Our History
A Strong Start
The accidental introduction of the highly invasive species purple loosestrife spurred community leaders Larry Lower and Gale Foulds to establish the Purple Loosestrife Taskforce in 2006. Kiernan O’Malley of WV Department of Natural Resources was brought in to determine the extent of the problem. O’Malley noted that no part of Warm Springs Run escapes the human footprint.
“The stream corridor is highly disturbed by mowing, construction, and channelization. This disturbance has caused purple loosestrife and other invasive species to thrive and spread.”
O’Malley’s full report can be found here.
As O’Malley put it, the stream itself “is literally a storm drain.” Runoff from streets, parking lots, and lawns flows directly into the stream, carrying trash, sediment, and various pollutants. Industrial sites adjacent to the stream introduce additional waste.
O’Malley concluded:
"Although the stream flows through the heart of Berkeley Springs, Warm Springs Run suffers from an “out of sight, out of mind” condition. It could be a wonderful resource but will require concentrated effort to restore it. Before any activity is proposed, the community needs to become aware of the stream, its important role in the watershed, and the impact people have upon it."
As a result of these observations, the Warm Springs Watershed Association (WSWA) was formed in 2008, with help from the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association, the Purple Loosestrife Task Force, the Potomac Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development, and the WV Department of Environmental Protection.
Since 2008, WSWA has worked tirelessly to make the community aware of the importance of the stream; in turn, the community has enthusiastically entered into a variety of partnerships with the watershed association. Together we have come closer to fulfilling the promise of Warm Springs Run and the area through which it flows.
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