing up not only in the water but all over the area surrounding it. There was a smell of stinky, rotten eggs,” Stange said. “So that angler reported that pollution incident to us. And then we were able to submit a report to DEP, which prompted an investigation.”
This occasion is proof that the app can make a difference.
The sulfuric smell in Shannon Branch was tied to hydrogen sulfide, a potential indicator of serious water quality and health issues.
Even in the face of government inaction or resource gaps, the app gives residents a sense of agency.
“This tool gives people the chance to have some agency. This gives them the power… if you have a cell phone, you have some of the strongest technology in your pocket,” Stange said. “Take a photo, send us the information, drop us a pin of where they’re witnessing this pollution, and then report it to us.”
From mountain hikes to backyard creeks, West Virginians are being asked to keep an eye out and speak up. This tool can help everyday trail-goers and scientists give the state’s waterways an extra hand.
“If they’re out on a hike and they see something, send us a note and let us know what you’ve seen. The more people that are using the app means that we’re going to have stronger data and a better idea of what is happening in our streams statewide,” Stange said.
Developers say this app is mainly a way to document pollution and problems with local water.
“This app is really designed to help document pollution. While we love to see healthy streams and rivers, those kinds of submissions bog us down and make it harder for us to address the concerns that people are submitting,” Stange said.
With thousands of miles of rivers and streams running through the state, protecting West Virginia’s waters can seem daunting. But with a phone in hand and a watchful eye, residents are proving that something as small as a picture can make a big difference.
