Abby Chapple is honored for her environmental work

Abby Chapple received an Environmental Volunteer of the Year award from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for her 15 years of work with the Friends of the Cacapon River watershed association.

Chapple was honored in Charleston during the 10th Environmental Awards Ceremony for environmental stewardship efforts. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staffperson Ginny DiFrancesco from Romney sponsored Chapple for the award.

In 1999, Chapple became president of the all-volunteer Friends of the Cacapon River. The organization grew to more than 80 members and their mailing list to over 700 people, according to DEP information.

Friends of the Cacapon River members do highway clean-ups, monitor stream and river water quality and fish health and provide educational information on watershed issues at area festivals.

Ron Wilson is the association’s current president, but Chapple remains an active member. She is also on the board of directors of Potomac Headwaters RC & D Council and the Potomac River Watch, which has organized a consumer drug return program.

Chapple said the award was a big surprise and that she only learned of it a few days beforehand. She was impressed that 39 other environmental awards were given. Chapple said she was glad to see a lot of old friends at the awards ceremony.