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January
2009 With years of dedication and groundwork behind a strong campaign to protect the Monongahela National Forest, history was made in 2008, with the introduction of bi-partisan legislation to preserve some of West Virginia’s special wild places. This has made the past year a memorable one, and has given wilderness advocates reason to look ahead to 2009 with a tremendous amount of optimism as special places across the Mon stand to remain forever wild. The Wild Monongahela Act was introduced over a quarter-century after the last legislation to protect West Virginia’s wild places as wilderness was enacted. This historic measure, which aims to protect nearly 40,000 acres, would create three new wilderness areas in Big Draft, Spice Run and Roaring Plains West. Additionally, the existing areas, Otter Creek, Cranberry and Dolly Sods would be expanded under the measure. In March, a contingency of leaders from across West Virginia traveled to Capitol Hill to testify before Congress in support of Wild Mon legislation. Dennis Sparks of the West Virginia Council of Churches, Mike Price of the WV AFL-CIO, Mayor John Manchester of Lewisburg, Mountaineer Trout Unlimited’s Bob Bitner Jr., and local business owner Gil Willis represented the strength and diversity among supporters of wilderness on the Mon. The legislation was sponsored by all five members of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, with identical versions introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate. After clearing the House Natural Resources committee, the broadly supported, bi-partisan Wild Mon Act easily passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 368-17 on Earth Day. In the Senate, the Wild Mon Act cleared committee with ease, and has since been packaged with around 150 other public lands bills in an omnibus, which did not achieve full passage in 2008. The early prospects for the omnibus package to pass in a lame-duck session at the end of the 110th Congress were very positive. However, the nation’s economic crises required the full attention of lawmakers in Washington, and the package including Wild Mon was shelved until 2009. While this setback brought disappointment to the many West Virginians who have worked so hard to see this effort to fruition, 2008 has certainly been a landmark year. Looking ahead, there is reason to remain optimistic about the chances of Wild Mon passing in the 111th Congress. We will continue to work with our wilderness champions in Washington to keep this legislation a priority and see it through enactment. As historic as the events of the past year have been for our state’s remaining natural treasures, 2009 is sure to bring a truly Wild Mon closer to reality.
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A special thanks from the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition It's a special time for our state's wild places and the events of 2008 were many years in the making. With an unprecedented base of support, we were able to clear a major hurdle in our efforts to protect the Monongahela National Forest, in seeing wilderness legislation introduced in Congress. Through the support from hundreds of businesses and organizations, endorsements from medical professionals, local elected officials, governing bodies and the faith community and immeasurable support from countless individuals, West Virginians made this legislative effort possible. We could not have done it without you! Wilderness advocates statewide have demonstrated incredible passion and dedication over the years, and through hard work and persistence, we are closer than ever to seeing the first wilderness legislation in over a quarter-century enacted. With the New Year upon us, we hope you'll stay involved, to see current legislation through final passage, and to build the movement to protect West Virginia's natural mountain treasures. In 2009, we can all look forward to celebrating the enactment of the historic Wild Monongahela Act and enjoying a forever 'Wild Mon' for ourselves and for generations to come. Thank you to all who have helped us get to this point. Sincerely,
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www.wvwild.org |
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Seasonal changes on the Mon's special wild places. From top to bottom: Seneca Creek Proposed Wilderness, Spice Run Proposed Wilderness, Dolly Sods Proposed Wilderness Expansion, Roaring Plains West Proposed Wilderness. Photos by Jonathan Jessup
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