The New River ValleyThe New River Valley is a region in the southwestern part of the state of Virginia, in the United States. It encompasses several counties and municipalities, including Montgomery, Pulaski, Floyd, Giles, and Radford, among others. The region is named after the New River, which flows through the area and is one of the oldest rivers in the world.
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What you can learn...
Environmental Justice
Local communities have galvanized Environmental Justice movements since the 20th century. However, these issues are present even today. In this section, we plan to educate readers about one event that led to EJ movements blossoming nationwide. We’ll also highlight key EJ terminology that is helpful to understanding literature and documentation on the topic. Finally, we will feature EJ groups who are active in the NRV and their missions.
In this section, you can learn:
In this section, you can learn:
- The Warren County PCB Protest and its origin.
- Common terminology used when discussing Environmental Justice.
- Organizations in the NRV with Environmental Justice Initiatives
Air Quality
Learning about air quality is crucial as poor air quality can have serious consequences on our health, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions. By staying informed about air quality issues, residents can take actions to protect themselves and their families, as well as advocate for policies and practices that promote cleaner air in their community. The website provides a compilation of various resources, including links to relevant air quality monitoring stations and educational material on common pollutants. The website acts as a central source of information for residents interested in improving air quality and reducing the health risks associated with air pollution.
In this section, you can learn:
In this section, you can learn:
- The concept of air quality and the main factors that affect it.
- The ways in which different pollutants can impact human health.
- The state of air pollution in the New River Valley region, including the sources of pollutants and the regulatory framework for managing air quality.
- A compilation of different types of resources available for accessing air quality data, such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizen science initiatives.
Water Quality
As water is extremely important in functioning our life and society, water quality issues are always at the center of discussion when we talk about environmental threats. In this section, we introduced basic science of water quality and how you can get access to the information needed to evaluate water quality near your neighborhood. Besides, we also provided a brief review of water quality issues in the Stroubles Creek watershed as a case study.
In this section, you can learn:
In this section, you can learn:
- What is water quality?
- What controls water quality?
- How can I find water quality information near me?
- Case study.
Land Use
How land is used by people, both in present and historical contexts, plays a major role in determining the quality of environmental and public health of a given area. This page provides a deeper understanding of what “land use” actually means and factors that determine how certain land can be used. It also explains historical and current land uses within the New River Valley, and the effect they have on the environment and local communities. Some of these land use types explored in this section include coal mining, logging, agriculture, urban development, and industrialization.
In this section, we:
In this section, we:
- Provide readers with a general understanding of what “land use” means by discussing basic land-use principles that can help readers understanding the importance of land use and how different land use types can affect them or certain populations.
- Explain how different land use types within the New River Valley can lead and have historically led to severe degradation of natural resources and native ecosystems, which subsequently affects local communities with vulnerable populations often experiencing the worst impacts.