In June of 2019, Friends of Blackwater, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy filed objections to a large-scale timbering proposal for 171,579 acres on the Monongahela National Forest located near White Sulfur Springs– called the “Panther Ridge Habitat Enhancement Project.” On November 21, 2019, the Forest Service filed their response, […]
Congratulations to Joe Dumire for receiving the Friends of Blackwater Volunteer of the Year award! Joe has been a tremendous help with the heritage preservation work that FOB does in Tucker County. A Thomas resident, Joe knows the ins and outs of this town’s local history and worked tirelessly to help FOB curate and install […]
Pinnacle Rock State Park is located in Mercer County at the very southern tip of West Virginia. The park was established in 1938 when 26 acres of land were bought for the public interest by the Conservation Commission. Additional land has been purchased and added to the state park over the past decades with the […]
Friends of Blackwater has officially submitted comments to the West Virginia Department of Highways, concerning the proposed Corridor H route from Davis to Parsons, WV. We have objected to the route that runs in between Davis and Thomas for a number of reasons: -Virginia Big Eared bats are an endangered bat species have been found […]
We love our outdoor spaces and know how important they are! Not only are they a source of vast natural beauty and wonder, but they’re also a huge economic driver for our state. In 2017 alone, West Virginia’s 8 national park units added nearly $84 million to the state’s economy! Sadly, though, our parks are […]
Walk along the main street in Thomas, WV and you will no doubt be distracted by the unique art that decorates the windows of the many galleries that call Front Street home. If you pause in front of Bloom (formerly Lamplight), artist Rosalie Haizlett’s illustrated map of Blackwater Falls State Park might draw you in, […]
On October 2nd, S.569 (the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act) passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This bill would provide permanent re-authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a key program which has provided funds to parks, forests, and public lands throughout […]
A project partnership, between the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia University, and local stakeholders investigated the role of tourism in West Virginia. Several case studies were used to represent different phases of tourism development. The New River Gorge has a well-developed trail system and a supportive alliance of stakeholder groups, and have already seen economic […]
A new report issued by the Democratic members of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee envisions public lands and tourism as an engine for revitalizing rural America. Rural areas have lagged behind in recovering from the great recession, and rural residents have lower incomes, on average, than their urban counterparts. These challenges are also opportunities however […]
Outdoor recreation is big business, and it depends on public lands. Every year, over 7 million people visit West Virginia’s State Parks and State Forests, adding between $160 million and $190 million in fresh revenue to local economies. Outside of the 400 full time and 1000 seasonal employees that work directly for State Parks and […]
