Public Lands in West Virginia

Pocahontas County is Blessed

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.

Pocahontas County’s 942 square miles is the third largest county in the state. Approximately 2/3 of that is public land. This includes the largest portion of the Monongahela National Forest along with much of the Cranberry National Wilderness in our county. Two state forests (Cal Price and Seneca) and five state parks are in Pocahontas (Watoga, Droop, Beartown, Cass, and Greenbrier River Trail). All water flows out of Pocahontas County as headwaters of eight rivers (Gauley, Williams, Elk, Cheat, Greenbrier, Tygart Valley, Cherry, and Cranberry).

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