Changes Expected at Mason’s Branch in 2005
History. Since the Gauley River was first pioneered as a whitewater run in the late 60’s, boaters have had tenuous arrangements to access the river. The put-in at the base of Summersville dam has been the only publicly owned access point. All other access utilizes private property.
The Gauley River has a fascinating history that predates the popularity of whitewater recreation. Today, ancestors of Gauley River settlers and farmers retain much of the canyon rim. But, throughout the 70’s and 80’s, as whitewater activity grew, ownership of much of the riverside land was transferred to raft company interests for access.
A few years ago, the owners of the Mason’s Branch access developed access at the base of Woods Ferry with the intent of offsetting access congestion, and to serve as both a put-in for the Lower and a take-out for the Upper. In 1996, legislation directed NPS to acquire Woods Ferry access before “acquiring or developing any other river access points”. Negotiation, a difficult appraisal and appropriation process, and now, a lack of funds available to the NPS Lands Office has stalled the sale of Woods Ferry access.
Access Today. Canoeists and kayakers paddling the Upper Gauley put-in on land owned, maintained and managed by an assortment of agencies including the National Park Service (NPS). The agencies communicate each year with private boater representatives, including American Whitewater (Am.W.) and West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WVRC).
Downstream, private boaters rely on the generosity of rafting companies who own, maintain and manage various access points. Notably, this includes the Lower Gauley put-in, at Bucklick, between Backender and Koontz’s Flume, and the Upper Gauley take-out at Mason’s Branch. The roads serving these access points are too narrow and steep to handle busses along with private shuttle vehicles. Nonetheless, the rafting companies have continued to accommodate private boater access.
At Mason’s Branch the riverside access is owned by individuals associated with Class VI and Appalachian Wildwaters (AW). Private boaters take-out here because the owners allow boaters to walk across their property up Panther Mountain along Mason’s Branch, and they allow WVRC to transport boats to the canyon rim property (leased annually by Am. W. and WVRC for boater parking). This arrangement allows hassle free access for canoeists and kayakers. Proceeds from boat transport collection return to the river in the form of supporting WVRC’s conservation work for the Gauley watershed.
Access Changes. The circumstances that surround transfer of Woods Ferry access to NPS are changing access opportunities for private boaters. Next year, canoeists and kayakers looking for an Upper take-out or a Lower put-in may be paying the current landowners to use the Woods Ferry access. Private boaters may become a part of the picture of determining the value of the Woods Ferry access.
Your input is welcome. Please feel free to send in your comments and your assessment of the value of Gauley River access. All comments will be shared amongst NPS and the landowners. All the parties involved in ownership, maintenance and management of Gauley River access take foremost interest in the river. WVRC joins the efforts of those parties to find a solution that insures the protection of the river while providing access for all boaters.
Send comments to: WVRC– Gauley Access, 801 N. Randolph Ave., Elkins, WV 26241
E-mails may be sent to: wvrivers@wvrivers.org. Please provide contact information if you would like to be kept up-to-date on access developments.