CHEAT CANYON LAND CRISIS
ALLEGHENY ENERGY PUTS THEIR LAND OUT TO BID
(Please forward this email this to other paddlers you know who care about the Cheat Canyon and Big Sandy Rivers)
There?s good news and bad news about the Cheat River Canyon. The bad news is that Allegheny Energy has decided to put the land on the open market. But The good news is that the Governor of West Virginia has come out strongly in favor of purchasing it!
The West Virginia DNR and West Virginia Governor Bob Wise have been negotiating seriously with Allegheny Energy since last summer to purchase 6500 acres comprising 75% of the Cheat Canyon and significant acreage along the Big Sandy near Rockville. Both streams are heavily used by Eastern Whitewater paddlers. They have been joined by two of the nation’s largest land trusts. Despite this, Allegheny Energy has decided to offer the property to the highest bidder.
Below is the text of the Governor’s recent letter to Allegheny Energy president Jay Pifer:
March 12, 2003
Mr. Jay Pifer
President
Allegheny Power
800 Cabin Hill Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601
Dear Mr. Pifer:
I must express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the sudden decision by Allegheny Power to place its Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties for sale on the open market. The potential negative consequences of the sale of this property to private interests are many, including avoidable and unnecessary conflicts involving impacts on endangered species, the negative impact on various economic development efforts in the surrounding communities and the effect on traditional and future recreational access to this vital resource.
Prior to this surprising news, it was my understanding discussions between Allegheny Power and The Conservation Fund, negotiating on behalf of the state at my request, had been fruitful. I understood these negotiations would lead in short order to the acquisition of these properties by the state and the natural resources would thus be preserved for public benefit.
I understand the fiscal demands placed upon Allegheny Power by its current situation. I also understand your responsibility to maximize shareholder value. I continue to assert, however, that state acquisition of the Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties represents the highest and best use of these properties for everyone.
As we have previously discussed, Allegheny Power?s Cheat Gorge tracts are home to a number of rare, threatened, or endangered species. All tracts of land in the Cheat Gorge are home to the federally threatened flat-spired three-toothed land snail. Cornwall Cave, a three-mile complex deep in the Gorge, harbors a population of federally endangered Indiana bats. Lands throughout the Gorge are foraging habitat for this rare bat. Over 80 other caves, most of which have not been surveyed for biological resources, are documented on these tracts.
Allegheny?s properties in the Gorge are also home to several other rare animal and plant species, including the green salamander and smooth rose. As you know, these species are not confined to a few specific areas, but dispersed throughout the Gorge. Any future development or resource extraction would face extraordinary challenges meeting federal requirements to protect these sensitive species.
The north central region of the state has been working diligently over the past decade to attract high tech industry companies to the area. Corporate executives from these companies make their decisions on where to locate their businesses based on a variety of issues. Weighing heavily into these decisions are quality of life issues. Having the majestic Cheat Gorge with its breath taking vistas has long been a selling point to many of these executives.
Cheat Gorge?s recreational assets are also well documented. The Cheat River is one of the region?s best whitewater boating rivers. The Cheat and the Big Sandy are major tourism resources that support heavy commercial and private whitewater use. The Laurel Run of Big Sandy is a popular trout stream offering exciting opportunities for additional improvement. The Allegheny Trail runs the length of the Cheat Gorge properties and is a popular hiking area. Hunters and other recreational users have enjoyed and appreciated access to these lands for many years. They would be a magnificent addition to the Cooper?s Rock and Snake Hill properties.
Considering the obvious conservation value of the Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties to the public, and the potential conflicts and development costs they would present to knowledgeable private buyers, I believe it is not only the public that would be well served by State acquisition, but Allegheny Power?s shareholders as well. Through its relationship with The Conservation Fund, the State of West Virginia remains financially positioned and absolutely willing to deliver substantial value to its citizens and to your shareholders.
For many years Allegheny Power has been a responsible corporate partner with the State of West Virginia in our collective efforts to conserve the state?s valuable natural resources. Your conservation actions in Canaan Valley, Blackwater State Park, Stone Coal Reservoir, Cheat Lake and other areas, as well as Allegheny Power?s active participation in water pollutant trading, TMDL and other stakeholder processes bear witness to your long standing commitment to corporate citizenship.
I believe that state acquisition of the Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties is another great opportunity to demonstrate the public and private sector value of that partnership. I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to place the Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties out for public bid. I look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Bob Wise
Governor of West Virginia
Thanks, Governor! We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
NOW WHITEWATER PADDLERS NEED TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S EFFORTS TO BUY THIS LAND!
Here’s what you need to do:
This story is already out on the AP wire. Mid-states paddlers can write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper supporting the purchase and asking Allegheny Energy to work with the State of West Virginia. Keep your letters short-no more than two paragraphs, two or three sentences each! Be passionate, but stay polite. Always give a phone contact so they can confirm your submission.
Key Points: 1) How important the land is to you and others 2) Steep Slopes and Endangered Species bar logging & development 3) Strong Support for Preservation.
Don’t worry if you’re not super-articulate. Editors who get a number of letters may assign reporters to write in-depth articles!
Here’s a copy of my own letter to the Dominion-Post in Morgantown.
To the Editor:
Five years ago my wife and I moved from Philadelphia to Bruceton Mills. We now live just a few miles from the Cheat and Big Sandy Rivers. These two places are the biggest reason we chose to move here. We are impressed that Governor Wise had the vision to see how important this land is to the future of the area. And we are very disappointed that Allegheny Energy, which has been a wonderful steward of the land for generations, has chosen to make it more difficult to do so.
The question arises: how can we afford to do this in today’s economy? The fact is that the Governor and his staff at DNR are ingeniously preparing to tap funds which are already out there and available. There is also considerable private interest. Many people, myself among them, are prepared to make substantial donations to help protect this land.
Sincerely,
Charlie Walbridge
Board Member, Friends of Cheat
We are looking for letters to the editors of West Virginia newspapers: The Morgantown Dominion-Post (newsroom@dominion-post.com), Fairmont Times West-Virginian (timeswv@timeswv.com), and The Charleston Gazette (letters@wvgazette.com). Also of interest: The Hagerstown Herald-Mail (Opinon@herald-mail.com), and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://www.post-gazette.com/contact/comments_form.asp?Mtype=NEWSletters). Both of these papers are in areas where upper-level Allegheny Energy executives live. If you?re not a local, but travel often to West Virginia, you might want to write and tell these people how much these rivers draw you to West Virginia.
If your local newspaper hasn’t covered the story, ask them why not!
Second, Drop a short letter to Jay Pifer, president of Allegheny Energy, whose address can be found at the top of the Governor?s letter.
Dear Mr. Pifer,
This letter will express my great disappointment with the decision made by your company to place your Cheat Canyon and Big Sandy properties on the open market. As Governor Bob Wise so eloquently wrote, “Considering the obvious conservation value of the Cheat Gorge/Big Sandy properties to the public, and the potential conflicts and development costs they would present to knowledgeable private buyers, I believe it is not only the public that would be well served by State acquisition, but Allegheny Power?s shareholders as well.”
We have appreciated your fine stewardship of these properties in the past, and want to insure land protection and public access in the future. I urge you to negotiate in good faith and reach an agreement with Governor Wise and the State of West Virginia as soon as possible.
Lastly please also take a moment to drop Governor Wise a short note thanking him for his courageous and far thinking stand on behalf of the Cheat River. The address:
Governor Robert Wise
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E
Charleston, WV 25305
Or you can visit his web site http://www.state.wv.us/governor/ and drop him an email.
Thanks!
Charlie Walbridge
Board Member, Friends of Cheat
Route 1, Box A43B, Bruceton Mills, WV 26526
304-379-9002; ccwalbridge@cs.com