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New River Gorge Now A National Park And Preserve

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The view from Grandview is one reason that New River Gorge is now called a national park and preserve/NPS

A crooked and rugged stretch of Appalachia, with a long-honored “national river” at its center that flows unusually from south to north, the New River Gorge will henceforth be known as a "national park and preserve." The rebranding clearly is a nod to national park economics, though that's not to say the New River isn't worthy of its new status.

Look within this 53-mile-long cleft through the continent's second-oldest mountain range and you'll discover not only a rampaging river that thrills white-water fanatics as they bounce through rapids named Surprise, Greyhound Bus, and Double Z, but renowned climbing routes, rich biodiversity, and a landscape that has attracted humans for 12,000 years.

Concerns that this setting would be inundated by a "New Lake" backed up behind a dam proposed for the river's upper gorge helped drive the addition of the New River Gorge to the National Park System in 1978. At the same time, its labeling as a "national river" was something of a continuing experiment for the National Park Service, as a good amount of private land resided within the New River Gorge National River borders; the Park Service's role initially was focused largely on the river itself, with surrounding protection gained via conservation easements and zoning, not land ownership.

A decade later, in 1988, with that experiment at New River having been declared a failure for not sufficiently protecting the gorge, Congress went on something of a spending spree to buy up land within the national river's boundaries. As that endeavor began, the Park Service owned just 16,000 of the roughly 62,000 acres designated for the national river.

“This year should be a turning point [for the park’s land protection policies]," New River spokesman Andy Kardos said at the time. "We’ve never had this much money before.”

Cal Hite, the park's superintendent from 2001 to 2007, recounted the Park Service's land rush for the New River Gorge National River's administrative history:

The biggest place where we altered from that [1983] General Management Plan was in land acquisition. We have acquired a lot more land than what that GMP called for … The present park boundary encompasses about 72,000 acres and we’ve acquired about 51,000 of it so far … The original GMP recommended little land acquisition and recommended reliance on local land use regulations … zoning and easements. Within five or less years it was clear that wasn’t going to work. Congress began to appropriate money to buy the land and protect it … well beyond the ceiling in the GMP.

The change in approach not only protected more acres and parts of the watershed under Park Service ownership, it played a role in boosting recreation in the park. While commercial river running had come to the New River Gorge in 1969, the concerted move towards land acquisition helped obtain river access points and pay for visitor facilities. The desire to boost visitation also led to more land-based initiatives at New River, such as the creation of trails for hiking and equestrian use, as well as the establishment of picnic areas.

Sandstone Falls is one of four areas within New River Gorge that carry the "national park" designation/Gary Hartley

Sandstone Falls is one of four areas within New River Gorge that carry the "national park" designation/Gary Hartley

All the while, hunting was embraced across most of the national river's landscape. That recreational outlet long had been a traditional activity for many West Virginians and visitors to the state, and there never was an intent to keep it out of the park.

The mixed forests and rugged terrain of the park provide habitats for a wide range of species sought by hunters: squirrel, deer, rabbit, grouse, woodchuck, raccoon, fox, turkey, and black bear, as well as coyote, which is classified as a nuisance. -- New River Gorge National River administrative history.

What largely had been missing from this natural bounty in a state filled with mountains and forests and streams, though, was an economy locals could rely on.

"There was nothing," Mary Pearson, who grew up in the coal mining camps of the New River Gorge, said in 2004 of the region before the national river was established. "We had nothing to draw people from out of state here. We were on the map, but now, it’s so different, we’re joining ... many other states that have these national parks and national rivers and national sites and memorials. Just like now, we feel like our town is part of this whole National Park System. It just makes you very, very proud, I think, to be part of it."

The Dunglen Hotel across from Thurmond was known for its luxury and entertainment, and contributed to the town becoming known as the “Dodge City of the East.”/C&O Historical Society

The Dunglen Hotel across the river from Thurmond was known for its luxury and entertainment, and contributed to the town becoming known as the “Dodge City of the East.”/C&O Historical Society

But West Virginia's politicians, no doubt gazing longingly at other states with their "national parks," soon began working on plans to transform the national river into a national park.

“The people that were behind the original legislation for it to become a national river were some of the movers and shakers behind it being redesignated to a national park," Eve West, the park's chief of interpretation and cultural resources, said during a call last week. "There is more of a public recognition of the term 'national park,' and that was part of the reason behind the movement on their part."

"There are 30-odd different designations (in the National Park System)," added Joy Oakes, the mid-Atlantic regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association. "And that leads to some confusion and a lack of awareness that a place is managed by the National Park Service. I mean, if you buttonhole people on the National Mall in Washington, a lot of them would have no idea that it's managed by the National Park Service as part of the National Park System.

"I think there are five national rivers in the system. And that doesn't immediately say to many people that 'This is really cool!'" Oakes continued. "Of course, once you get there you see how cool it is."

New River Gorge has become one of the more popular climbing areas in the East/NPS

New River Gorge has become one of the more popular climbing areas in the East/Gary Hartley

Commercial river-running companies have been riding the New River's rapids since 1969/Kevin Daley via NPS

To gain the attention of park lovers -- more than 327 million people visited the National Park System in 2019 -- West Virginia's congressional delegation pushed to introduce legisation to rebrand the park. A stumbling block, though, was that the proponents wanted hunting, which normally is banned in "national parks," to be permitted within a New River Gorge National Park. Opponents, however, feared that would open the door for hunting to be permitted in other "national parks."

The resulting compromise, which was enshrined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal 2021 that former President Trump signed in late December, was to designate New River as a "national park and preserve," since hunting is allowed in national preserves.

While "national park" gets top billing in the name change, "national preserve" defines most of the park's landscape. Out of the roughly 72,000 acres of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, only about 10 percent of those acres officially carries the "national park" brand. Those "national park" areas are dispersed across the landscape: There's the Thurmond historic district, the lower gorge where the white-water rafting and climbing are based, Grandview, from which you can gaze down upon the river 1,400 feet below, and Sandstone Falls, the largest waterfall on the river.

New River Gorge is rich in both wildlife and plants/Gary Hartley

The rebranding legislation opened up even more land for hunters, with 368 acres near Grandview that had been closed to hunting now open, and another 301 acres in the lower gorge remaining open at the request of hunters.

"That was something Sen. (Joe) Manchin and Sen. (Shelley Moore) Capito both wanted to make sure that they maintained," West said of the continued support of hunting. She did, however, acknowledge the draw of a "national park."

"We have 423 units of the National Park System, and each one of them is special in its own way, very much so. The public oftentimes sees that tagline of national park and recognizes it more," the chief said. "There has traditionally been an uptick in visitation in areas that are designated (national park). Whether that will happen here or not, who knows. We’ll just deal with whatever happens. From our perspective, this is a beautiful area, and if there is an uptick in visitation, it gives us the opportunity to share it with more people.”

West Virginia's congressional delegation clearly saw the value in the "national park" brand.

"Redesignation of the National River to a National Park and Preserve will shine a brighter light on West Virginia and all that it has to offer, and provide another catalyst for our tourism industry and local businesses," said Sen. Capito. "I’m grateful to all of the West Virginians—sportsmen, business owners, and constituents—for their feedback and involvement during this entire process. Throughout all of these discussions, it has become clear that this redesignation would bring enormous benefits to the region and those who call it home."

The Wake-Robbin trillium is one of the many wildflower species that color the gorge in spring/NPS

At Adventures on the Gorge, a private resort on the rim of the lower gorge, CEO Roger Wilson said in December, when Congress approved the legislation, that "(T)his is a huge win not only for our future visitors but also for our community, staff and their families, and over time it will certainly lead to more jobs and increased economic growth.”

How soon that growth arrives is hard to say, with travel having been dampened by the coronavirus pandemic. Still, Wilson noted on Monday that, "(W)e have seen a nice jump in bookings, but it’s hard to know how much is Covid-related vs. national park designation." 

Too, it's worth asking whether the "national park" brand will increase travel to New River Gorge in winter, when there's no rafting and climbers are seeking warmer regions.

"I think adding 'National Park' to the name will add visitors to the area, which will increase economic activity for existing businesses and will create some jobs and new business opportunities," said Kevin Boyle, a professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech. "As it is more of a drive-by park, I wonder if it will be additional stop-in traffic and not necessarily as big of a boost in destination tourism? Keys will be how the park adapts in the provision of services for visitors and associated community planning."

The four areas carrying "national park" distinction (in red boxes) are spread out across the New River Gorge/NPS

The four areas carrying "national park" distinction (in red boxes) are spread out across the New River Gorge/NPS

Were hunting not an issue, New River Gorge might have been rebranded entirely as a "national park," for it certainly has the merits for such designation.

The gorge is home to dozens of bird species, including Great blue herons, kestrels, peregrine falcons, Baltimore Orioles, merganzers, and Scarlet tanagers. Come spring a riot of wildflowers colors the forests with Wake-robbin trillium, Trout lily, Yellow Lady slipper, Spring beauty, Catawba rhododendron and more, and the land is home to "the rare Appalachian Flatrock plant community, which includes sedges, cedars and pines."

"This plant assemblage occurs on flat sandstone ledges along the New River and is dependent on the scouring caused by occasional flooding for its long-term integrity," notes the park staff.

New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Gauley River National Recreation Area lie at the core of the globally significant Appalachian forest, and New River Gorge contains the most diverse flora of any river gorge in central and southern Appalachia. Besides providing essential habitat for endangered mammals, rare birds and amphibians, a dedicated botanist could find 1,383 different species of plants in the boundaries of the New River Gorge National River.

The reason for this great diversity of plants stems from the varied topography of the gorge, the northern flow of the New River that provides a pathway for southern plants to migrate and grow on the lower elevation riverbanks, and the fact that West Virginia was spared from glacial activity, thereby providing a refuge for more northern plant species in the areas higher elevations. -- National Park Service

"It's an incredible place. And you understand why people wanted it to be a national park and why that effort was successful," she continues. "It's at the heart of a globally significant forest. It has some of the highest diversity of plants and animals in the park system, second only to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is much larger.

"And of course, the recreational opportunities, not only whitewater. There's wonderful flatwater. Stand up paddleboarding is making a big presence there on the river, as well as hiking and biking, and rock climbing. It's renowned for outstanding opportunities to climb," the NPCA representative went on. "So it's really a treasure. And that's not even getting into some of the cultural resources that are there at New River Gorge. It showcases America's railroading history, coal mining history, which of course gets into our immigration and racial history. And it's just a rich, rich, rich place in terms of history and culture and ecological values."

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Comments

Great move and a beautiful area. I used to drive through this area years ago from Fort Bragg, NC to Cleveland, Ohio when I was dating my spouse. She loved this area of West Virginia as well.  There's a lot of historic coal mines in this area as well from a century ago. Great work West Virginia. Be well and blessed. 


Lets hope the new attention doesn't spoil the feel / character of the area by becoming over developed.


Anybody know if this "rebranding legislation" increases the park's annual budget to address all that increased land, increased visitation, increased staff & law enforcement workload, new signs, overloaded drainfields, plus 'who knows' how much "provision of services for visitors and associated community planning."?

Hopefully, there's a better plan than:  "We'll just deal with whatever happens..."


By rights, do to the 90% acreage for the Preserve part, this should have been redesignated a National Preserve and Park, or the whole thing  a National Preserve so the hunters could have access to it all.   But, I get the importance of the National Park "brand."  I think the compromise should have been that to have top billing the National Park acreage should have been at least 51%.  What did the NPS have to say about the lopsided acreage in committe hearings?  Were they overruled if an objection was raised?  There are descriptions and guidelines to the various NPS designations.  Do these descriptions and guidelines have any "teeth?"  Apparently not enough, as the 2018 redesignation of what is now Gateway Arch National Park comes to mind.  

I find it interesting that this has been redesignated a National Park and Preserve (one NPS unit).  On the NPS acreage report, the acreage is combined, thus "hiding" the small National Park percentage.  There are only two other units in the system that have this combination designation as one unit:  Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, and Jean LaFitte National Historical Park and Preserve.  All other National Preserves that are adjacent to other NPS units with the same name (7 National Parks and 2 National Monuments) are counted as separate units and are listed separately on the NPS acreage report.  Yes, it is inconsistent and somewhat confusing.            

On another note, New River Gorge also administers Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River.  Were these nearby units even considered for inclusion in the redesignation?  As it is, I believe the New River Gorge Canyon Rim Visitor Center serves in that capacity for all three.      


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