Who is lying about the Blackwater Canyon?

Who said "We have no plans for the Blackwater Canyon." This was the pronouncement by Allegheny Wood Products when they bought the Canyon last year. No, don't worry. We have no plans for the Canyon. We'll take our sweet time, evaluating the resources just purchased in a multi_million dollar deal. Shortly after this, Allegheny Wood announced plans to begin logging the Canyon.

Who said "We didn't own the Canyon, and we didn't sell it to anybody." This was Allegheny Power, the owner of the Canyon until they sold it in a two_step deal that left the Canyon in the hands of Allegheny Wood Products. Allegheny Power claims one of their subsidiaries sold it, and the sale can't be regulated.

Who said "We have no plans or other development in the Blackwater Canyon" as they demanded electric service from Blackwater Falls State Park into the Canyon? And as they attempted to have the Park supply water service into the property? This was Allegheny Wood Products, manipulating to obtain electric and water connections to the Canyon property. For what? Surely these are not the hallmarks of a timber operation! But they have no other plans?

Who said "Our subsidiaries are independent operating companies." This was Allegheny Power, referring to paper subsidiary corporations with no assets, no employees, no payroll, and producing no product. And this was after years of successful effort to unite all operations into Allegheny Power control and under their name.

Who said "I only want to cut a few trees!" This was John Crites, owner of Allegheny Wood Products, addressing the Methodist Convention last winter - those mad Methodists who the Governor later accused of responsibility for the bomb threat at the Capitol. As Crites spoke load after load of trees were hauled out of the lower Canyon and the haul roads were pushed further up the Canyon.

Who said "You can go there and not see any trace of the logging." This was Allegheny Wood Products. This is contradicted by newspaper photographs, videos, and first_hand reports - despite a carefully contrived tour for legislators, during the same interim meetings in Morgantown where they were also shown a phony coal mining blast.

Who said "We have no jurisdiction. They can sell the Blackwater Canyon to anyone, for any purpose." This was the West Virginia Public Service Commission, shirking its responsibility to regulate sales of real estate by regulated public utilities.

Who said "The Canyon is private property, so they can do whatever they want with it." This was extremist anti-environment special interest groups, as if any person or corporation has a free hand to do "whatever they want" regardless of the rest of society.

Who said "I represent the people of Tucker County" as she refused to acknowledge survey and polling data showing that the people of Tucker County want Blackwater Canyon protected? This was Senator Sarah Minear. Her rejoinder: she represents the "real people" of Tucker County.

Who said "We'll take care of the endangered species in the Canyon property." This was Allegheny Wood Products as they relentlessly expanded logging operations in endangered species habitat and refused access to wildlife agencies to assess threats.

There are enough lies to go around, it would seem!

The truth is, for over a century people used and enjoyed the Blackwater Canyon - for hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, and much much more. We used it as if it were public property. In fact, almost everybody thought it WAS public property. Even Blackwater Falls State Park used Lindy Point and other Canyon spots in its recreation program, assuming all along that it was part of the Monongahela National Forest.

The truth is, recreationists by the thousands flock to the Canyon. The truth is, the unrivaled, stunning scenic vista from Lindy Point has become a veritable icon of the best of West Virginia's natural beauty, featured regularly in state tourism promotions.

The truth is, Blackwater Canyon and the recreation industry it is a pivotal part of are the wave of the future for the Tucker County economy. Yet the premier Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail falls into disrepair and popular National Forest hiking, biking, and ski trails are closed.

The truth is, endangered animal species are known to occupy the Blackwater Canyon in the areas where logging is going on or planned. Yet the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not been able to survey the area or make plans for the preservation of these wildlife populations.

The truth is, Allegheny Wood Products may be cutting someone else's trees in the Blackwater Canyon. The sale of the Canyon is contested, presently being decided by the West Virginia Supreme Court. If you were Allegheny Power, would you be happy to find out somebody else had logged your land? Allegheny Wood Products could run into a buzz-saw on this one.

Enough said. There are plenty of people who find the truth to be irrelevant if it doesn't serve their interests.

The simple truth is the same now as it has been for past decades. Blackwater Canyon is too valuable to us all to be ruined. We need to protect it, for the present and for the future. How can this be done? There are a number of ways. The most logical would be for it to become part of the Monongahela National Forest which nearly surrounds it. Other possibilities might include acquisition for the state or national parks.

But in any case, there's too much to lose there - it really IS "a West Virginia crown jewel."