Pocahontas County and the surrounding region is among the most scenic, ecologically-rich, and unique places in the East. Our public lands showcase these treasures to the enjoyment of millions of residents and visitors. These lands, held in common by our citizenry and entrusted to the care of public officials, are an important way that our generation can bequeath a blessing to future generations. Such WV public lands include the Monongahela National Forest, small portions of the Jefferson and George Washington national forests, as well as state parks such as Watoga, and state forests such as Calvin Price and Seneca.

However, in recent years congressional legislation has been introduced that would turn over federal lands to states with the unspoken thought that fiscally-strapped states would sell off assets or even the land to private commercial interests. This is one reason why the Birthplace of Rivers National Monument was proposed, to build a deeper level of protection of our treasured landscapes.

Links for Public Lands Protection below:

West Virginians For Public Lands (under WV Rivers Coalition)

Birthplace of Rivers National Monument

Study of Economic Impact of Birthplace of Rivers National Monument

Governor Justice has recommended commercial logging in Watoga State Park and five other state parks. SB 270 has been introduced. See these links for further information and updates on the legislation to log, go to the following links.

List of West Virginia State Parks

Facebook Site for Save Our State Parks

Bird Species decline in logged mature forest

Doug Woods comments (retired WVDEP Researcher)

Comments of Dr Steve Selin, Professor
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism at WVU

Justice administration defending logging on WV METRO NEWS

Jim Waggy's Op Ed in Charleston Gazette-Mail

"In Defense of State Parks" article in Highlands Outdoors

Kent Leonhardt, WV Commissioner of Agriculture, speaks against logging in State Parks