The Clinch River Valley Initiative is an innovative, pioneering, and collaborative multi-year planning effort to build local economies in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, focusing on the Clinch River – one of the most biodiverse river systems in North America. Working at a watershed scale with several local partners, this grassroots effort has developed significant ownership and momentum with applicability for communities in Appalachia and beyond.
Utilizing a consensus-based approach, project partners are articulating and prioritizing goals for connecting downtown revitalization, outdoor recreation, water quality, entrepreneurship and environmental education along the clinch River, and developing an action plan to realize the prioritized goals as part of the effort. Strategies are being identified to connect downtown revitalization with outdoor recreation along the Clinch River Valley. Utilizing a regional planning approach, the project connects to cultural and natural heritage efforts including Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway, Round the Mountain, Crooked Road, and other artisan networks. Finally, the effort builds upon the unique cultural and ecological assets of the Clinch River to distinguish and create new possibilities in the communities along the Clinch as distinctive cultural and ecological areas, particularly around environmental education and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Building on a vision for the Clinch River Valley, which may be found below, five action groups are currently developing substantial actions around five goal areas as part of the Initiative.
By 2014, the Clinch River Valley will be a global destination based on its unique biodiversity, natural beauty, cultural attractions and outdoor opportunities. This collaboration will bring measurable economic, environmental and social benefits to the region’s communities while protecting the Clinch’s globally rare species.
The 5 goal areas are (click on each to view most recent meeting summaries):
- Goal 1: Develop a Clinch River State Park
- Goal 2: Develop and Integrate Access Points, Trails, and Campgrounds along the Clinch River
- Goal 3: Enhance Water Quality in the Clinch River
- Goal 4: Develop and Enhance Environmental Education Opportunities for all Community Members in the Clinch River Watershed
- Goal 5: Connect Downtown Revitalization and Outdoor Recreation Efforts along the Clinch River, and Expand Entrepreneurship and Marketing Opportunities
Several meetings have been held as part of the clinch River Valley Initiative, with numerous community events and meetings planned for 2012 and beyond. The Clinch River Valley Initiative originated at a forum in the fall of 2010 around Building Local Economies in Southwest Virginia, and is coordinated by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation, at the University of Virginia, and with the help of numerous local, regional, and state partners. The next meeting of the Clinch River Valley Initiative will be during the 2012 summer.
If you have ideas, questions, or would like to be added to the Clinch River contact list for announcements of future meetings, please contact Christine Gyovai at christineg@virginia.edu or 434-982-6464.
Summaries of these meetings are available below:
A summary for the February 29th meeting that was hosted by the Downtown Revitalization Action Group can be found below.
Special thanks to the Dept. of Forestry, the Dept. of Housing and Community Development/Appalachian Regional Commission, the Blue Moon Fund, and the University of Virginia for supporting this effort.
