Published: September 29, 2009 10:11 pm      

W.Va. is due to get millions in Interior projects

Millions of dollars in projects for West Virginia, from a hiking trail in the Gauley River National Recreation Area to a fish hatchery in White Sulphur Springs, gained approval Tuesday by the full Senate.

Construction work and land acquisition totaling $1,625 million were contained in the bill drawn up by the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said.

Of that amount, some $500,000 will be spent on the continuing development of Camp Brookside as a youth programs center.

A like amount is intended to acquire key land for recreational access and use, enabling climbers to have more parking space, and providing more through-the-park trails and access to the stream along River Road. The other $125,000 will go toward support of the New River Parkway Authority.

Another $500,000 was earmarked for the lower end of the Gauley River National Recreation Area to provide public river take-out access to complete a river trail and provide climber and river access and parking at the meadow.

The Monongahela National Forest is ticketed for $5,266 million, most of which would be spent to acquire the Thunderstruck Property just east of Harman.

Improvements include $220,000 to Lake Sherwood fishing facility in Greenbrier County; $125,000 at Blue Bend Day Use area, also in Greenbrier; and $250,000 for forest-wide improvements and roof repair at public use sites, among them the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.

“West Virginia not only has a storied history in the development of our nation, but is also blessed with a natural and cultural heritage that we must work to preserve for future generations to enjoy,” Byrd said.

The national fish hatchery in White Sulphur Springs would get $500,000 to continue ongoing mussel research, recovery and progation.

Another $1 million was set aside for the Wood Education and Resource Center in Princeton so it may continue to facilitate interaction and information exchange with the forest products industry to enhance opportunities for sustained forest products production in the eastern hardwood forest region of the country.