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On May 10th, 2025, the West Virginia Water Research Institute held its second annual Mon River Sweep, which had a turn out of around 70 volunteers, including WVU students, staff, and members of the Morgantown community. As part of Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s (ORSANCO) Ohio River Sweep Season, the Three Rivers Quest (3RQ) Common Waters Program, housed at the West Virginia Water Research Institute(WVWRI), organized the event with help from Ascend WV for a 5 hour clean up, both on and off the water. Volunteers had the opportunity to collect trash on foot and by kayaking.

The first annual report for the Common Waters initiative is now available! 

On June 20th, 2024, to celebrate West Virginia Day, volunteers including WVU students, staff, faculty, and broader Morgantown community collected over 50 bags of trash from the waters, banks, and trails along the Monongahela River in Morgantown, WV. As part of Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission’s (ORSANCO) Ohio River Sweep Season, the Three Rivers Quest (3RQ) Common Waters Program, housed at the West Virginia Water Research Institute (WVWRI), spearheaded the event, supporting their mission to preserve and protect the Monongahela, Ohio, and Allegheny Rivers. Ascend WV, dedicated to promoting the beauty and outdoor recreation of West Virginia, provided food, drinks, and free kayaks for the event. 

Private support from the Colcom Foundation for West Virginia University and the West Virginia Water Research Institute is providing $3.5 million in financial resources to help bolster environmental sustainability and water research efforts at WVU and throughout the region.