West Virginians for Public Lands
April 2024
Advocacy in Washington: Making Sure WV Voices are Heard
This past month, West Virginian advocates for public lands and clean water for all hit Capitol Hill for meetings with U.S. Senate and House staff.
Maria Russo, Clean Water Campaign Coordinator with West Virginia Rivers Coalition and the State Lead of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, along with the Coalition partners, gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to commemorate the 13th annual Chesapeake Bay Day. The Coalition advocates for clean rivers and streams for all people and communities in the Chesapeake Bay region. The group met with staff from both WV U.S. Senate and Congressional offices, discussing the importance of continued conservation investments that provide critical support to the states, local governments, communities, conservation groups, and farmers throughout the region.
Maria Russo and other members of the Choose Clean Water Coalition met with staffers from Senator Manchin’s office.
Legislation discussed included Small Watershed Grants (SWG), Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants, funding for the Chesapeake Science & Monitoring Program, and the Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA) Act. The West Virginia Bay Day team included individuals from the Cacapon Institute, Cacapon & Lost Rivers Land Trust, Chesapeake Conservancy, The Downstream Project, Downstream Strategies, Elks Run Watershed Group, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and National Parks Conservation Association.
Olivia Miller, Mike Jones, and David Lillard get ready for their next meeting to discuss the vital importance of Mon Forest Headwaters and ways to provide permanent safeguards.
Samatha Nygaard (NPCA), Kate Armentrout and Brando Mehlinger of Active Southern WV, and Mike Jones clown around before another meeting about the serious issues facing our NPS.
WV Rivers Public Lands Campaign Coordinator Mike Jones was on the Hill twice. First, Mike, along with Olivia Miller from WV Highlands Conservancy and David Lillard from the Downstream Project, talked with staff from Senator Manchin and Senator Capito and Representatives Miller and Mooney offices about permanent safeguards for 14 Mon National Forest headwaters. The team shared personal stories of growing up recreating on Shavers Fork, the importance of headwaters for clean drinking water, and polling data that shows 85% of West Virginians favor permanent safeguards for these headwaters. Click to learn more about the Mon Forest Headwaters. If you support permanent protections, please consider signing this petition.
In mid-April, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) held its annual lobby day to talk about adequate funding and the importance of our National Parks Service (NPS) to tell all of America’s stories. Mike supported NPCA lead Samantha Nygaard and members of Active Southern West Virginia as they shared information about New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and other national public lands in WV. Recreation use in national public lands (and throughout WV) is increasing. Funding and personnel must keep pace with this increased use.
Mike Jones commented, “It is a great honor to represent our WV public lands and clean waters in our Nation’s Capitol!”
Your Advocacy Makes a Difference All over the State
Public advocacy leads to big results for our public lands, waters, and communities. You have answered the call, and made a difference:
- Coonskin Park in Kanawha County was under threat from plans to expand Charleston’s airport. That plan called for filling in the forested areas and hiking trails in the park for runaway expansion. Local park users said, “No, this is OUR park.” Over 11,000 signed the petition, put out yard signs, and held meetings to Save Coonskin Park. The Airport Authority has now announced that it has “paused” the runway expansion plans and will focus on other projects. The Save Coonskin Park group will stay alert, ready to oppose any new plans to destroy Coonskin Park. You can still sign their Petition HERE.
- The Department of Interior (DOI) rule to modernize oil and gas leasing on federal lands has received final approval. The new rule will increase bonding requirements, adjust reclamation costs for inflation, and end costly non-competitive leasing. Now, fees paid by applicants will reflect actual costs. We asked you to support new rules to protect our federal lands. You responded and made a difference: 588 WV Rivers members sent comments in support of the DOI revised rules for oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
- It’s old news now – but your efforts during the WV Legislative Session made a difference. Y’all sent over 35,000 messages to state lawmakers, and helped defeat bad ideas that could have opened our public lands to widespread timbering and undefined “economic development” or that could have limited the ability of communities to utilize air monitor data to protect local areas.
This is about 50,000 contacts to your elected officials stating your strong support for our public lands. Keep up the great work. Advocacy matters. We’ll keep you informed of opportunities to work for good public policy for our state public lands.
Need some advocacy pointers? Helpful hints are provided by WV Environmental Council, WV Trails, and West Virginia Rivers Coalition. Want to meet in person with your WV State Senators (you have two of them) or Delegate? Learn more about being a District Advocate. When you’re ready, we invite you to SIGN UP. We’ll help you every step of the way.
Blackwater River Named One of America’s “Most Endangered Rivers”
American Rivers has just released its list of the 10 Most Endangered Rivers (MER) in America for 2024.
West Virginia’s own Blackwater River has the “honor” of making that list of the MER for 2024.
The MER listing indicates that the Blackwater is under threat of increased contamination by acid mine drainage by the currently proposed route for Corridor H. A press release from the WV Highlands Conservancy explained that the proposed route threatened the Tucker County recreation economy. Groups are calling for the federal and state highway authorities to select a “Northern Route” for Corridor H in the Tucker/Davis area.
The highway authorities announced a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study to consider both the currently preferred route and another, northerly, route. Public Comments were accepted until late March 2024.
The Forest Service determined in that portions of the Blackwater River are eligible for designation as a Wild and Scenic River. Care must be taken to assure that the status of this unique river is preserved – with highways planned to conserve and protect wild and scenic waterways and sensitive trout streams, scenic vistas and cultural historical sites, avoid impacts on endangered species, and make sure our public lands are available to future generations.
Quick Takes on Our Public Lands News & How to Get Involved!
Iconic view of the Grist Mill at Babcock State Park.
State and federal legislation is only a small part of Public Land advocacy for the Mountain State. The best way to show your love of our local, state, and national public lands? Go see them! Here’s some quick takes of important news and opportunities to get involved:
Wildlife corridors allow animals to cross over (or go under) busy highways and help connect natural hunting and migration patterns. Research shows that wildlife corridors reduce animal/automobile impacts by 80%. West Virginia leads the nation in deer/vehicle collisions resulting in the death of over 10,000 deer in 2023. 15 bears were also killed. Wildlife corridors can protect animal populations and assure they thrive. More information can be found HERE.
Social Media exposure increases visitation to National Parks. Parks with high levels of social media posts have 16-22% more visitation.
EXPLORE Act: The “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act” has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. With bipartisan support, EXPLORE ACT will address access, modernize the user experience, and otherwise enhance our enjoyment of federal public lands. Here’s the BILL HR 6492 to read.
Submission to our “Create the Mon” Digital Gallery by Abigail Montgomery. (@_abimontg on Instagram.)
Speaking of Congressional Legislation: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has “reported” (approved and sent to the full Senate to consider) about 60 lands and waters bill. This Congress ends at the end of the year. After an election, a new Congress is formed, and that will happen in January 2025. It has not happened yet in this Congress, but sometimes, with a backlog of committee-approval lands bills and a Congress ending, a “package” of multiple bills might be put together. We’ll keep an eye out for such an idea for our public lands – and let you know.
Support our public lands: West Virginians for Public Lands (WVPL) believes that West Virginia public lands, waters, and the wildlife that inhabit them are intrinsically valuable, and these special areas should be preserved. Is this something that you believe in too? We’d love you, your business, or your organization to be a part of this vision. Sign up HERE or click the button below.
Public Lands on Social: Be sure to tag WVPL on your pictures! Use #wvpubliclands for any local, state, or national public land; and use #monforestheadwaters when you enjoy a Mon Forest headwater. Check us out here:
FACEBOOK: wvpubliclands
X (Twitter): @WV4PublicLands
Instagram: wvpubliclands
Meet Your Public Lands: Big History in Small Parks
What’s the old saying? Good things comes in small packages. It is certainly true for West Virginia state park system.
Meet some of our smallest State Parks. They may be small, but they are BIG in history and other stories about West Virginia:
- Fairfax Stone State Park: Only 4 acres, Fairfax Stone is a boundary marker settling a 1700s border dispute between Virginia and Maryland. It also marks the spot where the Potomac River begins. The park is at the junction of Tucker, Grant and Preston counties.
- Berkeley Springs State Park is a mineral spring spa in use since Colonial American times. George Washington’s bathtub is here! Spoiler Alert: Washington did visit here, but the ‘bathtub’ was rebuilt in the 1930s! This State Park gem is about 5 acres located at 2 S. Washington St., Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 (Morgan County).
- Tu-Endie-Wei State Park: Tu-Endie-Wei is a Wyandotte word meaning “point between two waters.” This 4-acre park commemorates the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. The park is in Mason County at #1 Main Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550.
Small parks, but big adventures. Try visiting a new Wild and Wonderful WV state public land this summer.
Fairfax Stone marks the boundary between Maryland and West Virginia – and the start of the Potomac River.
