FAYETTEVILLE — Do you like clean streams and rivers?

Prove it.

Join the Plateau Action Network on March 20 at Smokey’s On The Gorge for a spring fundraiser; all proceeds will benefit local watershed protection.

Stephanie Danz, the organizer for the fundraiser, said because water is such an integral part of life it’s important to help those keeping it clean.

“It’s all about the water,” she said. “It’s a life force. I know PAN is doing good work. They’re honest, vigilante and are always testing streams that flow into the New River and where do we get our water?”

PAN, which launched in 1997, is a nonprofit citizens’ coalition working with the community to promote responsible economic development and sustainable environmental management. PAN’s main focus right now is sustaining the Wolf Creek Watershed, which is a tributary to the New River.

Danz, who was lured to the area by rafting and has yet to leave after 20 years, said the benefits of clean water are endless. She stressed that it’s not just about drinking water.

“If we’re playing in the water — which we do here — and when we go out there and take our kids or our grandkids we want to make sure the water we’re playing in is clean and not come home with a disease.”

The theme for the fundraiser is “Think Globally, Act Locally” and will focus on appreciation and awareness of local organizations working to promote sustainability in their communities, said Levi Rose, the Wolf Creek Watershed coordinator.

“It’s to know what’s going on,” Rose said. “There’s a core group of people that know what they’re (organizations) about, but the 3,000 people around Fayetteville may not know.”

A number of organizations, including The Fayette County Farmer’s Market, The Fayette County Green Advisory Team, Create Fayetteville, The Learning Co-op and Kula, will have booths set up during the fundraiser to help educate those in attendance.

The event will feature a silent and live auction featuring artworks by Tamarack artisans as well as local craftsmen. Featured artists are Meredith Gregg, Wendy Ackison, Ginger Danz, Eric Autenreith, Doug Coleman, Ed Klimek, Brian Van Nostrand, Julie Wingard and more.

Adventure items from several whitewater outfitters also will be available.

Randy Gilkey and the Boatmen, as well as The Wild Rumpus, are set to play.

The event starts at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by a dinner from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The menu consists of four pasta dishes: pasta with a pesto alfredo sauce, pasta primavera, pasta with red sauce and meatballs and/or sausage and shrimp fra diavolo.

The Smokey’s On The Gorge salad bar as well as a dessert are included.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for teens (12 to 18 years old). Free for children under 12.

Tickets can be purchased at Active Fitness, Cathedral Cafe, City Slickers (Beckley), Diogi’s, Fayetteville CVB, Hatcher’s Music, Pies and Pints and Water Stone Outdoors. Tickets also will be sold at the door.

Rose said the main goal for the event is to get people more in tune with their surroundings.

“If you’re aware of what’s going on in your community,” he said, “you have a greater buy in the environment around you.”

— E-mail:

cjackson@register-herald.com