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Flood Watch for Cheat River at Rowlesburg, WV
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 13 Apr '18

13 Apr '18

1053 AM EDT Fri Apr 13 2018 The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a * Flood Watch for The Cheat River At Rowlesburg * from Monday afternoon to late Monday night. * There is no current observed data. * Minor flooding is possible. * Flood stage is 16.0 feet. * Forecast...Flood stage may be reached by Monday early afternoon. $$ Sent from my iPad

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WV MetroNews – “I thought she was dead” says man and brother who helped rescue woman from Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 11 Apr '18

11 Apr '18

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/04/09/i-thought-she-was-dead-says-man-and-broth… “I thought she was dead” says man and brother who helped rescue woman from Cheat Lake This car went over the guard rail from Cheat road and rolled about 40 yards and ended up on its top in the Cheat River Monday. Rescue workers are seen here ready to rescue the woman, to be transported across the lake to be taken to a area hospital. she sits at right on the rock. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two brothers were traveling behind a woman who’s green Suburau Forrester was suddenly skyward, over a cliff, and sinking into Cheat Lake. Their presence might have saved her life. “She was in front of us,” Eddie Emery said. “She flew up in the air. We thought we saw something, and I pulled in and just jumped over the cliff and went after her.” Eddie and his brother Andrew were traveling behind the woman in the Cheat Road area when they saw the accident. “We stopped the work truck, got out of the work truck, went over the cliff, seen if anybody needed help, if anybody was alive,” he said. “We got halfway down the cliff before we could even hear her voice. She was crying out for help.” The woman was attempting to escape her vehicle, which eventually did fully go into Cheat Lake, when the Emery brothers arrived. First responders are still cleaning up the scene following a successful rescue Monday afternoon. “We got down to the water edge as she was getting out of her car,” Andrew Emery said. “We helped her to a safe rock to sit down. We took our jackets off, gave her our warm jackets to try and keep her warm.” “We sat down and waited with her until emergency response came. Then we waited for the emergency boat where we got her to the ambulance across the lake.” Police haven’t identified her other than as a 70-year-old woman from Fairmont. “I’m just amazed that she’s okay,” Eddie Emery said. “She was probably at 40 or 50 miles per hour, went head first into the lake. I thought she was dead. I’m just amazed she’s alive.” The accident call came in shortly before 1 p.m. Monday.

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Flooding Forces Road Closures, Early Dismissals Throughout Area « CBS Pittsburgh
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 04 Apr '18

04 Apr '18

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/04/03/fayette-greene-counties-flooded/ Sent from my iPad

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Lake Lynn Hydro Project - Recreation Plan Update Letter of Support.pdf
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 28 Mar '18

28 Mar '18

Mr. David H. Fox, Director Environmental & Dam Safety Cube Hydro Partners 2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1330 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Dear Mr. Fox: We appreciate this opportunity to provide input to the Recreation Plan Update for the Lake Lynn Hydro Project, known more commonly in Monongalia County as Cheat Lake. This recreation area is well known regionally and is quite popular for boating, fishing and more recently swimming at the Mill Stone Point Beach. Hiking and biking on the Cheat Lake Trail have been growing in popularity since that Trail was opened in the Year 2000. As you know, the Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Association (CLEAR) has been active in promoting recreation, safety and environmental protection for the past 25 years. Our Monongalia County Commission has supported many of these activities over the years. Regarding the plans in the 2018 Recreation Plan Update, we support CLEAR is seeking to achieve a recreation presence in the form of one or more persons trained in recreation activities to host visitors and provide information and assistance as appropriate for hiking, biking, and swimming, as well as usage of the boat docks and picnic facilities. These activities can substitute for some of the security guard activities which you have addressed in the draft report as no longer needed. You are also proposing to suspend three year recreation review updates given the upcoming six-year re-licensing review. Along with CLEAR, we would favor a brief annual review to be shared among all interested parties so that any concerns can be made known and addressed relatively quickly. This would also provide an opportunity to learn of your success and progress in a timely manner. We want to join CLEAR in recognizing the fine job that your company has been doing in providing recreational opportunities regionally and for providing a valuable electrical supply at 54 megawatts. You may know that the Monongahela River Trail is being extended into Pennsylvania, so the opportunity to connect this extension to the Cheat Lake Trail may well become a reality within a few years. Thank you for this opportunity to provide input to the 2018 Recreation Plan Update. Sincerely yours, Monongalia County Commissioners. cc: Mon County Sheriff, Mon County Planner, WV-DNR.

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No Known Sharks in Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 11 Feb '18

11 Feb '18

Sent via Don Strimbeck: URL: http://app.dominionpost.com/morgantown/books/dpostsunday/2018/20180211dpost… DOMINION POST Sports page 6-B 11 JAN 18 There aren’t any sharks in Cheat Lake ... or are there? We know that the warmer temperatures we’ve experienced in recent years changed the timing of various things. Flowers bloom earlier. Insect hatches are earlier. Fruits ripen earlier. Of course, all these things affect wildlife. Birds that nested to coincide with good food supplies now find that their timing is off. Some species have made adjustments, but some have not. Fish also are affected. Ocean fishes are now found farther north because their food supply is now farther north. For one reason or another, we’re now finding that at least three species of sharks that normally live in the ocean are invading freshwater. Maybe it’s due to water temperature, maybe not, but here are two examples of sharks that have moved into fresh water. Bull sharks can grow to seven feet and can be found along the ocean coasts and in bays and harbors. However, in recent years, they’ve been spotted in fresh water. In fact, they’ve been known to travel from the Gulf of Mexico up the Mississippi River to Illinois. The speartooth shark is another shark that has adapted to live in salt and fresh water. But the one that intrigues me the most is the spiny dogfish shark. Males mature at 11 years of age when they are about 3 feet in length. They are a food source in parts of Europe and there is a push to make them a food source here, as well. This is especially true in the Cape Cod region. If you dissected a fish in a high school or college science class, it was probably a spiny dogfish. Not very tasty in formaldehyde, but apparently not bad eating when prepared properly. Once the most abundant shark species in the world, their numbers have declined significantly, especially in the North Atlantic and across Europe, where their demand as food has rocketed. However, the reason this species intrigues me is because they can survive in fresh water. When the Ohio River recently receded after a major flood, one dogfish shark was found on a boat ramp in Illinois. When I heard a rumor last fall that a fisherman spotted one in Cheat Lake, I didn’t think much about it. A joke. A misidentification. But, now we know that one lived in the Ohio River. Makes one wonder what other sharks might be about. Obviously, a shark didn’t swim all the way up the Ohio then down the Monongahela River, and somehow got past the dam on the Cheat River at Point Marion. But what if someone caught one in the ocean and brought it alive to Cheat Lake and released it? Normally, that would not be a big deal, except that the Polar Plunge is coming up next Saturday at the docks near Crab Shack Caribba, on Cheat Lake. A shark probably wouldn’t bother one swimmer in Cheat Lake, but on Saturday there will be a bunch of swimmers in the lake raising money for a great cause. You might want to stop out there. Never know what you might see. And while you’re thinking about that, you can go the polar plunge website (sowv.org/), and make a donation for Special Olympics. My Rotary Club has three members who will be diving into those cold waters to raise money. Might they be in any danger? Might there be a shark in those waters? Naw. Don’t you believe it. Can’t happen. Yet again, there was one seen in Illinois. Hmmm

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Fwd: GREEN Legislative Update, Volume 28 Issue 2
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 19 Jan '18

19 Jan '18

Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: "WVEC" <info(a)wvecouncil.org> > Date: January 19, 2018 at 7:31:16 PM EST > To: Duane Nichols Nichols <duane330(a)aol.com> > Subject: GREEN Legislative Update, Volume 28 Issue 2 > Reply-To: "WVEC" <info(a)wvecouncil.org> > > > > West Virginia Environmental Council > GREEN Legislative Update > > Jan 19, 2018 View / Comment Online > > SOS Parks- Save our State Parks > Karan Ireland > The big news this week out of the Capitol is trees! Secretary of Commerce Woody Thrasher has outlined a plan to allow logging in state parks. Bills requested by the Governor to codify this plan have been introduced on both sides in the past week: SB 270 and HB 4182. Click here or on image to read more. > Tagged: Logging > Proposed Changes to Surface Mining Rule > Karan Ireland > As the first full week of the legislative session comes to a close, we here at the Environmental Council have been keeping our eyes on several DEP rules and bills related to water quality. Click here or on image to read more. > Tagged: DEP, Reclamation, Water > The Citizen Lobbyists > Crystal Good > Rumor has it that the Governor’s Office has been inundated with citizens like you calling to say NO to Bill SB270. SB 270 was initiated by Governor Justice’s Office and seeks to lift the 80-year-old moratorium on timbering State Parks. Click here or on image to read more. > Tagged: Legislation, Logging > West Virginia Environmental Council > > P.O. Box 1007 > Charleston, WV 25324 > United States > info(a)wvecouncil.org (304) 414-0143 > View or update your contact information > Unsubscribe from WVEC Legislative Updates > Opt out of all email from WVEC >

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Masontown VFD wins utility vehicle in nationwide contest
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 01 Dec '17

01 Dec '17

Masontown VFD wins utility vehicle in nationwide contest From an Article by Theresa Marthey STAFF WRITER, Preston News, December 1, 2017 MASONTOWN — Masontown Volunteer Fire Department has a new utility vehicle — at no cost to the department — and it was all due to an essay written by Masontown Fire Chief Matt Montgomery’s mother, Donna. “She told me she was going to nominate the department for this nationwide contest through RFD-TV for a new UTV, but what are the chances of winning a national contest?” Montgomery asked. “We were very excited when we heard we won, because ours is around 16 years old.” The department was chosen from 500 national entries to receive a Mahindra mPact XTV 750 S with Flexhauler Cargo Box, a gas side-by-side with a fold-down cargo box and standard electric cargo box lift. “This contest was open to any group of first responders in the United States,” Mahindra USA representative Travis Morin said. “We were impressed when we read the essay written by Matt’s mother about the flooding rescue this department did in July.” The incident Morin was referring was the July 23 rescue of more than a dozen people at the Bull Run bridge when quickly rising water surrounded their campsite. Approximately 19 people from Maryland and Pennsylvania had set up camp in the area where Big Sandy Creek meets the Cheat River. While the site normally could be reached with minimal wading, that weekend’s heavy rainfall caused the water to rise 3 feet and the current to become dangerously swift. Shortly before 10 a.m. July 23, volunteer fire departments from Masontown, Reedsville, Bruceton-Brandonville and a KAMP ambulance from Kingwood were dispatched to handle the swift-water rescue. “Mahindra North America is passionate about giving back to those that serve our communities. We are pleased to partner with RFD-TV to donate a Mahindra utility vehicle to the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department,” Morin said during the presentation. “First responders make a difference in their communities every day and deserve our support.” Montgomery thanked Morin and Mahindra USA, as well as Bob Meredith, owner of Mahindra of Clarksburg, who delivered the vehicle to the department on Tuesday. “This is a real honor to be chosen to receive this UTV out of the 500 entries in the contest,” Montgomery said. “There has been a lot of excitement here at the department since we found out we were chosen to receive this.” Montgomery said the department would still use its current UTV, since it has the medical bed. “We still need to get used to this new UTV and the operation,” Montgomery said. “But it will be put to good use. It will be nice to have two we can use.”

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Cheat River Flood of November 1985
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

https://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ Rowlesburg flood monument dedicated by Joseph Hauger EDITOR, Preston County Journal, November 7, 2017 ROWLESBURG — After years of volunteers’ efforts, a town struck by flooding 32 years ago this month now has a permanent reminder of the disaster. Members of the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee and the ON TRAC program joined with community business and government leaders in unveiling a monument commemorating the flooding of November 4-5, 1985, which swept away a large part of the town. About three dozen people gathered at the Main Street Garden in the downtown Rowlesburg Historic District to have a first chance to view the marker. Kathleen Wolfe Oresanin, head of the revitalization committee, described the effects the Cheat River had on her family over the decades, from the flood in 1954 that inundated their motel and restaurant to the 1985 disaster that swept those businesses and two of their houses off the map. But we still love that river,” Oresanin said. “That old lover who keeps coming back to break your heart again and again and again.” Anna Nassif of Rowlesburg, one of the drivers of the movement to create the marker, pointed to the resilience of the town’s residents “and their ability to take us forward, to come up with creative solutions to any types of suffering we may experience from the elements — water, earth, air and fire. As the people have shown before, we can do it again.” Some of the solutions for the town’s future will come from the same river that nearly destroyed it, said Tim Weaver, owner of the River House Lodge. “This beautiful, treacherous river connects us to our past and to our future,” Weaver said. “We are stuck with you, Cheat River. You have taken much from us, among those things, lives, property, hopes, memories, dreams, heirlooms and entire parts of our community. You have stolen these from us. “You have given us much … and you can give us an option for our future, as you always do. A choice we can make. We can be and are becoming a tourist attraction because of you. … We can use you to build a new economy,” Weaver said. He pointed to new signs of economic development taking hold in the town, with land acquisition completed for a 15-acre RV park and for a service station and supply store to be known as the Cheat River Trading Post. “The river giveth and the river taketh away,” Weaver said. Robert Sypolt, president of the Preston County Historical Society and a Rowlesburg native, said this year seems particularly appropriate to dedicate the monument in the midst of the spate of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires that have struck around the country. Shortly after these disasters happen, he said, there is a rush of initial aid, but it soon dwindles. But, in Rowlesburg, he said, some volunteers who were here in 1985 keep coming back year after year. “It’s important that we do take the time to thank these people when they come to town at their own expense and help maintain our communities,” Sypolt said. The production staff of Paul Riggs, Phil Wotring, George Nassif and Lee Waybright worked for years to obtain the funding to erect the memorial of a bronze plaque attached to a locally quarried bluestone slab donated by Wotring. Part of the worst flooding in West Virginia’s history, the Cheat River swelled to more than double the flood stage and destroyed large portions of riverside towns such as Rowlesburg and Albright. Statewide, the deadly torrents claimed 38 lives, damaged or destroyed 13,000 homes and caused $700 million in damage. Mayor Barbara Banister said the residents of her town can be bowled over by such hardships, but they spring right back up and continue with their lives. “Rowlesburg is the most resilient town you’ll ever find,” she said. Sent from my iPad

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Pennsylvania American Water issues 48-hour boil water advisory for 55+ communities, estimated 100, 000 customers
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 07 Nov '17

07 Nov '17

Pennsylvania American Water issues 48-hour boil water advisory for 55+ communities, estimated 100,000 customers From WTAE, Action 4 News, November 6, 2017 BETHEL PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania American Water has issued a 48-hour boil water advisory for 55 communities in Allegheny and Washington counties. An estimated 100,000 customers are affected. (See the list of communities below). The advisory was issued as a precaution due to high levels of turbidity at the Elrama water treatment plant, according to PAWC. (The Elrama plant draws water from the Monongahela River a mile south of the Elizabeth bridge over the river on PA Route 51. Clairton is the next community downstream.) The advisory applies only to drinking and cooking, not bathing or washing clothes. Residents of impacted communities should bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. The advisory was issued as a precaution due to high levels of turbidity at the Elrama water treatment plant, according to PAWC. According to PAWC, turbidity has no health effects. However, turbidity can interfere with disinfection and provide a medium for microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking water. Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by suspended solids that are usually invisible to the naked eye. It is a key test of water quality. The full list of communities is as follows: Allegheny County --- Bethel Park, Clairton, Dravosburg, Elizabeth Township, Elizabeth Borough, Glassport, Jefferson, Jefferson Hills Borough, Liberty, Lincoln, North Fayette, South Fayette, South Park, Upper Saint Clair, West Elizabeth Washington County --- Amwell, Avella, Buffalo, Burgettstown, Canton, Canonsburg, Carroll Township, Cecil Township, Chartiers, City of Washington, Claysville, Cross Creek, Donegal Township, East Washington, Fallowfield, Finleyville, Frankfort Springs, Forward Township, Green Hills Borough, Independence, Hanover, Hopewell, Houston, Jefferson, McDonald, McMurray, , Midway, Monongahela, Mount Pleasant, New Eagle, North Franklin, North Strabane, Nottingham, Peters Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, Somerset Township, South Franklin, South Strabane, Union Township, West Middletown WATER BUFFALO LOCATIONS: Bethel Park Community Center: 5151 Park Ave., Bethel Park, PA 15102 Canonsburg Dam parking lot: McDowell Rd., McMurray, PA 15317 Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church: 112 W. Pike St., Canonsburg, PA 15317 Carroll Township Volunteer FireDepartment: 988 Route 837, Monongahela, PA 15063 Elrama Volunteer Fire Company: 17 Elrama Ave., Elrama, PA 15038 North StrabaneFire Department: 2550 Washington Rd., Canonsburg, PA 15317 South Fayette Township Library: 515 Millers Run Rd., Morgan, PA 15064 South Park Township Library: 2575 Brownsville Rd., South Park Township, PA 15129 Upper St. Clair Community & Recreation Center: 1551 Mayview Rd., Upper St. Clair, PA 15241 Source : http://www.wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-american-water-issues-48-hour-boil… Sent from my iPad

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Trout for Cheat's whoppers aren't fish tales
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 04 Nov '17

04 Nov '17

Trout for Cheat's whoppers aren't fish tales by Joseph Hauger EDITOR, Preston County News & Journal, November 3, 2017 ROWLESBURG — Halloween may be over, but thanks to the efforts of a local group, some monstrous-sized fish are lurking in the Cheat River. Art George, president of the non-profit Trout for Cheat Inc., said stocking the river with the large specimens helps to attract anglers from all of the states surrounding West Virginia. “They come here because they want to get the big fish,” George said. “When they comes from other states, it’s a benefit to the county.” Trout for Cheat is in the midst of its fall stocking schedule, which began with the release of 1,700 pounds of fish into the river a week ago. That’s the standard weight for each of the organization’s stockings, which take place four times each spring and five times in the fall — more than seven tons of trout added annually. “The ones we released (Oct. 27) were two-to-eight pounds,” George said. “They’re mainly rainbow, but we do put in a few brown and golden.” The trout are placed in the water in 18-20 places from the Riverview Lounge on U.S. 50 to the Pringle Run area on W.Va. 72. Each stop was handled with military efficiency, due in no small part to the participation of Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy students performing community service projects. “They do a lot of work to make sure everything is going smoothly,” George said. When the caravan arrives at a site, a Preston County sheriff’s deputy helps with traffic control where necessary, the cadets quickly exit their vans and a bucket brigade is formed — sometimes over steep and rocky hillsides — to the riverbank. Fish are netted from the Indian Lake Fisheries truck that made the three-hour trip from Elkview, and the buckets are sent to the Cheat’s edge. When the allotment of trout are placed in that area, the participants scurry back up the hillside, stow their gear, jump into the vehicles, and the convoy heads to the next location. Each stocking day brings a price tag of $5,525 for Trout for Cheat — around $50,000 annually, George said. He and the other members of the executive committee, Buzz Halterman, Jim White, Jon Hunter, Bo Burnside and Bob Martin, conduct fundraisers, seek donations and find sources of funding to keep the waters teeming. “We’ve been at it for 16 years, and there’s still plenty to do,” George said.

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The Cheat River and Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 02 Nov '17

02 Nov '17

Friends of the Cheat gives tour, deems river the 'healthiest it's been in 50 years' by Conor Griffith STAFF WRITER, Clarksburg Exponent Telegraph, Oct. 30, 2017 CHEAT LAKE —The nonprofit organization Friends of the Cheat concluded a tour throughout Monongalia and Preston counties Oct. 24, during which time the group delivered a report on the state of the Cheat River watershed. Since 1994, FOC has partnered with private landowners, government organizations and companies to address the threat to watershed posed by acid mine drainage, which lowers the watershed’s pH levels to the point where little plant or animal life can survive in it. “The Cheat River is the healthiest it’s been in 50 years,” FOC Executive Director Amanda Pitzer said, adding that one issue the organization is now facing is changing the perception of the river and lake, especially among older generations. “They remember when there were no fish in the lake and it looked like a drainage ditch. We’re really trying to keep education and outreach ramped up.” These efforts were accomplished through the construction of water treatment sites throughout the region. Other installations add lime or sodium hydroxide to purify the water. Pitzer said the organization is now moving on to purifying the myriad of streams and creeks that feed into the Cheat River. Dustin Smith, of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said the proof in Cheat Lake’s rebound lies in its current fish stocks. In the 1970s, he said only 15 species were observed in the lake and more than 80 percent of these were bullhead and white sucker catfish, which are highly tolerant of acidic waters. By 2015, 44 fish species were observed, including large salamanders and walleye, a popular, but sensitive game fish. Not only that, Smith said the rate of fish caught jumped from 160 fish caught per hour in 1990 to 540 in 2005. This was made possible by reduced acidity in the lake, something Smith said can only remain as long as treatment of the water continues. “The main lake was basically an aquatic desert,” Smith said. “It’s such a success story when looking at where it is now versus where it was.” Randy Huffman, former state Division of Environmental Protection Cabinet Secretary and competitive bass fisherman, said there are economic impacts of cleaning up the watershed, adding that when FOC started, the most immediate concern regarding the pollution was the decline in whitewater rafting. He said small communities near abundant clean water burst with economic activity as a result of fishing tournaments, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars to participate in when factoring in restaurants, equipment, hotels, tackle shops and fuel. An example of this, he said, is Dandridge,Tennessee. “If you’ve ever been there, it’s not much, but, when you get a 200-boat bass tournament, its economy booms,” he said. “Go to any bass tournament and you’ll understand the economics and the importance it plays to these communities.” Huffman added that industries also search for clean water when considering where to set up shop both for the immediate applications but also as a means of gauging the quality of life for their employees. Looking to the future, Pitzer said the seeds have been planted on an ambitious project: The removal of the dam along the Cheat Rivernear Albright. She said the dam has no flood-control capabilities and was used for cooling of the power plant near Albright that was decommissioned in 2012. With no way for the plant to be compatible with natural gas, she said the plant is a large brownfield with no further use. If the dam is removed, she said this could help make for 190 miles of unobstructed river for paddling, swimming and for fish to pass through. She said the possibility this much open river is almost unheard of in the developed world. Source: https://www.theet.com/statejournal/friends-of-the-cheat-gives-tour-deems-ri…

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Friends of the Cheat gives update on river's status
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 20 Oct '17

20 Oct '17

Friends of the Cheat gives update on river's status by Theresa Marthey STAFF WRITER, Preston News Journal, October 20, 2017 KINGWOOD — It may not be lions, tigers and bears, but according to Friends of the Cheat, it is better. River otters, fish and salamanders have been spotted again in the Cheat River. These are all signs of a recovering Cheat River Watershed, but there is still a lot of work to do, the group reports. “In 1994, when Friends of the Cheat formed, the Cheat River was one of the 95 most-endangered American rivers,” Friends of the Cheat Executive Director Amanda Pitzer said Tuesday. “Now we have fish from the headwaters, and otters have been spotted in Big Sandy again. “I can also tell you what the Friends of the Cheat is not — we are not trout stockers and we are not raft guides,” Pitzer said. “We are the people who keep the river clean.” Pitzer and the staff of Friends of the Cheat gave a “State of the Cheat River Watershed” presentation at Rosemary’s Thyme Mexican Restaurant in Kingwood. It was the second of three sessions about the progress on cleaning the watershed and where the group wants to focus in the future. Pitzer said 87 percent of the funding received by Friends of the Cheat goes toward the restoration of the river and the streams feeding it. “Eight percent goes towards administration costs, and 5 percent towards fundraising,” Pitzer said. Friends of the Cheat maintains 28 treatment sites through an agreement with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. “We have just signed an agreement to maintain those sites through March 2020,” Restoration Program Manager David Petry said. “Our primary task at these sites is sampling of acid mine drainage at state-owned water treatment facilities.” Those 28 facilities include a combined total of 33 lime dosers, 12 sodium hydroxide tanks and 38 sample points. “To date in 2017, we have used 560 tons of lime, 13,600 gallons of sodium hydroxide,” Monitoring Coordinator Ellie Bell said. “We have also taken 380 water samples and have driven 47,000 miles.” A new pilot project that Friends of the Cheat began this year is monitoring bacteria levels at nine public river access sites between Parsons and Cheat Lake. “We send those water samples to West Virginia University in a partnership with Dr. Dorothy Vesper,” Bell said. “And those water samples are analyzed for total coliform and E. coli bacteria.” The Friends of the Cheat then uploads the sample results to the Swim Guide at www.theswimguide.org. “Our preliminary results have shown generally low levels of bacteria throughout the study area,” Bell said. “The exceptions have been during warm months with low-water conditions.” Pitzer said Friends of the Cheat has always been looking toward the future, and was able to purchase 20 miles of railroad corridors for rail trails in 2016 and 2017. “The West Virginia Northern Rail Trail is one that is being developed by the Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission,” Pitzer said. “And the Cheat River Trail between Manheim and Allegheny Wood Products, that is just over nine miles.” In addition to monitoring and advocating for clean water, Friends of the Cheat maintains four whitewater access points on the Cheat River and Big Sandy, Pitzer said. “But we still have a long way to go,” Pitzer added. “The DEP is constructing a new $8 million abandoned mine drainage treatment facility on W.Va. Route 26 to treat water from Muddy Creek. “In addition to treating water from the T&T coal mine site, the facility will also treat water from Ruthbell No. 3 site and polluted waters from the Viking Coal, Rockville and Fickey Run sites,” Pitzer said. “This is a great opportunity to reconnect the Cheat and lower Muddy Creek with the healthy active trout fishery with Martin Creek.” These are just a few things Friends of the Cheat is involved in to protect the Cheat River Watershed — from its headwaters near Snowshoe to its convergence with the Monongahela River near Point Marion, Pa. The next “State of the Watershed” is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Crab Shack Carriba in Cheat Lake.

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Justice for West Virginia’s Cheat River - Rewire
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 04 Oct '17

04 Oct '17

https://rewire.news/article/2017/10/04/the-dead-stream-behind-your-home-jus… Justice for West Virginia’s Cheat River Analysis Environment Oct 4, 2017, Dylan Jones If Congress doesn’t reauthorize the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, it could spell the end of stream restoration. The majority of the Cheat’s mainstem and its tributaries flow through Preston and Tucker counties—two of northern West Virginia’s more rural segments. Nearly one-half of the watershed’s residents live near a stream or river affected by acid mine drainage (AMD)—and 2007 report found that being located near an AMD-impaired stream reduced average home values by nearly $5,000. Strapped into a sleek kayak, sporting goggles and a wide smile, Jim Snyder emerged from a ride on an underwater current. The water looked crystal-clear. Snyder’s kayak, river rocks, and darting trout were all visible below the surface. An osprey soared overhead. Another beautiful day on the Cheat River. The Cheat hasn’t always been this way. Snyder vividly recalled two decades ago when the water was bright orange and there were no fish, a time when the Cheat was dead. “There were years of really bad water …. It was cloudy looking, and tasted bad, and could make your eyes burn,” he said. “It took miles for the water to settle out. It was a really sick river.” Like many rivers in West Virginia, the Cheat’s legacy has been tainted by acid mine drainage (AMD). When the shafts and tunnels of abandoned coal mines flood, air and water react with pyrite—fool’s gold—to produce acidic water that can contain heavy metals such as iron, aluminum, and manganese. This toxic solution works its way through seeps, springs, and mine portals to enter streams and other sources of water, creating unlivable conditions for aquatic life. In tandem with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and an army of volunteers, Friends of the Cheat (FOC), the watershed’s advocacy organization, has tackled stream restoration at a fervent pace. According to Amanda Pitzer, executive director of the FOC, by operating 17 of its own remediation sites and working with WVDEP on another 45, FOC has successfully restored the Cheat’s mainstem and several of its tributaries. Macroinvertebrates, freshwater mussels, fish, and predatory birds have returned along with clean water. But the watershed faces new threats: dwindling federal funding for reclamation of abandoned mine lands (AML); a congressional vote to potentially eliminate the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA); and the Trump Administration’s shrinking of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), the federal office responsible for implementation of the SMCRA. “If [SMCRA] ends in 2022, we are saying that, as a nation, we are done cleaning up abandoned mine lands,” said Pitzer. “All the regulatory people and programs would be dissolved. We’re coming to the sunset of this program, and we’re far from done.” “To Get Up on Your Soapbox and Demand That It Gets Fixed Can Make You Look Bad” Originating in the highlands of north central West Virginia, the Cheat River flows north for 78 miles through the Allegheny Mountains to its confluence with the Monongahela River in Point Marion, Pennsylvania. It drains a 1,422-square mile watershed comprised of a large portion of West Virginia’s public lands. Spanning five West Virginia counties, the watershed is home to some 45,000 residents, many of whom live in poverty. In the town of Albright, located just upstream of the Cheat Canyon’s whitewater stretch, the poverty rate is 34.3 percent—more than double the national average. Evan Hansen, president of environmental consulting firm Downstream Strategies, believes water quality directly links to economic prosperity along the Cheat. “I think largely there are certain types of development that are undone because these streams are dead … there’s an economy built up around our outdoor recreation industry in West Virginia that just goes unrealized in parts of the state that have bad acid mine drainage problems.” For Snyder, who manufactures kayaks and wooden paddles in his shop in Albright, that recreation economy is his lifeline. “Tourism is a big deal [on the Cheat] because it brings a lot of state dollars in and it renews every year,” he said. “People come to us because it’s so nice here; tourism runs itself.” Under Hansen’s guidance, Downstream Strategies has been developing watershed plans with FOC and the WVDEP for the past 15 years. Although he’s seen the Cheat bounce back, its economy has yet to follow suit. The majority of the Cheat’s mainstem and its tributaries flow through Preston and Tucker counties—two of northern West Virginia’s more rural segments. Nearly one-half of the watershed’s residents live near a stream or river affected by AMD—and a 2007 report found that being located near an AMD-impaired stream reduced average home values by nearly $5,000. If all streams in the watershed were restored, properties located within one-quarter mile of restored streams would benefit by $1.7 million. But according to Pitzer, the call for remediation often comes from people living in other parts of the watershed. “The tributaries in the Cheat have been dead or damaged for a long time, so folks have gotten used to it,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard to connect the dots between how bad and polluted [a stream] is, and day-to day-life of feeding kids and paying taxes. When you don’t have a job and you’re facing tough problems, caring about the dead stream behind your home isn’t something affecting your quality of life.” Pitzer also pointed to the class divide within the watershed. “A lot of the people who have money in this community are the people who benefitted from the mining in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. There’s this West Virginia problem where we can’t bite the hand that feeds us, so you might think that the polluted streams are wrong, but to get up on your soapbox and demand that it gets fixed can make you look bad.” “I think people across the watershed have become numb to the issue of AMD, especially people who grew up with it,” Hansen said. “There’s a common thought, ‘That’s just the way it is, and that’s the way it’s gonna be.’ It’s sort of that fatalistic attitude you hear about, which we have witnessed a lot [in Appalachia]. But it’s not universal, you hear a lot of people who’ve been here their whole lives who see it as a problem, who are taking steps to try to fix it.” Serving as Northern Basin Coordinator for the WV DEP Watershed Improvement Branch, Martin Christ works directly with FOC to aid in construction of AMD treatment systems, develop proposals, and support volunteers. “What I’m interested in is helping people improve the water quality,” Christ said. “[W]e address the issue by trying to make the streams better, and returning the streams [people] live next to to the point where they can support fish, and swim.” “Both Sides Need Clean Water to Thrive” But remediating AMD isn’t a simple or inexpensive task. Pitzer claimed it could take centuries for pyrite in the coal beds to dissolve. “This [remediation] work could be reversed,” she said. “We didn’t remove the pyrite from the ground; the pollution producing material is still there. We’re never done.” AMD remediation is managed via passive and active treatment systems: passive sites contain limestone channels and settlement ponds that neutralize acidity and allow deposition of heavy metals, while active systems utilize “dosers”—silos filled with hydrated lime—to alter water chemistry directly in a stream. Treatment systems require constant operation; the moment a treatment site shuts down, AMD from underground can re-enter the watershed. Maintenance is just as crucial. In 2014, an active doser operated by WVDEP malfunctioned and released its entire contents into the Blackwater River—a major tributary to the Cheat —killing an estimated 23,000 fish. According to Dr. Nico Zegre, associate professor of forest hydrology and director of the Mountain Hydrology Laboratory at West Virginia University, stopping remediation would result in instant changes to the watershed. “If the water treatment in the Cheat went away, it would be a very different system with very little uses for that water, if any,” said Zegre. “Cheat Lake, as an important residential area, would certainly feel the brunt of cessation of water treatment activities. That’s why I think we have such an opportunity for [communities] to get together to ensure that society makes decisions to protect those resources.” He viewed it under a lens of practicality: “I think that’s what’s been asked in the conversation largely between the environmental community and the pro-business community is that both sides need clean water to thrive. Why isn’t there a coalition built upon that?” The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act established the Office of Surface Mining, the federal agency responsible for the creation and enforcement of environmental regulations on surface coal mining. It also created the AML Reclamation Program, which funnels money to help with environmental cleanup to states via a tax on coal, currently set at 28 cents per ton for surface-mined coal and 12 cents per ton for underground-mined coal. But the AML fund is decreasing. In 2015, U.S. coal production dropped 10.3 percent to its lowest annual production level since 1986; the AML tax was reduced by 20 percent in 2013 (a planned reduction, built into the 2006 reauthorization of the SMCRA). Significant drops in both coal production and the AML tax have been a one-two punch for reclamation. The AML fund collected $194.2 million in fiscal year 2015, down 36 percent from $305.3 million in 2007. West Virginia received $31.8 million in AML grants in 2016, down 25 percent from $39.3 million in 2008. Pitzer said Trump’s trend of appointing administrators intent on dismantling their agencies coupled with potential defunding of the AML fund are cause for concern for the Cheat River. “It all comes down to money,” she said. “The resources to support restoring abandoned mine lands just aren’t there. It’s expensive, and there aren’t a lot of other [sources] to go through to get hundreds of thousands of dollars.” If Congress doesn’t reauthorize SMCRA in 2022, it could spell the end of stream restoration. West Virginia would be unable to shoulder the cost of restoration on its own, according to Rob Rice, director of WVDEP’s Office of Abandoned Mine Lands & Reclamation. Rice cautioned, “All progress that is currently being made would stop.” “This Is Where SMCRA Worked” With the vote to reauthorize SMCRA still five years away, some might question the urgency. “In all reality, a five-year timeline to get a federal bill reauthorized is urgent,” Pitzer said. “It’s happening now; these conversations have already started.” One of those conversations took place in June when Rice testified to a U.S. House subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources that: “Legislative deliberations of this scale take a significant amount of time,” noting that the 2006 reauthorization of SMCRA had involved a decade of deliberation. “Our fear is that if it’s not discussed now, while Congress is willing to talk about the AML program, it’s not going to be talked about down the road,” Rice said. Pitzer also linked threats to SMCRA to Trump’s quiet restructuring of OSM, staff cuts, and closing of positions left vacant by retiring employees. “[OSM], whose existence is authorized by SMCRA, [is] getting pushed around, and for folks in the best position to advocate for the reauthorization of this bill, their jobs are literally being eliminated,” she said. “We’re losing that institutional knowledge …. We’re losing the allies that fought for this stuff from the beginning.” Snyder, who spends the majority of his days paddling the Cheat, was weary. “I’m concerned about any erosion of the environmental standards, it’s like everyone’s searching for the lowest possible standard to keep things right,” he said. “We saw it change here. We had strip mining sites righted, and it brought back birds, bugs, and animals. This is where SMCRA worked.” Christ, of the WVDEP Watershed Improvement Branch, remained hopeful. “I hope to see people enjoying the Cheat River, getting in the Cheat River. I hope to see everybody in the county saying, ‘I’m from Preston County, that’s where the Cheat River is, and I’m proud of it.’” “We see the Cheat as the county’s greatest asset,” Pitzer said. “Outdoor recreation is something to be proud of, something we have to offer. We don’t have to go work in the coal mines to be valuable contributors to the economy, and that’s a hard sell for people who’ve grown up with coal.”

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Fwd: E.coli sample data from Wednesday 9/6
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 08 Sep '17

08 Sep '17

> Date: September 8, 2017 at 2:11:15 PM EDT > > Subject: FW: E.coli sample data from Wednesday 9/6 > > > > Subject: E.coli sample data from Wednesday 9/6 > > Red = High, no swim > > Date: Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 10:38 AM > > > FYI: > > > > https://www.theswimguide.org/find/#39.05269860062426/-80.75867419335941/39.… > > Note: we got another 2 inches of rain the night before sampling, and the river came up from 200 cfs to 2000 cfs in Parsons. I presume the poo just hadn't gotten down to J-berg yet. > > David W. Petry > Friends of the Cheat > Restoration Program Manager > 119 South Price Street, Suite 206 > Kingwood, West Virginia 26537 > Phone: (304) 329-3621 ext. 4 > > www.cheat.org > www.cheatriverwatertrail.org > www.cheatfest.org

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Fwd: River of Promise Information
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 09 Aug '17

09 Aug '17

> From: David Petry <david(a)cheat.org> > Date: August 9, 2017 at 4:25:01 PM EDT > > Subject: River of Promise - Update > > Thank you to Ryan Gaujot of Green Rivers for presenting on natural stream design, and to all of our partners that participated in the discussion that followed, at our River of Promise meeting in July. The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 18, at the Mon County Health Department. A guest speaker has not been scheduled yet. > > Best, > > David W. Petry > Friends of the Cheat > Restoration Program Manager > 119 South Price Street, Suite 206 > Kingwood, West Virginia 26537 > Phone: (304) 329-3621 ext. 4 > > Restore | Preserve | Promote

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Rising river strands campers in Cheat Canyon
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 25 Jul '17

25 Jul '17

https://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ Rising river strands campers in Cheat Canyon by Joseph Hauger, Preston county news & journal, July 23, 2017 MASONTOWN — Firefighters from around the county spent a soggy Sunday morning rescuing more than a dozen people in the Bull Run area near Masontown after rising water surrounded their campsite. Masontown Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Bill Cress said 19 people from Maryland and Pennsylvania had set up camp in the area where Big Sandy Creek meets the Cheat River, not far from the bridge at Bull Run. While the site normally can be reached with minimal wading, Cress said the weekend’s heavy rainfall caused the water to rise 3 feet and the current to become dangerously swift. One camper “couldn’t swim at all, and two others were weak swimmers,” Cress said. Shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday, volunteer fire departments from Masontown, Reedsville, Bruceton-Brandonville and a KAMP ambulance from Kingwood were dispatched to handle the swift-water rescue. In all, Cress said, 19 volunteers responded to the 19 campers in distress. With cellular service in the low-lying area spotty at best, Cress said one camper swam across to travel to an area where he could get a signal and call for help. “Then he swam back. He’s been training for the ‘Ironman’ triathlon, he said. Masontown’s Water Rescue Team spearheaded the effort, which required meeting at a staging area near the bridge, and then hiking down a few hundred yards of steep, muddy and slippery paths through rhododendron bushes until they reached the river’s edge. “We have a rope gun that they shot across the river, which gave us a tether line,” Cress said. “Then we sent across the boat” with one rescuer to bring back the campers one at a time. The firefighters finished transporting the campers shortly before 1:30 p.m. Of the 19 people at the site, 13 needed to be rescued, and no injuries were reported, Cress said. After everybody and their camping and rescue equipment had been brought up the steep slope, Cress reminded the outdoor enthusiasts to be mindful of how fast the weather conditions can change in Preston County and urged them to select future campsites with that in mind. While the rescued people were grateful for the firefighters’ efforts, they were reluctant to share the circumstances which led to their extrication. “It’s our first time here,” said one woman who refused to give her name. “Some have been here before, but we didn’t really know what this was.” Cress said the group — men and women in their 20s and 30s — was not part of the Deep Roots Music Festival, which was taking place nearby. “They had been planning this trip since January, and they’re planning to come back next year,” Cress said, adding that the timing with the weekend concert was a coincidence. This is the fourth time this year that Masontown’s water team has been put into action, prompting more firefighters to obtain water rescue certification, Cress said. “These guys, the water team, they did great,” he said. Cress also expressed appreciation for the other departments that came to the rescue. “We worked together well. I really want to thank those guys.”

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Cube Hydro Partners & Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 07 Jul '17

07 Jul '17

Cube Hydro Partners: Cube Hydro, a portfolio company of I Squared Capital Advisors (US) LLC, is a hydropower development and operating platform targeting investments in mid-sized greenfield and operating hydro projects in North Americas. Cube Hydro and its affiliates own and operate 19 hydropower plants on ten rivers in five states with a combined capacity of more than 374 megawatts, generating 1.4 million megawatt-hours annually, or enough electricity to power approximately 140,000 homes with renewable energy.

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WVMetroNews - Cindy storm delivers blow but no knockout punch
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 24 Jun '17

24 Jun '17

Our power went off Friday night at about 10:30 pm and is still off. Looks like a small tornado came down into Cheat Lake about 5 miles upstream of us. See the photos in this Article. http://wvmetronews.com/2017/06/24/cindy-storm-delivers-blows-but-no-knockou… Sent from my iPhone

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Beware of Otters
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 19 Jun '17

19 Jun '17

DNR: Beware of otters By MetroNews Staff in Outdoors | June 19, 2017 at 10:34AM FARMINGTON, W.Va. — A group spending the day on the water got a closer encounter with West Virginia’s great outdoors than they would have liked. The Division of Natural Resources reports a group of 20 to 25 people were celebrating Mother’s Day back in May with a float trip on Monongalia County’s Dunkard Creek. At some point, the party encountered a river otter winch inadvertently climbed into one of the canoes and bit a man, then ended up biting another in one of the other boats in the group. The victims went to the emergency room for treatment and took precautionary rabies shots. DNR officials say the incident is unusual, but also a good reminder to try and steer clear of any wild animal. Officials say it doesn’t appear the party did anything to provoke the attack, but add otters are territorial animals and are known to be aggressive, especially when they have young offspring. “Do not approach river otters,” said Steve Raouch, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources District 1 wildlife biologist. “If an otter approaches, you should take steps to keep the otter away from you. This can be done with boat oars, fishing rod, or whatever else might be readily available. You should never try to touch a river otter or any other wild animal.”

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MONT CHATEAU HOTEL: Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia - Google Books
by Duane via CLEAR 02 Apr '17

02 Apr '17

The Mont Chateau Hotel was established by act of the WV Legislature in 1894. https://books.google.com/books?id=bodCAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA91&lpg=RA1-PA91&dq=… Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Local Favorites Places
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 01 Apr '17

01 Apr '17

https://printedephemera.lib.wvu.edu/imageviewer/wvulibraries:58370/digitalI… Sent from my iPhone

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Fwd: Protecting our Water - Learn More About HB2506
by Duane via CLEAR 10 Mar '17

10 Mar '17

> From: Friends of the Cheat <amanda(a)cheat.org> > Date: March 10, 2017 3:38:10 PM EST > > Subject: Protecting our Water - Learn More About HB2506 > > > The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee will soon consider HB2506. This bill will change the way stream flow is measured when setting limits for pollution discharge permits. The new method would make the assumption that river and streams are larger and can dilute pollution to concentrations that would not threaten human health or water quality. > > Based on the knowledge available and our understanding of HB2506 as it exists now, Friends of the Cheat is opposed to this proposed rule change and would be opposed to any rule or legislative action that could increase pollution in the Cheat River and its tributaries. > > HB2506 has the potential to compromise the improved water quality achieved by 24 years of hard work and millions of dollars of restoration and remediation projects. Further, the passage of such a bill could undermine the community’s ability to promote the Cheat River has a haven for recreation and related tourism. > Learn more about HB2506 here, here, here, and here. And if you need a laugh after all that, check out West Virginia storyteller Bil Lepp’s take on HB2506. > Legislators may consider HB2506 early next week. You can voice your opinion on HB2506 to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in a few ways – direct calls and emails from constituents can be very powerful. If you don’t know who your senator is, you can find out using the senate district maps here. Or, if you have a cell phone, text your zip code to (520) 200-2223 and you will get a text back with all your representatives’ names and phone numbers. > Call members of the Senate Judiciary Committee > Chair Senator Charles Trump (R – Morgan, District 15) (304) 357-7980 > Vice Chair Senator Ryan Weld (R – Brooke, District 1) (304) 357-7984 > Senator Mike Azinger (R – Wood, District 3) (304) 357-7970 > Senator Bob Beach (D – Monongalia, District 13) (304) 357-7919 > *Senator Beach has consistently reported that he does not support HB2506 > Senator Charles Clements (R – Wetzel, District 2) (304) 357-7827 > Senator Sue Cline (R – Wyoming, District 9) (304) 357-7807 > Senator Ryan Ferns (R – Ohio, District 1) (304) 357-7918 > Senator Glenn Jeffries (D – Putnam, District 8) (304) 357-7866 > Senator Robert Karnes (R – Upshur, District 11) (304) 357-7909 > *District 11 encompasses the headwaters of the Cheat River watershed. > Senator Mark Maynard (R – Wayne, District 6) (304) 357-7808 > Senator Ronald Miller (D – Greenbrier, District 10) (304) 357-7959 > Senator Richard Ojeda (D – Logan, District 7) (304) 357-7857 > Senator Mike Romano (D – Harrison, District 12) (304) 357-7904 > Senator Patricia Rucker (R – Jefferson, District 16) (304) 357-7957 > Senator Randy Smith (R – Tucker, District 14) (304) 357-7995 > *District 14 encompasses the entire lower Cheat River watershed, including all of Preston and Tucker Counties > Senator Chandler Swope (R – Mercer, District 6) (304) 357-7843 > Senator Mike Woelfel (D – Cabell, District 5) (304) 357-7956 > Email members of the Senate Judiciary Committee > Copy and paste this group of emails below > charles.trump(a)wvsenate.gov; ryan.weld(a)wvsenate.gov; chandler.swope(a)wvsenate.gov; bob.beach(a)wvsenate.gov; glenn.jeffries(a)wvsenate.gov; ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov;richard.ojeda@wvsenate.gov; mike.romano(a)wvsenate.gov; mike.azinger(a)wvsenate.gov; charles.clements(a)wvsenate.gov; sue.cline(a)wvsenate.gov; mike.woelfel(a)wvsenate.gov; ryan.ferns(a)wvsenate.gov; robert.karnes(a)wvsenate.gov; Mark.Maynard(a)wvsenate.gov; patricia.rucker(a)wvsenate.gov; randy.smith(a)wvsenate.gov > > Use the handy online tool provided by West Virginia Rivers Coalition to contact Senators in your district about HB2506. > > Friends of the Cheat (FOC) is a grassroots group working on the ground with local, state, Federal, academic, and private partners—including 45 landowners—to monitor, analyze, and remediate the vast acid mine drainage pollution problems in the lower watershed. FOC and its River of Promise Task Force have implemented restoration efforts which collectively have restored the once-dead Cheat River; FOC has constructed 17 pollution treatment systems to date, which remove hundreds of tons of pollution each year from the Cheat and its tributaries. FOC is also collecting data and working with local partners to understand and clean up coliform pollution from inadequate sewage treatment. This progress could be slowed by relaxing pollution controls at permitted sites including mine water treatment operations and sewage treatment plants. > > Rebirth has begun, but there is more work to be done – long live the Cheat River! Working to restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River watershed since 1994. > > Learn more about the Cheat River’s revival here, here, and here. > > > Copyright © 2017 Friends of the Cheat, All rights reserved. > You are a friend of the Cheat! > > Our mailing address is: > Friends of the Cheat > 119 South Price St. Suite #206 > Kingwood WV, WV 26537-1478 > > Add us to your address book > > > Want to change how you receive these emails? > You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list > >

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Charleston Gazette-Mail | New secretary fires WVDEP environmental advocate
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 29 Jan '17

29 Jan '17

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170127/new-secretary-fires-wvd… New secretary fires WVDEP environmental advocate West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton on Friday fired Wendy Radcliff, the leader of the DEP’s Office of Environmental Advocate. The move immediately drew strong criticism from West Virginia citizen groups and environmental organizations that were already wary of how Caperton, a longtime coal industry consultant, would run the agency charged with regulating mining, gas drilling and other industries. “I’m really almost speechless,” said Cindy Rank, the longtime mining chairwoman for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. “If they wanted to alienate the citizens and the environmental community, this is the way to do it.” Angie Rosser, executive director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, said it is shocking that Caperton made the move prior to a newly scheduled meeting the week after next with representatives of her organization, the Highlands Conservancy, the West Virginia League of Women Voters and the West Virginia Environmental Council. “This is troublesome news,” Rosser said. “Wendy Radcliff has been the direct line for citizen concerns to help make sure the agency is accountable to the public. It’s concerning this decision seemingly was made without input from the people who the environmental advocate is designed to serve.” Caperton, who is just finishing his second week on the job for Gov. Jim Justice, also fired Kelley Gillenwater, the DEP’s communications director. Gillenwater and Radcliff declined to comment Friday, but their firing was confirmed by numerous DEP sources who asked not to be identified. Radcliff, an attorney, has filled the environmental advocate post for more than six years during two stints at the agency. Gillenwater had been communications director for nearly three years and, while emphasizing the DEP’s position on various issues, also had developed a reputation for pushing to make agency officials more responsive to news media requests. The Justice administration offered no complete explanation for the shakeup at the DEP, and it was not clear what — if any — other changes Caperton planned to make among the top leadership at the agency. Caperton did not return phone calls and, on orders from the Governor’s Office, has rejected interview requests from the Gazette-Mail. Caperton, an engineer and an attorney, previously worked for A.T. Massey Coal and for his family’s company, Slab Fork Coal. He’s worked as an energy industry consultant since 1989, but a list of his clients has not been made public. Jake Glance, an assistant to Gillenwater in the DEP public information office, provided a one-sentence statement via email, but did not return phone calls or answer emailed questions about the statement. “We are restructuring to make our operation more efficient by consolidating roles,” the statement from Glance said. Under state law, the DEP is required to have an environmental advocate and a public information officer. There was not a clear answer on Friday about whether Caperton plans to fill either post or combine their functions, or what his timeline is for either option. And, the DEP’s rules for the environmental advocate office specifically state that the advocate “may not in any official capacity organize public campaigns” either to oppose or support “positions taken” by the DEP “on environmental matters,” a prohibition that would seem to create a roadblock to combining the advocate and communications director roles. Friday also was the deadline for Caperton’s internal request that each of the more than 800 DEP employees submit to him “at least one cost-saving idea for the agency.” In a memo to DEP employees, Caperton had said Justice “has directed that we do everything in our power to eliminate waste and find savings.” Caperton asked that the ideas be provided through an online survey or provided to Gillenwater. An exact breakdown of the environmental advocate office budget was not available, because its spending is combined within the total for the DEP’s executive offices. But in addition to Radcliff, the office had two other employees and shared a secretary with a separate DEP Office of Small Business Ombudsman, whose stated role at the agency is to “safeguard small business’s rights and help them when they have problems with regulatory agencies.” The DEP environmental advocate office was created by the Legislature in 1994, at the behest of then-state Sen. David Grubb, D-Kanawha. Grubb had threatened to hold up passage of a 1,400-page, industry-backed bill to consolidate the state’s various environmental agencies unless language was added to create a position aimed at helping everyday citizens navigate the DEP’s complex regulatory system. Early on, the office faced repeated but unsuccessful efforts by some Republican lawmakers to eliminate it. And various industry trade groups tried during a public comment period on the rules governing the advocate office to narrowly define the position’s role at DEP. The West Virginia Manufacturers Association, for example, opposed giving the office additional staff and argued against the idea that citizens needed help getting more of voice in state environmental policymaking. Radcliff, though, served as environmental advocate under five different top DEP leaders — including two whose backgrounds were in the coal industry — and in both Democratic and Republican administrations. She began in mid-1994 under then-DEP Director David C. Callaghan during the Democratic administration of Gov. Gaston Caperton, who is Austin Caperton’s cousin. Among other projects, Radcliff helped DEP officials organize a Citizens’ Strip Mine Tour in 1997 that provided one of the first close-up glimpses of the impact of mountaintop removal on residents in some coalfield communities. During the administration of Republican Cecil Underwood, Radcliff lasted for about 18 months, before resigning in June 1998, citing differences in philsophy and other career opportunities. Longtime Kanawha Valley chemical plant safety activist Pam Nixon took over as environmental advocate later in 1998. Nixon retired at the end of 2013 and then-DEP Secretary Randy Huffman convinced Radcliff to come back in June 2014. Huffman, who left earlier this month for a full-time position with the West Virginia Air National Guard, made Radcliff part of the DEP’s senior staff, which provided access to regular meetings of the agency’s division directors. Among other things, Radcliff organized a program that helped find and better train emerging leaders within the agency’s ranks. “I really got to know Wendy well over past few years when she agreed to come back to [the] DEP and serve as our state’s environmental advocate,” Huffman said Friday. “Her enthusiasm and passion for West Virginia is contagious. I appreciate how she understands the nexus between environmental protection and economic growth and how faithfully she supports the role of [the] DEP in that mix. She is selfless in all she does and she makes everyone around her better. I consider her a friend of mine and a friend of West Virginia.” Bill Price, senior organizer for the Sierra Club in West Virginia, said he is troubled by Radcliff’s dismissal. “Wendy Radcliff is a person that people trusted when they felt unheard,” Price said. “Is this a sign of how the people of West Virginia will be shut out by the Justice administration?” “For many who have well water woes or who are worried about another coal slurry spill, have questions about an oil and gas or coal permit or have any number of questions about how to interact with [the] DEP, Wendy’s the first point of contact,” said Vivian Stockman, vice director of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. “She’s friendly, helpful and competent. She does the agency proud, so her dismissal is confounding.“ Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kward(a)wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1702 or follow @kenwardjr on Twitter. Sent from my iPhone

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Charleston Gazette-Mail | Why wintertime brings prime walleye fishing to WV
by Duane via CLEAR 19 Dec '16

19 Dec '16

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/outdoors/20161218/why-wintertime-brings-prime-… Why wintertime brings prime walleye fishing to WV Article by John McCoy, Charleston Gazette Mail, December 18, 2016 As a fisheries biologist, Mark Scott often works with walleyes. He also likes to fish for them, and he says the winter months are an especially good time to catch large female walleyes as they get ready to spawn. West Virginia is trying to protect its native-strain walleyes by imposing special regulations on waters where native walleyes are known to live. There’s a good reason why the words “winter” and “walleye” both begin with a “W.” The two go together like — well, come up with your own pairing. Bacon and eggs. Barbie and Ken. Scooby and Shaggy. Winter is a great time to fish for walleyes. As soon as the weather turns cold, walleyes start moving toward their spawning grounds. Mark Scott, a fisheries biologist and avid walleye angler, said the spawning urge tends to concentrate the fish in specific areas. “In the New River, they congregate downstream from Sandstone Falls,” he said. “On the Kanawha, you can find them below Kanawha Falls or downstream from the navigation dams. At Summersville Lake, you’ll find them in the shoals just upstream from where the Gauley River flows in. “On the Greenbrier River, it’s the area downstream from Bacon Falls. On the Elk River, it’s the area downstream from Sutton Dam.” Scott said walleyes sometimes swim remarkable distances to reach good spawning habitat. A recent study showed that some individuals spent their summers in the New River just upstream from Hawks Nest Lake and their winters 44 miles upstream near Sandstone Falls. “When they’re moving, they’re more susceptible to angling,” Scott said. “They’re actively feeding, and when they get to their spawning zones you can find good numbers of them in a relatively small stretch of river.” Wintertime water temperatures slow down the activities of bass, catfish and other warm-water species. Walleyes like the cold. “They’re a ‘cool-water’ fish,” Scott explained. “They’re a lot like muskies in that regard. They remain active even when most of the other fish in the river aren’t.” Scott said live bait and artificial lures both work well for walleyes. “Some guys like to troll using deep-diving plugs that bang the bottom. Some people like jerk baits or swim baits. The key is fishing slow and on the bottom. Some of the biggest walleyes caught during the winter are hooked by muskie anglers throwing big muskie-sized baits,” he added. For bait anglers, large minnows or suckers are usually the ticket. “When you think about it, a 30-inch walleye is going to want a big bait,” Scott said. “The New River has lots of hogsuckers in it. They mass to spawn in the same areas the walleyes do. For the walleyes, it’s kind of like the buffet bar at Shoney’s.” Anglers who target winter walleyes should carefully read the Division of Natural Resources’ regulations pamphlet and update themselves on recent changes in walleye creel limits. In 2015, the DNR adopted a watershed-based system with specific regulations for specific lakes and rivers. “Those changes were made to protect our native-strain walleyes,” Scott explained. “Anywhere we had our native strain, we put regulations in place to restrict the take of large, spawning-age females.” In some parts of the state, the regulations are simple: a daily creel limit of eight with no length restrictions. The special regulations are more complicated. For example: n A 15-inch length minimum has been put into effect on the Cheat River, the Elk River upstream from Sutton Dam, the Monongahela River, the Tygart River, the West Fork River downstream from Stonewall Jackson Dam, and at Burnsville, Cheat, Stephens, Stonecoal and Tygart lakes. The creel limit on those waters is eight. n An 18-inch minimum size limit and a two-fish-per-day creel limit are in effect for the Ohio River and for the New River between the mouth of the Gauley River and Hawks Nest dam. n A slot limit is in effect for the Coal River, the Elk River downstream from Sutton Dam, the Greenbrier River, the Gauley River downstream from Summersville Dam, and the New River between the Virginia line and Hawks Nest Dam (except in the catch-and-release section detailed below). All walleye between 20 and 30 inches in length must be returned to the water at once. A two-fish daily creel limit is in effect, and only one of those fish can measure more than 30 inches. n A slot limit is in effect on the Gauley River upstream from Summersville Dam, including Summersville Reservoir. All walleye between 20 and 30 inches in length must be returned to the water at once. An eight-fish daily creel limit is in effect, and only one of those fish may measure more than 30 inches. n Catch-and-release regulations are in effect on Charles Fork and Dog Run lakes, and on the 5-mile stretch of the New River from Sandstone Falls downstream to the Meadow Creek public access site. All walleyes must be returned to the water at once. Scott said the catch-and-release regulations were put into place to protect the New River’s prime walleye spawning habitat and the two lakes where native-strain walleyes are kept to provide hatchery brood stock.

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Congratulations to Friends of the Cheat, County Parks and Recreation Commission, Town of Bruceton Mills | Opinion | theet.com
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via CLEAR 07 Dec '16

07 Dec '16

Subject: Congratulations to Friends of the Cheat, County Parks and Recreation Commission, Town of Bruceton Mills | Opinion | theet.com From: Duane Nichols http://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ Congratulations to Friends of the Cheat, County Parks and Recreation Commission, Town of Bruceton Mills Yes, Preston County, there indeed is a Santa Claus. Three area organizations — Friends of the Cheat, the Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission and the Town of Bruceton Mills — were awarded separate federal and state transportation and recreational grants on Tuesday, Nov. 29, in Charleston by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Tomblin invited representatives from each entity, including dozens of other award winners from across the state, to present each group with the grant certificate and congratulations. The Friends of the Cheat was awarded $150,000 for the first phase of its Cheat River Rail Trail Design and Construction Phase I. The Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission received $71,600 in federal grant funds to be used for its ongoing WV Northern Rail Trail project. The third local recipient was the Town of the Bruceton Mills. Mayor Cathy Smith attended the announcement event, representing her community. Her town was one out of 40 in the state to receive a portion of $5,917,737 in Transportation Alternatives Grants. Bruceton received $135,200 for design and engineering work for its ambitious sidewalk project. Gov. Tomblin handed out grants for a total of 54 community and infrastructure projects across the state. The Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Grant programs will provide more than $7 million for a variety of improvements. The funding is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, while the state Division of Highways administers the programs. During the event, Gov. Tomblin told those in attendance, including nine representatives from Preston County, that the grant funding will help build and repair infrastructure across the state, ultimately making communities better places to live and work. Certainly this is great news for all of us who hope to see our beloved rural community become even more beautiful. The relentless positive efforts by the Friends of the Cheat, the Parks and Recreation Commission and now the wonderful Town of Bruceton Mills are clearly paying dividends. The Cheat River Rail Trail Design and Construction Phase I represents a single phase of a multi-year, multi-grant endeavor: Construction of one of the region’s most picturesque and recreationally important trails — the Cheat River Rail-Trail. Phase I will result in approximately 1.5 miles of paved trail. The Preston County Parks and Recreation Commission’s grant will help fund a small part of a larger project to restore and resurface 10 miles of the WV Northern Rail Trail that goes from Kingwood to Tunnelton and to create a WV Northern Trailhead Park. The current grant will fund the design of the next four miles of the WV Northern Rail trail. The Bruceton Mills award is the largest the northern Preston County community has ever received. According to town council member Laura Dulaney, the sidewalk project has been on the town’s wish list for the last 10 years. The grant will give the much talked about project the kick-start it’s needed for a long time. We cannot say enough great things about all three local entities. The men and women who make up the Friends of the Cheat, Parks and Recreation Commission and, of course, the Town of Bruceton Mills have shown a remarkable vision and determined community spirit that all of Preston County should recognize. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net <http://www.FrackCheckWV.net>

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Efforts to save the Cheat River chart clearer course forward | News & Observer
by Duane via CLEAR 29 Nov '16

29 Nov '16

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article117648958.html Efforts to save the Cheat River chart clearer course forward By Michael Virtanen, Preston County News & Observer, Nov. 29, 2016 <Associated Press> The Cheat River flows pale green and slate gray, glistening in the sunshine as it gathers speed, turns to whitewater and drops between rocks on the way toward the Monongahela River. From there it makes its way to the Ohio River and the drinking water of millions of people. As West Virginia pushes toward an uncertain economic future, a river that once flowed bright orange charts a course out of mining's toxic legacies. The state recently joined conservationists to protect the Cheat's eight-mile whitewater canyon, collectively buying 3,800 acres from timber investors for $7 million. A new $8 million water treatment plant next year should help alleviate ongoing acid drainage from an abandoned underground coal mine that blew out in 1994, spewing acid and metals. "In the East, it's a rare opportunity where you get to protect eight river miles along an area that not only has tremendous biodiversity but also has a lot of recreational opportunities available," said the Nature Conservancy's Keith Fisher, a biologist. Even with President-elect Donald Trump promising a coal industry comeback, most West Virginians have adapted to a world in which other economic engines are needed to revive one of the nation's poorest states. The two-decade effort to reclaim the Cheat River and its tributaries fits into a broader push to grow tourism in West Virginia, where visitors already spend about $4.5 billion annually. "Our tourism possibilities in this state are limitless," Governor-elect Jim Justice said during the campaign. An outdoorsman and mine owner, he told The Associated Press after winning that he wants to protect the state's air, water and natural beauty, saying it can co-exist with coal. The Cheat also has a more tangible connection to West Virginia's coal legacy. Like many waterways in coal-producing states, it remains threatened by mine drainage that turns water acidic. The state Department of Environmental Protection calls the acidification of waterways coal's "biggest environmental problem," affecting hundreds of miles of West Virginia rivers and streams, usually from abandoned mines where those who caused it are long gone. The agency says the Monongahela, Tug Fork, North Branch of the Potomac and several other rivers have all been affected. The Cheat is clear to the bottom and shallow in November, unlike the spring surge that rises above boulders and draws peak-season rafters and kayakers down the canyon. Its steep walls are lined with hardwoods, oaks, hickories and maples still dropping amber leaves. The water remains high enough to carry small boats. Part of the 330-mile Allegheny Trail runs parallel for eight miles, high on the river's east rim. The narrow, grassy former logging tract was once designated for a rail line. Now it's reopened to hikers, fishermen and hunters and closed to all-terrain vehicles. Commercial rafters never stopped using their rights to a navigable waterway, though they lost business after the blowout. "Cheat River is so much better than it used to be," said Doug Wood, a retired state biologist. "As a drinking water source it's much better than it was before." Downstream drinking water systems all have to treat their intake from the rivers for bacteria and other contaminants, some more extensively. Its acidity was toxic to virtually all aquatic life after the 1994 mine blowout released massive drainage outflows into a tributary, Muddy Creek. "The Cheat was already a pretty severely polluted river," said Randy Robinson, then a rafting guide who was on it shortly after the blowout and remembers the nasty, sulfurous smell. "It was like orange paint had been dumped in the river in a way." The orange coating on the rocks from iron hydroxide, which persisted for years, has disappeared. The acid levels have been sharply reduced through dozens of water-treatment projects, proven by both testing and the abundance of freshwater fish in Cheat Lake, a downstream river impoundment that has attracted an enclave of upscale homes and townhouses outside Morgantown. According to Wood, acid drainage is a fairly predictable matter of coal geology, where the nearby rock also contains iron disulfide. With mining, it will produce iron hydroxide and sulfuric acid when combined with oxygen and water that eventually finds a path down and out. "The problems with the Cheat should have educated our permitting agencies, a long time ago, to prevent them from issuing permits that are going to result in perpetual acid mine drainage," Wood said. He said that hasn't happened. Restoring an affected waterway afterward requires costly, active treatment, he said. The state permitting agency said it does consider geology among many factors. Permits aren't approved unless an operation is deemed to meet all federal and state legal requirements, spokeswoman Kelley Gillenwater said. Amanda Pitzer, executive director of Friends of the Cheat, volunteers who monitor and work on its restoration, said the pH level, which is neutral at 7, dropped to toxic 3 and 4 after the blowout. The Muddy Creek tributary looks milky green now, still showing effects of drainage that also includes aluminum. The creek, though improved, still has no fish. David McCoy, a state engineer, said 3.4 miles of Muddy Creek still usually test acidic, and the Cheat itself now tests neutral. The new filtration system will use two 80-foot clarifiers, a 100-ton silo and hydrated lime to counter the acidity and capture the sludge of metals that settle out. That sludge will be piped to an injection well underground at a higher elevation. The Nature Conservancy emphasizes a "pragmatic" approach, working with businesses to promote best practices for limiting environmental impact. The economics of the transition from West Virginia's post-mining economy can't be ignored, said Fisher, the state chapter's director of conservation, and should include recreation and land and water restoration. All of that brings him back to the big question he and others are trying to answer. Standing on the trail, high above the softly rumbling river, he said it's about the transition from a coal-dependent economy to something else: "How do you make conservation and economic diversity work together?" Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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State road crews working on late fall projects, Cheat River Road slide, road resurfacing happening all month | News | theet.com
by Duane via CLEAR 04 Nov '16

04 Nov '16

http://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ State road crews working on late fall projects, Cheat River Road slide, road resurfacing happening all month By Theresa Marthey, Preston County News & Journal, November 4, 2016 KINGWOOD — Major traffic delays on Cheat River Road may soon be coming to an end. Local road crews are nearly finished repairing a road slide that has caused major problems for motorists the last few weeks. A section of Cheat River Road, approximately one mile from the intersection of W.Va. 7 and W.Va. 72, on the Cheat River side has slipped and is being shored up. The section of road has been indicated by “uneven pavement” signs. “The project is approximately 50 percent complete and includes 212 feet of piling wall to stabilize the road and paving to even out the road,” Division of Highways Communications Specialist Carrie E. Jones said. “Guardrails will be installed also.” Bilco Construction Co. Inc. of Newton was awarded the $400,726 project, and it is expected to be completed by mid-November. Once the repairs on Cheat River Road are complete, DOH crews will then begin a handful of late fall projects. Those projects include repaving 2.55 miles of Mountaineer Highway (W.Va. 92). The contract was awarded to Dodd General Contractors of Bridgeport for $421,999.56 and should be completed by Nov. 16. The second road project, which has not been awarded but is set to begin on Nov. 15, is .79 miles of thin overlay on West Virginia Route 7 in Masontown. Finished paving projects include 3.38 miles of Interstate 68 from Coopers Rock to Laurel Run, 3.15 miles of George Washington Highway (U.S. 50), 1.9 miles of Gladesville Road, 1.6 miles of Clifton Mills Road, 2.7 miles of Caddell Mountain, 3.31 miles of Saltlick Road, 1.42 miles of W.Va. 26, and 2.03 miles of Interstate 68 (Maryland Road). On Monday, Oct. 31, county commissioners received a Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) from the state Division on Highways listing amendments to a five-year road repair and construction plan for Preston County. The list contains four road projects for fiscal year 2017 that are required to have a “public review and comment period” because they show Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration expenditures. According to the letter from Deputy State Highway Engineer Robert Pennington, “additions or deletions to the STIP and certain changes to projects currently in the STIP must meet this requirement before federal funds can be obtained.” Included in the list are resurfacing projects on Brandonville Pike, Cranesville Road and Macomber-Hardesty Road (W.Va. 50). Mileage and specific locations for the projects are not given in the list. “While 2017 is marked beside these projects in the list, we have not received funding for next year yet,” Jones said. “We are waiting for our funding.” According to Jones, so far this year, the DOH has invested more than $7 million on resurfacing 19.49 miles of county roads during the recent spring and summer. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

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$4 million Rowlesburg water project expected to serve 150 held up, Developers granted 3 week extension | News | theet.com
by Duane via CLEAR 04 Nov '16

04 Nov '16

http://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ $4 million Rowlesburg water project expected to serve 150 held up, Developers granted 3 week extension By Therese Matheny, Preston County News & Journal, November 3, 2016 ROWLESBURG — The 150 customers of a water-extension project in Rowlesburg will have to wait an additional three weeks while developers from Region VI Planning and Development complete appraisals and right-of-way work. Rowlesburg’s town council approved the extension at its Oct. 24 meeting. Prior to the appraisals being completed, certified letters are required to be sent to the property owners setting a time when the appraiser would be on the subject property. There was a 45-day time frame set for the appraisals to be done, and the information submitted by Oct. 15. “The appraiser hired for the project did not get the letters sent out to the people in order to submit the appraisals by the deadline,” Region VI Planning and Development Council Excutive Director Sheena Hunt told the Rowlesburg Town Council on Oct. 24. “The attorney for the project was on vacation and not able to prepare the letters for the appraiser.” Rowlesburg attorney Sheila Williams said she had prepared the required letters before leaving for vacation. “All that needed to be done was adding the name, phone and date the appraiser was going to be in Rowlesburg,” Williams said. “The letters could have been sent out.” Bobby Grimm, who lives eight-tenths of a mile outside of Rowlesburg and is the first person in line to receive water with the project, said he spoke with Williams after the Oct. 24 meeting. “The appraiser was hired by the town on Sept. 15,” Grimm said. “That was three weeks prior to Sheila going on vacation. “If someone had contacted Sheila right after the appraiser was hired and gave her information, this work would be done already,” Grimm continued. Hunt asked the town council for a three-week extension in having the appraisal get the work complete and submit it to the town. “Hopefully we will have those taken care of by the second meeting of next month (November),” Hunt said at the meeting. “Once we get the appraiser reports, we can begin negotiations with the property owners.” Grimm is worried the town will lose the grant and loan it worked so hard to get for the project if something is started soon. “I am just hoping we get the ball rolling soon,” Grimm said. “Rowlesburg cannot afford to lose the money for the project. “If they would lose the money, anything that was already drawn down on the grant and loan would have to be repaid,” Grimm shared. “Rowlesburg just cannot afford to pay any of that money down.” The amount drawn down for the project already was not available. Grimm said the town has a lot of problems right now, and he isn’t sure if the council understands the hardships of the project not moving along at a better pace. “I was expecting to see water at my home in fall of 2015,” Grimm said. “I hope to have water soon, but dirt is definitely not going to fly before spring of 2017. “I haul a lot of water,” Grimm said. “And I know the people who have signed up for water are also tired of waiting. We all started working on this project five years ago.” The $4 million project is set to serve an additional 150 customers on the south end of Rowlesburg. The project begins on West Virginia Route 72, where it leaves Rowlesburg, to U.S. 50 to the Tucker County line. The project also includes a portion on U.S. 50 West to Laurel Mountain and east to the Cheat River Bridge. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Rowlesburg council questioned about illegal sewage discharge into the Cheat River | News | theet.com
by Duane via CLEAR 30 Oct '16

30 Oct '16

Rowlesburg council questioned about illegal sewage discharge into the Cheat River From an Article by Thresea Marthley, Preston County News & Journal, October 30, 2016 Rowlesburg, WV — Rowlesburg residents and Friends of the Cheat (FOC) executive director Amanda Pitzer questioned town council on Monday about what the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) said was an “illicit” sewage discharge into the Cheat River. The Preston County News & Journal first reported the Town of Rowlesburg and the WVDEP had entered into a Consent Order agreement over the town exceeding its sewage discharge limitations into the Cheat River from the town’s wastewater collection system. “This pipe is discharging a storm water and wastewater mix and is currently unpermitted,” WVDEP Environmental Inspector Mary Sanders told the Preston County News & Journal on Friday, Oct. 21. “This unpermitted discharge has already been addressed as part of Consent Order 8432.” Pitzer told council she wouldn’t characterize the issue as “little.” “This is more of a problem than I originally thought,” Pitzer said. “I am here to help, and one way I can help is by having all the information.” Pitzer said in the consent order, it was reported there was 12 million gallons of water a day going through the system. “We are seeing 6,000 times that at different points,” Pitzer said. “This concerns me. That is an amazing amount of water, and I can’t believe that number is correct.” Mayor Barbara Banister contradicted Pitzer during the meeting, telling her the data she was presenting was incorrect. Pitzer then asked Banister and council if she could see the Corrective Plan of Action that was required by the WVDEP as part of the consent order. Banister said they were not required to submit one. “We were not asked about that,” Banister said. “It was not on the consent order that I signed to my knowledge.” Pitzer told Banister her signature is on page five of the consent order, and on page three under “Order for Compliance,” number 5 states a proposed plan of corrective action was to be submitted within 30 days of the effective date of the order for approval. “That would have been in May,” Pitzer said. “I would really like to see it instead to having to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to get it.” Banister continued to deny the town had agreed to submit such a plan. A Corrective Action Plan, according to the WVDEP, outlines action items and completion dates. The Preston County News & Journal has learned from the WVDEP that the town did indeed submit plan. “Rowlesburg submitted one, and it was denied for being insufficient,” Sanders wrote in an email. “To the best of my knowledge, WVDEP has not received another one.” Resident Phil Wotring asked town council if the sign that states “sewage discharges into the Cheat River every time it rains” can be removed. “It looks bad on the town to have that sign in our park,” Wotring said. “And has the problem been corrected, and was it required by the West Virginia DEP?” Banister said with the town having backwash from the storm/sewage system going into the river, she wanted to let people know what was happening and had the sign put up. “That sign was put up approximately six months ago,” Banister said. “It (the sign) was not required by the DEP.” Banister said she thought the “problem” was fixed when a contractor, Beitzel Corporation, was hired to put in catch basin at the site where the mixed water was pouring into the river. The pipe is located near the Rowlesburg Park. The work Beitzel Corporation completed was paid for by Mayor Banister and her husband without council approval. Banister did receive council’s blessing however, after the work had been completed. Early this month, the issue was investigated by the state Ethics Commission, which ultimately granted Baniser and the town a contract exemption. The town was ordered to pay Banister and her husband back the $54,637.94 they spent on the project. Details of the payback have not been released. However, Banister admitted the illicit drainage pipe will never be completely resolved until the town’s waste and stormwater are separated. Rowlesburg has what the WVDEP calls an unpermitted combined sewage overflow or CSO. “Because of the combined sewer and storm water lines, it has been doing this for years. After you get so much, it has to go somewhere because it is all the same lines,” Banister said.

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Sept. 24 - Citizen Science Gathering in Morgantown
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via CLEAR 14 Sep '16

14 Sep '16

The following was sent to you because you are a Member of the DEP News List mailing list. ============================================================ Wednesday, September 14, 2016 @ 2:11 PM ============================================================ Sept. 14, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Reminder: Registrations Still Being Accepted for Sept. 24 Citizen Science Gathering MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s not too late to sign up to attend the Sept. 24 Citizen Science Gathering in Morgantown. Registrations for the event will be taken through Sunday, Sept. 18. The event was organized by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Environmental Advocate’s Office, in conjunction with West Virginia University, Trout Unlimited, and several other groups. The gathering will be at the WVU College of Law from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include presentations and roundtable discussions about the applications of citizen science. Citizen science, or “citsci,” involves the collection of environmental data by concerned citizens. This data can sometimes be used to shape environmental policy, but often there is confusion on the part of the citizens about best practices for collection and presentation of that data. The purpose of this gathering is to help eliminate some of that confusion. Renowned coal mine safety expert Davitt McAteer will speak on the legal applications of citizen science, and there will be presentations from WVU’s Michael McCawley, Gretchen Gehrke of PublicLab.org, and Ryan Grode of the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project. The registration fee is $20. To sign up, or to obtain more information, email Diana Smith atdiana.k.smith(a)wv.gov by the end of the day on the 18th. You can also leave a phone message for Diana at 304-926-0499, ext. 1329. For more DEP news and information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about our REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan), West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia Watershed Improvement Branch, Youth Environmental Program and Human Resources initiatives, connect on Facebook. ###

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Fwd: DEP Public Notice - WV NPDES Water Pollution Control Permit - Monongalia County - Morgantown Utility Board
by Duane Nichols via CLEAR 07 Sep '16

07 Sep '16

> From: <dep.online(a)wv.gov> > Date: September 7, 2016 at 10:28:51 AM EDT > Subject: DEP Public Notice - WV NPDES Water Pollution Control Permit - Monongalia County - Morgantown Utility Board > ====================================================== > Wednesday, September 7, 2016 > ====================================================== > > STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA > DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION > DIVISION OF WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT > > PUBLIC NOTICE > > WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S, PUBLIC INFORMATION > OFFICE, 601 57TH STREET, CHARLESTON SE, WEST VIRGINIA 25304-2345 TELEPHONE: > (304) 926-0440. > > APPLICATION FOR A WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM > WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT > > Public Notice No.: L-77-16 Public Notice Date: September > 14, 2016 > > Paper: Dominion Post > > The following has applied for a WV NPDES Water Pollution Control Permit for > this facility or activity: > > Appl. No.: WV0083071 > > Applicant: MORGANTOWN UTILITY BD > 278 GREENBAG RD > PO BOX 852 > MORGANTOWN, WV 26507-0852 > > Location: MORGANTOWN, MONONGALIA COUNTY > > Latitude: 39:40:51 Longitude: 79:52:03 > > Receiving Stream: > CHEAT RIVER > > Activity: To operate and maintain an existing 750,000 gallons per day sewage collection and treatment system. The system is designed to serve approximately 10,000 persons or equivalents in the Cheat Lake and surrounding environs and discharge treated wastewater, via Outlet 001, to the Cheat River (Lake), approximately 9.4 miles from its mouth of the Monongahela River. Sewage sludge generated and/or processed at the Cheat Lake wastewater treatment facility shall be pumped and transported to the Morgantown Utility Board's main treatment facility for ultimate treatment and disposal. An antidegradation review has been conducted and Tier 1 protection is provided for the uses specified in Title 47, Series 2, Section 6. > > Business conducted: > Municipality > > On the basis of review of the application, the "Water Pollution Control Act (Chapter 22, Article 11-8(a))," and the "West Virginia Legislative Rules," the State of West Virginia will act on the above application. > > Any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit and may request a public hearing by addressing such to the Director of the Division of Water and Waste Management within 30 days of the date of the public notice. Such comments or requests should be addressed to: > > Director, Division of Water and Waste Management, DEP > ATTN: Lori Devereux, Permitting Section > 601 57th Street SE > Charleston, WV 25304-2345 > > The public comment period begins September 14, 2016 and ends October 14, 2016. > > Comments received within this period will be considered prior to acting on the permit application. Correspondence should include the name, address and the telephone number of the writer and a concise statement of the nature of the > issues raised. The Director shall hold a public hearing whenever a finding is made, on the basis of requests, that there is a significant degree of public interest on issues relevant to the Draft Permit(s). Interested persons may contact the public information office to obtain further information. > > The application, draft permit and any required fact sheet may be > inspected, by appointment, at the Division of Water and Waste Management Public Information Office, at 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304-2345, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on business days. Copies of the documents may be obtained from the Division at a nominal cost. Calls must be made 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. > ===================================================== > >

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WVU's freshman community service
by Duane via CLEAR 20 Aug '16

20 Aug '16

WVU's freshman community service in Preston County was great success From an Article by John Dahlia, Preston County News & Review,August 19, 2016 This year’s incoming freshman class at West Virginia University represents one of the largest ever at WVU — around 5,400. According to WVU enrollment officials, that number is up 7.6 percent from last year. More often than not, those first-time Mountaineers do not know or have any desire of visiting or learning about the area, including neighboring Preston County. But thanks to a new university initiative, all first-year students will have an opportunity to participate in area community service projects — some of which took place right here. Dozens of students spent many hours working on two projects. The first was at Coopers Rock. Students began working on various projects on Sunday, August 7th, through this past Tuesday, August 16th. The work was coordinated by the Coopers Rock Foundation, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Adventure WV. The work accomplished included general repair and clean-up efforts at the park. Adventure WV is mainly an Outdoor Orientation Program for incoming WVU first-year students that has expanded to include an outdoor recreation center, climbing wall, outdoor education center, challenge course, zip canopy tour, international study abroad programs, leadership training opportunities, and many other outdoor and experiential education programs. Adventure WV provides new Mountaineers a comprehensive development of adventure education programming for students of all levels, supporting adjustment to college life, retention, and career success by assisting student development in self-knowledge, teamwork, and leadership skills. The second and much more ambitious community service effort was with the Friends of the Cheat organization and its continuing effort to protect the waters in and around the Cheat River. On Tuesday, August 16, 25 WVU students helped the Friends of the Cheat with its stream monitoring effort. The student volunteers were broken into five groups who traveled to different sampling sites in the Sovern Run watershed. The Sovern Run watershed is a sub-watershed of the Big Sandy Creek watershed, which is part of the Cheat River watershed. Because acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines has impaired the Sovern Run watershed, it needs to be consistently monitored. According to FOC Director Amanda Pitzer, each group paddled the Cheat Narrows with Cheat River Outfitters and worked with FOC staff. The restoration of Sovern Run has been one of the FOC’s biggest successes. Both service projects were certainly a giant help to the folks who work and support Coopers Rock State Park and, of course, the exceptional staff with the Friends of the Cheat. The initiative also gave a good number of WVU’s newest and brightest the chance to learn a little about Preston County and at the same time meet some great people. We commend WVU for this outstanding community-centric initiative and sincerely hope those students who spent some time here decide to head back to enjoy the sights, events, tastes and people that make our beloved Preston County such a wonderful place. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Rebirth of the Cheat River (in the news)
by Duane330＠aol.com 14 Aug '16

14 Aug '16

Subject: FW: Cheat River Blog access Rebirth of the Cheat River - https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/07/rebirth-of-the-cheat-river/ An EPA Region III blog

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Snails Are Going Extinct: Here's Why That Matters - Scientific American Blog Network
by Duane 13 Aug '16

13 Aug '16

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/snails-going-extin… Snails Are Going Extinct: Here's Why That Matters - Scientific American From John R. Platt, Scientific American, August 10, 2016 Ah, snails. They’re small. They’re slimy. They lack the charisma of a polar bear or a gorilla. And yet just like flora and fauna all over the world, they’re disappearing. In Hawaii, a critically endangered snail called Achatinella fuscobasis has been brought into captivity to help learn how to keep them alive in the wild. In Alabama, conservation groups have petitioned to add the oblong rocksnail (Leptoxis compacta) to the Endangered Species List. In New Zealand, a snail known only as Rhytida oconnori has found itself constrained to a habitat just one square kilometer in size. On Fiji, scientists have expressed an “urgent need” to keep the island’s unique tree snails from going extinct. That fate may have already happened to three snail species in Malaysia after a mining company wiped out their only habitats, a series of limestone hills. That’s just scratching the surface. By my count, nearly 140 scientific papers about endangered snails have been published so far this year. All of which begs the question: why does the extinction of a snail matter? Obviously the answer to that question depends on the exact species, but we can make generalizations. Many birds, fish and other species rely on snails as important parts of their diets. Most land snail species consume fungi and leaf litter, helping with decomposition, and many are carnivores, so they help keep other species in check. Beyond that, there’s actually a lot that we can learn from snails. “From the most practical standpoint, snails have a few pretty interesting characteristics that tell us we should probably pay attention,” says snail researcher Rebecca Rundell, assistant professor at State University of New York. For one thing, their shells—which they carry with them their entire lives (because they’d die without them)—are made of calcium carbonate, which provides a record of their lives. Unlike plant husks or insect exoskeletons, these shells tend to persist after a snail has died, leaving behind a valuable tool for researchers. “We can look in marine sediment and pockets of soil for evidence of past ecological communities, and thus evidence for environmental change in a particular area,” she says. Living snails can also serve as indicators when something is wrong with the environment, something we’re already seeing with ocean acidification. “If snails in the ocean that make their shells, their protection, exclusively from calcium carbonate are having trouble building them, then that means the ocean is in big trouble,” Rundell says. They can provide similar clues on land, where land snails often have particularly narrow habitat requirements. “They need certain levels of moisture, shade, and decaying matter,” Rundell says. “When they don't have this, they start dying off.” That’s just the start: if tiny land snails start to disappear, it’s important to ask what might happen next. “It might give you a chance to change course,” she says, “to detect subtle changes that humans might not otherwise be able to see until it is too late.” Snails also help us to answer bigger questions. “The fact that many of these land snail species have small geographic ranges and that there are many species, make them fascinating subjects for learning about how life on Earth evolved,” Rundell says, adding that “scientists really rely on groups like Pacific island land snails to tell life's story.” That opportunity, however, is at risk. “We are losing snail species at an astronomical rate,” Rundell says, “one that is equivalent to, if not exceeding, the worldwide rate of loss of amphibians.” Most species have extremely limited ranges, making them, as she puts it, “particularly susceptible to human-induced extinction.” Meanwhile, the number of people studying snails remains relatively small. “That means we are at a big disadvantage in not only documenting land snail diversity, particularly in the tropics, but also learning from it in terms of what snails have to tell us about how life on Earth evolved,” Rundell says. Saving snails from extinction is no easy feat. For one thing, their habitats are just too easy to destroy. For another, we don’t even know what it would take to keep most snail species alive in captivity, a function of their narrow microhabitat requirements. “One snail species might be feeding on hundreds of species of fungi that are unique to that particular forest,” Rundell says. “It is very difficult to replicate these diets in the lab.” A handful of captive-breeding efforts have been successful, but Rundell says they are labor-intensive and hard to fund. Rundell’s own work studying Pacific island snails has shown her what it would take to reverse this snail-extinction trend. “Ultimately what is most important for land snails is the human element: people working together to protect what is most unique, precious, and irreplaceable on these islands—native forest,” she says. “This involves documenting what is there using a combination of field work and the study of natural history museum specimens. It also involves learning lessons from the past unchecked development such as agriculture and later urbanization, particularly in lowland tropical forests, and figuring out how we can protect as many pieces left as possible.” This, she says, has the “added benefit of leaving parts of the watershed, storm protection, and forest food and medicinal resources intact for people to survive in these places.” So why does snail extinction matter? Just like everything else, snails are an important piece of the puzzle that makes this planet function. They’re also a way to help us better understand how we got here—and maybe where we’re going. See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Fwd: Film, food, brews, and fun! Film screenings for the documentary "The Stewards of Shavers Fork"
by Duane 05 Jul '16

05 Jul '16

> From: Canaan Valley Institute <alyssa.hanna(a)canaanvi.org> > Date: July 5, 2016 4:25:54 PM EDT > > Subject: Film, food, brews, and fun! Film screenings for the documentary "The Stewards of Shavers Fork" > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Announcing the television premier of "The Stewards of Shavers Fork" on Sunday July 10th at 8:00pm! > > > > Join us for the television premier of > "The Stewards of Shavers Fork!" > > > > CVI is thrilled to announce the television premier of Stewards of Shavers Fork on Sunday July 10th at 8:00pm on West Virginia Public Broadcasting's West Virginia Channel! > > This short documentary film chronicles how primeval spruce forests, century-old steam locomotives and ghost towns all influenced modern restoration efforts to save the river's brook trout, West Virginia's only native trout. CVI's work reconnecting critical tributary habitats with the Shavers Fork mainstem are highlighted. The film was the inspiration of our long-time partners at West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and WVU and we are grateful for the opportunity to share the Shavers Fork story with a wide audience. > > Join members of the cast and crew as well as restoration experts for a watch party at one of these locations around the state at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 10 for the debut. > > * Charleston - B&D GastroPub, 200 35th Street > * Morgantown - Mountain State Brewing Company, 54 Clay Street > * Elkins - Big Timber Brewing, 1210 S. Davis Avenue > * Davis - Stumptown Ales, 390 William Avenue > > "The Stewards of Shavers Fork" will also air on WV PBS at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, July 11; 7 p.m. on Monday, July 25; and 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on July 26. > > For more information on additional show times or to find the West Virginia Channel in your area visit http://wvpublic.org/find-wvpb-television . Also check into the WVPBS website after July 10th to watch the film online! > > > Canaan Valley Institute | (304) 259.4739 | www.canaanvi.org > > > > > > > > Canaan Valley Institute, 494 RiverStone Road, Davis, WV 26260 > > >

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WV MetroNews – Cheat River in middle of a “rebirth”
by Duane 21 Jun '16

21 Jun '16

http://wvmetronews.com/2016/06/20/cheat-river-in-middle-of-a-rebirth/ Cheat River in middle of a “rebirth” Cheat Canyon near High Falls, photo credit Kent Mason MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — More than a decade of efforts, along with federal funding, have contributed to what’s being called a rebirth of the Cheat River. “A lot of folks at the state level and local level in cooperation with the EPA have really focused on the Cheat to turn the story around,” explained Jon Capacasa, Director for Water Protection Division of EPA’s Mid Atlantic Region. “Their efforts are paying off.” Parts of the goals of the non-profit Friends of the Cheat are being met through Clean Water Act funds. “Cheat River restoration efforts have received more than $5.1 million in support. $2.6 million of that is from EPA’s non point source program. It’s a Clean Water Act program that funds projects to reduce pollution from area sources,” Capacasa added. Friends of the Cheat released an update that detailed the toll acid mine drainage took on the river. “The recovery has been dramatic since 1994 when, in the first of two incidents, torrents of polluted water from an illegally-sealed underground mine blew out a hillside and poured into Muddy Creek and then the Cheat River, turning the river orange for 16 miles on the way to Cheat Lake, killing everything in its aquatic path, and bringing greater attention to a history of AMD problems affecting the Cheat.” Capacasa said funding has helped pay for a passive treatment system. “Limestone rocks are used to neutralize the acid coming out of these abandoned mines so that before they hit the stream they are made more minimal to aquatic life and the health of the stream.” Significant changes are noticeable from the work that was underway from 2000 to 2013. “Restoration work there has reduced acid mine drainage related pollution more than 1.7 million pounds,” Capacasa noted. “More neutral water is more amenable wildlife and aquatic life to survive in.” Today, the Cheat is host to bass fishing tournaments, a healthy perch population and even pollution-sensitive walleye, according to Friends of the Cheat. All the while, outdoor enthusiasts are coming back to the Cheat for the thrill of the rapids. “It means a lot of local outfitters are and small businesses are benefitting with huge numbers of recreational users that are coming back to the river, Capacasa said. “It’s a great economic engine not just a clean water story.” Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Bad Roads Slows Firefighter Response to Cheat Canyon Rescue
by Duane 09 May '16

09 May '16

http://www.firehouse.com/news/12205018/bad-road-slows-firefighter-response-… Bad Roads Slows WV Rescue in the Cheat River Canyon By Kathy Plum, Morgantown Dominion Post, May 9, 2016 Masontown, WV -- The condition of the road to the Jenkinsburg bridge slowed firefighters as they worked Sunday to rescue an injured rafter. The Masontown Volunteer Fire Department was called at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, when a man fell from a raft on a trip by a licensed river rafting company. Guides pulled the man from the river and brought him to the riverbank on a raft, Masontown Fire Chief Dan Luzier said. The problem was getting him to medical care quickly and safely, the chief said. KAMP Ambulance brought an ambulance to the top of the steep, single-lane dirt road, County Route 14/4, that leads from the Masontown side of the bridge to the river. Because of the deteriorating condition of the road, neither the ambulance or fire department trucks were able to go down it. Firefighters took a side-by-side, a type of ATV, to the river. Normally it's a 15-minute trip from the river to where the ambulance was parked, Luzier said. "Because of his condition -- with broken bones and we felt he had some internal injuries -- it would have done him more harm," to go on the rough road up to the Masontown side, Luzier said. Had the trip been attempted, he estimated it would have taken 45 minutes to get up the hill, with the patient in a Stokes basket on the all-terrain vehicle. Instead, firefighters went out by the Bruceton side of the bridge and met Bruceton Ambulance on the Hudson Road, about a 10-minute trip. The ambulance then took the patient to Valley Point, where Bruceton-Brandonville volunteer firefighters set up a landing zone for HealthNet medical helicopter. The man was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital. Luzier did not know his condition Sunday afternoon. The area at the Jenkinsburg Bridge or High Bridge, also known as the Blue Hole, is a popular spot for summer entertainment. It is also where rafters put into the Cheat. Firefighters aren't the only ones to express concerns about the condition of the road. At a recent Preston County Commission meeting, Friends of the Cheat Executive Director Amanda Pitzer and representatives of American Whitewater and Cheat River Outfitters asked county commissioners for help getting it fixed. She noted that emergency vehicles would have problems with access, as well as the potential economic impact. The last two miles before the river are the worse, Pitzer told commissioners, She said one culvert is especially bad and rock needs to be jackhammered out to make the road passable. The road is single lane most of the way, with a hillside on one side and a sheer drop to the river on the other. "It's the exact scenario we were worried about," Commission President Craig Jennings said Sunday. "We've got enough situations around here with weather and things that can't be fixed," he said, but this could be. Friends of the Cheat collected donations of $11,000 in 2014 and $8,000 last year to pay for work on the road, and is collecting them again. Any work they fund must be approved by the State Division of Highways (DOH). The DOH was on the road last month but spokeswoman Carrie Bly told The Dominion Post then that, "We're just doing the basic stuff because in our eyes we have to walk a fine line, because it is a very low-traffic roadway most of the time." "The Bruceton side's not too bad," Luzier said. "But it's our territory. We're the closest." Bruceton-Brandonville VFD (BBVFD) Assistant Chief John Vincent said while his department didn't have any part in the actual rescue Sunday, water rescues take a lot of manpower. BBVFD firefighters aren't trained in swift water rescues. That would take 20-40 hours' training by the volunteers and the expense for the department. They rely on the county dive team for any rescues involving diving, but the department does have a six-by-six Polaris Ranger it can use for rescues. But Bruceton-Brandonville already covers the largest territory of any volunteer fire department in Preston County, Vincent noted. It's 156 square miles, roughly the top one-third of the county. "It would definitely put a strain on our guys if we had to add that territory, especially such a remote and hard to access area," Vincent said. Luzier said firefighters have talked to legislators about getting help for the road, without success. "We don't want a highway, we just want a way to get there and back," he said. "It's just starting," he said of the summer recreation on the river. "Here it is in May and it's started already. Usually that means it's going to be a long season." Preston County Commissioners asked Friends of the Cheat and businesses to return to them with estimates of the economic impact of the road use.

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Fwd: WVU Woodlot Rec Management Plan--Open House invitation
by Duane Nichols 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

> From: Chad Pierskalla <cpierska(a)wvu.edu> > Date: April 20, 2016 at 11:38:34 AM EDT > > Subject: WVU Woodlot Rec Management Plan--Open House invitation > > Invitation to provide input to direct the future management of the WVU WOODLOT/BAKERS RIDGE TRAILS (off West Run Rd.) > > OPEN HOUSE > > When: April 28 (Thursday) 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm > Where: Black Bear restaurant, Evansdale, University Ave. > Format: Drop-in anytime during event. > Purpose: To share student management ideas for the WVU Woodlot. Also, to encourage public input into future plans for the Woodlot. > > For more information, please contact Chad.Pierskalla(a)mail.wvu.edu. > > The event is being organized by WVU graduate students with support from Drs. Selin and Pierskalla. We hope to see you at the event! >

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Preston County Journal - Cheat River is stocked with trout for the first time this season | News | theet.com
by Duane 23 Mar '16

23 Mar '16

http://www.theet.com/content/tncms/live/ Preston County Journal - By Thresea Marthey, March 22, 2016 Cheat River is stocked with trout for the first time this season ROWLESBURG — The Cheat River is once again stocked and ready for fishing season again. Rain greeted Trout for Cheat, Inc. volunteers who stocked the Cheat River with 1,700 pounds of trout on Tuesday, Mar. 15. “This is our 16th year, and the first of four stockings for this year,” Trout for Cheat President Art George said. “We make 18 stops along the Cheat River.” The trout range from two to eight pounds each, and the Trout for Cheat committee members as well as cadets from the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy join together to put the fish into the river. To make stocking a little easier, volunteers and cadets created a bucket brigade type chain, handing giant buckets of fish and water to one another until they reached the banks of the Cheat River, where the fish were gently set free. Indian Lake Fisheries of Elkview have been providing the trout for the stockings for 13 years. “It is awesome doing this,” Indian Lake Fisheries Wholesale Manager Chris Veltri said. “We pride ourselves on long term business. The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy Cadets have been helping for many years also. “We have 28 cadets here today,” Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy Program Coordinator Kim Keene said. “We have been doing this for many years.” “We also knew it would be raining, so we made sure they had rain coats today,” Keene said. The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy uses the trout stocking program as part of its 40 hours of community service each cadet is required to have in order to graduate. “Groups call us when they have an event where they need help or volunteers,” Keene said. “Or if I know there is an event coming up where volunteers may be needed, I will call the group so the cadets can get their community service hours.” Trout for Cheat is accepts donations for the stocking program. They can be sent to 200 View Street, Kingwood, W.Va. 26537. Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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The East Coast’s undiscovered whitewater gem - Wild, Wonderful West Virginia
by Duane 07 Mar '16

07 Mar '16

http://gotowv.com/the-east-coasts-whitewater-gem/ The East Coast’s undiscovered whitewater gem The Cheat River ranks among the best for whitewater paddling in the region. Northeastern West Virginia is chock-full of creeks and rivers for boaters. At the center of it all is the Cheat River, which is excellent for all levels of paddlers. The Cheat River is a remote, scenic waterway tucked into the hills. It carves a big-volume course through a tight canyon as inaccessible as any in the Pacific Northwest. While accessing the Cheat can be challenging, in terms of its quality, the Cheat is unbeaten. At its most difficult (in normal flows), the Cheat is a solid Class IV. There are 9.5 miles of river with 13 rapids. The most popular section of the Cheat River is the beginner- and intermediate-friendly Narrows, a 5-mile fun-fest that builds in difficulty from beginning to end. The Narrows never goes past Class III rapids, and, it (almost) always gives you room to deal with any challenges you may encounter along the way. The best section is the Canyon, a Class-IV wonderland of boulders, chutes and, in high water, massive waves and swirling holes. Even advanced paddlers should be aware of Coliseum and Pete Morgan. These 2 back-to-back rapids stretch close to .25-mile, and will, no doubt give you a wild ride. Veterans even need to bring their A-games when the water gets above 16 feet on the new gauge. At that point, beginner and intermediate paddlers might want to rethink running the Cheat. Discover more WV whitewater > Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Deep Creek Lake -- TODAY, January 28 at 6:00PM
by Duane 28 Jan '16

28 Jan '16

WATERSHED PLAN HEARING --- Can't make the hearing?You can join by phone. The Garrett County Commissioners have set up a special public hearing to discuss and review the Deep Creek Watershed Plan. Many individuals in the lake watershed area have followed this plan and helped to develop it over several years. You may be surprised to learn which properties fall within the watershed area. It's not just those homes bordering the lake. If you own property withing the watershed, this issue should be of particular interest to you. Please inform your neighbors and encourage them to attend. The public is invited to submit questions or comments prior to and during the allotted time at the hearing. In order to allow all guests to have a chance to make comments, the commissioners will reserve their responses for a followup meeting, not yet scheduled. This will allow them time to consider each comment or question prior to voicing public responses. It's important to note that the plan has not yet been adopted. This hearing has been requested so public input will be considered prior to any official plan being put into place. NOW is the time to participate and provide valuable input as a citizen of Garrett County. Thursday, January 28 at 6:00PM Garrett College Continuing Education Building, Room 224 687 Mosser Rd McHenry, MD 21541 The location is located in the college auxiliary building between Bumble Bee and Mosser Roads. Dedicated parking is available adjacent to the building and is wheelchair accessible. How to join by phone. Call 1 888 240-2560 When prompted, enter the meeting ID# 103784053 Phone guests will not be able to comment. Read Full Plan Goals The Deep Creek Watershed Plan Steering Committee developed 13 goals. After consultation with members of the sub-committee and stake holders, Goal 12 has been slightly modified. Below is the list of all 13 goals and includes the original language as well as the new language of Goal 12. Goal 1: Improve management, funding, coordination and accountability for the Deep Creek watershed. Goal 2: Nurture and informed and engaged citizenry regarding the Deep Creek watershed. Goal 3: Collect the information needed to make informed management decisions that achieve the desired condition of the Deep Creek Lake and watershed. Goal 4: Managing the existing land uses to achieve the desired condition of the Deep Creek Lake and watershed. Goal 5: Manage SVA in Deep Creek Lake to maintain and improve the ecological stability of the lake, while working with waterfront landowners to minimize the interference of SAV with recreational uses of the lake around docks. Goal 6: Prevent erosion and sedimentation to the greatest extent possible to protect water resources from increased sediment loading and associated water quality problems. Goal 7: Promote policies that balance environmental sustainability and economic viability. Goal 8: Manage stormwater infrastructure to decrease pollution from both existing and proposed development to ensure healthy watershed conditions. Goal 9: Protect the watershed from the adverse effects of impaired septic systems and ensure adequate capacity and management of public sewerage system. Goal 10: Preserve and enhance the quality of recreational opportunities while ensuring that those opportunities are in harmony with environmental stewardship. Goal 11: Maximize the retention of forest cover to protect high-value aquatic and terrestrial natural resources. Goal 12: REPLACED- Assure that the water appropriation analysis and allocation methodology for Deep Creek Lake provides a fair distribution of water for all users, especially during the months of May through September. WITH-To study all Deep Creek Lake water releases and water inputs to determine if there is a different scientific method to maintain lake levels for lake recreation, whitewater boating and temperature enhancement that does not adversely affect any of these stakeholders. Goal 13: Improve access to navigable waters for property owners who typically have shallow water during the summer months. Source: http://us10.campaign-archive2.com/?u=4336fa993b16d1176eb1d0e7f&id=4a6346598… Duane Nichols

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Action Alert: Save the Fund That Saved the Gauley, New, Cheat and More!
by Duane 08 Dec '15

08 Dec '15

> > Subject: Action Alert: Save the Fund That Saved the Gauley, New, Cheat and More! > > From: wvrivers(a)wvrivers.org > Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2015 > > WV Rivers Action Alert > View this email in your browser > > Save the Fund That Saved the Gauley, New, Cheat and More! > > Please help renew the Land and Water Conservation Fund > > Have you paddled the Gauley? Gone down the New? Played in the Cheat? Or enjoyed the view at Blackwater Falls? > > All were made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. For 50 years, it used royalties from offshore drilling to fund access to some of our best lands and rivers—lots of state parks and forests, too! It expired September 30—even though most Senators and Representatives wanted to reauthorize it. > > We want it back and we're on Capitol Hill today to let our congressional members know. Please let them know you back us up! > > Contact your U.S. Representative and click here to sign our petition for reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. > > Tell Congress: Reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund now! > > Find your representative here. > > 1st District - Rep. David McKinley: email, phone: (202) 225-4172 > > 2nd District - Rep. Alex Mooney: email, phone: (202) 225-2711 > > 3rd District - Rep. Evan Jenkins: email, phone: (202) 225-3452 > > > For more information contact West Virginia Rivers Coalition > www.wvrivers.org - (304) 637-7201 - wvrivers(a)wvrivers.org. > Copyright © 2015 West Virginia Rivers Coalition, All rights reserved. > You are receiving this email because you signed up for email notifications. > > Our mailing address is: > West Virginia Rivers Coalition > 3501 MacCorkle Ave. SE #129 > Charleston, WV 25304 > > Add us to your address book >

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Charleston Gazette-Mail | W.Va.’s trout outlook has changed, retired biologist says
by Duane 15 Nov '15

15 Nov '15

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151114/GZ07/151119712/1118 W.Va.’s trout outlook has changed, retired biologist says From the Charleston Gazette Mail, November 14, 2015 ELKINS — Every fish and wildlife agency has its unsung heroes. One of those, Tom Oldham, retired on October 28th. Oldham, a fisheries biologist, spent more than 39 years’ working in the Division of Natural Resources’ trout program. A lot of his work took place along tiny blue lines on the map, well away from towns, roads and the public’s eye. When a remote headwater stream needed to have its water quality tested, chances are Oldham made the measurements and recorded the results. When all of the Monongahela National Forest’s streams had their fish populations surveyed, Oldham spent countless hours with an electrofishing pack strapped to his back. When other DNR biologists needed help with a fisheries project, Oldham was happy to lend a hand, even if the project didn’t involve trout. Thorough. Meticulous. Professional. A biologist’s biologist. Those are some of the descriptions Oldham’s colleagues used to describe him. It should come as no surprise, then, that Oldham noted a few significant changes take place in the state’s trout program during his four decades’ of service. “When I started with the agency, there were a lot of water-quality issues. We had a lot of issues with acid rain, mine drainage and other forms of water pollution,” Oldham said. “Over the years a lot of those problems have been resolved. Now that the water is in better shape, we can now concentrate on improving the habitat in our trout streams.” He credited former DNR biologist Pete Zurbuch for handling some of the water-quality problems. It was Zurbuch who pioneered the use of finely ground limestone to counteract the effects of acid pollution. Today, literally hundreds of miles of streams benefit from annual applications of limestone sand. “Through Mr. Zurbuch’s and others’ efforts, there’s been a lot of improvement. A lot of [barren] fisheries have been restored. There are a lot of places we can put fish now that we couldn’t before,” Oldham added. He pointed out that almost the entire Cheat River system, which once suffered from acid pollution, has benefited from the DNR’s introduction of limestone sand to the river’s headwater tributaries. Sweetening the tributaries has had the unexpected benefit of sweetening the main river all the way downstream to Cheat Lake. Fishing is better today than it has been since the 1960s. The changes Oldham has seen haven’t all been for the better. When he went to work for the DNR in the 1970s, most of the agency’s trout hatcheries were in good shape. That, he said, is simply not the case today. “We neglected our hatcheries for too long, and now we’re having problems,” he said. “One hatchery that was new in the early years of my career, the Tate Lohr Hatchery, has a spring box that leaks. They’re having trouble keeping enough water [in the facility] to raise trout.” Several other hatcheries are plagued with plumbing leaks, some severe enough to have generated sizable underground voids. Aging vehicles and antiquated equipment can be found just about everywhere in the seven-hatchery system. “We probably maxed out our [fish-producing] capacity 15 to 20 years ago,” Oldham said. “We can’t produce more trout, and at the same time we still have fishermen wanting lots of fish.” A complicating factor, he added, is that West Virginia’s complex state-government purchasing practices make it difficult to make repairs in a timely manner. “There are a lot of impediments to getting things done,” he said. “The idea of making things transparent has actually muddied the issue. The system is overzealous about making sure everyone can bid and making sure everyone can see what’s going on. As a result, things aren’t working as well as they could or should.” But those aren’t Oldham’s problems now. In retirement, he’ll concern himself mainly with spending more time with his wife and kids, and trying to decide where he next wants to go fishing. Looking back, he says he gets “a great deal of satisfaction” knowing that the work he did for the DNR, however unsung, helped to make West Virginia a better place to catch fish.

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The Flood of 1985 remembered - Mountain Messenger | Lewisburg, WV
by Duane 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

http://mountainmessenger.com/flood-1985-remembered/ The Flood of 1985 remembered By Sarah Mansheim, with Cheryl Griffith, Mountain Messenger reporter, 1985 It caught almost everyone by surprise. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1985, residents in the low-lying areas of Greenbrier County were flooded out of their homes and businesses. Buildings were lifted from their foundations, trailers and livestock floated down the river, and cars were turned on their roofs. When the waters crested, mud and debris filled houses and businesses, and Ronceverte’s Island Park was virtually destroyed. According to an article in the Nov. 10, 1985 edition of the Mountain Messenger, no lives were lost in Ronceverte, but devastating losses to homes and businesses occurred in the Monroe Avenue and River Oaks areas. The Ronceverte substation of West Virginia Power was destroyed, leaving all of Ronceverte and some Lewisburg and Caldwell residents without power for two days. Caldwell residents were evacuated from areas around Rt. 60 as the swollen Greenbrier backed its way into Howards Creek. In Alderson, streets were blocked by water, including parts of Rt. 3, 12 and 63. Alderson resident Red Nickell, an owner of a grocery store destroyed by the flood, told the Mountain Messenger that the flood took him by such surprise that when he’d left the store, he’d merely moved some stock items to the store’s top shelves and left change in the cash register. He maintained his sense of humor, telling the newspaper, “I do not know if I’ll go back into business. Right at the moment my store is for sale. Quite a few people have wanted to buy it in the past. Now, here’s their chance. It’s real cheap,” he quipped. “If you bring a shovel, you can get a lot of groceries.” Alderson Elementary School, which had just opened that fall, was also damaged in the flood, as over two feet of muddy, oily water washed through its interior. The buildings that housed the kindergarten classes were destroyed. Meanwhile, the community rallied as the Greenbrier County Landfill remained open throughout the weekend to accept flood damaged furniture, clothing, appliances and other debris, and water, food and clothing distribution centers popped up around the county to help flood victims. Some 250 National Guardsmen came to Greenbrier County to assist with cleanup and safety issues. Thursday, Nov. 5 marks the 30-year anniversary of the 1985 flood. Ronceverte resident, historian and grant writer Doug Hylton shared some photographs of downtown Ronceverte during this historic event.

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WV MetroNews – 1985 Flood still haunts those who saw it
by Duane 04 Nov '15

04 Nov '15

http://wvmetronews.com/2015/11/03/1985-flood-still-haunts-those-who-saw-it/ 1985 Flood still haunts those who saw it By Chris Lawrence, WV MetroNews, November 3, 2015 KINGWOOD, W.Va. — November 5, 1985 will forever be remembered as a dark day in the history of West Virginia. The remnants of Hurricane Juan passed through Louisiana and headed north toward the Canadian border. The strength of the storm spawned a separate rain system over the mid-Atlantic.The system parked over Virginia and West Virginia and dumped heavy rain in a brief span of time on much of the region causing widespread flooding. The entire mid-Atlantic region saw flooding, but Virginia and West Virginia endured the worst of the high water. Waterway throughout the Potomac, Cheat, and Monongahela watersheds overflowed their banks. The high water marks were breached at every USGS gauge on every river. The region endured the 100 year flood in a matter of hours. Jim Fields was the chief Deputy of the Preston County Sheriff’s Department at the time and recalled being awakened early in the morning. “About three or four o’clock in the morning and I heard the scanner. I decided to get up and see what all the racket was about,” said Fields, who is now retired. “I got up and listened for a few minutes and it sounded like it was getting to be a mess.” He was quickly out the door and trying to get a handle on the situation. He knew communities along the Cheat River would be the first ones affected, but by then the water was over the roads and too high to get to any of those locations. He contacted a friend who owned a helicopter and they were airborne by the first light of the morning. “We flew from Cheat Lake to the end of Parsons just kind of surveying and trying to get a handle on what was going on,” Fields recalled. “I talked to the sheriff and we both kind of figured we were going to be stuck with bodies everywhere.” Fields saw hundreds of homes floating in the water and knew many of those who lived in the homes had probably been asleep as the water rose. “This was at night and of course we didn’t have the National Weather Service doing the things back then they do now,” he said. “They weren’t capable of predicting like they can now and we didn’t have all of those early warnings.” As it turned out, amazingly, only two residents of Preston County died in the flood. Fields said both victims refused to leave their homes as the waters rose and the local fire departments tried to evacuate them. “The gentleman in the country club area he was found in a couple of days, but the lady who lived in a trailer down in Albright, she was found a couple of weeks later down at the head of Cheat Lake,” said Fields. As news of the disaster spread it became evident the damage and the devastation was spread over a wide area. George Manahan covered the statehouse for MetroNews at the time and was embedded with Gov. Arch Moore who headed toward the flood zone in a helicopter. “Our first stop was Parsons and when you’re looking at it from the air it was as if it was a battleground,” he recalled. “The roadway, I think Route 72, looked like somebody had sliced it with a large knife.” On the ground Manahan said it was even worse than how it appeared from the air. “There was mud everywhere. Cars were upside down. Buildings were off their foundations. To me it looked like a war zone,” he remembered. From one town after another, Gov. Moore was comforting thousands and mustering aid in difficult circumstances. “Moorefield, Petersburg, Philippi, Albright, Marlinton, Parsons, that’s a whole region,” he said. Rowlesburg in Preston County was one of the hardest hit and was literally cut off from the outside world. Fields recalled arriving there and seeing Mayor Margaret Scholar organizing relief efforts and neighbors pulling together. It was the same in all communities. “People did, they just teamed up and helped each other,” said Fields. “The National Guard came in. There was training going on at Camp Dawson and those people came out with their helicopters and rescued a couple of people off an island above Rowlesburg who had spent the night in a tree.” “When I dropped in with the governor, you would see these dazed looks,” said Manahan. “The governor talked about it to, this dazed look in people’s eyes like they’d never experienced anything like it before.” It would be months before things were back to semi-normal and years before the damage was fully cleaned up. Even today, if you know what to look for, there are still signs of what happened on that night 30 years ago. The toll of the flood washed away thousands of trees, rerouted river channels, destroyed or damaged 13,000 homes and businesses and left 38 people dead in West Virginia. The total cost of the West Virginia flood was around $700 million, one of the costliest disasters in state history. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Spotlight on Cheat Lake, West Virginia
by Duane 03 Nov '15

03 Nov '15

http://www.lakelubbers.com/cheat-lake-676/ Cheat Lake, West Virginia, USA Monongalia County, WV Minimum Elevation is 857 feet above sea level, very rarely useful in practice. Normal summer recreational pool height is 868 to 870, i. e. a two foot variation. Surface Area: 1,730 acres Shoreline Length: 30 miles Normal Elevation: 868 feet Minimum Elevation: 857 feet Maximum Elevation: 870 feet Water Volume: 72,300 acre-feet Completion Year: 1925 Cheat Lake Photo Gallery A dam built across the Cheat River in 1925 created the scenic reservoir of Cheat Lake. Originally called Lake Lynn, the dam sits nearly at the border between West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Located in West Virginia's Mountaineer Country region, the reservoir meanders amid scenic green mountains and beneath canyon walls. Built for hydroelectric power generation, Lake Lynn was renamed Cheat Lake in 1976, but the power generation project still retains the Lake Lynn designation. Located only about ten miles east of Morgantown, WV, Cheat Lake is gaining in popularity both as a recreational resource and as a bedroom community. A number of large homes enjoy secluded views from the cliffs overlooking the lake. As a colonial surveyor, George Washington envisioned using the Cheat River as a transportation system. It wasn't until 1910 that work began on the Lake Lynn Dam, and obstacles created by World War I delayed the project until 1925. The Lake Lynn Project was dedicated in 1927 with the placement of a bronze plaque proclaiming the lake and power generation as dedicated to the public 'in lasting beauty for recreation and the supplying of essential service'. At one time, cottages could be rented by employees of the long-defunct railway that ran along the eastern bank of the lake. Now, the lake boasts three marinas, a golf and spa resort, a number of trails and one at-your-own-risk swimming beach at Cheat Lake Park. The community of Cheat Lake along the eastern shoreline offers food, supplies and services to residents and visitors. Much of the main part of the lake is popular with pleasure boaters and water sports enthusiasts: water skiing, tubing, windsurfing and wakeboarding. Several quiet backwater embayments are particularly popular with those who enjoy canoes, kayaks and pontoon boats. Little Cheat Lake Park along the eastern shoreline is well-positioned for those who enjoy quiet waters and a wealth of wildlife. Located in a no-wake portion of the lake, the 4.5-mile Cheat Lake Trail bisects the park with an unpaved trail along the old former railway and its causeways across two embayments. A playground, rest rooms, and the swim beach separate several somewhat secluded picnic areas with picnic tables and grills. The name, Mill Stone Beach, derives from old millstones scattered around the area, remnants of old grist mills once common along the river. The parking area on Morgan's Run Road is a distance from the lakefront, so some walking is required. A driveway down to the lake allows for handicapped access, but the parking isn't very close to the shoreline. Currently, no camping is available. Fishing is a favored sport at Cheat Lake. In years past, acid mine runoff killed fish and endangered water quality. Several years of concentrated efforts by such groups as Cheat Lake Environment and Recreation Association (CLEAR) and the Cheat Lake Advisory Council have monitored water quality and worked to improve recreational opportunities at the reservoir. They have succeeded to the point that Cheat Lake is one of the better lakes in the region for largemouth bass fishing and the location of regular bass tournaments. Channel catfish, crappies, sunfish and walleye round out the angling selection. A fishing dock at Cheat Lake Park allows even the littlest anglers to try their luck. A boat ramp lets visitors launch small hand-carried boats. Larger craft will need to use the commercial marinas where they will find boat gas, boat rentals, snacks, supplies, restaurant, fishing equipment and rental slips available. The area near Cheat Lake is a trail-lover's dream. The Cheat Lake Trail intersects the Cheat Haven Trail. Plans are in the works to expand the trail into Pennsylvania to connect with the Mon River trail that becomes the Caperton Trail along the riverfront in Morgantown. Just upstream (south) from Cheat Lake, Cooper's Rock State Forest holds over 20 trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Many of the trails skirt the bluffs of Cheat River Gorge and offer excellent overlooks among the trees. In June, the trails are ablaze with azalea and rhododendron. Deer, fox, owls, songbirds, squirrels and other forest denizens can often be seen. Coopers Rock State Forest offers the closest campground to Cheat Lake, a 25-site campground with electricity, hot showers, water and even wifi to registered campers. Several small streams cross the state forest, and a small six-acre impoundment is stocked with trout for fishing. Farther upstream, some of the East Coast's best whitewater rafting can be found in the Cheat River Gorge. Cheat Lake has been under the management of several hydroelectric companies, beginning with Allegheny Energy, First Energy and most recently Harbor Hydro Holdings LLC. Rapidly multiplying environmental restrictions have caused many smaller hydroelectric projects to close in recent years, and the Lake Lynn Power Station is not large. However, Harbor Hydro recently invested in several improvements at the dam to solve a years-old problem of debris clogging the dam outflows and causing flooding. Apparently Harbor Holdings has every intention to keep Lake Lynn Power Station in operation for the foreseeable future. Lodgings in the area are provided by the golf resort, campgrounds and RV resorts nearby, and a few private home rentals. The entire area along the river is a popular vacation destination, so there are guest cottages and campgrounds not far away. Morgantown, home of West Virginia University, is located only ten miles west. The city provides hotels, guest cottages and bed & breakfasts, along with multiple restaurants, entertainment venues and shopping. If your idea of an ideal vacation includes water sports, fishing, great scenic vistas and quiet wooded trails, then Cheat Lake is the perfect spot to spend your time. Toss the kayak on the rood-top carrier, pack the tent or RV, and head over to Cheat Lake to enjoy a scenic vacations in the West Virginia mountains.

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Cheat Lake Level now down
by Duane 03 Nov '15

03 Nov '15

Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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CHEAT LAKE -- thanks to Mary Wimmer et al.
by Duane330＠aol.com 23 Oct '15

23 Oct '15

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WV Rivers Film Festival, October 22nd, Metropolitan Theater, Morgantown
by Duane 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

West Virginia Rivers Coalition is headed back to Morgantown to host our 6th Annual Film Festival at the beautiful Metropolitan Theater. The WV Rivers' film festival has become an annual event forMorgantown and this year we're doing something special. We're hosting our very own homegrown film festival. We're featuring West Virginia and Appalachian filmmakers, films, adventures, and conservation issues. In addition to wild and wonderful films, the Halftime String Band will be preforming before the films begin and during the intermission. It's all about telling the story of the people, rivers, mountains and issues of our region. Doors open and music with the Halftime String Band starts at 6:00 p.m. and films start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $8.00 each in advance online. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $10.00, $8.00 with a valid student ID. For more information contact WV Rivers, (304) 637-7201. If you have a film that helps tell West Virginia's story click here. If you'd like to learn about festival sponsorship opportunities click here. Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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SkyTruth. Mapping Abandoned Coal Mines
by Duane Nichols 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

> > SkyTruth > Mapping Abandoned Coal Mines > Posted: 16 Oct 2015 03:14 PM PDT > Did you know there are 48,529 abandoned coal mines in the United States which are known to pose a threat to the public and/or the environment? This number is not exhaustive but it comes from the most comprehensive federal database that we know of – the enhanced Abandoned Mine Lands Inventory System (eAMLIS) maintained by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM). > > Of the 48,529 abandoned mine sites in the map below, 36,191 are categorized "Priority 1" or "Priority 2", meaning they pose a "threat to health, safety and general welfare of people." The remaining 12,408 mines are classified as "Priority 3", that is, sites which pose a threat to the environment. However, because this map only includes mines that are truly abandoned AND which have been catalogued by the federal government, all we can say with certainty is that this map is not an exhaustive inventory of abandoned and inactive mines in the US. In fact, it is probably just the tip of the iceberg. > > > Click here or above to explore the interactive map. > > Back in August the Animas River in southwestern Colorado turned orange for miles after millions of gallons of mine waste erupted from an inactive gold mine. The dayglo color of the river, coupled with the fact that the spill was trigged by contractors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) trying to fix the problem, captured national attention for weeks. In response to that spill we took it upon ourselves to map nearly 65,000 inactive metal mines using the most extensive federal database that we could find. The spill from the Gold King Mine was not the first of its kind, and it most likely will not be the last, but it revived discussion about the challenge and cost of reclaiming an estimated 500,000 abandoned and inactive mines (gold, coal, and otherwise) that litter the landscape. > > According to OSM definitions this database of problematic coal mines includes 1,167 "Dangerous Impoundments", 1,298 sites with polluted groundwater ("Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial" and "Polluted Water: Human Consumption"), and 276 "Underground Mine Fires" like the kind which still burn beneath the ghost town of Centralia. But again, we have to add a caveat. Just because a mine was classified abandoned does not mean that there hasn't at least been some effort made at reclamation. "Abandoned" in this context means that the responsible party (the mining company) has reneged on their responsibility for reclamation, leaving the taxpayers (you and I) stuck with the bill to clean it up. > > > > > Above: The Cheat River in Preston County, WV still has rocks stained orange by acid mine drainage from an abandoned mine which first blew out in 1994. Read the history of that mine blowout and the efforts which have restored the Cheat River to a thriving, life-sustaining waterway. > > This database primarily covers abandoned coal mines, but while there are a few non-coal mines in the database we did our best to exclude any non-coal mines based on the federal funding source assigned to their cleanup. With some guidance from a GIS specialist at OSM we believe this map provides a decent overview of the known high-priority abandoned coal mines > > Much like our previous map of abandoned and inactive metal mines, this map is only part of the story. There are many flaws within the data itself, including contradictory descriptions of what the various fields mean. But while we know this doesn't show every abandoned coal mine the country, and some sites may have been expertly reclaimed by state, federal, and non-profit initiatives, this map also underscores the alarming lack of good data about sites which could still cause disastrous releases of toxic wastes for decades to come. > ........................................+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++.....................................

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Seasonal Cheat Lake MESSAGE from Lake Lynn Generation
by Duane 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Attention Cheat Lake Property Owners and Boaters Starting at 12:00 am on Sunday November 1, 2015 winter lake level limits will go into effect on Cheat Lake. At that time minimum reservoir levels will decrease from 868’ to 857’. Winter lake levels will remain in effect until 1159 pm on March 31, 2016. At this time Lake Lynn Generation has no plans to pull the lake down for maintenance but normal plant operations will draw the reservoir down below the summer minimum level of 868’ during this period. Cheat Lake Property owners and boaters are reminded that if these lower minimum lake levels affect them they should make adjustments prior to November 1, 2015. The winter boat launch ramp at the Cheat Lake Park will be open from November 1, 2015 until May 1, 2016 to accommodate boaters who wish to launch a boat on Cheat Lake. As a reminder, Lake Lynn Generation maintains the following water levels at Cheat Lake in accordance with our federal license. Cheat Lake Level Limits: •Winter (November - March): 857' - 870' •Spring (April): 863' - 870' •Summer(May - October): 868' - 870' ################################### MESSAGE forwarded by Duane Nichols, CLEAR, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Preston, Tucker highest elevations have best color, Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26 foliage is 70% peak
by Duane 07 Oct '15

07 Oct '15

Preston, Tucker highest elevations have best color, Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26 foliage is 70% peak -- West Virginia’s state foresters reported the first week in October will be a colorful one in the state’s higher elevations. The Davis-Thomas area of Tucker County and Dolly Sods are again recommended destinations. Foliage in the Davis-Thomas area is estimated to be 70 percent peak. Color is much more advanced this week at Dolly Sods than it was last week and is well worth a trip. Reports from Preston County recommend a drive along the Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26, where foliage is at 70 percent peak. Foresters recommend a trip to Cathedral State Park ,which they report is already spectacular with 50 percent peak color. Foresters also recommend a visit to Spruce Knob, where foliage is expected to be approximately 60 percent peak the first full week of October. Leaf peepers can take U.S. Route 33 to Spruce Knob Road, which has been paved in the past few years and is in good shape. Climb the stairs to the 30-foot platform for the breathtaking view from the state’s highest point. Lower elevations of Pendleton County are still quite green, with only 25-30 percent of their foliage changing color. Foliage at elevations above 3,000 feet in Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster counties should peak this weekend. A long list of recommended points of interest includes the Sinks of Gandy and Dry Fork, Cheat Mountain, Shavers Mountain, the headwaters of the Tygart Valley River, the headwaters of both the Forks of the Greenbrier River, Kennison Mountain and Elk Mountain. Leaves at higher elevations to the east of the Richwood area of Nicholas County are at or near peak, while those to the west remain green. Although color within Elkins will be limited, the mountains surrounding the town should present colorful viewing opportunities. Take Little Kanawha Parkway or Parkersburg Road from Spencer to Elizabeth. Although foliage is reported to be only 30 percent peak, both drives are highly recommended. In scenic Ritchie County, take the Staunton Turnpike to see 30 percent peak foliage this weekend. Although a long way from peak, Ohio County hosts Oglebay Festival/Ohio County Fair this weekend. DOF personnel and Smokey Bear will be there so stop by and say hello. Foliage in the Davis-Thomas area of Tucker County was estimated to be at 70 percent peak earlier in the week and may peak during the first week of October. Forestry officials encourage leaf peepers who post 2015 West Virginia fall foliage photos to tag them with #fallinwv. Photos may be featured on the DOF’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/wvforestry. Check the Facebook page throughout the week for foliage updates.

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Monongalia woman's estate asks court to clarify beneficiaries
by Duane 05 Sep '15

05 Sep '15

http://wvrecord.com/stories/510636789-monongalia-woman-s-estate-asks-court-… Monongalia woman's estate asks court to clarify beneficiaries From Jessica M. Karmasek, West Virginia Record, September 4, 2015 Charleston --The administrator of a deceased Monongalia County woman’s estate has asked a state court to determine who is her surviving beneficiary. Under the terms of Marilyn Huffman’s will, her husband Allen Huffman and son Brian Huffman were named as primary and secondary beneficiaries. However, both died before Huffman, who died last October. The third beneficiary listed in Huffman’s will was the “Cheat River Stocking Program.” But there is no entity by that name. According to research done by administrator William T. Semans, there are at least three organizations that stock fish in the Cheat River or its tributaries: the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Trout for Cheat Inc. and Muddy Creek Recreation Club Inc. Semans, in a petition filed July 7 in Monongalia Circuit Court, asked the court to determine which of the three is Huffman’s intended beneficiary. However, the court last month had the case transferred to Kanawha Circuit Court. Any lawsuit in which a state agency is made a party or defendant must be brought and prosecuted in the circuit court in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Judge James Stucky. Before being transferred, Muddy Creek Recreation Club asked that it be dismissed from the case. Muddy Creek wrote in its August 3 answer that it does not stock trout in the Cheat River -- only in the tributary stream of Muddy Creek. Trout for Cheat, on the other hand, argues it is the “true” beneficiary of the Huffman estate, pointing out that Huffman’s husband was an “avid” trout fisherman and fisherman of the Cheat River. The non-profit organization, formed solely to stock and promote fishing and tourism in and on the Cheat River, noted in its July 28 answer that it stocks the river six to eight times each year at 18 locations. Semans is being represented by Morgantown attorney J. Douglas Crane. Kanawha Circuit Court case number 15-C-1506.

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<CLEAR> Chestnut Ridge PA windmills under protest
by Duane 26 Aug '15

26 Aug '15

Lawyer wants Fayette County PA wind turbines shut down By Liz Zemba, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 A Uniontown attorney wants Fayette County to order the shutdown of about two dozen wind turbines, but a spokesman with the Oregon company that owns them says there are no grounds to force a stoppage. In a letter delivered late Monday to the county's Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, Gary Altman asked the county to order Iberdrola Renewables of Portland to stop operating approximately 22 wind turbines in its South Chestnut Wind Project near Farmington. Altman contends the turbines don't comply with a number of conditions set by the county's zoning hearing board in 2009, including setbacks, decommissioning bonds, noise levels and measures to protect bats. “Pending compliance, we request that you order the turbines shut off,” Altman said in the letter. “We believe this request to be reasonable in view of the fact that several of these (zoning hearing board) conditions were to be met before the start of operations, and this developer has consistently and repeatedly ignored Fayette County's ordinances and tried to delay any enforcement of them, all the while knowing full well that its project was constructed without required permits and approvals.” Art Sasse of Iberdrola said the company has no plans to shut down the wind farm because it complies with zoning regulations. “Our South Chestnut wind farm is fully compliant with the current zoning ordinance and will continue to operate as it has for several years now,” Sasse said. In the years since Altman has battled Iberdrola over the windmills on behalf of Springhill resident Thomas J. Bozek, Fayette revised its zoning governing wind turbines that might render the appeals moot, according to court documents in one of the appeals. Altman said the turbines are too close to Bozek's property, rendering a portion of it unusable because of the noise they generate. “The biggest issue is, he has a domino-shaped piece of property, and the top half is close to the turbines,” Altman said. “They have effectively taken that piece of property off of him. You can't build on it because of the noise.” Altman's letter to the county is dated five days after the state Supreme Court, in an Aug. 19 order, denied Iberdrola's request to appeal a 2014 Commonwealth Court decision. In that decision, the court upheld conditions the zoning hearing board placed on the windmills in 2009. According to a March 11 supplemental opinion prepared by the Commonwealth Court judges, those conditions included construction of 12-foot-high chain link fences around the turbines, planting vegetation to replace trees and shrubs removed during the turbines' construction, implementing measures to protect bats and conducting sound studies. The wind turbines formerly were associated with PPM Atlantic Renewable, which was acquired by Iberdrola Renewables in 2005. According to Iberdrola's website, the South Chestnut Wind Project began operating in 2011 and comprises 23 wind turbines in Georges, Springhill and Wharton townships. Only the wind turbines in Georges and Springhill are affected by the litigation because Wharton has its own zoning rules. Zoning in Georges and Springhill is governed by the county's ordinance. Sara Rosiek, director of the county's planning office, said Iberdrola in June notified her it posted decommissioning bonds on the turbines, meeting at least one of the requirements cited in Altman's letter. She said she is arranging to meet with county solicitor Sheryl Heid to review the letter and other issues raised by Altman. Heid did not return a phone call seeking comment. Liz Zemba is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-601-2166 or lzemba(a)tribweb.com. Read more: http://triblive.com/news/fayette/8975926-74/turbines-wind-zoning#ixzz3ju2bd… Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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The bat factor: Mammals' deaths could cripple environment - News3LV
by Duane 10 Jul '15

10 Jul '15

http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/story/The-bat-factor-Mammals-deaths-cou… The bat factor: Mammals' deaths could cripple environment By Denise Rosch, KSNV News 3LV, July 9, 2015 LAS VEGAS -- They're nocturnal and mysterious, sometimes feared and often misunderstood. Here in Nevada there are 24 different species of bat, and some scientists say it's time to rescue their reputation before a disease wipes out the critters that are critical to our environment. "Bats are all over in Vegas. People don't realize bats are in their backyards," says biologist Christy Klinger. Just after sun down, Christy Klinger with the Nevada Department of Wildlife is hard at work. During News 3's outing with the professional, she was busy preparing a catch and release survey of some of nature's most misunderstood night dwellers, the bats that emerge from the shadows of Potosi Mountain. An acoustic bat detector helps to pick up on their high frequency chatter. "They're echo-locating, able to turn on a dime because they're honing in on an insect. It gives them an erratic flight pattern that kind of freaks people out," says Klinger. The set-up was fairly easy. A few well-placed stakes support a net across the mountain pond. Then scientists spend the evening waiting to see what sticks. On this outing, scientists check the health of the colony. The scientists note everything from wing condition, to the size of the ears to their thumbs. They hope to shine a positive light on the tiny mammals, responsible for everything from pest control to pollination. Our night vision lens picked up plenty of action in the dark. "Mangos, bananas, cashews, almonds. All of those sorts of things get pollinated by certain species of bats. And we'd have a lot less tequila out there too because the agave plant gets pollinated by bats," says Klinger. Despite popular belief, bats are not blind. And if they're paying attention, they can see the net set up by scientists. What scientists have instead is the element of surprise. Wildlife biologist Jason Williams explains it like this: "If you get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, you don't turn on a light because you know where the furniture is. But if you're husband moved the furniture and didn't tell you, you'd walk into it. Because you're not paying attention," he says. There is reason to worry about the fate of bats in North America. Since 2012 upwards of 6-million have died from White Nose Syndrome. It is a fungus that attaches to bats during hibernation. So far, the disease has only been found in the eastern and central parts of the country, but biologists here are watching, hoping it does not move west. "It's an irritant so it causes the bat to arouse out of hibernation. Once they arouse they're metabolism increases and they burn up their fat reserves too fast. Before spring time, and they usually starve to death," says Klinger. One reason to care? With fewer bats eating bugs, farmers will rely more heavily on expensive pesticides and that leads to higher prices at the grocery store. Studies are going on to note temperature and humidity inside mines and caves. It's an attempt to understand the conditions the deadly fungus needs to thrive. Our infra-red video, shot inside a cave in central Nevada, is a bat migration stop-over site. "That cave alone over the course of about 3 months we'll see anywhere from 1 to 3 million Mexican free tail bats funnel through it," says Klinger. Back at Mt. Potosi, forty bats are netted in just one hour. Each are marked and set free. The creatures of the night left to hunt in peace once again. Another fear many people have when it comes to bats is rabies, but Klinger says one recent estimate shows less than one-tenth of 1 percent of bats potentially carry the disease. Sure they can, any wild animal can. So if you see them out, especially during the day, leave them alone. Don't touch.

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WV-DEP Public Notice - Proposed Settlement - Monongalia County - Cheat Road, LLC
by Duane 14 Jun '15

14 Jun '15

> From: <dep.online(a)wv.gov> > Date: June 14, 2015 3:24:42 PM EDT > > Subject: WV-DEP Public Notice - Proposed Settlement - Monongalia County - Cheat Road, LLC > =========================================================== > Sunday, June 14, 2015 @ 3:23 PM > =========================================================== > > The WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and Cheat Road, LLC have > proposed a settlement of Administrative Consent Order No. 8226 which resolves > violation(s) of the WV Water Pollution Control Act which occurred in > Monongalia County, WV. In accordance with the proposed Consent Order, Cheat > Road, LLC has agreed to pay administrative penalties and to comply with the > Act. Final settlement is subject to comments received during the thirty (30) > day period ending July 16, 2015. > Further information about this Administrative > Consent Order is available by contacting the Chief Inspector, > WVDEP/Environmental Enforcement, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304, > (304) 926-0470 or by accessing WV Department of Environmental Protection’s > website at > http://www.dep.wv.gov/pio/Pages/Settlements,Ordersouttopublicnotice.aspx > > =========================================================== > > >

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<CLEAR> Be Aware of Ticks, Swimming & Boating Hazards, and Sunburn
by Duane 12 Jun '15

12 Jun '15

PA Health Department Reminds Public to Protect from Ticks, Avoid Lyme Disease PITTSBURGH – Dr. Karen Murphy, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, joined Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker today to highlight the need for residents to protect themselves from ticks, and better understand the threat of Lyme disease. Since 2009, reports of Lyme disease in Allegheny County have increased substantially, resulting in a renewed effort to educate the public. “Lyme Disease is both preventable and treatable,” said Dr. Karen Hacker. “With education, residents can be more aware of ticks, and use common strategies to protect themselves and their families. We’re very grateful that Secretary Murphy has joined us in this call for the public to educate itself.” Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick commonly known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection tested a small sample of deer ticks from Allegheny County for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The study found that 34% of the ticks were infected. In 2014, the Health Department recorded 822 cases of Lyme disease. Today, every county in Pennsylvania has deer ticks and is reporting cases of Lyme Disease. “It is important for Pennsylvanians to know that Lyme disease is present in every county in Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “The prevalence of this illness serves as a reminder for people to better protect themselves from tick bites and to know the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. For those with the disease it is important to seek early treatment to avoid any potential long-term health complications.” Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Some people may remain untreated because early symptoms can be mild and flu-like, and do not always include a telltale “bull’s-eye rash” that can appear three to 30 days after the bite. If untreated, Lyme Disease can lead to serious complications such as chronic arthritis and neurologic problems. An individual who believes he or she has been bitten by a tick, should contact his or her health care provider. Additionally, physicians should consider Lyme Disease in patients with related symptoms. Health officials urge these precautions to protect yourself and your family from tick-borne diseases: · If outside in wooded, bushy or grassy areas, avoid brush and wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks to keep ticks off your skin. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of your clothing. · Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks more easily. · Use insect-repellent with 20% to 30% DEET on bare skin (not on face, and not on hands of young children). Follow instructions carefully, especially with children. For added protection, spray a second repellent containing Permethrin on boots, clothing, and camping gear. Don’t use Permethrin on bare skin. · Remove ticks from your clothing before going indoors. To kill any you may have missed, wash your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat. · Shower with a wash cloth within two (2) hours of coming indoors to wash off ticks. · Check your skin for ticks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Inspect all parts of your body carefully and remove ticks immediately using a fine-tipped tweezers to grasp tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight up with steady pressure without twisting. Thoroughly clean bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. If you remove a tick within 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely small. · Monitor your health closely after a tick bite and be alert for any signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, which include a bull’s eye rash or flu-like symptoms (fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes). Seek medical care if you develop symptoms. · Many people who develop Lyme disease do not realize they have been bitten, so do not hesitate to seek care if you have symptoms of Lyme disease even if you are not aware of a tick bite. · Follow same guidelines above for children. · Examine household pets for ticks and remove them. Dogs also get Lyme disease. Vaccination and tick protection is recommended for dogs. · Consider using a single springtime application of a tick pesticide if you have ticks on your property. Follow the label instructions carefully. Two other diseases similar to Lyme disease transmitted by deer ticks are also known to occur in Pennsylvania – babesiosis and anaplasmosis – but, at present, are much less common than Lyme disease. # # # Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, Director Allegheny County Health Department – Public Information Office 542 Fourth Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone (412) 687-ACHD • Fax (412) 578-8325 • www.achd.net

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UPDATE .... Boat wreck victims identified
by Duane 05 Jun '15

05 Jun '15

DOMINION POST, June 5, 2015 Boat wreck victims ID’d Alex Lang State officials, on Thursday, released the names of the 12 people involved in the Memorial Day boat wreck on Cheat Lake. The 12 are Jacob Alexander, Reid Bailey, Rachel Coyle, Carley Dellasala, Michael Gaud, Morgan Gerdon, Tyler Geyer, Bret Grady, Maci Robles, Brandon Solomon, Hannah Spangler and Carly Weinstein. They were on the boat when it wrecked the night of May 25, according to Chelsea Ruby, director of Marketing and Communication for the state’s Department of Commerce. All but Dellasala are listed as WVU students on the school’s online directory. All those involved were ages 18 to early 20s. The Monongalia County prosecuting attorney and the state’s Division of Natural Resources are handling the investigation. The DNR falls under the umbrella of the Department of Commerce. The names were released mid-afternoon Thursday, after more than a week of keeping the names private. According to Ruby, the DNR conducted interviews with all 12 people. The dozen young adults were injured after the the boat they were riding in a 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter — a ski boat — hit an embankment in Cheat Lake about 9 p.m. All suffered various injuries and five were taken by ambulance or medical helicopter to area hospitals. On Thursday, only Alexander was still at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was listed in fair condition. None of the others were listed in the patient directory, spokeswoman Amy Johns said. According to Mon County Prosecutor Marcia Ashdown, the investigation is ongoing. She said prosecutors plan to meet with DNR investigators today. Ruby declined to provide further information on the investigation, including who was driving the boat, if the driver was licensed, if there was evidence of controlled substances being used on the boat, if there were sufficient lifejackets on the boat, how fast the boat was traveling when it struck the embankment, if there were lights aboard the vessel and if there are any pending citations. “The investigation is ongoing, and no other details will be provided at this time,” Ruby wrote in an email to The Dominion Post. Ruby also declined to answer if the investigation is complete, if the information provided in the victims’ statements match, how much damage was done to the boat, where the boat is currently housed, if the victims were tossed from the vessel, the current location of the victims and if blood alcohol content levels were checked on any or all of the victims. She said that they are still in the middle of the investigation. When asked about hometowns and ages for the victims, Ruby said she did not have the information and didn’t believe the DNR was in position to release that information. The boat has a seating capacity of 15 people, according to manufacturer specifications. According to an online review of the 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter, the boat has a maximum speed of 71.8 knots per hour, roughly the equivalent of 45 miles per hour. WBOY, News 12 UPDATE (6/4 at 4 p.m.): Jacob Alexander, Reid Bailey, Rachel Coyle, Carley Dellasala, Michael Gaud, Morgan Gerdon, Tyler Geyer, Bret Grady, Macy Robles, Brandon Solomon, Hannah Spangler and Carly Weinstien were the 12 young adults that were involved in the boating accident. A GoFundMe page has been set up for one of the individuals, Morgan Gerdon, who, according to the page, was flown from the accident in critical condition. According to the GoFundMe page, Gerdon underwent surgery for a fractured skull after "an intoxicated driver drove the boat onto the shoreline and into trees at high speeds." According to the GoFundMe page, all proceeds collected over what the family needs for medical expenses will be donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving "to prevent future accidents from occurring." Duane Nichols, CLEAR

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WDTV.COM 5 News: BOATING ACCIDENT UPDATE: 12 Rushed to Hospital, Preliminary Field Report Released
by Duane 26 May '15

26 May '15

http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=BOATING-ACCIDENT… WDTV.COM 5 News: BOATING ACCIDENT UPDATE: 12 Rushed to Hospital, Preliminary Field Report Released UPDATE 5/26: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement has released information from a preliminary field report to 5 News. According to the report, the boating incident occurred Monday, May 25 at about 8:55 p.m. on Cheat Lake in Monongalia County. One boat was involved, a 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter ski boat that was traveling north on the lake. It was carrying an operator and 11 passengers. The boat collided with the embankment of the eastern shore of Cheat Lake. All aboard the boat received injuries and were transported to Mon General and Ruby Memorial hospitals in Morgantown. Three of them were transported by air due to the seriousness of their injuries. Their conditions are unknown, but there are no known fatalities at this time. No names or addresses are being released at this time. All aboard the vessel were young adults. An investigation is underway by Natural Resources Police Officers of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. So far, the cause of the crash has not been determined. UPDATE: Twelve people were rushed to the hospital following the boating accident in Cheat Lake, Monday night. Three of those patients are being flown, the other nine are being taken by ambulances. According to officials, a boat hit the shore and they described it as if "it was like hitting a brick wall." It happened in the Warm Hollow/Hickory Ridge area. Officials said there was a single tree sticking out but officials can't say if that did play a part in the incident. Patients were complaining of back and arm injuries. Make sure you stay with 5 News for more on this developing story. ORIGINAL:Officials are responding to a reported boating accident at Cheat Lake in Monongalia County. HealthNet is responding. No other details are available just yet. A 5 News reporter is on the way to the scene. Check back for the latest. Photo Gallery:

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Boat Accident on Cheat Lake
by Duane 26 May '15

26 May '15

WBOY News 12 Update: Authorities on Scene of Boating Accident, 12 Transported to Hospital Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 11:48 PM By Kathryn Ghion, General Assignment Reporter Just before 9 p.m. Monday evening, emergency officials responded to a boating accident on Cheat Lake in Monongalia County near Warm Hollow. Firefighters on scene said that 12 people were injured in the single boat accident. Three patients were flown by helicopter from the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department and the others were transported by ambulance. All patients were alert and talking upon transport. Several units responded to the accident including Brookhaven Fire Department, Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department, and Marion County EMS. Monongalia County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are investigating. >>>>>>>>>>>>> DNR Offers Safety Tips as Boating Season Begins Updated: May 25, 2015 6:02 PM EDT By Nick FarrellCONNECT MONONGALIA COUNTY -Boating is a summertime activity that many West Virginians, like Robert Stout, love. “It gives you the freedom out there," said Stout, who works as a dock attendant at Sunset Marina on Cheat Lake. "Just being out in the water and the sun is a great thing. I think it's something everyone should try and almost everyone would enjoy.” When it comes to high-traffic weekends, such as Memorial Day weekend, officers from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are on the lookout for unsafe conditions caused by a high concentration of boaters. “Memorial Day weekend is always, traditionally, one of the busiest weekends that we have, and it's a bunch of novice boaters to begin with, so we concentrate more on the congested areas,” said Carlton Wade, DNR law enforcement officer. Wade reminds boaters that simple precautions can prevent accidents on the water. Even the most experienced boaters should wear life jackets, and ensure their passengers do the same. Wade offered some other pointers. “Don't overload the boats – that's always a big problem," said Wade. "Some of the channels in this lake narrow down and it's real difficult to pass at speed, so my suggestion would be to reduce speed if you're not sure. Stay out of the congested areas and try to be courteous to everybody else.” Sunset Marina owner Barry Frey says he's seen a decrease in accidents on Cheat Lake in recent years, even around holidays. Wade has made the same observation, and says he's also noticed that more boaters are acting responsibly when it comes to alcohol. “Most of the boat operators out here have been doing this for a long time, and they'll designate someone else to operate the boat," said Wade. "There is drinking going on out here – obviously, it's summertime, and that's what they do – but we see very few incidents of drinking and boating.” More responsible boaters makes for safer boating conditions, and Wade says that's exactly why fewer accidents are occurring on Cheat Lake. He urges boaters to be on the lookout for one another throughout the summer and to report unsafe activity to the DNR. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Video clips from WBOY ----- http://www.wboy.com/Clip/11532607/boating-safety-on-memorial-day Duane Nichols, duane330(a)aol.com

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Cass Railroad now open for the 2015 season | The Herald-Dispatch
by Duane 21 May '15

21 May '15

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x417381990/Cass-Railroad-now-ope… Cass Railroad now open for the 2015 season From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, May 20, 2015 Cass, WV -- The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad announced the 2015 season opening of the Cass Scenic Railroad. The 2015 opening marks the first season this iconic state attraction will be operated by a private sector company. Excursion schedules will be similar to past years. The Whittaker Station run from historic downtown Cass opened Tuesday, May 19, and the popular 11-mile trip to the mountaintop of Bald Knob from Cass began Thursday, May 22. Each Tuesday through Sunday from mid-May to mid-Sept, visitors can enjoy an hour and half round trip passenger train ride from Cass to Whittaker Station with breathtaking vistas of the Appalachians en route. At Whittaker, passengers can get off the train to photograph remnants of the former logging campsite at Whittaker and photograph the beautiful mountain views of eastern West Virginia. In the fall, the schedule fills out with daily departures until the end of October. The Bald Knob excursion opens with a Friday to Sunday departure schedule until mid-June, and increases its operations to Tuesday through Sunday throughout the summer beginning June 23. Visitors can ride the entire Cass Scenic Railroad 11-mile line that ascends the Appalachians to an elevation of 4,842 feet at Bald Knob. The four and a half hour round-trip train ride includes an authentic railroader’s “hobo” lunch included in the ticket price. At Bald Knob, passengers get off the train to photograph a gorgeous view of the mountainous valley below. The 2015 Cass Scenic Railroad season will see added event and excursion opportunities. This Saturday May 23 celebrates the inaugural run of the “Wild Heart of West Virginia” Adventure package – a multiple-day excursion option that connects the Cass Scenic and Cheat Mountain Salamander trains with an overnight stay in either historic downtown Cass or Elkins. The “Wild Heart” excursion follows the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, ascending the mountains to the town-site of Old Spruce, before connecting with the Cass Scenic Railroad for a scenic journey up to Bald Knob before descending into the timber-mining town of Cass for an overnight stay. According to Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad Packaging specialist, Matt Scott, this new connection opens an array of opportunity for group sales and consumer packaging that will ultimately increase overnight stays in the regional area. “With the ability to connect rail lines, we can now offer a brand new product to the group tour and consumer travel market,” Scott explained. “Tour operators are always looking for something new and different, and this year we have it.” The action-packed multi-day trip provides breathtaking photo opportunities, entertainment at both destinations, and an opportunity to ride in restored, historic trains pulled by authentic 20th century steam-powered and diesel locomotives. The new adventure series includes customized options and allows passengers to depart from Cass, Elkins, or Cheat Bridge. The new “Wild Heart of West Virginia” adventure package will kickoff this Memorial Day Weekend Saturday, May 23, with the first of a series of monthly special events at Spruce, the historic location of one of the highest elevated logging towns in the east that disappeared with the railroad logging days. The three departure locations and times include: Elkins Depot at 8:15 am, Cheat Bridge at 11:25 am and a 10:30 am departure from Cass Depot. The inaugural run will be celebrated with a Mountain Music Trail Picnic at Spruce where both trains will meet and passengers can enjoy traditional mountain music and a Memorial Day picnic at Spruce before continuing to their destination via rail. Special event connections do not include a trip to Bald Knob upon return. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad assumed the railroad operations of the Cass Scenic Railroad in January. The new operation allows for expanded tourist train opportunities, while adding new attractions and special events to create increased tourism development in the Potomac Highlands region of the state. For more information on excursions and special events go online at http://Mtn-Rail.com or call 1-877-686-7245.

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Allegheny Trail in Tucker County
by Duane 13 May '15

13 May '15

BLAZE A TRAIL ALLEGHENY TRAIL WORK Blackwater Canyon Rim May 15 - 17, 2015 At 10am on Friday morning meet at the Canyon Rim Trail Head - exit route 219 on FS 18 and go toward Olsen Fire Tower. On Saturday morningmeet at Blackwater Falls State Park Cabin 14. Friday evening a spaghetti dinner will be hosted at Cabin 14. All are welcome to join and help. Call Greg Edwards at 304-215-2772.

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Observer-Reporter | Area produced some of the state’s largest fish in 2014
by Duane 21 Apr '15

21 Apr '15

Area produced some of the state’s largest fish in 2014 Make text smalleWith the official opening of trout season yesterday - which, for many, marks the start of fishing season – it’s a good time to take a look at the largest fish caught in the area in 2014.Make text larger Jason and Joe Phillips of Canonsburg had a good day at High Point Lake last June. Jason Phillips landed the state’s biggest chain pickeral of the year on a Storm Lure. The fish was 24 inches in length and weighed five pounds, 10 ounces. On the same day, Joe Phillips landed a 23 1/2-inch chain pickeral on a jig that weighed four pounds, eight ounces. Joe Phillips’ fish was the fourth-largest chain pickerel caught in the state last year. Cross Creek Lake produced the state’s top sauger in 2014. The 27 1/2-inch fish that weighed 10 pounds was caught by David Defillipps of Avella with a Fire Tiger in June. That wasn’t the only big fish caught at Cross Creek Lake last year. Marshall E. Graham Jr. of Meadow Lands landed the second-largest reported largemouth bass in the state last October in Cross Creek. Graham’s largemouth was 22.2 inches in length and weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. He used a crank bait. Ireland Killen of McMurray landed the state’s second-largest carp on corn in Edinboro Lake in July. The 35-inch carp had a girth of 21 3/4 inches and weighed 26 pounds, one ounce. That fish, however, pales in comparison to the top carp taken in the state last year. That was a 42-inch monster that came in at just over 39 pounds and was caught a little over a week after Killen’s in Twin Lakes in Westmoreland County. Daun Nicholson of Normalville, Fayette County, caught the state’s largest flathead catfish in the Monongahela River last June. Nicholson’s 41 1/4-inch fish weighed in at 38 pounds, eight ounces and was caught on a jig with a power grub. The Cheat River, which flows into the Monongahela at Point Marion, produced a 47-inch musky for Bob Guido of Belle Vernon last October. The muskie, which was caught on a football jig, weighed in at 38 pounds, making it the fourth-largest taken in the state last year. The top muskie, taken in the Lehigh River and was 52 inches long, weighing in at a whopping 50 pounds, four pounds less than the state record. • I am hearing reports of increased longnose gar sightings and catches in the lower Monongahela River. In the last Pennsylvania Fish Commission lock chamber survey of the Mon, completed in 2010, there were 29 longnose gar collected in the Grays Landing area. Just three longnose gar were collected in the Maxwell chamber in the same year, while one was collected at Braddock. In a similar sampling in 2003, no longnose gar were collected in either pool. I’m not saying a gar is responsible for the reported sightings of an alligator in the Monongahela area, but if you did see just the head and back of an adult longnose gar – which can grow from four to six feet in length – surface in the water, it would give the appearance of being a large reptile. There’s also the possibility it was a muskie. I remain skeptical it is an alligator. • Greene County Waterways Conservation Officer Eric Davis is currently looking for somebody to serve as a deputy WCO in that area. Deputy officers assist the WCO in all duties. They must be 21 years of age, and go through formal training before taking to the field. Those interested can submit a résumé and a brief cover letter stating why they wish to become a deputy to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Southwest Regional Office at 236 Lake Road, Somerset, Pa., 15501. Or, if you’re not sure what the duties entail, you can look them up on the commission web site, talk to Davis or call the region office at 814-445-8974. Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley Make text smaller Make text larger

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West Virginia Fish Advisory
by Duane 15 Apr '15

15 Apr '15

https://www.wvdhhr.org/fish/Current_Advisories.asp Fish Consumption Advisories Available for 2014 The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) have updated the West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory for 2014. West Virginia DHHR, through an interagency agreement, partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop consumption advisories for fish caught in West Virginia. Fish consumption advisories are reviewed annually and help West Virginia anglers make educated choices about eating the fish they catch. Certain West Virginia sport fish have been found to have low levels of chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, selenium and dioxin. To protect the good health of West Virginians, the West Virginia DHHR offers an advisory for how often these fish can be safely eaten. An advisory is advice, and should not be viewed as law or regulation. It is intended to help anglers and their families make educated choices about: where to fish, what types of fish to eat, how to limit the amount and frequency of fish eaten, and how to prepare and cook fish to reduce contaminants. This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the market place are the responsibility of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information you can contact the FDA at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm The following 2014 advisory recommendation is the result of reviewing new and recent fish tissue data. Data collected from lakes and rivers in West Virginia show that a general statewide advisory of sport-caught fish is appropriate. A review of this information indicates that mercury, PCBs, and dioxin are the chemicals of the greatest concern. If you would like more detailed information about these contaminants and the levels measured, consult the DHHR Web Site at http://www.wvdhhr.org/fish. Body weight and meal size are important factors in fish advisories. Use this chart to find the size of meal that corresponds to your body weight. This advisory is designed to keep the amount of chemicals you eat at a safe level. Meal Sizes A person weighing between Should eat no more than this amount per meal pounds ounces of precooked fish 20 or less 1.0 21-35 1.5 36-50 2.0 51-70 3.0 71-90 4.0 91-110 5.0 111-130 6.0 131-150 7.0 151 and over 8.0 Remember that 3.0 ounces of precooked fish is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards Remember that 1.5 ounces of precooked fish is about one-half the size of the palm of your hand or one-half of a deck of cards Find the meal advice for the fish you’ve caught. “Do Not Eat” means you should not eat those fish because of higher contamination. The other groups (“One Meal a Week”, “Two meals a Month”, “One Meal a Month”, and “Six Meals a Year”) are advice for how often to eat fish. Women of childbearing age, children, and people who regularly eat fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time. If you fall into one of these categories, you should be especially careful to follow the meal sizes and space fish meals out according to the advisory tables. Your body can get rid of some contaminants over time. Spacing the meals out helps prevent the contaminants from building up to harmful levels in the body. For example, if the fish you eat is in the “One Meal a Month Group”, wait a month before eating another meal of fish from any restricted category. Occasionally eating fish in quantities slightly greater than the advisories recommend, such as during an annual fishing vacation, should not present a health hazard.Follow the advice presented in this advisory, noting the differences between the General and Specific Advisories for all West Virginia waters and the Ohio River Advisory. Follow the advice presented in this advisory, noting the differences between the General Advisories for all West Virginia waters and the more restrictive Specific Advisories. General Advisories 2014 WV Statewide Consumption Advisories Water Body Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminants All Waters in West Virginia except where listed in the Specific Consumption Advisories. Hybrid Striped Bass 1 meal a month Mercury PCBs White Bass Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) 2 meals a month Channel Catfish greater than 17” Flathead Catfish Rock Bass Walleye and Saugeye Sauger All Suckers Channel Catfish less than 17” 1 meal a week All Other Species Rainbow Trout No Limit More restrictive advisories issued in 2014 affect the following water bodies: 2014 WV Specific Consumption Advisories Water Body Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminant(s)* Bluestone River Carp 1 meal a month PCBs Fish Creek Smallmouth Bass, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury Flat Fork Creek Carp Do not eat PCBs Channel Catfish, all sizes Suckers Kanawha River downstream of I-64 bridge in Dunbar including all backwaters, Armour Creek, Heizer Creek, Manila Creek, lower two miles Pocatalico River Flathead Catfish, all sizes Do not eat Dioxin* Mercury PCBs Channel Catfish, all sizes Carp Hybrid Striped Bass Suckers All other species 1 meal a month Little Kanawha and Hughes River Sauger 1 meal a month Mercury Upper Mud and Mount Storm lakes, and Pinnacle Creek** Follow Advisory Guidelines for WV Statewide Consumption. Selenium R.D. Bailey Lake Channel Catfish greater than 17” 6 meals a year PCBs Shenandoah River Carp Do not eat Mercury PCBs* Smallmouth bass 1 meal a month Mercury Summersville Lake Flathead Catfish, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury 1 meal a monthh Sutton Lake Black Bass, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury Note: *Contaminant- Meal Limits are determined by the chemical with asterisk. Other chemicals, such as dioxin, (Hg) methyl mercury may have an advisory at a less restrictive level. **Measureable levels of selenium were detected in samples from the listed water bodies. The levels measured would suggest advisories that are less restrictive or consistent with the statewide consumption advice in place for mercury and PCBs. PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls - The protocol used to determine Ohio River fish consumption advisories (ORFCAP) is the product of the efforts of a multi-agency workgroup consisting of representatives from the six main stem states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) as well as the US EPA and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) to develop consistent fish advisories along the Ohio River main stem. The online Ohio River advisory is available at: http://216.68.102.178/comm/fishconsumption/default.asp , please refer to the website for recent updates. 2014 Ohio River Consumption Advisory Ohio River Segmentt Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminant(s)* Pennsylvania Border (East Liverpool) to Belleville Lock (Brooke Hancock, Marshall Ohio, Pleasants Tyler, Wetzel, Wood Counties) Channel Catfish 18” and over Do Not Eat PCBs Channel Catfish less than 18”, Common Carp, Striped Bass Hybrid, White Bass 6 meals a year Black Crappie Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum 14”and over Largemouth Bass Sauger Saugeye Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Spotted Bass All Suckers Walleye White Crappie 1 meal a monthh Belleville Lock to the Kentucky Border (Cabell, Jackson Mason, Wayne Counties) Channel Catfish 18” and over 6 meals a year PCBs Channel Catfish less than 18” Common Carp Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum 14” and over Striped Bass Striped Bass Hybrid All Suckers White Bass 1 meal a month Note:*Contaminant- Meal Limits are determined by the chemical with asterisk. Other chemicals, such as dioxin, (Hg) methyl mercury may have an advisory at a less restrictive level. PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls For further information or the most current advice consult the WV DHHR Web Site at www.wvdhhr.org/fish or call (304) 558-2771. Other contacts: Consult the WV Division of Natural Resources Web Site at www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing.shtm or call (304) 558-2771. www.dep.wv.gov/or call (304) 926-0495. Consult the US EPA Web Site at www.epa.gov/ost/fish Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Cheat Canyon in W.Va. permanently conserved - Herald-Standard
by Duane 12 Apr '15

12 Apr '15

http://www.heraldstandard.com/content/tncms/live/ Cheat Canyon in W.Va. permanently conserved By Steve Ferris, Uniontown Herald-Standard, April 11, 2015 The Cheat Canyon, eight miles of rugged West Virginia mountains with the Cheat River and the Allegheny Trail running through it, has been permanently conserved. State, federal and conservation organization officials named it the Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area after they pulled together $7 million to buy the property from a private owner last fall. “It’s been a priority for conservation for a long time,” said Ann Simonelli of the Conservation Fund, one of organizations involved in the effort.The canyon had been a target for preservation since the 1970s. Preserving the canyon was the subject of a letter sent to Patrick Noonan in 1976, when he was president of the Nature Conservancy, Simonelli said. Later, Noonan left the Conservancy and created the Conservation Fund. The Nature Conservancy is another one of the groups involved in the canyon project. “People have been trying to protect this part of Cheat Canyon for a long time,” Simonelli said. “Local residents and people who love the outdoors realize what kind of treasure this land is. They’ll be able to experience the landscape. It will be unmarred by development.” The 3,800-acre canyon has trail heads at each end — just upstream of Coopers Rock State Forest and in Albright. It is a popular whitewater rafting and kayaking destination and is home to unique and rare wildlife. “The primary goal for acquiring that area was the Indiana bat, an endangered species, and the flat-spired, three-toothed land snail, which is a threatened species,” said Steve Rauch, of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR). “It puts the known locations of the snail under state control, which is really important for management.” Development and fire are the main treats to those animals, Rauch said. The state does not allow mountain bike riding on the trail to protect the snail, which is found nowhere else in the world, he said. “It is the only place on this Earth where this thing lives,” said Keith Fisher of the Nature Conservancy. Green salamanders also reside in the canyon. Rare plants grow in the scoured gravel bars in and along the river and caves dot the canyon walls, Fisher said. Part of the trail at the Albright end of the canyon was closed by the previous owner, who also cut some timber there, he said. “This will re-establish the trail,” Rauch said. The logging road used in the timber cutting is now part of the trail, Fisher said. The state opened the canyon to hunting for the first time in the fall and the harvest included a number of white-tailed deer and a black bear, he said. “It’s also a whitewater hot spot,” Fisher said. “The Cheat Canyon is a pretty special place. It’s been abused repeatedly for a long time. It’s great to have it protected. Not just the water resource, but the land resource,” said Eric Martin, owner of Wilderness Voyageurs of Ohiopyle, which is among the outfitters that take whitewater rafting trips down the Cheat River. The river had a legacy of a “ridiculous amount of acid mine drainage” and timber cutting that didn’t always employ best practices, Martin said. Remediation efforts spearheaded by conservation groups like the Friends of the Cheat have improved the quality of the water and the fishery, he said. “It’s the largest undammed watershed east of the Mississippi River and spectacular, unique place,” Martin said. Rafting and kayaking is done mostly in the spring when rains create class 4 and greater rapids, he said. “It’s mostly known as a spring trip for big water, every bit as much action as the Gauley (River). It’s a springtime run because there’s no dam. We run primarily in the spring when rain brings water — a class 4, 4-plus trips,” Martin said. A 1,361-acre section of the 3,800 acre canyon that surrounds the river is owned by the Conservancy, which is leasing it to the state, Fisher said. The Conservation Fund will eventually transfer the remaining 2,500 acres to the DNR, which will manage it as a part of the other recreational land it owns along the lower Cheat River, Simonelli said. Public and private funding was used to purchase the land. Private sources included a $2.6 million donation from the Charlotte Ryde estate and a combined $1 million donation from Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources to the Nature Conservancy. Public money came from a package of grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, as well as mitigation dollars. 3 images Michael Palm|Herald-Standard Michael Palm|Herald-Standard The Cheat Canyon shown from the Cooper’s Rock State Forest overlook in West Virginia has been permanently conserved. Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area is eight miles of rugged mountains with the Cheat River and the Allegheny Trail running through it. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Six professors earn 2015 WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching
by Duane 09 Apr '15

09 Apr '15

http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2015/04/08/six-professors-earn-2015-wvu-foundatio… Six professors earn 2015 WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching Every year, the West Virginia University Foundation celebrates a special class of teacher: The kind that nudges students toward their dreams. The kind that groggy-eyed underclassmen have no problem waking up for at 8 a.m. The kind that you remember and keep in touch with decades after graduating. These professors leave a lasting impact, and are recipients of the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. This year’s honorees are: • Joshua Arthurs, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences ; • Damien Clement, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences ; • Melissa Morris, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources • Mario Perhinschi, Statler College; • Michael Strager, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design ; and • Elaine Wilson, College of Law. “These six professors inspire students to achieve more than they themselves ever thought they could,” said Provost Joyce McConnell. “President Gee and I often publicly assert that West Virginia University offers an exceptional education – and we’re proud to be able to point to this kind of passionate, exciting teaching as the foundation of that education.” The WVU Foundation established the awards in 1985 as a way to celebrate faculty who’ve established patterns of distinguished teaching and exceptional innovation in teaching methods, course and curriculum design, and instructional tools. A list of previous recipients is available here. “We congratulate this year’s recipients who truly go above and beyond in their areas of expertise,” said Cindi Roth, WVU Foundation president and CEO. “WVU is fortunate to have such high caliber faculty inspiring our students. The Foundation is pleased to be able to fund these awards annually because of the tremendous generosity of our donors.” Michael Strager During his time as an educator at WVU, Strager, associate professor of spatial analysis, has developed eight new courses introducing students to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies like GPS, remote sensing, and GIS/spatial analysis. “Many of the courses he has created have become academic requirements for undergraduate programs, and they have provided his students with an extremely marketable skill set, in addition to giving them a unique perspective on the resources and landscapes they plan to further study and manage during their careers,” said Davis College Dean Daniel J. Robison. Strager teaches six to seven classes a year, dividing his focus between forestry and natural resources and agricultural and natural resource economics. While managing this high volume of students, he’s uniformly credited by them for providing far more than an average classroom experience. Instead of textbooks, he uses practical examples drawn from government and industry, and relating material to his students from his own research publications and interests. “He inspires students and challenges them,” Robison said. “To talk with Mike is to understand his passion as an educator.”

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Bats In Pennsylvania Threatened By White Nose Syndrome
by Duane 08 Apr '15

08 Apr '15

Bats In Pennsylvania Threatened By White Nose Syndrome From Associated Press, Huffington Post, April 6, 2015 PITTSBURGH (AP) — One of the most common bat species in Pennsylvania is being threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats of that species and others in North America. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the northern long-eared bat as a "threatened" species, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1Cb0Nh3 ) reported Monday. The agency was considering listing the species as "endangered" — a more serious designation — but decided on "threatened" because the bat's population has not been affected outside areas where the fungal disease has caused problems, the newspaper reported. The agency is proposing interim rules meant to safeguard the bat's habitat, including limits on forest timbering. But the rules could also impact the wind energy and natural gas and oil drilling industries. Lora Zimmerman, a project leader with the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the "threatened" listing in Pennsylvania might seem odd in light of the fact that the long-eared bat's population in the state is only less than 5 percent of what it was before 2006, when the fungus that produces white-nose syndrome was discovered in a cave in upstate New York. Pennsylvania is an area hard hit by the white-nose syndrome, and the designation "will likely be re-evaluated regularly," Zimmerman said. The interim "threatened" listing was announced Thursday in the federal register and takes effect in 30 days along with interim environmental rules. The wildlife agency plans to take 90 days of public comment on those rules, in hopes of finalizing them by year's end. The Independent Petroleum Association of American has commented on the bat's threatened designation, but it may not file comments on the accompanying environmental rules, spokesman Neal Kirby said. He said that's because the bat's habitat isn't affected as much by drilling as it is by the fungus, and other industries, like timbering. But Michael Gannon, a Penn State University bat expert and member of the Mammal Technical Committee for the Pennsylvania Biological Society, said rules to protect the bats are needed soon. That's because bats feed on insects and pesticide use might have to increase if the bat population doesn't rebound. Bats, in general, provide $22 billion worth of ecological services in the United States annually, including $292 million in Pennsylvania, he said. "Shortsighted individuals that ignore the science and economics and feel protection of this valuable natural resource is not warranted will cost us considerably in the future," Gannon said. ___

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DEP Issues Statement After Reports of Orange Rocks in Cheat Rive - WBOY.com
by Duane 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28731748/dep-issues-statement-after-reports-of-or… WV-DEP Issues Statement After Reports of Orange Rocks in Cheat River in Preston County From WV DEP, April 6, 2015 The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has been receiving reports from Cheat River boaters noticing orange rocks at the mouth of Muddy Creek in Preston County. The DEP issued a statement Monday assuring the public that the situation is under control. According to the statement, the DEP believes the orange rocks were caused by an occurrence inside an old mine near Valley Point, such as a roof collapse, which created a temporary blockage and allowed iron-laden water to build up inside the mine. Finally, the water began pouring out of the mine quickly into the creek in March. While the iron levels in the creek were higher than normal, the DEP assures no fish or plant life would have been affected as that section of Muddy Creek is considered "dead." The DEP had engineers and geologists investigating the rocks and are in the process of developing a plan that should prevent this type of incident from occurring in the future.

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Cheat Fest to Host A Dozen Bands - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather
by Duane 25 Mar '15

25 Mar '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28603576/cheat-fest-to-host-a-dozen-bands Cheat Fest to Host A Dozen Bands Posted: Mar 24, 2015 3:45 PM EDT Updated: Mar 24, 2015 5:24 PM EDT By Krista Baker, Monongalia and Preston County Reporter There are only 39 days and counting until the annual Cheat Fest kicks off in Albright. The Cheat River Festival will be on May 2nd from noon-11 p.m. It features dozens of bands, a kids tent, and of course, education about the Cheat River. All of the proceeds from the event go to Friends of the Cheat to help reserve, preserve and promote the river. Tickets to the festival and the annual t-shirts are on sale at CheatFest.org. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Urgent: Last Chance to Improve Storage Tank Bill !!!
by Duane330＠aol.com 10 Mar '15

10 Mar '15

From: WVEC - Vickie Wolfe [mailto:ibtreehugger@wvecouncil.org] Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:49 PM To: Don Strimbeck Subject: URGENT: Last Chance to Improve Tank Bill! (http://wvecouncil.org/) West Virginia Environmental Council Action Alert Mar. 10, 2015 Once again, we really need your help! By a vote of _13-12_ (http://media.wvgazette.com/static/watchdog/Tank%20Judiciary%20Amend%20Vote.…) late last night, the House Judiciary Committee narrowly rejected amendments that would have improved water protections in S.B. 423, “Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act.” A last push for amendments on the House floor could make the difference! Please act now: 1. If you can, please come to the Capitol this afternoon/evening or tomorrow to hand deliver a letter to Speaker Armstead in Room 228M (keep reading for what to say). Ask to see the speaker. Say you’ll be glad to wait. Sit in his outer office. If it overflows, stand in the hallway outside. But be very polite and respectful. 2. If you are not able to talk with the speaker in person, call him: 304.340.3210. If you aren’t able to hand deliver a letter, send an e-mail: _tim.armstead(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:tim.armstead@wvhouse.gov) Tell Speaker Armstead to please support amendments to S.B. 423 to improve protections for our water. 3. _Contact your Delegate_ (http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/) (s) and tell him/her to support amendments to S.B. 423 to improve protections for our water. 4. Send an e-mail thanking committee members who voted last night FOR protective amendments and AGAINST advancing the bill to the floor: _patrick.lane(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov) , _tmanchin(a)manchininjurylaw.com_ (mailto:tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com) , _stephen.skinner(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:stephen.skinner@wvhouse.gov) , _john.mccuskey(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:john.mccuskey@wvhouse.gov) , _andrew.byrd(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:andrew.byrd@wvhouse.gov) , _barbaraf(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:barbaraf@wvhouse.gov) , _shawn.fluharty(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:shawn.fluharty@wvhouse.gov) , _ken.hicks(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:ken.hicks@wvhouse.gov) , _dana.lynch(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:dana.lynch@wvhouse.gov) , _clif.moore(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:clif.moore@wvhouse.gov) , _larry.rowe(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:larry.rowe@wvhouse.gov) Click _here_ (http://wvrivers.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7558a78e42c942949aeb1383f…) for a summary of needed changes to SB 423. Finally: Please join us for our annual awards dinner/fundraiser TONIGHT, MARCH 10 at 6:00 p.m. We will enjoy dinner, music and fellowship in the pleasant surroundings of the Women’s Club, 1600 Virginia Street East, Charleston. Suggested donation $15. >From the WVEC Action Alert E-mail List _Subscribe or Unsubscribe Online_ (http://wvecouncil.org/archive/action-alerts/)

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Boat Docks Ripped Out by Ice Flows at Cheat Lake Marina and Edgewater Marina
by Duane330＠aol.com 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

Docks Destroyed by Ice at Cheat Lake Marina Written by _Alex Wiederspiel_ (http://www.wdtv.com/bios.cfm?user=Alex-Wiederspiel) Last updated on March 04, 2015 @ 8:51PM Created on March 04, 2015 @ 6:35PM Serious damage was done to the Cheat Lake Marina in Monongalia County as a result of large chunks of ice floating down the river. Every single dock that was attached to that marina is now debris in the Cheat River, much floating on into the Monongahela River. According to witnesses, the docks began to take damage around 11 AM Wednesday morning, and many described the noise as an intense grinding sound. "As I was working, I looked down and saw ice coming down the mouth of the lake," said Rodney Kovach, the principle owner of Key Contracting in Cheat Lake. "It was something like I've never seen before. The whole lake was full of ice and just took out all the docks and everything." Another man who lives in the Cheat Lake area said that he was fortunate that his docks were not damaged by the gushing chunks of ice that continued to float down the river Wednesday afternoon. "I witnessed all the edge water marina and the lakeside docks that were just put in last summer coming down the lake in a big sheet of ice," said Dr. Bill Rose, a resident of Cheat Lake. "So as you can see it's totally just devastation of all the marinas." There were people lined up and down the street from the marina past Ice's Ferry Bridge. Simply gazing at the destruction. If you have pictures or videos, you can e-mail them to us at news(a)wdtv.com See here: http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=Docks-Destroyed-…

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Ice Flow on Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

From: Skip Pratt [mailto:Skip.Pratt@NETL.DOE.GOV] Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 12:58 PM To: Kevin Moore; Parke Johnson Cc: dcsoinks(a)comcast.net Subject: Fwd: cheat lake pic Cheat Lake is being scoured by an ice flow....Kyle says all the docks at Biafora and edgewater are gone. See attached from some else. >>> Debra Turner 3/4/2015 12:41 PM >>> Sent from my iPhone

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NOTICE: Lake Lynn Hydro Recreation Update Moved to March 16th
by Duane 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

NOTICE: Due to adverse regional weather conditions, the 2015 Update Meeting on the Lake Lynn Hydro Recreation Plan has been moved to Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm. Location: Lakeview Resort & Country Club on Cheat Lake at I - 68. Host for this meeting is Lake Lynn Hydro, LLC. Duane Nichols, CLEAR, Cell- 304-216-5535

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Winter Weather Alerts & Flood Watches and River Flood Watches Is - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown:
by Duane 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28242202/winter-weather-alerts-flood-watches-and-… Winter Weather Alerts & Flood Watches and River Flood Watches Issued through Thursday... Clarksburg, WV (WBOY) - After a dry start to the work week, that all changes as we get from Tuesday and into Thursday... The National Weather Service has issued the following winter weather and flooding alerts in advance of our next weather maker on the way to the region... Flood Watch: In effect for the entire WBOY 12 News Viewing Area from Tuesday Morning through Thursday Morning in our Central and Southern Zones, and until Thursday Evening in our Northern Zones. Winter Weather Advisories from 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM Tuesday for Preston and Tucker Counties in West Virginia along with Garrett County, Maryland. Freezing Rain Advisories from 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM Tuesday for Randolph and Pocahontas Counties in West Virginia. River Flood Watch - Preston County, WV: Cheat River at Rowlesburg. As the rain moves into the area, river levels are anticipated to rise. Flood Stage for the river is 16.0 Feet, and minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is expected to be reached by Wednesday Afternoon and Evening. As the precipitation moves into the area on Tuesday, this could begin as a wintry mix for everyone, before quickly changing over to rain in the lowlands, but the wintry mix will hang on into the late morning and early afternoon in the higher elevations, before they change over to rain as well... Heavy rain will move into the region as we get from Tuesday Afternoon and into Wednesday, and we can't rule out a rumble of thunder late Tuesday and into Wednesday Morning, as the cold front moves through the area. Most places will see anywhere from 1-3" of rain, with isolated higher amounts, before the colder air moves in. Once the cold front moves through the area, we will usher in some colder air pretty quick, and this will chance the rain over to snow, and we could see some snowfall accumulations from Wednesday Night and into Thursday Morning, before we dry things out as we get into the end of the week. This is definitely a forecast you want to keep tabs on over the next few days because we have multiple hazards to watch from wintry weather and flooding rainfall as well, that will impact just about everyone. Stay with WBOY 12 News and StormTracker 12, we'll keep you ahead of the storm... --WBOY StormTracker 12 Meteorologist Bryan Schuerman http://www.wboy.com/story/28242202/winter-weather-alerts-flood-watches-and-… Submitted by: Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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I Squared Capital grows its Cube Hydro platform by investing in ten run-of-the-river power plants in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States - Yahoo Finance
by Duane 02 Mar '15

02 Mar '15

The Lake Lynn Hydro Station and allied facilities on Cheat Lake have been purchased by Cube Hydro, effective February 19, 2015. The Lake Lynn facility has a capacity of 53 megawatts. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/squared-capital-grows-cube-hydro-231900530.ht… I Squared Capital grows its Cube Hydro platform by investing in ten run-of-the-river power plants in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, a portfolio company of the ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund, has acquired a 100 percent ownership interest in ten run-of-the-river hydro facilities from Harbor Hydro, LLC, a portfolio company of LS Power Equity Advisors. Totaling 83 megawatts of generation assets in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the portfolio benefits from favorable hydrology and is scheduled to produce approximately 255 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable electricity per year. Following this acquisition, Cube Hydro’s combined assets will generate more than 106 MW of clean, renewable energy. Kristina Johnson, CEO of Cube Hydro said, “Hydropower is the original renewable source of electricity. We are excited to add these ten plants to our platform.” “These additional assets allow us to optimize the performance of our existing portfolio and drive long-term value,” said John Collins, Managing Director of Cube Hydro. “Working side-by-side with I Squared Capital over the last year, we have developed a strong team to identify and execute attractive investment opportunities in hydroelectric assets.” “We are pleased with our hydropower platform’s expansion to a region characterized by dependable river basins, a highly efficient electricity market and a diverse off-taker base,” said Thomas Lefebvre, Managing Director at I Squared Capital. “Cube Hydro is set on a successful growth path to identify attractive assets with the opportunity for future optimization through equipment upgrades and operational improvements.” About Cube Hydro Partners: Led by former U.S. Undersecretary of Energy Kristina Johnson, Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, is a hydropower development and operating platform investing in mid-sized greenfield and operating hydro projects in the U.S. and Canada. About I Squared Capital: I Squared Capital is an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities, and transport in North America, Europe, and select high growth economies. The Firm has offices in New York, Houston, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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<Lake Lynn Update> March 5th, 6:30 pm. Lakeview Resort.
by Duane330＠aol.com 25 Feb '15

25 Feb '15

Subject: Lake Lynn/Cheat Lake Recreation Plan Public Meeting The public meeting to receive comments on the 2015 Lake Lynn/Cheat Lake Recreation Plan has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 6:30 pm at the Lakeview Golf Resort, One Lakeview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508. Note: The originally scheduled meeting, on February 19th at the Cheat Lake Fire Hall was canceled due to weather and the want for a key.

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<CLEAR> Public Meeting: Lake Recreation Plan Update 2/19/15 Cheat Lake Fire Hall
by Duane330＠aol.com 13 Feb '15

13 Feb '15

Lake Lynn Recreation Plan Update <2015> Please attend a public meeting at the Cheat Lake Fire Hall on this coming Thursday, February 19th from at 6:30 to 9 pm. This meeting is being hosted by Lake Lynn Generation, LLC, the company that purchased the Lake Lynn Hydro project exactly one year ago. The draft "recreation plan update" for 2015 is attached as a "pdf" document, as prepared by Lake Lynn Generation, LLC. Background information is available on the FERC web site under FERC Project Number 2459. The 2015 update is License Article 417. The recreation plan for the hydro project and the surrounding lands and lake is up for review every three years, as mandated by and monitored by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Comments will be received by Lake Lynn Generation on 2/19/15 at the Fire Hall. And, written comments will be received for 30 days, until 3/19/15 at the following address: ATTN: Kim Johnson, Lake Lynn Generation, LLC, P. O. Box 77, 130 Schenley Marina Drive, Schenley, PA, 15682 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Please also email questions and comments to: Duane Nichols, CLEAR, 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508, or via email: _duane330(a)aol.com_ (mailto:duane330@aol.com) Attachment: 2015 Lake Lynn Recreation Update, pdf (1.1 MB)

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ALEXANDER, PATRICK SIGNED ORDER.pdf
by Duane 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

http://www.dep.wv.gov/pio/Documents/Settlements%20and%20Orders/ALEXANDER%2c… WV-DEP. PROPOSED SETTLEMENT. Patrick Alexander, Monongalia County =========================================================== Thursday, January 29, 2015 @ 3:33 PM =========================================================== The WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and Patrick Alexander have proposed a settlement of Administrative Consent Order No. MM-15-05 which resolves violation(s) of the WV Water Pollution Control Act which occurred in Monongalia County, WV. In accordance with the proposed Consent Order, Patrick Alexander has agreed to pay administrative penalties and to comply with the Act. Final settlement is subject to comments received during the thirty (30) day period ending March 2, 2015. Further information about this Administrative Consent Order is available by contacting the Chief Inspector, WVDEP/Environmental Enforcement, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304, (304) 926-0470 or by accessing WV Department of Environmental Protection’s website at http://www.dep.wv.gov/pio/Pages/Settlements,Ordersouttopublicnotice.aspx

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Petition · Reclaim the Trail System at Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area · Change.org
by Duane 24 Dec '14

24 Dec '14

https://www.change.org/p/wv-governor-earl-ray-tomblin-reclaim-the-trail-sys… Reclaim the Trail System at Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area Petitioning WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and 3 others The Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area (SHWMA) is an important public recreational asset enjoyed by residents of Monongalia County and visitors. It is popular with hunters and is also enjoyed year-round by outdoor recreationists including hikers, runners, cross-country skiers and birders. Three magnificent scenic views of the Cheat River canyon are achieved with a short hike. The SHWMA is managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). A 115 acre timber project was initiated in February, 2014 to create habitat for wildlife. The logging activity has destroyed and disrupted significant parts of the established trail system, a system that is essential to the enjoyment of all permitted activities, including hunting. WV Code 20-2-1 states that it is public policy to protect the state's wildlife resources for the use and enjoyment of all citizens of the state, particularly for hunting, fishing and other diversified uses, economic contributions, and scientific and educational uses. Thus we ask the following: We ask that the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Division quickly reclaim roads and trails and that they do so in a way that promotes hiking. In particular, we request that the DNR refrain from using large (3”) gravel in reclaiming any significant section of these trails and roads, as this large gravel makes hiking extremely difficult. We request that the WVDNR relocate habitat designed for rattlesnake away from popular access points. We urge the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Division to develop channels of communication and work cooperatively in the future with local residents, recreational experts from WVU, and local nonprofit groups to develop and implement a plan for maintenance and improvement of the hiking trails at the SHWMA using local volunteer and donated labor and materials. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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URGENT: Forest Service Seeking Comments
by Duane330＠aol.com 17 Dec '14

17 Dec '14

____________________________________ From: elise(a)greenbrier.org Sent: 12/17/2014 5:49:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: URGENT: Forest Service Seeking Comments December 17, 2014 The Forest Service is seeking comments on whether to allow surveys on a 12.6 mile segment of the George Washington National Forest for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline in Highland and Augusta counties in Virginia. The Forest Service will use public comments and an environmental review to decide whether to issue a permit for surveys on the forest. Comments are being accepted through Friday, January 9, 2015. Comments may be submitted by: Email: comments-southern-georgewashington-jefferson(a)fs.fed.us FAX: 540-265-5145 Mail or Hand Deliver: USDA Forest Service Atlantic Coast Pipeline Survey Comments 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Roanoke, VA 24019 We are trying to focus our comments on a few main points: We are asking the Forest Service to make sure Dominion collects the kinds of data necessary to make a decision about the construction of the proposed pipeline. Now is the time to collect the data needed to document environmental conditions. Data collected should allow the Forest Service to do a comparative analysis of all three proposed pipelines that would impact the national forests in Virginia and West Virginia. Data should also reflect a correct and detailed assessment of the impact on habitat, wildlife and plants. The potential for slope failure should also be considered since certain soils and rocks are susceptible to failure - and because Dominion has a track record of slope failure and stream sedimentation at other pipelines projects. Dominion should also conduct an assessment of both water quality and quantity for all springs, wells, and streams within and adjacent to the forest and decide how water resources will be monitored if construction is approved. For more information please contact elise(a)greenbrier.org 304-647-4792 Greenbrier River Watershed Association | 120 W. Washington St. Suite #4 | Lewisburg | WV | 24901

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Growing Shiitake Mushrooms
by Duane 09 Dec '14

09 Dec '14

http://ahc.wvu.edu/remository/func-download/489/chk,ab4c0845afb9f103dbe65d9… Growing Shiitake Mushrooms Dave McGill, WVU Extension Specialist – Forestry WVU Extension Service Agriculture and Natural Resources Tiffany Fegel, Forest Stewardship Outreach Education Coordinator WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design This fact sheet explains how to prepare, inoculate, and propagate shiitake mushrooms. About Shiitake Cultivation Shiitake mushrooms are part of the shiitake fungus, a species that consumes wood for energy. Cultivating shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) can be an integral part of forest farming. These gourmet mushrooms are a non-timber forest product that can be grown in the understory of woodlands as an added money-maker resource or in a backyard for personal use. See the link above for the details ......

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Successful tree planting
by Duane 09 Dec '14

09 Dec '14

STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL TREE PLANTING BY DAN MAGILL Well it is the Autumn Season again with winter just around the corner and now is a good time to start planning woodland improvement activities such as planting trees in the upcoming Spring Season. Although this may seem too far ahead of time to get things rolling for Spring-time tree planting, there are several steps to accomplish successful tree planting, growth, and survival. Choosing the right site in woodlands or fields is important because different tree species require distinct site conditions like aspect, soil type and moisture, shade and sunlight conditions, terrain (bottom land, ridge-top, stream-sides) etc. Conducting a soil test for type, pH, moisture and nutrient levels is also one of the most crucial activities that should be conducted to insure successful tree planting, growth, and survival. Additionally, newly planted trees will need to be protected from damage from deer and rabbit browsing, and even bears that will often break off the trees either from curiosity or the bears are trying to get food such as nuts or fruits, or trying to get insects from the tree roots. It is likewise a good idea to order trees well ahead of time such as in autumn to insure the desired tree species to plant can be obtained for the Spring-time planting season. In WV, the Clements State Tree Nursery is currently taking tree orders for the autumn 2014 or spring-time 2015 planting season and the online store-front at:http://www.wvcommerce.org/ClementsNursery, allows customers to shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Deliveries start the week of Thanksgiving. The Clements State Tree Nursery can also be reached at 304-675-1820 Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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'Bat-nav' system enables three-dimensional manoeuvres : Nature News & Comment
by Duane 04 Dec '14

04 Dec '14

http://www.nature.com/news/bat-nav-system-enables-three-dimensional-manoeuv… 'Bat-nav' system enables three-dimensional manoeuvres The brains of bats have a neuronal 'compass' that enables them to navigate in three dimensions. The discovery, published in Nature on 3 December, explains the long-standing mystery of how bats — and perhaps other mammals such as monkeys, which do not fly but swing between branches — manage to orient themselves in the air as well as on the ground. The ‘bat-nav’ system is “surprising — but also surprising in its beauty”, says May-Britt Moser, a neuroscientist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, who shared this year’s Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of a two-dimensional navigation system in the brains of rats. Computational neuroscientist Andreas Herz, from the University of Munich in Germany, adds that the simple elegance of the neural coding that makes up the compass has wider implications for how the brain computes. These systems are not 'compasses' in the sense that they detect the geomagnetic north, and in fact they are not sensory organs at all but simply systems for keeping track of information that the brain has integrated from the senses. Smart cells In her work, Moser and her collaborators had found that rats have specialized neural cells for navigation. In particular, the researchers found, the rodents have 'head-direction' cells, contained in a brain area called the presubiculum. Different cells in the head-direction system fire depending on which direction on the horizontal plane the animal points its head. Now, Nachum Ulanovsky and his colleagues at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, have discovered that the head-direction cells in the Egyptian fruit bats that they studied are more complex than those in rats. In addition to cells that fire depending on horizontal direction, the bats also have some that fire only when the creatures move their heads up and down (change pitch) or rotate in the roll axis. To find these cells, they implanted electrodes into the presubiculum area of the bats’ brains and recorded single neurons firing. They also mounted a special head-monitoring device comprising four differently coloured light-emitting diodes arranged in a pyramid onto the bats’ heads. By comparing the neuronal firings with head movement, the researchers could determine the particular head orientation — horizontal, vertical or a combination — at which each neuron fired when the bats were crawling or flying. They found that most neurons were tuned to horizontal directions, but more than one-fifth were tuned to head pitch. This established that the bats' navigation system is fully 3-D. Only a few of the neurons correlated to head roll, however. This may be because bats do not roll their bodies much in flight, says Ulanovsky. Flipping bats The team's findings included one additional surprise, which came when the researchers observed bats performing an upside-down flip to land hanging upside down (see figure below). As expected, the firings of the pitch neurons reflected the full 180° rotation. But even though the head ended up pointing in the opposite horizontal direction than it was during flight, the horizontal-direction neurons did not reflect the flip — something that would have required them to suddenly change from, say “east” to “west”. Ulanovsky says that he stared at his data for three months before he understood that this was happening. Once the penny dropped, the scientists worked out that the bat brain was computing the signals not as latitude–longitude coordinates on a sphere — as Ulanovsky intuitively imagined three-dimensional space would be represented — but as coordinates on a torus, a figure shaped like the surface of a bagel. Jasiek Krzysztofiak/Nature As on the sphere, on the bagel surface, the longitude (green circles in the picture) still represents horizontal direction, and the latitude (red circle) pitch. But the bagel representation allows the flip to be represented without a sudden change in longitude. “It has been a humbling experience,” says Ulanovsky, laughing. It may have taken him months to understand, but now when he explains the mechanism to other people, they get it in seconds. In a related News & Views article, Moser and her Trondheim colleague David Rowland speculate that the animals' skills may be reflected in their anatomy. In rats, the head-direction cells can be imagined as a network of neurons arranged in a circle, describing the full 360° of possible directions. But in bats, Moser and Rowland write, the head-direction cells “may have connections between cells that follow a toroidal arrangement“. Scientists are divided in their expectation about whether bat nav will show up in animals such as humans, who do not fly or enjoy spending time upside down. Some, including Herz, suspect that it will not, arguing that such creatures may not need it, and that the toroidal model in any case works only for animals with little rolling movement. But Moser says that she has a feeling that it will, maybe to explain feelings of vertigo when we lose our sense of up and down, or the disorientation we sometimes feel on emerging from an underground train. “Well, we just have to find out by getting the data,” she says. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Fwd: December 6 Cheat Lake Waterfowl trip
by Duane 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

> From: Ella Belling > Date: December 3, 2014 7:56:02 AM EST > > Subject: Re: December 6 Cheat Lake Waterfowl trip > > I just received a call that there are hundreds of Tundra Swan at Cheat Lake this morning. Ella > >

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Winter Birding Activities.
by Duane Nichols 10 Nov '14

10 Nov '14

> Subject: Winter Birding Activities. > > Sent: Sunday, November 9, 2014 11:24:23 AM > Subject: Winter Birding Activities. > > Want to know your winter birds around Morgantown, WV? Check out these > events that are open to any interested person. > > November 11: Doren Burrell will present our Tuesday program on Winter > Birds. This will be an excellent way to prepare for the Christmas Bird > Count. The 7:00 program is at the Spruce Street United Methodist Church, > 348 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV. > > December 6: Cheat Lake Waterfowl trip. 8:00 am at Ruby and Ketchy’s > Restaurant on Route 857 east of Cheat Lake. If you’d like breakfast > first, meet at 7:00 am. LeJay Graffious, leader, lejaygraffious(a)gmail.com. > > December 20: Morgantown Christmas Bird Count. Contact LeJay Graffious, > compiler, to volunteer at lejaygraffious(a)gmail.com. >

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Wild Ginseng, Wood Thrushes, and Climate Change: A Survival Story | West Virginia Public Broadcasting
by Duane 22 Oct '14

22 Oct '14

http://wvpublic.org/post/wild-ginseng-wood-thrushes-and-climate-change-surv… Wild Ginseng, Wood Thrushes, and Climate Change: A Survival Story By Glynis Board, WV Public Broadcasting, October 21, 2014 Some researchers at West Virginia University have discovered that wild ginseng—a native and valuable medicinal plant—could be using specific birds to catch a ride into climates for which it’s better suited. Eberly Professor of Biology at WVU, Jim McGraw, has been studying ginseng from every angle for 18 years. A simple question lead McGraw and researchers Amy Hruska and Sara Souther to ask other questions, which is lead them to discover an ecological survival story. STUDY 1: Fruit Why does ginseng bear bright red berries? “When a plant evolves fleshy fruit like that, it usually means there’s some kind of animal interaction going on, but we had no idea what that was,” said McGraw. So all around wild fruiting ginseng cameras were set, and for three years tripped by the occasional raccoon, opossum, mouse, or turkey. But there was one pretty regular visitor: the Wood Thrush, (a cousin of the Robin, actually, but with superior vocal abilities on account of a double-set of vocal chords!). McGraw says after analyzing some 900 photos, they discovered the thrushes were in fact seduced by the bright red ginseng berries. STUDY 2: A Seed Study How do seeds survive the thrushes, or do they? McGraw and researcher Amy Hruska found out there were captive thrushes living at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, and convinced the good folks there to let them feed ginseng berries to the birds. Video actually shows regurgitation of seed. The researchers observed that the birds would eat the whole berry but 5 to 30 minutes later… “They would actually sit on a branch and start flipping their bills together and a seed would pop out,” McGraw said, “And they were completely viable seeds.” So the research team found ginseng’s wild seed dispensers! STUDY 3: Thrush Tracking Where and how far do the thrushes wander? …This study is underway… Understanding thrush activity is the latest query commanding attention in the larger effort to study a threatened and valuable plant. Wild populations are increasingly rare. We know overharvesting, deer browsing, and loss of habitat are major reasons for declines. But McGraw thinks this thrush research might shed light on another threat to wild ginseng populations. “Wood thrushes, as common as they are, have actually declined by 50 percent over the last fifty years,” McGraw said. “They’re one of the poster children for major songbird decline in the Eastern deciduous forest.” Losing so many birds is very troubling because ginseng populations may well rely on thrushes not only to help disperse their seeds, but also to help them adapt to a changing climate. Wild ginseng’s range stretches from eastern Canada south through the eastern United States. But genetically, those ginseng populations vary and over ages have adapted to their specific regions. McGaw suspect thrushes will play an important role in helping ginseng survive by helping it migrate from their warming regions into cooler climates. If the birds themselves can survive. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Acquire 2 New Wildli - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather
by Duane 09 Oct '14

09 Oct '14

http://www.wboy.com/story/26745321/west-virginia-division-of-natural-resour… West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Acquire 2 New Wildlife Management Areas >Thursday, October 9, 2014 The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has acquired two new wildlife management areas in Preston County. “These new public lands will provide outdoor enthusiasts with additional opportunities for hunting, trapping, fishing and other wildlife-related activities. In addition, these WMAs contain important habitat types and unique wildlife species which, under the management of the Wildlife Resources Section, can be responsibly conserved into the future,” said Curtis Taylor, chief of the DNR Wildlife Resource Section in a news release. Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area and Fairfax Pond - Rehe Wildlife Management Area are the two areas. The Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management area can be accessed by Beech Run Road from the south and by County Route 14/4 from the north. The Fairfax Pond - Rehe near Reedsville can be accessed by State Route 92 on Arthur Road (County Route 92/1) and Dogtown Road (County Route 56/2). Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Firefighters Fight Blaze at Bio Diesel Refinery on Old Stewartst - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather
by Duane 09 Oct '14

09 Oct '14

http://www.wboy.com/story/26683600/firefighters-fight-blaze-at-bio-diesel-r… Firefighters Fight Blaze at Bio Diesel Refinery on Old Stewartstown Road >Thursday, October 2, 2014 Fire crews responded to a fire at a bio diesel refinery Wednesday in Monongalia County. According to Mecca 911 dispatchers, it happened around 8:30 p.m. on Old Stewartstown Road. The fire closed down the road for a little more than three hours as crews battled the blaze. The owner was processing a batch of bio diesel when the fire ignited. The owner said he saw a fire ball, ran out and began turning off propane tanks. There was approximately 800 to 900 gallons of cooking oils and bio diesel in the fire, said the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters were able to control the fire from approaching an adjacent building which contained approximately 4,000 to 5,000 gallons of unprocessed oil. The refinery generates approximately 300 gallons of bio diesel every 12 hours, said the Cheat Lake VFD. The DEP was notified about the fire. The Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department is investigating. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Blackwater River of the Cheat Watershed
by Duane 22 Sep '14

22 Sep '14

Friday, September 19, 2014 About 23,000 fish killed in Blackwater mistake DAVIS, W.Va. — An estimated 23,000 fish were killed when an automated pollution control system dumped too much hydrated lime into the Blackwater River in Tucker county, state officials said Friday. “It is a lot of fish,” said Bret Preston, fisheries chief with the state Division of Natural Resources. “It would be in the moderate to severe range.” Preston said DNR officials are still investigating exactly what went wrong with the automated system that controls the liming station, which is just upstream from Davis and is used to reduce acid pollution in the river. According to Preston, DNR officials set up four sampling stations on a nearly two-mile stretch of the river down to Blackwater Falls. They found 1,917 dead fish, mostly minnows and darters, but also several trout and smallmouth bass. “That’s not uncommon, to have most of those killed be small, nongame fish,” Preston said. Using common expansion factors, DNR officials estimated that their sample indicated about 23,000 fish in all were killed. Preston said DNR officials did find live fish, and that the pH levels in the river were going back to normal. For now, though, the liming station is shut down until DNR finishes its investigation of the incident, Preston said. - See more at:http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140919/GZ01/140919148/1419#sthash.Rbm…

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Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources back Cheat Canyon Conservation
by Duane 15 Sep '14

15 Sep '14

http://www.pehub.com/2014/09/warburg-pincus-and-antero-resources-back-cheat… Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources back Cheat Canyon Conservation From an Article by Angela Sormani, Reuters News Service, September 15, 2014 More than $7 million has been raised to back the conservation of Cheat Canyon in West Virginia. Private funding included $2.6 million from the estate of Charlotte Ryde and a combined gift of $1 million from Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources. PRESS RELEASE The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources – allies in the permanent conservation of West Virginia’s Cheat Canyon – gathered today with funding partners and the community to celebrate this conservation success story and participate in the dedication of the canyon to the people of West Virginia. More than $7 million has been raised to preserve the canyon, an achievement celebrated by the conservationists, whitewater enthusiasts, business leaders, government officials and community members at the event. The public-private partnership that made the project a reality includes: • Private funding provided through generous gifts to The Nature Conservancy, including $2.6 million from the estate of Charlotte Ryde and a combined gift of $1 million from Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources. This $1 million gift from Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources enabled this project to move forward at a critical time. • A package of public grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, as well as mitigation dollars. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin stood high over the canyon at the popular overlook at Coopers Rock State Forest and formally welcomed the public to the Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area. Located upstream of Coopers Rock, with more than 3,800 acres of remote canyon forest surrounding seven miles of roaring whitewater, the Mountain State’s newest natural area helps to conserve: • most of the canyon not already included in Coopers Rock State Forest and Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area, and the spectacular view that people enjoy from Coopers Rock; • a section of river that has been called one of the most “ecologically intact” in the Central Appalachians by The Nature Conservancy, due to the absence of dams and the river’s connection to well-forested headwaters; • public access to seven miles of the 330-mile Allegheny Trail, which had been re-routed away from the canyon after it was closed by a previous owner – a resource for hikers, bird-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts; • nearly all of the Cheat River used for whitewater rafting and kayaking, from put-in to take-out, rim to rim, protecting the water quality and the view for the benefit of users; and • fishing opportunities for smallmouth bass, as well as hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, bear and squirrel. “The conservation efforts we celebrate today are a result of the decades of work and millions of dollars in investments from those in our local communities, public agencies and conservation groups,” Gov. Tomblin said. “When we work together to support these public-private partnerships, we are providing further opportunities to create areas for West Virginians to enjoy all of the natural beauty our state has to offer.” Cheat Canyon is a deep gorge through which the Cheat River flows from Rowlesburg in Preston County, on its way to Cheat Lake in Monongalia County, not far from Morgantown. Known mostly as a whitewater hotspot, the Cheat River draws tourists from throughout the Eastern U.S. And a warm water fishery continues to make a remarkable recovery as water quality issues upstream are addressed. Cheat Canyon also is significant because of its rich diversity of plants and animals – from black bear and bobcat in its forests to uncommon bats and green salamanders in its caves to large-flowered Barbara’s buttons along the river. More than ten endangered, threatened, or globally rare species occur in the Canyon, including the flat-spired three-toothed land snail, which exists nowhere else on earth, and the Indiana bat, both protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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2014 Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Conference - Registration Ends August 30th!
by Duane 15 Aug '14

15 Aug '14

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=caab40630ee041ae7f83e1691&id=22f1b11609… West Virginia Water Research Institute Registration Reminder The Future of Mid-Atlantic Water Infrastructure: Challenges and Solutions September 24 & 25, 2014 National Conservation Training Center Shepherdstown, WV Registration Deadline Approaching The registration deadline for the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Conference is Saturday, August 30, 2014. This year's event will take place at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV on September 24 & 25, 2014. Don't miss this truly exceptional event focused on the region's future water infrastructure challenges and solutions! 2014 Mid-Atlantic Water Conference Registration Rates General Registration - $179.00 Speaker Registration - $149.00 Student Registration - $79.00 Sponsorship Information Why Sponsor the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Conference? The 2014 Mid-Atlantic Water Research Conference is a regional event that will be attended by influential researchers, policy makers, regulators, and agencies. It will be an excellent educational opportunity where the latest information, technologies and research on water resources will be presented. Over the two-day period (September 24-25, 2014), this Conference will host an elite group of environmental professionals seeking knowledge and sharing ideas around water infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Sponsorships enable more diverse groups and individuals to participate at the Mid-Atlantic Water Research Conference. Through continued participation in this program, we may continue to offer lower registration fees, while providing a top-notch Conference experience. Sponsorship Levels Platinum Level Sponsorship - $2,500 Evening Reception (1 Available) Gold Level Sponsorships - $2,000 Registration Reception Silver Level Sponsorships - $1,000 Networking Breaks Bronze Level Sponsorships - $500 Scholarship Fund See image below for additional sponsorship level benefits For more information about sponsorship opportunities or to download the sponsorship fact sheet, visit: www.midatlanticwc.org/sponsors/ Conference Program Highlights Keynote Speaker Gerald Kauffman - Director, University of Delaware Water Resources Agency Special Presentation Water Resources Research Institutes' 50th Anniversary Earl Greene - Acting Chief, Office of External Research Coordinator, Hydrologic Networks and Analysis, USGS Plenary Sessions Titles Infrastructure Challenges in the Mid-Atlantic Region: What Water Infrastructure Challenges are You Facing in Your State? (NIWR Center/Institute Directors) Protecting Water Infrastructure from Energy-Related Incidents Concurrent Sessions Titles Infrastructure Protection Through Strategy, Policy, and Legislation Drinking Water Treatment Methodologies Green Infrastructure Management and Design Planning and Response to Climate Change and Flooding Implications for Drinking Water Safety Nationwide: The Elk River (WV) Chemical Spill Tools to Plan, Finance, and Manage Stormwater The Water and Energy Development Conundrum Planning for Our Future Water Supply Water Degradation from Stormwater and Treatment Options To see more information about the session topics, speakers, and abstracts, visit: www.midatlanticwc.org/event-info/conference-agenda/ Lodging Information National Conservation Training Center Special Conference Rate - $83/Night *Rooms are Limited* To make reservations, call the NCTC Hotel Reservation phone number at: (877) 706-6282 (Toll FREE) OR (304) 876-7900 *Also be sure to mention you will be attending the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Water Conference to receive the discounted rate* Other lodging options are available on our Conference Website Hosted By The Mid-Atlantic Water Resources Research Institutes West Virginia Water Research Institute at West Virginia University Virginia Water Resources Research Center at Virginia Tech Water Resources Research Institute at the University of the District of Columbia Delaware Water Resources Center at the University of Delaware Maryland Water Resources Research Center at the University of Maryland New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute at Rutgers University New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center at Pennsylvania State University September 24-25, 2014 National Conservation Training Center Shepherdstown, WV www.MidAtlanticWC.org Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Hop On The Bus to Pittsburgh This Thursday, July 31 EPA Hearing, Rally, Comments
by Duane 29 Jul '14

29 Jul '14

> From: "Chuck Wyrostok" <wyro(a)appalight.com> > Date: July 29, 2014 > Subject: Hop On The Bus to Pittsburgh This Thursday, July 31 EPA Hearing, Rally, Comments > > The U.S. EPA needs to hear from you > > They recently proposed a "Clean Power Plan," that goes a long way to cleaning up the nasty emissions from coal-fired power plants. The fossil fools in the coal industry are freaked out and fighting back. Let’s show our elected officials that people in the Appalachian region are serious about moving to cleaner energy sources that will revitalize communities and protect our waters from the devastating impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining and dangerous fossil fuels. > > Every single one of us deserves to have our voices heard on this issue. We are impacted whether we live near a mountaintop removal site or a coal-fired power plant or a Marcellus fracking site. > > While the rules will greatly reduce CO2 emissions, they encourage other dirty energy sources such as fracked gas and nuclear. They don’t address coal exports or the health impacts of mountaintop removal. And, get this… the plan leaves the specifics of compliance up to the individual states, such as West Virginia, where most leaders are stuck in a 20th century mindset. > > EPA is having hearings around the country, including this Thursday in Pittsburgh > Show the EPA you want Climate Action Now! The Sierra Club has Climate Action Buses leaving from towns in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania early on the morning of July 31, this Thursday. The buses will arrive in Pittsburgh while one of the hearings is going on there, delivering you to a noon Climate Action Now rally right near the hearing location. The hearing is at the William S. Moorhead Federal Building, Room #1310, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh (map) > > Unless you have already registered to testify, all the spots are taken. However, you do not have to speak at the hearing to take the bus. Sierra Club will be taking video testimony outside the hearing in order to submit that to the EPA. > > Buses depart from Cleveland OH (stopping in Akron), Columbus OH (the Wheeling, WV stop has been cancelled), WV Bus (Leaving Charleston 6AM stopping in Weston, Clarksburg, and Morgantown WV), Harrisburg PA, State College PA > > If you plan to ride the West Virginia bus originating in Charleston, please call Sierra Club’s Bill Price at 304 389 8822 to reserve your seat. Spots are filling up quickly. > > Here’s the Charleston-Pittsburgh schedule: > > Charleston: 5:15 AM Departure from Kanawha Mall, McCorkle Ave., Kanawha City; please arrive by 5 AM > > Weston: 7 AM Departure from the Market Place Mall/Shopping Center; get there by 6:45 AM > > Clarksburg: 8 AM Departure from the Meadowbrook Mall; get there by 7:45 AM > > Morgantown: 9 AM Departure from the Morgantown Mall; get there by 8:45 AM > > Bus will depart Pittsburgh at approximately 6 PM for return trip. > > Whether you’re going to Pittsburgh or not, please tell the EPA to retain the good parts of the proposal, such as promoting efficiency and renewable energy, drop the dirty fuels support, and put some real teeth in the rules. EPA has already heard from nearly 300,000 people. Please comment online. Written comments are due by October 16. > > Come to Pittsburgh. > > It doesn’t matter where you live, global warming impacts you. And it certainly matters what we do about it as a nation. > > Thanks. > > > Chuck Wyrostok > Outreach Organizer > Sierra Club, WV Chapter > T: 877 252 0257 > E. outreach(a)marcellus-wv.com > www.marcellus-wv.com > > Water is Life...Keep It Clean > > Whenever there is a huge spill of solar energy, it's just called a nice day..... >

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Rodney Bartgis resigns from Nature Conservancy
by Duane330＠aol.com 28 Jul '14

28 Jul '14

Nature Conservancy’s W.Va. director resigns Jul. 21, 2014 @ 09:37 AM _The Associated Press_ (http://www.herald-dispatch.com/archive/x298797465/The-Associated-Press) CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The longtime director of the Nature Conservancy’ s West Virginia chapter has resigned. Rodney Bartgis had led the state chapter for 12 years. He left his position on Friday. The 54-year-old Bartgis tells The Charleston Gazette that the Nature Conservancy’s West Virginia chapter recently completed two multimillion-dollar conservation projects. He says it’s a good time for him to step back and think about what he wants to do for the rest of his career. The recent projects are the acquisition of a segment of the Cheat Canyon and the acquisition of property in Randolph County.

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Fwd: Rodney Bartgis retiring from The Nature Conservancy
by Duane 08 Jul '14

08 Jul '14

> From: Rodney Bartgis <rbartgis(a)TNC.ORG> > Date: July 8, 2014 4:54:16 PM EDT > To: <Duane330(a)aol.com>, >roddj(a)hotmail.com>, <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>, <achester(a)hsc.wvu.edu> > Cc: Beth Wheatley <ewheatley(a)TNC.ORG> > Subject: Transition > > After working so closely with all of you on the Cheat Canyon project, I wanted to let you all know that after more than 20 years with The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia (which is so hard for me to believe!) and 12 as state director, I am stepping down July 18th. I will stay involved in land conservation in WV as the (volunteer) chair of the Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, the state program that helped fund Cheat Canyon. I am going to take time to step back and reflect upon what I want to do next in my career – perhaps take on another role with TNC or maybe head in a different conservation direction. Regardless, I have had a most rewarding career and a wonderful journey so far. Completing the protection of Cheat Canyon has been a huge part of that and I want to thank all of you for what you have done to help save the canyon. > > While my office phone and email will change, my cell (below) will stay the same. West Virginia Nature Conservancy has a terrific staff and its future is in great hands. Should you have any Conservancy questions, please feel free to reach out to Beth Wheatley (copied) and always feel free to reach out to me directly whenever! Warmest regards, Rodney > Please consider the environment before printing this email > Rodney Bartgis > Director > > rbartgis(a)tnc.org > (304) 637-0160 Ext. 103 (Phone) > (304) 704-6455 cell > nature.org > > The Nature Conservancy > West Virginia Field Office > 194 Airport Road > Elkins, WV 26241 > > > > >

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Industrial park on Cheat Lake serves oil and gas industry
by Duane330＠aol.com 24 May '14

24 May '14

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014 WV-DEP files case against area developer DAVID BEARD TheDPost.com MORGANTOWN — The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is asking Monongalia County Circuit Court to assess $25,000 per day penalties against a Morgantown developer for alleged environmental violations at a Cheat Lake-area industrial park. DEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management filed the “complaint for enforcement” Thursday, May 22. It issued 12 notices of violation (NOVs) from Sept. 16, 2010, through May 9, 2013, to defendant LPG Land & Development Corp., based on Fairchance Road (Monongalia County 857). Paul Panson is LPG’s president. The 18-acre industrial park is sited between Fairchance and the Mon-Fayette Expressway, just north of the Interstate 68 and Mon-Fayette interchange. An LPG representative said Thursday that management hadn’t seen the complaint yet and couldn’t comment.

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Cheat River at Parsons, WV
by Duane 15 May '14

15 May '14

Over five (5) inches of rain has fallen in five days. More on the way. The Lake Lynn Dam should be busy making power and passing water. See also: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?03069500 Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Cheat Canyon deal more than a conservation win
by Duane 30 Apr '14

30 Apr '14

The State Journal (opinion): Cheat Canyon deal more than a conservation win Posted: Apr 25, 2014 10:32 AM EST Updated: Apr 25, 2014 10:38 AM EST Sen. Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, is a member of The Nature Conservancy — West Virginia Board of Directors. He is managing member and broker of West Virginia Commercial LLC. He has been involved in commercial and investment real estate for more than 30 years, and he also is general partner of McCabe Land Co. LP. He has served in the West Virginia Senate since 1998, and is a special project consultant to The State Journal. The recent announcement in the newspapers across West Virginia that seven miles of the Cheat River Canyon had been acquired by conservation groups, all of which would be managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, made headlines. The sheer magnitude of the acquisition is hard to imagine in today’s age. The common mindset is that conservation groups, environmental organizations, state and federal agencies and large private land owners must somehow fight over everything and default to win-lose scenarios. This Cheat Canyon acquisition illustrates that combativeness does not have to be the primary approach taken in solving key issues facing West Virginia. With the private sector working in earnest along with key nonprofits and appropriate state and federal agencies, all with a common goal, one of the state’s most iconic natural areas has been preserved for future generations. An editorial from The Intelligencer of Wheeling recently observed, “The (Nature) Conservancy is successful in large measure because of a philosophy of working with landowners, not treating them as adversaries.” This point should not be underestimated. This is exactly how the Cheat Canyon was able to be preserved. The owner, The Forestland Group LLC, was able to negotiate in private and work through myriad details to accomplish both its business objectives and its community obligation to help preserve this pristine and irreplaceable natural wonder. The Conservation Fund, along with The Nature Conservancy, did much of the heavy lifting in identifying financial resources, negotiating through the concerns of the state and federal agencies, clarifying land title issues and putting in place the necessary management and oversight of the wildlife management area and nature preserve. The details of this highly complex transaction do not need to be covered here as the newspaper reporters from the major state newspapers did a fine job with the specifics. What is important is seeing how, with the right perspective, the ability to negotiate in strictest confidence, the maintenance of trust between the parties, and the reliance on experts in the necessary areas of expertise can accomplish what many might believe are unattainable goals. This, of course, needs to be accompanied by the financial wherewithal to fund the project. The cobbling together of multiple funding sources was no small part of the equation. Saving the threatened threetooth snail, which has as its only habitat the Cheat River, allowed for funding to come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. West Virginia’s relatively new Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund played an important role as well as West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection funding. Of major significance was $3 million in private funding from the estate of Charlotte Rude which was provided through The Nature Conservancy. The Sunday Gazette-Mail of Charleston headlined the transaction as the “New River Gorge of Northern West Virginia.” It is an apt description signifying the importance of this accomplishment. When these seven miles of the Cheat River are joined with the Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area and Coopers Rock State Park, the DNR will provide wildlife management for most of the length of the Cheat River Canyon. This is every bit as significant as the careful management of the New River Gorge. If West Virginia is forever to be “wild and wonderful,” these areas must be preserved. A recent editorial from The Dominion Post of Morgantown stated “the transfer of this property overlooking the Cheat River to the DNR will truly benefit the public. Not to mention the flora and fauna that inhabit these 3,800 acres.” The significance of this most important transaction is not just what was accomplished, it was how it was accomplished. We must find ways to take our disparate interests and work together, expand the trust equation within the working groups and find ways to enlarge our financial base so working capital is more readily available for those projects which are truly important to the long term viability our state. We have much to be proud of with the sale and purchase of the 3,800 acres in the Cheat River Canyon. Thank you for a job well done to The Forestland Group, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the DNR and all the other interested parties that made this happen. You have set an example we can follow for years to come. Thank you for showing us how to create a future in which our children can be proud. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOTE: In my opinion, there is a continuing need for public concern regarding the policies and practices of the WV Division of Natural Resources in the Cheat Canyon, including the Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area and the Coopers Rock State Forest. See the recent petition on Change.org: "WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin: Reclaim the Trail System at Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area." View the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/wv-governor-earl-ray-tomblin-reclaim-the-tr… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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OOps ...... FOC J-Burg Project web-site
by Duane 17 Apr '14

17 Apr '14

OOps! I left something out! Here's the link to the FOC's J-Burg donate page that I left it out of the first email: http://www.cheat.org/recreation/river-access/jenkinsburg-river-access/jenki… You can also send checks to: Friends of the Cheat, Jenkinsburg Project, 119 S. Price Street, Suite 206 Kingwood, WV 26537 Or you can call them: 304-329-3621 Thanks! See you all May 3rd at the 20th Annual Cheat Festival! Charlie Walbridge, Preston County. Stoned in the Cheat Canyon? Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Access Road in Cheat Canyon
by Duane330＠aol.com 16 Apr '14

16 Apr '14

Help FOC Improve the Jenkinsburg Access Road to the Cheat and Big Sandy! Everyone who paddles the Cheat Canyon and Lower Big Sandy Creek knows about the poor condition of the Jenkinsburg Access Road. This road has continued to deteriorate each year causing real problems for paddlers and outfitters running shuttle. Large potholes, muddy ruts, washouts, clogged culverts, steep drop-offs and high rocks are hard on vehicles, especially the smaller cars most of us are driving. Although Bull Run Road is a county road and should be maintained by the state, recent budget cuts combined with severe winter weather damage to primary roads make it unlikely that hard-pressed highway crews will give it much attention. Friends of the Cheat has received permission from the Highway Department to repair the road ourselves. They offered to contribute 100 tons of stone fill if Friends of the Cheat pays for the labor. Kevin Ryan, Friends of the Cheat’s project manager, completed a GIS inventory of road conditions and lined up a contractor to do the work well before Cheat Festival Weekend. We will use a jackhammer to knock down the most troublesome rocks and fill in the worst ruts with stone. The road will still be rough, but more easily passable by ordinary vehicles. Friends of the Cheat borrowed $5,000 so we could get this work done fast. We’re depending on you pay off this debt and to send a message to the State of West Virginia that the river and road are valued by the paddling public. Your donations will matter when we approach the Governor and Legislature to appropriate funding for more extensive improvements. Anyone who donates $100 or more will get a FREE friends of the Cheat membership or have their current membership extended one year. Please forward this to any interested friends. Thanks, everyone!! Charlie Walbridge Friends of the Cheat Road Fund 119 S Price St, Kingwood, WV 26537 (304) 329-3621

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Endless opportunities for education, fun, excitement - Opinion - The Daily Athenaeum
by Duane 15 Apr '14

15 Apr '14

Boaters rescued from Cheat River Canyon A group of boaters were rescued from Cheat Canyon after spending a night on the banks of the Cheat River. Officials retrieved the five boaters Monday morning. Officials say four people were in a raft and one in a kayak Sunday afternoon when they went through a stretch of class 5 rapids known as the Coliseum. The group had been having issues with their raft before the rapids and decided it was best to get off the river and paddled to shore. The group stopped on a stretch of river between Masontown and Albright and built a fire along the banks. One of the boaters climbed up the canyon far enough to get a cell phone signal and call 911. Officials got the call around 8:10 Sunday evening but it was already getting too dark to attempt a vertical rescue. The boaters spent the night on the river bank and firefighters repelled down the canyon Monday morning and found the stranded group. One man was treated for an injured wrist and a woman was treated for hypothermia. All five were co-workers and EMT's and paramedics. See also: http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/article_b75e5a96-c463-11e3-a377-001a4bcf… >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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