Federal, local nonprofit partnership pushes for greener Berkeley Springs community

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. ( DC News Now ) — Protecting the environment has one Mountain State town busy making green infrastructure job one.

It is a model coordinated effort between Berkeley Springs, the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the federal government.

Despite all its small-town charm, attracting tourists to enjoy the mountain greenery, Berkeley Springs has faced challenges with flood control and stormwater management. Abandoned rail lines and gutted factories linger there from a day gone by.

“With green infrastructure, we’ve been able to bring in a lot of plants and native trees,” said town council member Rebecca MacLeod. “That really helps beautify the town. People don’t realize how hard they’re working to absorb the floodwater, control it, slow it down.”

The nonprofit, Chesapeake Bay Trust, has been helping with the commitment to a green community, a way to protect watersheds that feed into the bay.

“Whether it’s rain gardens, green roofs, cisterns, permeable pavements that actually help with flooding, it helps with stormwater runoff and that helps with water quality,” said Megan Diehl with the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been partnering with the town and the nonprofit. Samantha Rachko with the agency was in town to see the progress firsthand.

“This is such a beautiful small town,” said Rachko. “I know the citizens here take a lot of pride in this work and their community.”

The Trust and EPA have also been active on a similar project in Shepherdstown and Jefferson County, West Virginia.

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