Monangahela National Forest/Park

Monangahela National Forest Park

Would the public interest be better served if parts of the Monongahela National Fores were administered by the National Park Service instead of the Forest Service? As Sharon mentions in her introduction to Chris Topik’s guest post, the Nature Conservancy has acquired and protected thousands of acres with the Monongahela.

Can the Park Service do a better job of managing them?

Meanwhile in Maine, State, Federal, and local governments have objected loudly to any suggestion that the Park Service conduct a feasibility study for a new National Park in Northern Maine to be created from land to be donated by Burt’s Bee’s magnate Roaxanne Quimby.

According to the Columbus, IN Republic

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two state parks and other lands within the Monongahela National Forest could become a national park.

The National Park Service plans to begin conducting a survey in December to determine whether historic, natural and recreational resources in the targeted area would meet criteria required by Congress for a national park.

Friends of Blackwater Canyon executive director Judy Rodd tells the Charleston Gazette (http://bit.ly/uMIztk ) that the proposed High Alleghany National Park would include federal land in the forest’s northern area, Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley state parks.

Rodd says the proposed park also would include lands improved during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration.

The survey is scheduled to be completed by September 2012. It was requested by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.

___

Information from: The Charleston Gazette, http://www.wvgazette.com

1 thought on “Monangahela National Forest/Park”

  1. Jim, here’s a link to a previous post on why park designation would get more bucks to the local area, and most peculiarly, why there would be more bucks in this budget environment- perhaps due to the NPS budget structure?

    Given that federal budgets are decreasing, FS budgets are decreasing and forests are discussing downsizing (again), at the same time other agencies have more bucks to do the same kind of management, a taxpayer might well wonder “what’s up with that?”. Is part of it the budget structure? Is part of it the idea that you can charge and offset costs? Other ideas?

    Here’s another recent article on the San Gabriels:

    Maria Aguilar said she circulated petitions to get the Department of Interior and the NPS to bring their resources to the region. She said the benefits of outdoor exercise are tremendous, but too often low-income families don’t enjoy nature because they’re not aware of the opportunities. “But when a child is taken to the mountains, they see something new and exciting,” she said in Spanish.

    Chu spoke to the audience in the meeting hall about a recent visit to the Angeles. She said the Forest Service was overwhelmed and understaffed. “I saw a lack of footpaths and a mother handing her babies down a steep incline,” Chu said. “There were few picnic areas and even fewer trash receptacles. The area was sullied with dirty diapers.”

    Indeed, Butler said the Forest Service admitted it cannot handle the crowds. “They don’t have the staff on the ground to manage that population,” she said. Adding the NPS would add resources in the form of guides, grants for trail work and possibly cash infusion for struggling conservancies. She said the Forest Service is in support of adding the National Park Service to the area.

    Andrea Gullo, executive director of the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority, was pleased to hear that the NPS could help by providing access to grants or federal dollars.

    “That’s great. That is fantastic. We’ll take it,” Gullo said after the meeting. She would like to see more of the Puente Hills – east of Harbor Boulevard – included in the proposal.

    Read more: Diverse support shown for National Park Service proposal for San Gabriel Mountains, River – Whittier Daily News http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19224667#ixzz1fCHA9YXi

    http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19224667

    Reply

Leave a Comment