The New River Conservancy (NRC) is pleased to announce the Wallace & Peggy Carroll Vigilance Award winners from West Virginia will be presented to WV Rivers for the Advocacy Group of the Year and Aquatic Ecologist National Park Service, Jennifer Flippin for the WV Volunteer of the Year Award. Eve West, Chief of Interpretation at New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River will receive the Doug Blatney Public Service Award, one of the highest honors NRC can bestow upon an individual. The Awards will be presented at The Gaines Estate on August 9, 2026 as part of the “Journey’s End” event from 3:00 – 6:00 PM.
The Wallace and Peggy Carroll Vigilance Awards honor the spirit, dedication, and perseverance that former Winston-Salem Journal publisher and editor, Wallace Carroll, brought to the battle to save the New River from the building of two dams in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, which culminated in the creation of 26.5 miles of the New River in North Carolina to be designated “Wild & Scenic” by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Andrew Downs, Executive Director for the New River Conservancy says “Our awardees are stand out examples of the deep commitment the community and the New River Conservancy share for the one-of-a-kind New River.”
The Advocacy Group of the Year recognizes a group of individuals bound together with a common purpose. Advocacy may involve any or all of the following efforts: stopping or limiting development inconsistent with the goals of River protection; successful lobbying for legislation to protect the River; advocating for the River through education and outreach.
NRC Communications Director, Lisa Stansell – Galitz says “The staff and team are incredible partners in our mission to protect the watershed. Participating in New River clean ups, helping with the huge lift of Conservation Day at Grandview State Park and with every move show the care and accountability of an advocate.” With a mission to conserve and restore West Virginia’s exceptional rivers and streams , WV Rivers not only aligns with the goals of the award, but also with the goals of NRC.
The Volunteer of the Year recognizes an individual who, within the past year, has participated in a significant way to preserve, protect, and restore the River. Jennifer Flippin has a long history of volunteering for the New River Conservancy and the New River Clean Water Alliance, a task force led by the New River Conservancy.
Dave Bassage, New River Gorge Program Coordinator for the New River Conservancy, “Jen’s longtime dedication to going above and beyond with our cleanups as well as representing the Park on our steering committee for the New River Clean Water Alliance and just pitching in whenever we need a little extra help in West Virginia.”
Eve West
Ranger Doug Blatney was a New River State Park Ranger, tireless warrior for the natural world, community educator, explorer, and a very good friend to New River Conservancy. The Conservancy created this award in loving remembrance of Doug Blatney whose energy, love, and commitment to the natural world has inspired countless others to pick up the torch. Eve West exemplifies these qualities every day in her work with the New, Gauley and Bluestone Rivers.
Dave Bassage remarked, “Eve has been an invaluable resource for me since I started with NRC over five years ago. I consult with her on a wide range of topics and if there’s anything National Park Service related I have a question about, she’s the first person I go to for guidance. I consider her a friend as well as a colleague and think she’s highly deserving of this award.”
The New River Conservancy is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that has worked for over 50 years to protect the waters, woods and wildlife of the New River Watershed. Purchase tickets for Journey’s End HERE.
Cover photo by RJ Michael of Joe’s Images
WV Rivers Staff
Jennifer Flippin