CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and
Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) penned a joint op-ed for the Beckley Register-Herald highlighting the passage of their bill to
redesignate the New River Gorge a National Park and Preserve. The bill passed
as part of the year-end omnibus package that passed Monday night.
“With proximity to major
metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Richmond, Charlotte,
and other major cities, the New River Gorge has the potential to attract new
tourists and thrill seekers to the Gorge and the region as a whole. The
potential economic impact for surrounding communities and the entire state are
boundless. Those adventure lovers need West Virginia stores to buy their gear,
they need West Virginia restaurants to eat at, West Virginia lodges to sleep
at, and they need West Virginia guides to help them navigate the Gorge.
All of these things put money in the hands of hardworking
West Virginians and back into our state’s economy,” the senators wrote.
The full op-ed can be read here
or below:
Sharing Almost Heaven with the
World
By U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin
Beckley Register-Herald
December 23, 2020
First designated as a National River
in 1978, the New River Gorge is composed of approximately 72,000 acres of land
along 53 miles of one of the world’s oldest rivers – the New River – stretching
from Bluestone Dam to Hawk’s Nest Lake. More importantly, it is home to hiking
trails, globally-renowned rock climbing formations, world-class whitewater
rafting, and remarkable hunting and fishing opportunities. Not to mention, the
third tallest bridge in the United States – an iconic West Virginia image.
Despite the endless outdoor
recreation opportunities, the New River Gorge lacks the national recognition
held by many similar recreation areas. After years of ongoing discussions and
community involvement with a number of constituents, businesses, organizations,
and associations on this topic—everyone from sportsmen to economic development
authorities to local entrepreneurs—the New River Gorge is finally being
recognized as one of our country’s most beautiful places with its new
designation as a National Park and Preserve.
Throughout the entire process, we
made sure the voices of our fellow West Virginians were heard and groups that
would be impacted by this decision were meaningfully involved. This was very
important to us, which is why we held numerous meetings, phone calls, and town
halls.
This was truly a collaborative
effort and one that we are proud
of.
The New River Gorge National Park
will be composed of four areas, totaling approximately 7,021 acres, including
the Lower Gorge, Thurmond, Grandview, and Sandstone Falls.
West Virginia has proud hunting and
fishing traditions, and we were committed to ensuring that any final
legislation protect these activities for generations to come.
We succeeded in ensuring that 368
acres along the river in Grandview will be opened up for hunting for the first
time ever, and 301 acres of the Lower Gorge will be kept open for hunting at
the request of local sportsmen.
The approximately 65,165-acre of
National Preserve will carry over the current hunting and fishing regulations
that are observed in its current National River designation. In addition, the
National Park Service is authorized to purchase over 3,700 acres from willing
sellers of adjacent land for potential addition to the national preserve, allowing
for the expansion of additional hunting opportunities and providing for
improved public access into the preserve. While a very small percentage of the
Park and Preserve—less than 5 percent—will have hunting restrictions, we
succeeded in opening up hundreds of acres of fertile hunting ground.
But, it’s not just the sportsmen who
will benefit from this.
With proximity to major metropolitan
areas such as Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Richmond, Charlotte, and other
major cities, the New River Gorge has the potential to attract new tourists and
thrill seekers to the Gorge and the region as a whole.
The potential economic impact for
surrounding communities and the entire state are boundless. Those adventure
lovers need West Virginia stores to buy their gear, they need West Virginia
restaurants to eat at, West Virginia lodges to sleep at, and they need West
Virginia guides to help them navigate the Gorge.
All of these things put money in the
hands of hardworking West Virginians and back into our state’s
economy.
Another primary focus during this
process was making sure the National Park contained some of the most
sought-after views of the Gorge and highlighted the historical significance of
the area, which we were successful in doing.
Whether it’s the view from the Lower
Gorge of the breathtaking New River Gorge Bridge, the historical town of
Thurmond, the challenging and scenic trails in Grandview, or the waterfall
views and unique botanical ecosystems that exist within Sandstone Falls, this National
Park and Preserve showcases the best of West Virginia.
This designation will allow more
people to share in the wild and wonderful adventure West Virginians take so
much pride in. The New River National Gorge will be treasured and enjoyed for
generations to come.
As West Virginians, we all know that
the New River Gorge is perhaps the best-known landmark in West Virginia because
of its breathtaking natural beauty and elements of unique Appalachian history
and culture. Now, the rest of the nation—and world—can know it too.
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