Friends of Blackwater Canyon
March 2005 501 Elizabeth St.reet Room 3, Charleston, WV 25311 • 304-345-7663 • www.saveblackwater.org • [email protected] Crocus Blooms: West Virginia Legislature To Unsound Claims Refuted Consider National Park Resolution New Report Shows Economic Benefits of National Park Every year, like clockwork, we encounter Region — including the early signs of Spring – the tiny, colorful the Blackwater Canyon blossoms of crocuses, the delicate catkins of area! SenateSenateSenate If you have been around Tucker the hazel nut, and the exotic song of the ConcurrentConcurrentConcurrent County lately, you may have seen claims woodcocks Resolution 38 is also in print that the public lands in the region This year, there’s another “sign of Spring” co-sponsored by are holding back economic development — the West Senators McCabe, and a good local economy. These claims Virginia Bowman, Hunter, also charge that looking to public-land- Legislature, which Unger, Bailey, White, based tourism, recreation, and retirement opened its 2005 and Foster. and second-home industries for local taxes session in early Here is some of the great language and jobs is unwise and unsound. February. from the resolution: What’s the story on these accusations? For lovers of WHEREAS, the High Allegheny Region Are these claims grounded in fact? Are the Blackwater of the State of West Virginia, comprising they honest mistakes? Or are they Canyon, 2005’s portions of the Monongahela National misleading propaganda, put out by anti- Senator John Yoder West Virginia Forest, Blackwater Falls State Park, Seneca public lands extremists on behalf of big Legislative session Rocks, portions of Canaan Valley, the companies who want to keep Tucker includes one very Blackwater Canyon area, and the environs, County mired in an extractive-industry positive development — is an exceptional and important natural, past? a resolution authored by cultural, economic, and recreational The answers to these important Senator John Yoder of resource in the State; and questions can be found in a new report the Eastern Panhandle, WHEREAS, the High Allegheny Region issued by Friends of Blackwater, “The calling for a study of a of West Virginia is a highly significant Economic Impact of the Proposed High new National Park for resource in West Virginia, and has Allegheny National Park in West Virginia.” the High Allegheny substantial exceptional natural areas and The Report includes citations to a number Senator Brooks McCabe habitats, included substantial areas of of economic studies, and lots of statistics. protected public land that are under a The Report shows that a new National In This Issue: diversity of management, and these Park in the High Allegheny Region will Director’s Update 2 important areas and lands are and will be a Canyon Kids Club 2 actually bolster county coffers and long-term asset to the people of the nation Bald Eagles Spotted 2 strengthen the local economy — by FOB Board Highlight Larry Groce 3 and the State of West Virginia... Resolved by providing more money from federal The Last Forest Project 3 the Legislature of West Virginia: That the landholders, creating new jobs for local Clean Potomac Begins at North Fork 4 Joint Committee on Government and residents, helping local tourism-related Williams and Clifford Shine Again 4 Finance is hereby requested to study the businesses, and increasing property values Cheat Canyon Protection Needed 5 desirability and feasibility of a High in existing private lands. Abandoned Mine Land Funds at Risk 5 Allegheny National Park;... In short, High Allegheny National Park Bat Mortality and Wind Power 5 will not only solidify the 2004 Membership 6,7 Urgent - Act Now! area’s reputation as the Photo Contest 8 If you are a West Virginia resident, help get this most beautiful region in Ski Club Finds Snow in Blackwater 9 resolution passed by calling your Senator at 357-7800 or the Mid-Atlantic, but will In Memory 10 877-565-3447 to tell them you support Senate Concurrent In Honor of Paul Teter 10 make it an economically Resolution 38 to study a new High Allegheny National Park. John Smith’s Signs of Spring 11 prosperous one as well. Congratulations, Judy 11 All of us who love Blackwater (including non-West You can have a copy of Welcome Jennifer Huighes 11 Virginia residents) should call Senator John Yoder (at the the Report by e-mailing In Honor of Helaine Rotgin 11 above number) and leave a thank-you message! He’s our Friends of Blackwater at Amelia’s Restaurant at Windwood 12 hero! Go to our website for the full text of Senate Resolution [email protected], In-kind Contributors 12 38 and list of sponsoring Senators. www.saveblackwater.org or call 1-877-WVA-LAND. Director’s Update Great News for Bird Watchers: Bald Eagles igns of Spring Spotted at Canaan all around us give us hope for change Keeping track of In February, Ken, Amy, Erin and Julie S in the new year. We hope for a rebirth of all these projects Dzaak got the surprise of their life on their love for the land. We hope for and agencies, and drive back home after a day of hiking. stewardship and the protection of pressuring officials to keep the Blackwater On Camp 70 Road toward Davis at “the commons” and God’s Canyon from being degraded, is a tall around 3:00 p.m., perched in a tree were Creation. It’s often hard to keep order. We need your help to get the work two adult and two juvenile bald eagles! our spirits up — to challenge the done. Signs of Spring give us renewed With excellent views for about 15 minutes, forces of unrestrained greed and hope, and we know that it is possible to the Dzaaks saw the juveniles in what was commercialism. But your wonderful prevail. We are honored by your support. probably their first year of flight soaring notes and letters inspire us anew just above their heads. The Dzaaks every day. It’s good to be part referred to this event as “A definite WOW of a network of hope and moment!” Special thanks to Cynthia Ellis love. Please keep writing and for passing this information on. e-mailing us. Our Spring Newsletter has some exciting news: