Gauley Access Closure Threatened

American Whitewater was notified late last week that two outfitters will discontinue their long-standing policy permitting private paddlers to access West Virginia's Gauley River at Mason's Branch, Woods Ferry, and Bucklick. Without these mid-point accesses, the only alternative is to paddle the entire 26 miles of whitewater from Summersville Dam to Swiss. This is too much for all but the strongest paddlers.

Lost Paddle Corporation is a partnership between Imre Szylagyi of Appalachian Wildwaters and Class VI River Runners, represented by Dave Arnold. The company owns all of the river-right land between Sweets Falls and Koontz Bend. Like many outfitters throughout the country, they have generously permitted private paddlers to cross their land almost two decades. If you've run the Gauley, you've used their land.

So why change things now? When the Gauley River National Recreation Area was created the law required the Park Service to purchase an access area at Woods Ferry. The key parcel for this access is owned by Lost Paddle Corporation. After eight years of negotiations and two formal government assessments the Park Service and the outfitters are still miles apart on a price. Although they care about the land, they also see it as a business investment that they have held for over 18 years. They feel that the price they receive should reflect its worth in other uses, like sustained yield timbering or second home development.

As the talks stalled, Lost Paddle Corporation has become increasingly uncomfortable with their role as a free public access provider. The outfitters have told AW several times that the current improvised access arrangement would have to end soon. Now they are seeking, in their own words, to create a crisis that will force the Park Service to buy their property for public access

As this story plays out, please remember that Lost Paddle Corporation is completely within its rights as a private landowner to take this step. We don't have to like what they are doing, but we must respect it. We all agree that the Gauley River is a unique natural treasure and want to see the Park Service purchase land that will protect the river, insure public access, and allow the park to reach its potential.

American Whitewater has been in contact with Gauley NRA Manager Cal Hite and West Virginia Congressman Nick J. Rahall. We will be working diligently to find legal ways for private paddlers to access the river during Gauley Season and new information will be posted our web site as it becomes available.