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Cheat Lake drawdown
by Duane 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

> From: Andy Datsko > Date: November 15, 2012 12:48:55 PM EST > To: Duane <duane330(a)aol.com > Subject: Cheat Lake 10 foot drawdown > > Duane- > > Just wanted to let you know that due to construction at the dam we will be pulling the lake down gradually over the next week or so to about 860' for the week of November 27th and will hold it at that level for about 7-10 days weather permitting. > > We are in process of installing a 2nd debris boom at the dam and will need the reservoir down to construct the attachment hardware to the face of the dam for the new debris boom that will stretch from the dam to the west shore line. Once the work is down we will return to our normal winter operating schedule. > > Since we are within our FERC permitted limits for the winter and seasonal docks have been removed from the reservoir we will not be putting a public notice out on this but we just wanted to give you advanced information if CLEAR receives any questions on why the lake is down. > > Andy

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DID YOU HEAR IT, THE OLD BRIDGE IS DOWN
by Duane 26 Sep '12

26 Sep '12

At exactly 10 am today, the final portion of the old Ices Ferry Bridge was blown into the water. Did you hear it? We can look to YouTube for video coverage, hopefully! Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge Comes Down. BUILT BEFORE DAM, IN 1922, 90 YEARS AGO
by Duane 21 Sep '12

21 Sep '12

http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=55115&ty… Ices Ferry Bridge Comes Down With just one blast, 90 years worth of history fell into Cheat Lake Thursday. Contractors working for the state Division of Highways began the demolition process of the Ices Ferry Bridge Thursday. The boom shook the Cheat Lake area at about 10:02 a.m. Thursday as the first portion of the bridge came down. The rest of the bridge will be demolished next Wednesday. The bridge carried motorists across Cheat Lake from 1922 until its closing in May 2011. It will give way to a new bridge scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. Danny Johnson of Johnson Brothers Trucking says he drove over the old iron bridge dozens of times. Now, Johnson's company is hauling the steel from the bridge to be recycled. "I used to haul a lot of coal across this old bridge. I can't believe I'll haul it out of here now," Johnson said. A crane will be used to lift the steel out of the water onto a boat that will then move the steel to the lake's banks. The steel will be cut up and placed on trucks headed toward the Pittsburgh area for recycling. "They're going to cut it up and do it all; we're just going to haul it all away," Johnson said. Johnson said it will likely take three weeks before all the steel is removed from the lake. Workers established a large radius for the explosion that echoed throughout the Cheat Lake area. Brayman Construction Corp. of Saxonburg, Pa., took down the bridge and building the new one. The new bridge is expected to open by the end of the year. The replacement cost is about $12.5 million. Dozens of residents lined the banks of the lake, hiked up to the top of hills and even went out on boats to get the best view of the demolition. Joshua Clopeck brought his family to watch. He said he drove on the bridge in 2011 and a new structure was needed. "It's weird when you cross it. You look down and can see the water and it was old and rickety," he said. "I understand it needed to be improved ... especially with the boats needing to get through at some point." Justin Burns also attended the demolition. He said the bridge was a landmark, but it's time was up. "It's been 15 years since I crossed it, but out with the old and in with the new," Burns said. SEE VIDEO ON WEB SITE ABOVE . . . Video of Collapse - Uploaded by IcesFerryBridge

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"Thar she blows" on Cheat Lake
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

The new bridge deck is on the right, scheduled to open the first part of November 2012. The Cheat Lake dam construction was started in 1912, some one hundred years ago, finished in 1926. The old bridge shown here was built not that long thereafter, around 1936. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge 3/4 blown in Morgantown, WV
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGIOcetK6k0&feature=youtube_gdata_player Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge blown up this morning
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnzkH-Umy88&feature=youtube_gdata_player Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Waterkeepers Paddle for 40th Anniversary of Clean Water Act « EcoWatch:
by Duane 19 Sep '12

19 Sep '12

http://ecowatch.org/2012/anniversary-clean-water-act-2/ Waterkeepers Paddle for 40th Anniversary of Clean Water Act Potomac Riverkeeper Waterkeepers from around the country joined more than a hundred paddlers on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. to rally for clean water on Sept. 15. Paddlers, including more than 30 Waterkeeper organizations from Shenandoah Riverkeeper in Virginia to Klamath Riverkeeper in California, brought their boats, kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards and congregated under Key Bridge. They demonstrated solidarity for the Clean Water Act by paddling together towards the Georgetown waterfront. It was the largest gathering of Waterkeepers on the Potomac ever. It was an amazing sight. Marc Yaggi, Waterkeeper Alliance executive director, opened the rally, addressing both the spectators at Georgetown Waterfront Park and paddlers in the water. He was followed by speakers, Jeff Corbin senior advisor for the Environmental Protection Agency for Chesapeake Bay, David Baron managing attorney for Earthjustice and local Waterkeepers, all in agreement that the Clean Water Act works. The Clean Water Act works for our economy, our health and our communities. Clean water creates jobs and it’s more cost effective to invest in clean water than it is to clean polluted water. Clean water is essential for healthy families and communities. As Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield reminded the audience, the human body is about two-thirds water and those living in the DC area “are mostly Potomac River.” “We have a right to clean water! Let’s uphold the Clean Water Act!” Baron said passionately. “[It] was a ray of hope 40 years ago.” But now polluters and many in Congress are rolling back commonsense environmental protections. Waterkeepers all around the nation use the Clean Water Act every day to protect local waterways. But is that enough? “Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is water. Shouldn’t 70 percent of the world work on protecting that resource?” Corbin said. The rally to celebrate the Clean Water Act’s 40th Anniversary was a call to everyone to participate in the protection of clean water and to fight for the health of their families and communities. “I want to say thank you to the 1972 Congress,” Merrifield said. Let’s ensure that 40 years from now, we can say thank you to ourselves for upholding what the 1972 Congress intended for future generations—drinkable, fishable, swimmable waters. Visit EcoWatch’s CLEAN WATER ACT page for more related news on this topic. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Test. Share. Protect. World Water Monitoring Day 2012! | Healthy Waters for EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region
by Duane 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/2012/09/test-share-protect-world-water-mo… Test. Share. Protect. World Water Monitoring Day 2012! By Trey Cody, Student at Penn State & EPA Intern Did you ever wonder how information is gathered on the condition of our streams, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters? Or how we know whether it is safe to use these waters for drinking or recreational activities like fishing, swimming, and boating? September 18th is your day to not only ask these questions, but to get out and be involved in the data collection yourself… because September 18th is World Water Monitoring Day! You don’t have to consider yourself a scientist to help keep tabs on the health of your local watershed. As part of World Water Monitoring Day, you can do your own monitoring tests and enter your results into an international database. Simple monitoring kits are available for purchase by anyone interested in participating. The health of our water bodies is important more than just one day per year, which is why the World Water Monitoring Day Challenge runs annually from March 22nd (the United Nations’ World Water Day) until December 31st. Events are held, and tests can be conducted and results submitted at any time. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage people everywhere to TEST the quality of their waterways, SHARE their findings, and PROTECT our most precious resource. Watch this video for background on the event and to learn how to test for the four indicators (Turbidity, pH, Temperature, and Dissolved Oxygen) of the World Water Monitoring Day Challenge. By just testing these four parameters – and it’s easy to do – we can learn a lot about the health of our waterways. There are lots of materials out there to help you learn more about the importance of water monitoring. EPA’s Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality page and other outreach materials can help get people excited about water quality. So get out and assess your waters! Tell us about your water monitoring experiences and what you found in your data collection. About the Author: Trey Cody has been an intern with EPA’s Water Protection Division since graduation from high school in 2010. He is currently attending the Pennsylvania State University. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of September will focus on Action and Education. Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Boat Passage Under Cheat Lake Bridges
by Duane330＠aol.com 28 Aug '12

28 Aug '12

Duane, RE: New Bridge Construction on WV 857 Over Cheat Lake Date: August 28, 2012 The boating access (under the bridges) has not been cut off. It has been and will continue to be open to the public for the remainder of the project. Demolishment has begun on the existing bridge and access is still provided. The only exception to this will be the days that the spans on the existing bridge will be blasted. This will occur around the middle of September. Even then, access will only be temporarily restricted at the time of blasting. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Brett Fellers | Project Engineer, Brayman Construction Corporation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOTE: It would appear that the new Bridge should be completed and open to traffic by mid-November, or shortly thereafter (before snow flies, if snow flies this winter). DGN

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Go Jump in the Lake! « EcoWatch
by Duane 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

http://ecowatch.org/2012/go-jump-in-a-lake-2/ Go Jump in the Lake! Marc Yaggi This summer, grab your family and make the time to get out and enjoy your local waterway! Whether it’s swimming, surfing, paddling, snorkeling or just laying on the beach and enjoying the sound of surf breaking, take the time to enjoy YOUR right to clean, swimmable waters. Today, we are celebrating Swimmable Action Day—a day to advocate for our right to clean, swimmable waters for all. Why? Because the more we use our waterways, the more we will understand, and value, the importance of clean water to our communities. Access to clean swimmable waters gives us a day of recreation without fear of harmful pollutants, provides a sense of place and inspires us to act as stewards of our waterways. And that is exactly what we need today—an army of informed citizen advocates who understand that everyone has a right to clean water for swimming, drinking and fishing. An informed, active public is the best defense to preventing industrial polluters and corrupt politicians from privatizing our waters. Usually, all it takes to instill this is a meaningful connection—a positive experience—with one’s local waterway. Take a minute and listen to participants in the recently held Buzzards Bay Swim (a Waterkeeper Alliance Splash Series event presented by Toyota and KEEN) talk about their connection to their local waterway. Organized by Buzzards Baykeeper, the swim drew more than 300 people, who swam 1.2 miles across the bay to join hundreds of supporters in raising money and awareness for a clean bay. We interviewed dozens of swimmers and attendees. The most common reply to the question “what does clean water mean to you?” was “life.” Most of the participants couldn’t imagine a world where it wasn’t safe for them to jump in a local waterway and go for a swim. And swimming is good for you. According to the Centers for Disease Control, swimming is the second most popular sport in the United States and an excellent way to get regular aerobic activity. As an exercise, swimming can lead to improved health for those with diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic illnesses. Those who swim regularly have stronger hearts and good muscle stamina. Swimming also is easier on joints and muscles than most exercise and can improve mental health. But of course, we need clean water for other water-based recreation, such as kayaking, canoeing, surfing, sailing, waterskiing, fishing, and paddle boarding. A 2006 Study by the Outdoor Industry Association estimates that outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Apart from the significant economic impacts, the benefits of water-based recreation include increased physical fitness, meeting people, growing self-confidence, learning new skills and more. Added benefits include community pride, environmental awareness and cultural appreciation. Further, the America’s Great Outdoors report notes that “play and relaxation in nature can reduce stress and anxiety, promote learning and personal growth…” It is also a powerful antidote to the skyrocketing obesity rates across the nation, which have tripled among our children over the past 30 years. The report goes on to observe that “Americans’ increasing disconnection from the outdoors…also weakens the commitment to stewardship of our shared natural legacy.” If you have a memorable experience recreating on a waterway, aren’t you more likely to step up and fight for that waterway if someone abuses it? Of course. That is why, with the generous support of Toyota and KEEN, we are continuing to expand our National Splash Event Series. At Splash events, local supporters across the country swim, boat, paddle or fish in celebration of everyone’s right to clean water. To date in 2012, we’ve hosted Splash events in Biscayne Bay, FL; Potomac River in DC; Russian River in Healdsburg, CA; Mobile Bay in AL, and Buzzards Bay in MA. Looking ahead, we plan to get people splashing in Lake Erie, OH; New York Harbor; Hackensack River, NJ; Charleston, SC, and on the Kentucky River. Additionally, we are working to expand the new Waterkeeper Swim Guide (download it at the App Store or www.theswimguide.org) across the country. The Waterkeeper Swim Guide is a revolutionary smartphone app and website that tells you where your closest beaches are, which ones are open for swimming and which have unreliable monitoring data. The Waterkeeper Swim Guide goes further by describing the laws and policies and sampling procedures that apply to your beaches and also gives citizens a pollution reporting tool. This summer, we have launched the Swim Guide in Florida; California; New York, Connecticut; Mobile, Ala.; the Chesapeake region; the Great Lakes; Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and parts of Quebec. Let’s all celebrate Swimmable Action Day today. Please lend your support and go ‘jump in a lake’, or pond, river, bay, or stream! And post a photo of yourself, your kids or your dog enjoying your right to clean, swimmable water to our Facebook page. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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