American Whitewater is thrilled to announce that over the past two months we purchased two parcels of land bordering the Lower Big Sandy River in West Virginia, providing critical recreational access and protecting three quarters of a mile of this special river. These purchases were made thanks to generous donations from the whitewater community, and are in addition to the 4.25 miles of river frontage American Whitewater purchased last year on the Big Sandy. With these purchases now complete, American Whitewater will be donating the lands to the West Virginia Land Trust for their permanent protection. 

The larger of the two purchases comprises 0.75 miles of the right bank of the Big Sandy in the core of the whitewater gorge downstream of Wonder Falls, bordering Zoom Flume, Little Splat, and Big Splat rapids. It also includes significant upland lands that benefit the scenery, water quality, and ecology of the river corridor. This parcel was slated for development, but American Whitewater worked with the developer to purchase and protect the lands. The purchase includes a trail easement to the lands from the Rockville Bridge area. 

The smaller purchase is a parcel adjacent to Rockville Bridge, with the purpose of one-day providing public river access and parking on river-left. American Whitewater has purchased access properties like this on other rivers including the Blackwater, Johns Creek, Elkhorn Creek, and the Watauga, and we are excited to now complement the river access provided by the Friends of the Cheat on the Big Sandy. 

American Whitewater would like to recognize Charlie Walbridge for his volunteer leadership on this project, along with Dave Hough, and of course the donors that made this purchase possible. We also would like to share our appreciation for the seller, Waterfront Development, who was a great partner to work with and this important conservation project. 

This project is emblematic of how paddlers are stepping up to protect the special rivers that have meant so much to them over the course of their lives. American Whitewater is proud to lead our community on important river conservation and access projects like this one, and have more exciting initiatives like this one underway. Please consider supporting American Whitewater so that we can help pass on healthy rivers to future generations.

Special thanks to our supporters (as of 12/9) who have made this newest round of acquisitions possible, including: Pope Barrow, Dave Bassage, Benjamin Beasley, Jon Becker, Christopher Bodner and Cynthia Landgren, Kurt Braunlich, David Brisell, Eric Brooks, Ian Buckley, Mark Burns, Preston Calhoun, Thomas Christopher, Terry and Lesley Conning, Michael O. Connolly, Ian Cooper, Andrew Davis, Jack Ditty, Dave Donoho, Stratford Douglas and Jodie Jackson, Kent Ford, Bob Gedekoh, Edward Gertler, Ken Gfroerer and Aileen Lampman, Chris Hancq, Katie Heisler, David Hough and Cynthia Graves, Edward Hughes, Thomas Hungar, Sebastian Jilke, Peter Jons, William Kelleher, Charles Kirby, Chris Kirkman, Christina Kossis, Wes Kungel, Brent Laubaugh and Kelly Miller, Peter Lusardi, Randall Lutter, Jeff Macklin, Mykl Messer and Terri Payne, Stephen and Susan Meyer, Robert Milvet, Stephen Muck, Martha Mullett, Jim Murtha, Patrick Norton, Matt Pascal, Theresa Payne, Catherine Richards, Randy Robinson, Peter Rush, Patricia Schifferle and Bob Gilliom, William Sheppell Jr, Bob Spangler, Margot Stiles, Imre and Janet Szilagyi, Steve Taylor, Mac and Molly Thornton, Thelma Triche, Noland and Jodi Tucker, Barry and Kitty Tuscano, Charles and Sandy Walbridge, Wick and Laura Walker, Fred and Kim Wright, Ben Zurflieh, and Peter Zurflieh.