CLEAR March 2021

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How to Find and Eat Ramps
by Duane Nichols 17 Mar '21

17 Mar '21

https://www.wildedible.com/blog/foraging-ramps/ Ramps: How to Forage & Eat Wild Leeks From an Article by Eric Orr, Wild Edibles, 3/2/2021 Ramps, ramsons or wild leeks, are one of the earliest wild edibles to emerge, and, for some, they're the holy grail of wild edibles. Historically ramps were regarded as a spring tonic in the Appalachians. Early settlers looked forward to ramp season after long, hungry winters. It would have been one of the first vegetables they had eaten in months. Foragers, foodies, and chefs dream all year about that uniquely pungent garlicky-onion flavor...the same flavor that odiferously permeates your pores to effectively stave off man and beast. Sustainably harvested ramps. Identification & habitat Ramps (Allium tricoccum) occur in Eastern North America from Georgia to Canada. They're easily recognized by their 1, 2, or 3 broad leaves measuring 1 to 2 1/2 inches wide and 4 to 12 inches long. They can have either red or white leaf stems. Red-stemmed ramps tend to have a stronger flavor than white. The leaves appear in early April and last until around mid-May. As May temperatures get warmer, the leaves will turn yellow and die. Look for ramps underneath dense deciduous forest canopy in well-drained soil that's rich with organic matter. They generally like north-facing slopes. There are some dangerous look-alikes so be sure the plants you pick smell like onion or garlic. Do not pick the dangerous Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) or False hellebore (Veratrum genus) by mistake. Again, make sure they smell like onion or garlic. If you're unsure, please let a knowledgeable forager confirm your find or just pass on picking. It may also be helpful to consult multiple references for more positive identification. Sustainability Unfortunately for ramps, they're super-trendy these days. Chefs, foodies, and other ramp-lovers flock to the mountains by the thousands for a chance to bask in their gourmet-ness. "Ramp feeds," known as ramp festivals now, have been taking a toll on ramp populations for years and the added pressure of their recent popularity has really put a hurting on their numbers. The implications affect conservationists and foodies alike. Cindy and I are conservationists first and foragers second. What this means for us is that ramping is not only unsustainable, but it gets more arduous each year as we climb higher and longer to find undiscovered ramp patches. Traditionally, the Cherokee dug, and still dig, ramps by leaving the roots. This is done by cutting off the bottom of the bulb with a pocket knife while it's still in the ground. It's really a simple process. Sustainably harvesting ramps -- the root is cut off and left intact in the ground. Harvesting Here are a few things you'll need to harvest ramps: Time This one is really important. It's way too easy to run up to the ramp patch after work with good intentions of sustainbly digging ramps. You get to the trailhead at 5:30pm and it's 6pm by the time you're digging ramps. The sun's about to slip behind the mountains and you're in a sudden hurry to get your ramps and get out of there. So you abandon your plan and jerk as many roots out of the ground as you can before running out. DON'T DO IT! Sustainably harvesting ramps takes more time, so you really need to make allowance for it. Plus it's a lot more fun to have a leisurely walk into the woods, not worrying about racing the waning light. If you can't give yourself the time to do it, please consider taking only greens and leaving the bulbs undisturbed. You won't need nearly as much time if you only harvest leaves! Sharp hunting knife Make sure it's sharp! A dull knife will do more harm than good--you'll end up mutilating the bulb so it's not useable as food and not viable as a plant. You may even want to touch up the blade as you dig, since the grit of the dirt will take your edge. You'll also want to make sure the blade is at least three or four inches so you can easily reach the root without disturbing the soil. If you insist on digging the root, use a hori hori knife to minimize impact. Backpack or shoulder bag I usually put a few plastic grocery bags in a backpack and then load a bag or two with ramps before putting them in my pack, which helps keeps the dirt out of the pack. The most sustainable way to harvest ramps is to cut only one leaf, leaving the bulb and second leaf to continue growing. This is least impactful on the soil, the plant, and the colony as a whole. The leaves, in my opinion are the best part, anyway, and taking only leaves is the best way to ensure the colony will remain viable. Sustainably harvested ramp. If you insist on taking bulbs, please dig sustainably: Using a digging knife or stick: Then carefully cut away the bottom third of the bulb with roots, leaving them in the ground. Gently pull back the dirt from around the bulb, being careful to leave the roots in the ground. Pull back just enough dirt to expose a little bit of the bulb so you can see where to put your knife. Then re-cover the roots with dirt and leave them to grow next year. That's all there is to digging. Please be judicious and don't take any more than you will use. I find that, when I overzealously harvest, it makes more work for me in the long run, because some ramps will inevitably go bad before I can get to them. There's not much more disgusting than the smell of past-their-prime ramps. And a few ramps go a long way so there's no need to stockpile them. Even though we practice sustainable harvest, I'm afraid the ever-inceasing demand will eclipse the slow procreation. So we've been looking into the possibility of cultivating our own ramps. I've always heard they'll survive almost anywhere in our Southern Appalachian region but will only propagate above 3000 feet here. We've successfully transplanted ramps that come back each year but our little patch hasn't spread (it's below 3000 ft.). According to North Carolina Extension Horticultural Specialist Jeanine M. Davis, ramps can be transplanted and cultivated from seed at much lower elevations. Apparently, it takes some effort to germinate seeds when climes are warmer than ideal, but it can be done. And once a good patch is established, it supposedly requires little maintenance. Jeanine recommends the book Having Your Ramps and Eating Them Too by the "Johnny Appleseed of Ramps" for more info on cultivating ramps. Storing & preserving Ramps are only in season for a month or so, but, for us, getting them is only half the problem. I usually come back from a good ramping trip with several pounds: enough for us to eat fresh before they go bad with a little extra to keep for eating later (I rarely go digging more than once a season unless I come home with a particularly light harvest). Both leaves and bulbs can be eaten and both are delicious. They're best used fresh, but both can be put away for eating later in the year. The easiest way to store ramp bulbs is by freezing: Simply cut off the greens, clean the dirt off the bulbs and cut off the roots (if your ramps still have roots). Then spread the bulbs out on a sheet pan or waxed paper so they are not touching and freeze. This prevents them from sticking together. Once they're frozen, put them in jars or plastic containers, seal tightly and put in the freezer for up to six months. You can also wrap them individually in wax paper and store frozen in sealed jars. They can also be pickled but we don't usually bother. The greens won't last long fresh and deteriorate when frozen. They can be dried, but they lose a lot of their flavor. We've found the best way to preserve them is by making ramp compound butter (see recipe below). A close second is ramp pesto. Either can be stored in the refrigerator in the short term or frozen for use later. For short term storage put ramps in the refrigerator as soon as possible. They should be stored uncleaned. If a refrigerator is not immediately available ramps can be kept with the bulbs submerged in a bucket of water and placed in a cool shaded area. The leaves will start to wilt in the refrigerator after 4 days or so and in the bucket after a day or so depending on temperature. Cooking & eating Ramp bulbs and leaves can be diced and used just as you would use onions, green onions, leeks, chives and garlic, but they are much more potent. They pair well with the following: pasta eggs chanterelles and other wild mushrooms potatoes stir fried and raw greens pork Some folks like to eat ramps raw. I like a little chopped up in a salad, but ramps as a cooked vegetable are a lot more fun. My favorite way to eat them is mixed into venison burgers or in ramp and white cheddar soup. And it's hard to beat ramps and eggs for breakfast. A few years back, Cindy came across this sweet little book from West Virginia called Mom & Ramps Forever! by Barbara Beury McCallum. There's some fun anecdotal history on ramps in there. It's also a collection of old timey recipes and stand-bys like pickled ramps and ramp champ - mashed potatoes with ramps. Here's one of the recipes... quick and easy and sounds tasty: Ramps With Watercress "Fry some bacon until crisp, remove the bacon then drain off part of the bacon drippings. Put washed cress into the pan with the water that clings to it. Cook covered, until tender. Garnish with crumpled bacon, finely chopped ramps, and some chopped hard cooked eggs." Unfortunately, Mom & Ramps Forever! is out of print, but it's a nice one for the collection if you can find it. INGREDIENTS 1 lb. softened butter 1 to 2 cups ramp greens, chopped 2 Tbls freshly squeezed lemon juice INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and pack in small containers. NOTES Use just as you would garlic butter. Sent from my iPad

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T & T Mine blow out in Preston County last Thursday
by Duane Nichols 08 Mar '21

08 Mar '21

Subject: T & T Mine blow out in Preston County > > The last information from DEP and FOC is that the treatment plant will be repaired by tomorrow and the pH at the mouth of Muddy Creek is now approaching 7 (neutral). > > No aquatic kills have been seen, but it would be extremely difficult in Muddy Creek. > > The pH appears not to have the dipped low enough to cause an acute kill in Cheat River or Cheat Lake as pH in Cheat Lake over the weekend was 6-6.5. The WV-DEP has a YSI deployed at the head of Cheat Lake and are expecting to see values perhaps no lower than the high 5s. > > I’m sure more info will emerge. A full article was in the Morgantown Dominion Post recently. .... DEP investigates mine blowout that sends acidic drainage into Muddy Creek, Cheat River .....from The Dominion Post, March 6, 2021 ALBRIGHT — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is investigating a blowout from the former T&T Mine Complex that is discharging into the confluence of Muddy Creek and the Cheat River in Preston County. Large amounts of highly acidic water, 10 times that of normal concentrations, and sediment are discharging from the former mine and has caused acid levels in Muddy Creek and the Cheat River to spike. The flow peaked at 6,200 gallons per minute Thursday afternoon, but has since dropped to 3,500 gallons per minute. The incident has since been reported to the agency’s spill line. Thursday’s event overwhelmed the WVDEP’s acid mine drainage treatment system, known as the T&T Treatment Facility, causing a pipeline entering a manhole to rupture. An estimated 300-500 gallons per minute was not going into the treatment facility. Staff from the WVDEP’s Office of Special Reclamation have been on site to investigate and implement a repair plan. “The flow has to decrease to where we can shut off the valves that regulate the water out of the T&T mine,” said the WVDEP’s Acting Communications Director Terry Fletcher. “This would cause water to build up in the mine and allow our staff time to make repairs at the manhole and better assess the situation.” Similar events have happened on three occasions since the initial blowouts at the T&T mine in 1994 and 1995, which overwhelmed previous AMD treatment systems. These events prompted the WVDEP to install the new T&T Treatment Facility, which treats up to 6 million gallons of AMD per day The WVDEP has yet to determine the cause of Thursday’s event, or prior events. There is speculation that periodic roof collapses within the T&T mine is displacing large volumes of highly acidic water at one time, but the agency has not been able to confirm this theory. Additionally, significant amounts of rainfall in recent days likely increased the volume of water in the mine and contributed to the current situation. Friends of the Cheat statement — Nonprofit watershed group Friends of the Cheat released this statement Friday: “It is with heavy hearts that we inform our river community that there has been another blowout related to the T&T mine system, and acidic and metal-laden water is again flowing through Muddy Creek. FOC staff noticed the disturbing hue of the water yesterday and found the pH reading 3.65. pH has dropped in the Canyon at ‘Decision Rapid’ to 5.8, and has stained the river-right extensively. “The WVDEP Muddy Creek Watershed Treatment Plant has not been able to handle the burden of the recent precipitation events. With precipitation projected to occur more often and with greater intensity over the next decade, we are left to wonder how often these events may occur. For the fish documented in Muddy Creek and the canyon, this is a major ecological setback. This is ever more proof that our work is not done, and the risk these abandoned mine lands pose to healthy ecosystems. “We will continue to push for restored water quality, innovation and will not accept this as the status quo for Muddy Creek. Now more than ever, SMCRA AML reauthorization will be critical to address the longstanding ecological damage continually caused by abandoned mine lands. We’re not out of the weeds yet.” URL: https://www.dominionpost.com/2021/03/06/dep-investigates-mine-blowout-that-…

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WVDEP Biological Assessment Rule Virtual Public Hearing - March 9, 6PM
by Duane Nichols 08 Mar '21

08 Mar '21

WVDEP Biological Assessment Rule Virtual Public Hearing - March 9, 6PM https://wvrivers.salsalabs.org/bioassessmentrulehearing?wvpId=1484761a-9d09…

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WVDEP investigating blowout at former Preston Co. mine that has caused acid levels in Cheat River, Muddy Creek to spike | WBOY.com
by Duane Nichols 06 Mar '21

06 Mar '21

https://www.wboy.com/news/preston/wvdep-investigating-blowout-at-former-pre… WVDEP investigating blowout at former Preston Co. mine that has caused acid levels in Cheat River, Muddy Creek to spike Sam HainesMar 5, 2021 / 05:50 PM EST Preston Posted: Mar 5, 2021 / 05:50 PM EST / Updated: Courtesy: Paul Kinder UPDATE (3/5/21 5:50 p.m.): ALBRIGHT, W.Va. – Friends of the Cheat has released a statement on the mine discharge in Preston County. “It is with heavy hearts that we inform our river community that there has been another blowout related to the T&T mine system, and acidic and metal laden water is again flowing through Muddy Creek. FOC staff noticed the disturbing hue of the water yesterday and found the pH reading 3.65. pH has dropped in the Canyon at “Decision Rapid” to 5.8, and has stained the river right extensively. The WVDEP Muddy Creek Watershed Treatment Plant has not been able to handle the burden of the recent precipitation events. With precipitation projected to occur more often and with greater intensity over the next decade, we are left to wonder how often these events may occur. For the fish documented in Muddy Creek and the Canyon, this is a major ecological setback. This is ever more proof that our work is not done, and the risk these Abandoned Mine Lands pose to healthy ecosystems. We will continue to push for restored water quality, innovation, and will not accept this as the status quo for Muddy Creek. Now more than ever, SMCRA AML reauthorization will be critical to address the longstanding ecological damage continually caused by abandoned mine lands. We’re not out of the weeds yet.” Friends of the Cheat statement Courtesy: Paul Kinder Courtesy: Paul Kinder Courtesy: Paul Kinder Courtesy: Paul Kinder Courtesy: Paul Kinder Courtesy: Paul Kinder ORIGINAL STORY (3/5/21 4:33 p.m.): The West Virginia Department of Environment Protection (WVDEP) is currently investigating a blowout from the former T&T Mine Complex that is discharging into the confluence of Muddy Creek and the Cheat River in Preston County. A press release from the WVDEP that was issued on Friday afternoon stated that large amounts of highly acidic water, 10 times that of normal concentrations, along with sediment are discharging from the former mine and have caused acid levels in Muddy Creek and the Cheat River to spike. Officials said the flow peaked at 6,200 gallons per minute on Thursday afternoon but has since dropped to 3,500 gallons per minute. The incident has since been reported to the agency’s spill line, according to the release. Officials said Thursday’s event overwhelmed the WVDEP’s acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment system, known as the T&T Treatment Facility, causing a pipeline entering a manhole to rupture. An estimated 300-500 gallons per minute were not going into the treatment facility, the release stated. According to the release, staff from the WVDEP’s Office of Special Reclamation are on-site to investigate and implement a repair plan. “The flow has to decrease to where we can shut off the valves that regulate the water out of the T&T mine,” said the WVDEP’s Acting Communications Director Terry Fletcher. “This would cause water to build up in the mine and allow our staff time to make repairs at the manhole and better assess the situation.” The WVDEP said similar events occurred on three occasions since the the initial blowouts at the T&T mine in 1994 and 1995, which overwhelmed previous AMD treatment systems. The release stated that these events prompted the WVDEP to install the new, innovative T&T Treatment Facility, which treats up to 6 million gallons of AMD per day. The release stated that the WVDEP has yet to determine the cause of Thursday’s event, or prior events. Officials said there is speculation that periodic roof collapses within the T&T mine is displacing large volumes of highly acidic water at one time, but the agency has not been able to confirm this theory. Additionally, significant amounts of rainfall in recent days likely increased the volume of water in the mine and contributed to the current situation.

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Rowlesburg flooding could be worst in 25 years | WV News | wvnews.com
by Duane Nichols 28 Feb '21

28 Feb '21

Rowlesburg flooding could be worst in 25 years | WV News | wvnews.com From an Article by Joseph Hauger, Preston News & Journal, February 28, 2021 ROWLESBURG — A Cheat River community is expected to receive some of the worst flooding in 25 years, according to the National Weather Service. Flood warnings remain in place for Preston County towns along the river, as well as those in higher elevations, where overflow from creeks and drains may cover roads and enter buildings. Current projections place the crest of the river in Rowlesburg at 22.3 feet at 7 p.m. Monday. The Cheat is expected to reach the flood stage of 16 feet at around midnight Sunday, if the forecast holds true. That crest would place Rowlesburg into the “major” flood category — which hasn’t been experienced by the town since Jan. 19, 1996, when the river reached 24.2 feet. The water will be nowhere near the devastating flood of Nov. 5, 1985, when the river at 36.9 feet crashed through the town. The last time Rowlesburg officially flooded was July 29, 2017, which was the sixth-worst for the town at 19.75 feet. One-to-three inches of rain is expected through Monday morning, adding to the runoff from the rapidly melting snow upriver. At about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the Cheat had reached 12 feet, up from 7 feet at 5:30 a.m., and from 5 feet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. According to the NWS: — At 16 feet, flooding begins in the Rowlesburg town park. — At 18 feet, W.Va. 72 is closed at the north end of Rowlesburg, and water surrounds houses near the park. — At 20 feet, Water flows under houses in low-lying areas, and will affect homes along Poplar, Elm, Catherine, Diamond, Church, Buffalo and Main streets. Nearly three feet of water will cover ball fields at the park. — At 22 feet, W.Va. 72 (Buffalo Street) is closed near Feltys Hill at the south end of town. Water approaches the intersection of Maple Street and County Route 80/8 at the east end of the Maple Avenue Bridge. Downriver in Albright, which also has suffered from Cheat River flooding through the decades, no flooding predictions are available. However, the community is part of the NWS flood warning in place. Flood stage in Albright is 27 feet, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, the Cheat was at 19 feet, rising from 15 feet at 4 a.m. Sunday and from 14.5 feet at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Towns have been proactive and reactive in the wake of the flood warning. The kitchen building at the Rowlesburg park has been hit several times, even when flooding is minor. It has been readied for another round of river water reaching its doors. Meanwhile, the Shop ‘n Save in Terra Alta was closed due to flooding Sunday afternoon while firefighters helped to remove water from the building and worked to channel water away from W.Va. 7. On Saturday, Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Preparedness in advance of potential flooding in 50 counties — everywhere but the Northern Panhandle. The declaration allows for the mobilization of resources to assist with preparation for any potential flooding or other storm-related damage. Additionally, Justice has activated the state Emergency Operations Center, and has instructed all state agencies to exercise their appropriate authorities. https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/rowlesburg-flooding-could-be-worst-in-25…

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CLEAR March 2021