West Virginians for Public Lands
October 2026
West Virginia Opposes Revocation of the Roadless Area Rule
Thank you for speaking up with us!
You responded! You told the U.S. Forest Service NOT to repeal the Roadless Area Rule. 1,955 individuals signed the Petition to oppose the Forest Service’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the proposed Rule that would repeal the US Forest Service Roadless Areas Rule. That number included 1,585 West Virginians and 370 persons from 36 states and the District of Columbia!
National groups claim that more than 1 million people filed comments and signed petitions opposing the revocation of the Roadless Area rule. The Forest Service admitted that in the first round of comments, more than 99% of the comments opposed the revocation of this important protection.
Roadless areas in West Virginia include some of the most iconic landscapes in the state: Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Loop, Tea Creek, North Fork Mountain, and Hills Creek Falls.
The vast majority of roadless areas are managed for recreation: hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and dispersed camping. The Roadless Areas in the Monongahela National Forest (Mon Forest) are near headwater streams that provide habitat for native Brook Trout, freshwater mussels, hellbenders, and the Candy Darter (among others!), are important ultimate drinking water sources, and provide recreation opportunities. Some of these headwaters are also eligible for Wild and Scenic River designations.
The Forest Service now must consider ALL the comments and Petitions. We will keep you posted of any decisions the Forest Service reaches.
We continue to urge the Forest Service to abandon this ill-conceived idea for revocation of the protections provided for our National Forests by the Roadless Area Rule.
Create the Mon Exhibit in Elkins
A scene many of us know and love: walking the trail through the Mon Forest, with the river winding alongside and two kayaks quietly paddling downstream. Art by Tara Morris.
The Forest refreshes us, inspires us, and humbles us with its infinite mysteries. We invited artists across the Mountain State to go into the Mon Forest – and be inspired. The result is their visions to “Create the Mon.”
More than 20 artists shared 51 art pieces with us. This forest-inspired art is on display now through October 31 at the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center, Second Floor of the Darden Mill, 101 Railroad Avenue, Elkins. The Exhibit is open Thursdays through Sundays, 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Exhibit is sponsored by West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, A Waterway of Life, and West Virginians for Public Lands.
The exhibit opened with a reception on Friday, October 2, 2026, during the Mt. State Forest Festival. Art and Forest lovers were given the first look at the art – and an opportunity to vote for the “Fan Favorite” artwork. The “Fan Favorite” was 10-year-old Rory Parker. The award was sponsored by local artists at “Artists at Work.”
Remember, the Forest is a muse.
Film highlights Wild & Scenic River protections for 16 Monongahela National Forest Headwaters
If you haven’t seen rebirth in person yet, we look forward to sharing this film with you virtually!
Mon Forest Headwaters are gorgeous, they provide habitat, and they provide ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Sixteen of these headwaters are so remarkable that the Forest Service says they are eligible for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
A Waterway of Life has made a film about these important waters and the campaign asking Congress to designate these waters permanently as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Premiere screenings of rebirth: wild & scenic headwaters have taken place in Richwood, Thomas, Marlinton, and Elkins.
Watch for the upcoming release of the film on YouTube. We’ll keep you posted when the film is available for viewing.
Public Lands Short Takes
Enjoy the serenity of the Monongahela National Forest. Photo by Kent Mason.
• No Data Centers on Public Lands. We’ve all heard about the data center plans that seem to be popping up all over West Virginia. We are watching these plans closely. So far, no data center has been proposed for our West Virginia State Parks, Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, or Rail Trails. A national group has now formed about plans for data centers in other public lands. More information can be found at www.notonpubliclands.org. The website lists some projects already planned for OUR public lands. Keep public lands in public hands.
• Travel Management Rule changes. Proposed revocation of the Roadless Rule is not the only bad idea from the U.S. Forest Service. The Forest Service just closed comments regarding its proposed change to the Travel Management Rule. These proposed changes will flip the presumption that currently keeps our National Forest free from motorized trails and off road vehicles to a presumption in favor of motorized access. Motorized trails are expensive to build and maintain, threaten streams with sedimentation and other negative impacts, and destroy the quiet and contemplative use of our National Forests. Again, we’ll keep you posted about any action you can take.
• Some good news about National Forests. Federal Judge Vince Chhabria entered an Injunction on October 13, 2026 blocking the Forest Service plans to move its headquarters from Washington. DC, to Salt Lake City, and prevents the Forest Service from closing regional offices. This is just an initial injunction, but hopefully it will stand to protect the people and locations of our National Forests.
• Special Use Permit Would Give Private Logging interests 10 year use of our Mon Forest Service roads. Here in the Mon Forest, the Forest has announced plans to issue a Special Use permit giving a private coal company a 10-year authorization to use Mon Forest Service Roads 249 and 223 to haul supplies and haul coal. The draft decision indicates that there is ‘no significant impact’ from this use. However, prior potentially unauthorized use did show sedimentation, stream damage, and other negative consequences from private coal interests using these roads. A “special use permit” is normally issued for a one-time or short time use – not ten years of use by 125-ton trucks multiple times per day on Forest Roads 249 and 223. Concerned groups in West Virginia will be filing objections to this draft decision prior to the deadline.
• Cut your Christmas Tree. Want to pick your own tree? Get a permit at Mon Forest Christmas Tree Permits to cut a Christmas tree from the Monongahela National Forest.
Please share this news update with anyone interested in our local, state, and national public lands here in West Virginia. Ask them to sign up for public lands news updates.
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