Dear Congressman Mollohan :

In late July 1968, my maternal grandfather, Clayton Watring, died in Blackwater Canyon, West Virginia, when the track car in which he was riding jumped off the Western Maryland track and crashed several hundred feet into the canyon. I was 14 at the time, and did not want to go with my father to the site of the accident. But I always wondered about it.

Last autumn, while enjoying our annual vacation to Tucker County, my wife and I walked the abandoned railroad bed to the point in the canyon where my grandfather died. I found growing there a beautiful hardwood tree, in full autumn glory. I called it "Clayton’s Tree."

That hike along the canyon was one of the most rewarding and moving walks of my life. At that tree and in that canyon, I connected with my grandfather and his mountain heritage. And despite the sorrow of the event that brought me there, I found great comfort in the majestic surroundings. I left the canyon making plans to visit it again on our next visit and walk an even longer section.

But later that afternoon, when we stopped at a restaurant in Davis for dinner, I learned that this beloved, majestic canyon is under attack from bulldozers and chain saws. I found it unbelievable that such a national treasure had not only been taken away from the people, but was being destroyed by logging interests. I had just read Ronald Lewis’ book Transforming the Appalachian Countryside (University of North Carolina Press), and could not believe that the same kind of disregard shown for the virgin forest 90 years ago was once again being played out in this canyon, one of the eastern United States’ most scenic spots.

West Virginia is a very special state to me. My parents grew up there and I spent the best days of my childhood there. For the past 25 years, my wife and I have vacationed in West Virginia every year. We spend one week a year in Tucker County--it is the only vacation we take, but we return time and time again to this great area. I live for that week in October and the wonderful scenery we enjoy while we are there. We enjoy hiking these woods, watching the wildlife and photographing the incomparable beauty found there.

I and the thousands of others for whom Blackwater Canyon hold special memories and meanings need your help. Please preserve this canyon for future generations, so that one day I can take my grandson to "Clayton’s Tree," so he, like the generations before him, can enjoy the glory of a hardwood forest on an autumn day. This canyon is a success story for nature; please stop the logging, otherwise another 80 years will pass before it will appear as it did on that magnificent autumn day last October.

Please work with Congress to establish the Blackwater Cany9on National Park. Please keep West Virginia wild, wonderful and free for all to enjoy.

May God bless you in your efforts to preserve his magnificent creation.

Carl E. & Barbara J. Feather

Editor:

Many thanks to you and the many writers responsible for the Highlands Voice publication. It is a very excellent work with a very high quality of writing – I can hardly put it down! As a member of WVHC, I wish I had the time to be personally involved with WVHC’s work – perhaps when I retire and move to WV! Thanks again for your work and please pass along my thanks to the many "Voice" contributors for a truly excellent job. Your work really is making a difference for WV.

Bill Wegener March 21

Carnegie, PA

Dear Mr. Shoenfield:

I wish to call to your attention the direct violation of federal law occurring on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The Fernow Experimental Forest located in Tucker County, WV is a separate administrative unit of the U.S. Forest Service, and is not a part of the Monongahela National Forest. The Fernow Forest employs a full time logging crew, and is actively engaged in harvesting timber in violation of existing federal law. The Fernow Forest under the guise of research is harvesting timber and making no efforts toward reseeding or replanting the harvested areas.

Specifically, the Fernow Experimental Forest is violating the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) by failing to provide the environmental assessments required by that law before undertaking research projects that require clearcuts and other timber harvests. The Monongahela National Forest is required to meet NEPA requirements.

I urge your organization to challenge the Fernow Experimental Forest in Federal District Court and stop this ongoing illegal logging. As the Fernow Experimental Forest is located adjacent to Blackwater Canyon, I'm sending a copy of this letter to Linda Cooper (Blackwater Canyon Committee Chairperson) and a copy to the Public Lands Management Committee Chairperson, Sayre Rodman. Because of my current employment I must remain anonymous.

Sincerely,

Editor:

I enjoyed the analysis in the March Voice of the standstill agreement with Allegheny Wood Products over logging in Blackwater Canyon. I hope you'll let me add a couple of clarifications and comments.

First, to set the record straight: We did not agree to lay off on our Endangered Species Act lawsuit if AWP is having discussions with the Fish and Wildlife Service (the agency responsible for administering the Act). Rather, we agreed to hold off as long as logging and other development are stopped. When and if AWP gives us the required 60 day notice of any plans to resume logging, the endangered species lawsuit comes off the shelf.

One point on which we concur: Neither the Conservancy nor other groups are prevented from dealing with AWP in their own way. If someone finds a tougher approach that might work, we welcome them to come forward and pursue it.

Let me add that we intend to be vigilant in our defense of Blackwater Canyon. For example, the same day the ink was drying on the agreement, we notified AWP of our intent to sue them over proposed logging on other small parcels of land in the lower canyon.

The Conservancy and its members have been staunch defenders of the Blackwater Canyon, in a protracted battle that shows no sign of ending soon. As we all work together toward the common goal of protecting the Canyon and seeing it become the public treasure it deserves to be, I look forward to the day we can brag to our grandchildren about the beautiful Blackwater Canyon that they will know, love, and enjoy. I firmly believe that day is coming.

Sincerely,

Jim Sconyers April 2

WV Sierra Club Blackwater Canyon Campaign

Editor:

I’m sending copies of my original poems and hope they convey my feelings concerning Blackwater Canyon Park. I’m a native of the area. I know it well – from the plains – Dolly Sods, and the mountain sides to black bear, deer, grouse, whip-poor-wills, to timber rattlers and that evil copperhead snake

The area has been the botanists paradise. Dr. Earl Core took us on a field trip from Davis to Petersburg one year. I saw and heard many compliments concerning fauna and flora.

Please do all you can to save it for us and future generations.

Sincerely,

Donna E. Herron March 23