Gauley Access Update
Public Access Plans:
Friends of Gauley River is now raising funds and volunteers to reopen the public Woods Ferry Road, parts of which have been closed for about 100 years! We are making good progress but need volunteers to clear brush, dig up stumps and move rocks.
All work will be done with hand tools to minimize environmental damage. When the work is completed, FOGR and outfitter Benjy Simpson (Passages) will operate a boat shuttle in and out of the gorge. As in the past, paddlers will have to walk in or out of the canyon themselves. A donation will offset the costs, with the surplus being used to maintain the road and access.
Here is the current status of our budget and donations: we are halfway there!
FOGR – Woods Ferry Road – Road Renovation Budget
Road Renovation:
Dozer or Backender: $ 2,000
Operators: $ 1,000
Telephone poles: $ 2,700
Gravel truckloads: 20 x $300 $ 6,000
Tools $ 500
SUB TOTAL: $12,200
Operations: Bus/trailer rental or use: 22 days x $30? $ 660
Security (2) x 22 days: $ 3,080
SUB TOTAL: $ 3,740
Grand TOTAL: $15,940
Donations received: along with many hours of labor and in-kind donations!
WV Tourism Commission Charleston WV $5000
Confluence Watersports Trinity NC $1000
Float Fishermen-Roanoke Roanoke VA $500
Chota Canoe Club Knoxville TN $300
Individuals (9) $770
TOTAL: $7565
How to Help:
If you can help, contact Bill Tanger. Email address: tanger@mediavisionva.com. Home tel. 540-366-2228.
To donate, make a check out to FORVA, earmark for FOGR, and mail to FORVA, PO Box 1750, Roanoke VA 24008.
For a $100 donation, FOGR will send you a free pass for the Woods Ferry Road shuttle without any further contribution! (FORVA is a 501(c)3 non-profit.)
Our next work weekends are August 20 & 21, and August 27 & 28. We will meet at Surf City on Milroy Grose Road at 9 am each morning. This is directly across from Wildwater Expeditions on Rt. 19.