New River Gorge National River
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Foundation Plan for New River Gorge National River West Virginia 2011 Cover Photo: Sandstone Falls (NPS/Gary Hartley) Title Page Front Photo: New River (NPS/Gary Hartley) Title Page Back Photo: New River (NPS/Gary Hartley) Foundation Plan for NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER West Virginia 2011 Contents 1.0 The Park’s Origin and Enabling Legislation ...................................................................................1 2.0 Special Park Designations .............................................................................................................3 3.0 Park Purpose .................................................................................................................................5 4.0 Park Significance ...........................................................................................................................6 5.0 Fundamental and Other Important Resources and Values.............................................................7 6.0 Interpretive Themes .....................................................................................................................13 7.0 Analysis of Fundamental and Other Important Resources and Values ........................................15 Geologic Geologic Features and Processes ........................................................................................15 Hydrologic Riverine Hydrologic Features and Processes .......................................................................17 Aquatic Ecosystem ..............................................................................................................19 Riparian Zone .....................................................................................................................21 Other Aquatic/Wetland Resources ......................................................................................23 Clean Water .......................................................................................................................25 Ecological Unfragmented Forest ..........................................................................................................27 Habitat Mosaic/Plant Communities ....................................................................................29 Breeding Bird Populations ..................................................................................................32 Clean Air .............................................................................................................................33 Cultural Historic Coal Industry Resources .........................................................................................34 Historic Railroading Industry Resources .............................................................................36 Historic Subsistence Farming Resources .............................................................................38 Places with Traditional Associations ...................................................................................40 Knowledge and Cultural Values ..........................................................................................41 Historic and Archeological Resources .................................................................................42 Scenic Panoramic Views of Valleys and the New River Gorge ........................................................43 Cultural Landscapes ............................................................................................................44 Natural Visibility .................................................................................................................46 Visitor Opportunities Experience and Enjoyment Visitors Derive from Recreational Activities ..............................47 Experience of a Tranquil Setting ..........................................................................................49 8.0 Legislative, Administrative, and Special Mandates Affecting Park Management .........................50 Legislative Mandates ..........................................................................................................50 Summary of Park Legislation ..............................................................................................55 Summary of Other Administrative and Special Mandates ...................................................56 APPENDICES APPENDIX A: New River Gorge Enabling Legislation and Other Relevant Legislation ......A-1 APPENDIX B: Applicable Federal and State of West Virginia Laws and Regulations and National Park Service Policies ........................................................................................... B-1 Peregrin Falcon (Photo: NPS/Gary Hartley) 1 New River Gorge National River FOUNDATION PLAN The Foundation Plan is the first step in the National Park Service planning framework and in de- veloping a park’s general management plan. It concentrates on why a park was established and describes the park’s purpose and significance. The Foundation Plan identifies the park resources and values that are “fundamental” to achieving the park’s purpose and significance, as well as the legal and policy requirements that mandate a park’s basic management responsibilities. The fol- lowing Foundation Plan for New River Gorge National River was developed by an interdisciplinary planning team and with extensive public involvement. 1.0 THE PARK’S ORIGIN AND ENABLING LEGISLATION New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 as a unit of the national park system following a 20-year grassroots effort organized by local community leaders. The earliest discus- sion regarding creation of a park to protect the New River and its gorge began in the late 1950s. Some residents of communities near the park believed that a national park designation for the area was needed to protect its resources and at the same time would enhance the area’s tourism appeal with potentially significant economic benefits to southernWest Virginia. While at that time there was growing local support of a new national park in the region, the real effort to pro- tect the New River began in 1962 as a result of a major conservation effort upstream of the gorge in Virginia and North Carolina. The controversy focused on a series of proposed pump storage dams on the river. Many West Virginians were strongly opposed to the proposed dams because they would have significantly altered river flows downstream. Many also aredfe the upstream dams would set a precedent supporting future proposals for similar dams in the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia. These concerns led to the formation of the West Virginia Chapter of the National Coalition to Save the New River and to creation of the New River Gorge National Park Committee in 1974. These groups were subsequently instrumental in promoting public support for the 1976 addition of the New River in North Carolina to the National Wild and Scenic River System. This designation brought an end to the proposals for energy development projects on the river upstream of West Virginia. The conservation effort then turned to the West Virginia section of the New River. A number of key community leaders emerged from the existing river conservation groups. Working together for another two years they built the support needed for the park in the local communities along the river leading ultimately to creation of New River Gorge National River. 2 New River Gorge National River Foundation Plan Paddlers President Jimmy Carter signed legislation establishing New River Gorge National River on Slower stretches of water on the upper and November 10, 1978 (Public Law 95-625) (see Appendix A). As stated in the legislation the park middle New River provide opportunities to experience solitude and natural quiet. was established as a unit of the national park system: (Photo: NPS/Gary Hartley) “for the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and his- toric values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations” Ten years later the West Virginia National Interest River Conservation Act of 1987 included a number of additional findings pertaining to New River Gorge National River (see Appendix A). The purpose of the act was: “to provide for protection and enhancement of the natural, scenic, cultural, and rec- reational values on certain free-flowing segments of the New, Gauley, Meadow, and Bluestone Rivers in the state of West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations” Important specific provisions of the two laws and others adopted since 1978 are highlighted below in Section 8.0 of the Foundation for Planning and Management. Special Park Designations 3 2.0 SPECIAL PARK DESIGNATIONS Several federal and state natural resource management programs have designated the New River and its associated wildlife and habitat areas as areas of special management interest. These des- ignations generally require elevated review of federal and state actions that have the potential to impact significant river-related resources and values. They also generally mandate avoidance or minimization of impacts on special resources. Special Park Designations Designation Projects Outstandingly The New River from Bluestone Dam to Gauley Bridge is listed Remarkable Values on the Nationwide Rivers Inventory (NRI)