New River Gorge Seeking Summer Volunteers

The New River Gorge National River is looking for volunteers to assess the health of the New River’s fish and aquatic invertebrates.

The resource management division of the park is seeking the volunteers for its long-term ecological monitoring system. Park officials say the sampling efforts by volunteers could entail long work days wading in the New River.

The fish assessments involve the use of electric shocks, which stun fish and bring them to the surface. Biologists say the fish are identified, measured then released back into the river after electrofishing.

The aquatic invertebrate assessment entails the collecting of bugs, algae and plant samples.

The park service says the volunteers not only help the New River Gorge, but also gain job skills and a better understanding of nature.