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Seasonal Cheat Lake MESSAGE from Lake Lynn Generation
by Duane 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Attention Cheat Lake Property Owners and Boaters Starting at 12:00 am on Sunday November 1, 2015 winter lake level limits will go into effect on Cheat Lake. At that time minimum reservoir levels will decrease from 868’ to 857’. Winter lake levels will remain in effect until 1159 pm on March 31, 2016. At this time Lake Lynn Generation has no plans to pull the lake down for maintenance but normal plant operations will draw the reservoir down below the summer minimum level of 868’ during this period. Cheat Lake Property owners and boaters are reminded that if these lower minimum lake levels affect them they should make adjustments prior to November 1, 2015. The winter boat launch ramp at the Cheat Lake Park will be open from November 1, 2015 until May 1, 2016 to accommodate boaters who wish to launch a boat on Cheat Lake. As a reminder, Lake Lynn Generation maintains the following water levels at Cheat Lake in accordance with our federal license. Cheat Lake Level Limits: •Winter (November - March): 857' - 870' •Spring (April): 863' - 870' •Summer(May - October): 868' - 870' ################################### MESSAGE forwarded by Duane Nichols, CLEAR, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Preston, Tucker highest elevations have best color, Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26 foliage is 70% peak
by Duane 07 Oct '15

07 Oct '15

Preston, Tucker highest elevations have best color, Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26 foliage is 70% peak -- West Virginia’s state foresters reported the first week in October will be a colorful one in the state’s higher elevations. The Davis-Thomas area of Tucker County and Dolly Sods are again recommended destinations. Foliage in the Davis-Thomas area is estimated to be 70 percent peak. Color is much more advanced this week at Dolly Sods than it was last week and is well worth a trip. Reports from Preston County recommend a drive along the Cheat River on Route 72/Route 26, where foliage is at 70 percent peak. Foresters recommend a trip to Cathedral State Park ,which they report is already spectacular with 50 percent peak color. Foresters also recommend a visit to Spruce Knob, where foliage is expected to be approximately 60 percent peak the first full week of October. Leaf peepers can take U.S. Route 33 to Spruce Knob Road, which has been paved in the past few years and is in good shape. Climb the stairs to the 30-foot platform for the breathtaking view from the state’s highest point. Lower elevations of Pendleton County are still quite green, with only 25-30 percent of their foliage changing color. Foliage at elevations above 3,000 feet in Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph and Webster counties should peak this weekend. A long list of recommended points of interest includes the Sinks of Gandy and Dry Fork, Cheat Mountain, Shavers Mountain, the headwaters of the Tygart Valley River, the headwaters of both the Forks of the Greenbrier River, Kennison Mountain and Elk Mountain. Leaves at higher elevations to the east of the Richwood area of Nicholas County are at or near peak, while those to the west remain green. Although color within Elkins will be limited, the mountains surrounding the town should present colorful viewing opportunities. Take Little Kanawha Parkway or Parkersburg Road from Spencer to Elizabeth. Although foliage is reported to be only 30 percent peak, both drives are highly recommended. In scenic Ritchie County, take the Staunton Turnpike to see 30 percent peak foliage this weekend. Although a long way from peak, Ohio County hosts Oglebay Festival/Ohio County Fair this weekend. DOF personnel and Smokey Bear will be there so stop by and say hello. Foliage in the Davis-Thomas area of Tucker County was estimated to be at 70 percent peak earlier in the week and may peak during the first week of October. Forestry officials encourage leaf peepers who post 2015 West Virginia fall foliage photos to tag them with #fallinwv. Photos may be featured on the DOF’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/wvforestry. Check the Facebook page throughout the week for foliage updates.

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Monongalia woman's estate asks court to clarify beneficiaries
by Duane 05 Sep '15

05 Sep '15

http://wvrecord.com/stories/510636789-monongalia-woman-s-estate-asks-court-… Monongalia woman's estate asks court to clarify beneficiaries From Jessica M. Karmasek, West Virginia Record, September 4, 2015 Charleston --The administrator of a deceased Monongalia County woman’s estate has asked a state court to determine who is her surviving beneficiary. Under the terms of Marilyn Huffman’s will, her husband Allen Huffman and son Brian Huffman were named as primary and secondary beneficiaries. However, both died before Huffman, who died last October. The third beneficiary listed in Huffman’s will was the “Cheat River Stocking Program.” But there is no entity by that name. According to research done by administrator William T. Semans, there are at least three organizations that stock fish in the Cheat River or its tributaries: the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Trout for Cheat Inc. and Muddy Creek Recreation Club Inc. Semans, in a petition filed July 7 in Monongalia Circuit Court, asked the court to determine which of the three is Huffman’s intended beneficiary. However, the court last month had the case transferred to Kanawha Circuit Court. Any lawsuit in which a state agency is made a party or defendant must be brought and prosecuted in the circuit court in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Judge James Stucky. Before being transferred, Muddy Creek Recreation Club asked that it be dismissed from the case. Muddy Creek wrote in its August 3 answer that it does not stock trout in the Cheat River -- only in the tributary stream of Muddy Creek. Trout for Cheat, on the other hand, argues it is the “true” beneficiary of the Huffman estate, pointing out that Huffman’s husband was an “avid” trout fisherman and fisherman of the Cheat River. The non-profit organization, formed solely to stock and promote fishing and tourism in and on the Cheat River, noted in its July 28 answer that it stocks the river six to eight times each year at 18 locations. Semans is being represented by Morgantown attorney J. Douglas Crane. Kanawha Circuit Court case number 15-C-1506.

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<CLEAR> Chestnut Ridge PA windmills under protest
by Duane 26 Aug '15

26 Aug '15

Lawyer wants Fayette County PA wind turbines shut down By Liz Zemba, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 A Uniontown attorney wants Fayette County to order the shutdown of about two dozen wind turbines, but a spokesman with the Oregon company that owns them says there are no grounds to force a stoppage. In a letter delivered late Monday to the county's Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, Gary Altman asked the county to order Iberdrola Renewables of Portland to stop operating approximately 22 wind turbines in its South Chestnut Wind Project near Farmington. Altman contends the turbines don't comply with a number of conditions set by the county's zoning hearing board in 2009, including setbacks, decommissioning bonds, noise levels and measures to protect bats. “Pending compliance, we request that you order the turbines shut off,” Altman said in the letter. “We believe this request to be reasonable in view of the fact that several of these (zoning hearing board) conditions were to be met before the start of operations, and this developer has consistently and repeatedly ignored Fayette County's ordinances and tried to delay any enforcement of them, all the while knowing full well that its project was constructed without required permits and approvals.” Art Sasse of Iberdrola said the company has no plans to shut down the wind farm because it complies with zoning regulations. “Our South Chestnut wind farm is fully compliant with the current zoning ordinance and will continue to operate as it has for several years now,” Sasse said. In the years since Altman has battled Iberdrola over the windmills on behalf of Springhill resident Thomas J. Bozek, Fayette revised its zoning governing wind turbines that might render the appeals moot, according to court documents in one of the appeals. Altman said the turbines are too close to Bozek's property, rendering a portion of it unusable because of the noise they generate. “The biggest issue is, he has a domino-shaped piece of property, and the top half is close to the turbines,” Altman said. “They have effectively taken that piece of property off of him. You can't build on it because of the noise.” Altman's letter to the county is dated five days after the state Supreme Court, in an Aug. 19 order, denied Iberdrola's request to appeal a 2014 Commonwealth Court decision. In that decision, the court upheld conditions the zoning hearing board placed on the windmills in 2009. According to a March 11 supplemental opinion prepared by the Commonwealth Court judges, those conditions included construction of 12-foot-high chain link fences around the turbines, planting vegetation to replace trees and shrubs removed during the turbines' construction, implementing measures to protect bats and conducting sound studies. The wind turbines formerly were associated with PPM Atlantic Renewable, which was acquired by Iberdrola Renewables in 2005. According to Iberdrola's website, the South Chestnut Wind Project began operating in 2011 and comprises 23 wind turbines in Georges, Springhill and Wharton townships. Only the wind turbines in Georges and Springhill are affected by the litigation because Wharton has its own zoning rules. Zoning in Georges and Springhill is governed by the county's ordinance. Sara Rosiek, director of the county's planning office, said Iberdrola in June notified her it posted decommissioning bonds on the turbines, meeting at least one of the requirements cited in Altman's letter. She said she is arranging to meet with county solicitor Sheryl Heid to review the letter and other issues raised by Altman. Heid did not return a phone call seeking comment. Liz Zemba is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-601-2166 or lzemba(a)tribweb.com. Read more: http://triblive.com/news/fayette/8975926-74/turbines-wind-zoning#ixzz3ju2bd… Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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The bat factor: Mammals' deaths could cripple environment - News3LV
by Duane 10 Jul '15

10 Jul '15

http://www.news3lv.com/content/news/story/The-bat-factor-Mammals-deaths-cou… The bat factor: Mammals' deaths could cripple environment By Denise Rosch, KSNV News 3LV, July 9, 2015 LAS VEGAS -- They're nocturnal and mysterious, sometimes feared and often misunderstood. Here in Nevada there are 24 different species of bat, and some scientists say it's time to rescue their reputation before a disease wipes out the critters that are critical to our environment. "Bats are all over in Vegas. People don't realize bats are in their backyards," says biologist Christy Klinger. Just after sun down, Christy Klinger with the Nevada Department of Wildlife is hard at work. During News 3's outing with the professional, she was busy preparing a catch and release survey of some of nature's most misunderstood night dwellers, the bats that emerge from the shadows of Potosi Mountain. An acoustic bat detector helps to pick up on their high frequency chatter. "They're echo-locating, able to turn on a dime because they're honing in on an insect. It gives them an erratic flight pattern that kind of freaks people out," says Klinger. The set-up was fairly easy. A few well-placed stakes support a net across the mountain pond. Then scientists spend the evening waiting to see what sticks. On this outing, scientists check the health of the colony. The scientists note everything from wing condition, to the size of the ears to their thumbs. They hope to shine a positive light on the tiny mammals, responsible for everything from pest control to pollination. Our night vision lens picked up plenty of action in the dark. "Mangos, bananas, cashews, almonds. All of those sorts of things get pollinated by certain species of bats. And we'd have a lot less tequila out there too because the agave plant gets pollinated by bats," says Klinger. Despite popular belief, bats are not blind. And if they're paying attention, they can see the net set up by scientists. What scientists have instead is the element of surprise. Wildlife biologist Jason Williams explains it like this: "If you get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, you don't turn on a light because you know where the furniture is. But if you're husband moved the furniture and didn't tell you, you'd walk into it. Because you're not paying attention," he says. There is reason to worry about the fate of bats in North America. Since 2012 upwards of 6-million have died from White Nose Syndrome. It is a fungus that attaches to bats during hibernation. So far, the disease has only been found in the eastern and central parts of the country, but biologists here are watching, hoping it does not move west. "It's an irritant so it causes the bat to arouse out of hibernation. Once they arouse they're metabolism increases and they burn up their fat reserves too fast. Before spring time, and they usually starve to death," says Klinger. One reason to care? With fewer bats eating bugs, farmers will rely more heavily on expensive pesticides and that leads to higher prices at the grocery store. Studies are going on to note temperature and humidity inside mines and caves. It's an attempt to understand the conditions the deadly fungus needs to thrive. Our infra-red video, shot inside a cave in central Nevada, is a bat migration stop-over site. "That cave alone over the course of about 3 months we'll see anywhere from 1 to 3 million Mexican free tail bats funnel through it," says Klinger. Back at Mt. Potosi, forty bats are netted in just one hour. Each are marked and set free. The creatures of the night left to hunt in peace once again. Another fear many people have when it comes to bats is rabies, but Klinger says one recent estimate shows less than one-tenth of 1 percent of bats potentially carry the disease. Sure they can, any wild animal can. So if you see them out, especially during the day, leave them alone. Don't touch.

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WV-DEP Public Notice - Proposed Settlement - Monongalia County - Cheat Road, LLC
by Duane 14 Jun '15

14 Jun '15

> From: <dep.online(a)wv.gov> > Date: June 14, 2015 3:24:42 PM EDT > > Subject: WV-DEP Public Notice - Proposed Settlement - Monongalia County - Cheat Road, LLC > =========================================================== > Sunday, June 14, 2015 @ 3:23 PM > =========================================================== > > The WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and Cheat Road, LLC have > proposed a settlement of Administrative Consent Order No. 8226 which resolves > violation(s) of the WV Water Pollution Control Act which occurred in > Monongalia County, WV. In accordance with the proposed Consent Order, Cheat > Road, LLC has agreed to pay administrative penalties and to comply with the > Act. Final settlement is subject to comments received during the thirty (30) > day period ending July 16, 2015. > Further information about this Administrative > Consent Order is available by contacting the Chief Inspector, > WVDEP/Environmental Enforcement, 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304, > (304) 926-0470 or by accessing WV Department of Environmental Protection’s > website at > http://www.dep.wv.gov/pio/Pages/Settlements,Ordersouttopublicnotice.aspx > > =========================================================== > > >

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<CLEAR> Be Aware of Ticks, Swimming & Boating Hazards, and Sunburn
by Duane 12 Jun '15

12 Jun '15

PA Health Department Reminds Public to Protect from Ticks, Avoid Lyme Disease PITTSBURGH – Dr. Karen Murphy, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, joined Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker today to highlight the need for residents to protect themselves from ticks, and better understand the threat of Lyme disease. Since 2009, reports of Lyme disease in Allegheny County have increased substantially, resulting in a renewed effort to educate the public. “Lyme Disease is both preventable and treatable,” said Dr. Karen Hacker. “With education, residents can be more aware of ticks, and use common strategies to protect themselves and their families. We’re very grateful that Secretary Murphy has joined us in this call for the public to educate itself.” Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick commonly known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection tested a small sample of deer ticks from Allegheny County for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The study found that 34% of the ticks were infected. In 2014, the Health Department recorded 822 cases of Lyme disease. Today, every county in Pennsylvania has deer ticks and is reporting cases of Lyme Disease. “It is important for Pennsylvanians to know that Lyme disease is present in every county in Pennsylvania,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “The prevalence of this illness serves as a reminder for people to better protect themselves from tick bites and to know the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. For those with the disease it is important to seek early treatment to avoid any potential long-term health complications.” Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Some people may remain untreated because early symptoms can be mild and flu-like, and do not always include a telltale “bull’s-eye rash” that can appear three to 30 days after the bite. If untreated, Lyme Disease can lead to serious complications such as chronic arthritis and neurologic problems. An individual who believes he or she has been bitten by a tick, should contact his or her health care provider. Additionally, physicians should consider Lyme Disease in patients with related symptoms. Health officials urge these precautions to protect yourself and your family from tick-borne diseases: · If outside in wooded, bushy or grassy areas, avoid brush and wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks to keep ticks off your skin. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirts into pants to keep ticks on the outside of your clothing. · Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks more easily. · Use insect-repellent with 20% to 30% DEET on bare skin (not on face, and not on hands of young children). Follow instructions carefully, especially with children. For added protection, spray a second repellent containing Permethrin on boots, clothing, and camping gear. Don’t use Permethrin on bare skin. · Remove ticks from your clothing before going indoors. To kill any you may have missed, wash your clothes in hot water and dry them on high heat. · Shower with a wash cloth within two (2) hours of coming indoors to wash off ticks. · Check your skin for ticks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Inspect all parts of your body carefully and remove ticks immediately using a fine-tipped tweezers to grasp tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight up with steady pressure without twisting. Thoroughly clean bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. If you remove a tick within 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely small. · Monitor your health closely after a tick bite and be alert for any signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, which include a bull’s eye rash or flu-like symptoms (fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes). Seek medical care if you develop symptoms. · Many people who develop Lyme disease do not realize they have been bitten, so do not hesitate to seek care if you have symptoms of Lyme disease even if you are not aware of a tick bite. · Follow same guidelines above for children. · Examine household pets for ticks and remove them. Dogs also get Lyme disease. Vaccination and tick protection is recommended for dogs. · Consider using a single springtime application of a tick pesticide if you have ticks on your property. Follow the label instructions carefully. Two other diseases similar to Lyme disease transmitted by deer ticks are also known to occur in Pennsylvania – babesiosis and anaplasmosis – but, at present, are much less common than Lyme disease. # # # Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, Director Allegheny County Health Department – Public Information Office 542 Fourth Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone (412) 687-ACHD • Fax (412) 578-8325 • www.achd.net

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UPDATE .... Boat wreck victims identified
by Duane 05 Jun '15

05 Jun '15

DOMINION POST, June 5, 2015 Boat wreck victims ID’d Alex Lang State officials, on Thursday, released the names of the 12 people involved in the Memorial Day boat wreck on Cheat Lake. The 12 are Jacob Alexander, Reid Bailey, Rachel Coyle, Carley Dellasala, Michael Gaud, Morgan Gerdon, Tyler Geyer, Bret Grady, Maci Robles, Brandon Solomon, Hannah Spangler and Carly Weinstein. They were on the boat when it wrecked the night of May 25, according to Chelsea Ruby, director of Marketing and Communication for the state’s Department of Commerce. All but Dellasala are listed as WVU students on the school’s online directory. All those involved were ages 18 to early 20s. The Monongalia County prosecuting attorney and the state’s Division of Natural Resources are handling the investigation. The DNR falls under the umbrella of the Department of Commerce. The names were released mid-afternoon Thursday, after more than a week of keeping the names private. According to Ruby, the DNR conducted interviews with all 12 people. The dozen young adults were injured after the the boat they were riding in a 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter — a ski boat — hit an embankment in Cheat Lake about 9 p.m. All suffered various injuries and five were taken by ambulance or medical helicopter to area hospitals. On Thursday, only Alexander was still at Ruby Memorial Hospital. He was listed in fair condition. None of the others were listed in the patient directory, spokeswoman Amy Johns said. According to Mon County Prosecutor Marcia Ashdown, the investigation is ongoing. She said prosecutors plan to meet with DNR investigators today. Ruby declined to provide further information on the investigation, including who was driving the boat, if the driver was licensed, if there was evidence of controlled substances being used on the boat, if there were sufficient lifejackets on the boat, how fast the boat was traveling when it struck the embankment, if there were lights aboard the vessel and if there are any pending citations. “The investigation is ongoing, and no other details will be provided at this time,” Ruby wrote in an email to The Dominion Post. Ruby also declined to answer if the investigation is complete, if the information provided in the victims’ statements match, how much damage was done to the boat, where the boat is currently housed, if the victims were tossed from the vessel, the current location of the victims and if blood alcohol content levels were checked on any or all of the victims. She said that they are still in the middle of the investigation. When asked about hometowns and ages for the victims, Ruby said she did not have the information and didn’t believe the DNR was in position to release that information. The boat has a seating capacity of 15 people, according to manufacturer specifications. According to an online review of the 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter, the boat has a maximum speed of 71.8 knots per hour, roughly the equivalent of 45 miles per hour. WBOY, News 12 UPDATE (6/4 at 4 p.m.): Jacob Alexander, Reid Bailey, Rachel Coyle, Carley Dellasala, Michael Gaud, Morgan Gerdon, Tyler Geyer, Bret Grady, Macy Robles, Brandon Solomon, Hannah Spangler and Carly Weinstien were the 12 young adults that were involved in the boating accident. A GoFundMe page has been set up for one of the individuals, Morgan Gerdon, who, according to the page, was flown from the accident in critical condition. According to the GoFundMe page, Gerdon underwent surgery for a fractured skull after "an intoxicated driver drove the boat onto the shoreline and into trees at high speeds." According to the GoFundMe page, all proceeds collected over what the family needs for medical expenses will be donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving "to prevent future accidents from occurring." Duane Nichols, CLEAR

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WDTV.COM 5 News: BOATING ACCIDENT UPDATE: 12 Rushed to Hospital, Preliminary Field Report Released
by Duane 26 May '15

26 May '15

http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=BOATING-ACCIDENT… WDTV.COM 5 News: BOATING ACCIDENT UPDATE: 12 Rushed to Hospital, Preliminary Field Report Released UPDATE 5/26: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Law Enforcement has released information from a preliminary field report to 5 News. According to the report, the boating incident occurred Monday, May 25 at about 8:55 p.m. on Cheat Lake in Monongalia County. One boat was involved, a 23-foot Malibu Wakesetter ski boat that was traveling north on the lake. It was carrying an operator and 11 passengers. The boat collided with the embankment of the eastern shore of Cheat Lake. All aboard the boat received injuries and were transported to Mon General and Ruby Memorial hospitals in Morgantown. Three of them were transported by air due to the seriousness of their injuries. Their conditions are unknown, but there are no known fatalities at this time. No names or addresses are being released at this time. All aboard the vessel were young adults. An investigation is underway by Natural Resources Police Officers of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. So far, the cause of the crash has not been determined. UPDATE: Twelve people were rushed to the hospital following the boating accident in Cheat Lake, Monday night. Three of those patients are being flown, the other nine are being taken by ambulances. According to officials, a boat hit the shore and they described it as if "it was like hitting a brick wall." It happened in the Warm Hollow/Hickory Ridge area. Officials said there was a single tree sticking out but officials can't say if that did play a part in the incident. Patients were complaining of back and arm injuries. Make sure you stay with 5 News for more on this developing story. ORIGINAL:Officials are responding to a reported boating accident at Cheat Lake in Monongalia County. HealthNet is responding. No other details are available just yet. A 5 News reporter is on the way to the scene. Check back for the latest. Photo Gallery:

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Boat Accident on Cheat Lake
by Duane 26 May '15

26 May '15

WBOY News 12 Update: Authorities on Scene of Boating Accident, 12 Transported to Hospital Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 11:48 PM By Kathryn Ghion, General Assignment Reporter Just before 9 p.m. Monday evening, emergency officials responded to a boating accident on Cheat Lake in Monongalia County near Warm Hollow. Firefighters on scene said that 12 people were injured in the single boat accident. Three patients were flown by helicopter from the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department and the others were transported by ambulance. All patients were alert and talking upon transport. Several units responded to the accident including Brookhaven Fire Department, Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department, and Marion County EMS. Monongalia County Sheriff's Department and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are investigating. >>>>>>>>>>>>> DNR Offers Safety Tips as Boating Season Begins Updated: May 25, 2015 6:02 PM EDT By Nick FarrellCONNECT MONONGALIA COUNTY -Boating is a summertime activity that many West Virginians, like Robert Stout, love. “It gives you the freedom out there," said Stout, who works as a dock attendant at Sunset Marina on Cheat Lake. "Just being out in the water and the sun is a great thing. I think it's something everyone should try and almost everyone would enjoy.” When it comes to high-traffic weekends, such as Memorial Day weekend, officers from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are on the lookout for unsafe conditions caused by a high concentration of boaters. “Memorial Day weekend is always, traditionally, one of the busiest weekends that we have, and it's a bunch of novice boaters to begin with, so we concentrate more on the congested areas,” said Carlton Wade, DNR law enforcement officer. Wade reminds boaters that simple precautions can prevent accidents on the water. Even the most experienced boaters should wear life jackets, and ensure their passengers do the same. Wade offered some other pointers. “Don't overload the boats – that's always a big problem," said Wade. "Some of the channels in this lake narrow down and it's real difficult to pass at speed, so my suggestion would be to reduce speed if you're not sure. Stay out of the congested areas and try to be courteous to everybody else.” Sunset Marina owner Barry Frey says he's seen a decrease in accidents on Cheat Lake in recent years, even around holidays. Wade has made the same observation, and says he's also noticed that more boaters are acting responsibly when it comes to alcohol. “Most of the boat operators out here have been doing this for a long time, and they'll designate someone else to operate the boat," said Wade. "There is drinking going on out here – obviously, it's summertime, and that's what they do – but we see very few incidents of drinking and boating.” More responsible boaters makes for safer boating conditions, and Wade says that's exactly why fewer accidents are occurring on Cheat Lake. He urges boaters to be on the lookout for one another throughout the summer and to report unsafe activity to the DNR. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Video clips from WBOY ----- http://www.wboy.com/Clip/11532607/boating-safety-on-memorial-day Duane Nichols, duane330(a)aol.com

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Cass Railroad now open for the 2015 season | The Herald-Dispatch
by Duane 21 May '15

21 May '15

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x417381990/Cass-Railroad-now-ope… Cass Railroad now open for the 2015 season From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, May 20, 2015 Cass, WV -- The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad announced the 2015 season opening of the Cass Scenic Railroad. The 2015 opening marks the first season this iconic state attraction will be operated by a private sector company. Excursion schedules will be similar to past years. The Whittaker Station run from historic downtown Cass opened Tuesday, May 19, and the popular 11-mile trip to the mountaintop of Bald Knob from Cass began Thursday, May 22. Each Tuesday through Sunday from mid-May to mid-Sept, visitors can enjoy an hour and half round trip passenger train ride from Cass to Whittaker Station with breathtaking vistas of the Appalachians en route. At Whittaker, passengers can get off the train to photograph remnants of the former logging campsite at Whittaker and photograph the beautiful mountain views of eastern West Virginia. In the fall, the schedule fills out with daily departures until the end of October. The Bald Knob excursion opens with a Friday to Sunday departure schedule until mid-June, and increases its operations to Tuesday through Sunday throughout the summer beginning June 23. Visitors can ride the entire Cass Scenic Railroad 11-mile line that ascends the Appalachians to an elevation of 4,842 feet at Bald Knob. The four and a half hour round-trip train ride includes an authentic railroader’s “hobo” lunch included in the ticket price. At Bald Knob, passengers get off the train to photograph a gorgeous view of the mountainous valley below. The 2015 Cass Scenic Railroad season will see added event and excursion opportunities. This Saturday May 23 celebrates the inaugural run of the “Wild Heart of West Virginia” Adventure package – a multiple-day excursion option that connects the Cass Scenic and Cheat Mountain Salamander trains with an overnight stay in either historic downtown Cass or Elkins. The “Wild Heart” excursion follows the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, ascending the mountains to the town-site of Old Spruce, before connecting with the Cass Scenic Railroad for a scenic journey up to Bald Knob before descending into the timber-mining town of Cass for an overnight stay. According to Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad Packaging specialist, Matt Scott, this new connection opens an array of opportunity for group sales and consumer packaging that will ultimately increase overnight stays in the regional area. “With the ability to connect rail lines, we can now offer a brand new product to the group tour and consumer travel market,” Scott explained. “Tour operators are always looking for something new and different, and this year we have it.” The action-packed multi-day trip provides breathtaking photo opportunities, entertainment at both destinations, and an opportunity to ride in restored, historic trains pulled by authentic 20th century steam-powered and diesel locomotives. The new adventure series includes customized options and allows passengers to depart from Cass, Elkins, or Cheat Bridge. The new “Wild Heart of West Virginia” adventure package will kickoff this Memorial Day Weekend Saturday, May 23, with the first of a series of monthly special events at Spruce, the historic location of one of the highest elevated logging towns in the east that disappeared with the railroad logging days. The three departure locations and times include: Elkins Depot at 8:15 am, Cheat Bridge at 11:25 am and a 10:30 am departure from Cass Depot. The inaugural run will be celebrated with a Mountain Music Trail Picnic at Spruce where both trains will meet and passengers can enjoy traditional mountain music and a Memorial Day picnic at Spruce before continuing to their destination via rail. Special event connections do not include a trip to Bald Knob upon return. The Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad assumed the railroad operations of the Cass Scenic Railroad in January. The new operation allows for expanded tourist train opportunities, while adding new attractions and special events to create increased tourism development in the Potomac Highlands region of the state. For more information on excursions and special events go online at http://Mtn-Rail.com or call 1-877-686-7245.

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Allegheny Trail in Tucker County
by Duane 13 May '15

13 May '15

BLAZE A TRAIL ALLEGHENY TRAIL WORK Blackwater Canyon Rim May 15 - 17, 2015 At 10am on Friday morning meet at the Canyon Rim Trail Head - exit route 219 on FS 18 and go toward Olsen Fire Tower. On Saturday morningmeet at Blackwater Falls State Park Cabin 14. Friday evening a spaghetti dinner will be hosted at Cabin 14. All are welcome to join and help. Call Greg Edwards at 304-215-2772.

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Observer-Reporter | Area produced some of the state’s largest fish in 2014
by Duane 21 Apr '15

21 Apr '15

Area produced some of the state’s largest fish in 2014 Make text smalleWith the official opening of trout season yesterday - which, for many, marks the start of fishing season – it’s a good time to take a look at the largest fish caught in the area in 2014.Make text larger Jason and Joe Phillips of Canonsburg had a good day at High Point Lake last June. Jason Phillips landed the state’s biggest chain pickeral of the year on a Storm Lure. The fish was 24 inches in length and weighed five pounds, 10 ounces. On the same day, Joe Phillips landed a 23 1/2-inch chain pickeral on a jig that weighed four pounds, eight ounces. Joe Phillips’ fish was the fourth-largest chain pickerel caught in the state last year. Cross Creek Lake produced the state’s top sauger in 2014. The 27 1/2-inch fish that weighed 10 pounds was caught by David Defillipps of Avella with a Fire Tiger in June. That wasn’t the only big fish caught at Cross Creek Lake last year. Marshall E. Graham Jr. of Meadow Lands landed the second-largest reported largemouth bass in the state last October in Cross Creek. Graham’s largemouth was 22.2 inches in length and weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. He used a crank bait. Ireland Killen of McMurray landed the state’s second-largest carp on corn in Edinboro Lake in July. The 35-inch carp had a girth of 21 3/4 inches and weighed 26 pounds, one ounce. That fish, however, pales in comparison to the top carp taken in the state last year. That was a 42-inch monster that came in at just over 39 pounds and was caught a little over a week after Killen’s in Twin Lakes in Westmoreland County. Daun Nicholson of Normalville, Fayette County, caught the state’s largest flathead catfish in the Monongahela River last June. Nicholson’s 41 1/4-inch fish weighed in at 38 pounds, eight ounces and was caught on a jig with a power grub. The Cheat River, which flows into the Monongahela at Point Marion, produced a 47-inch musky for Bob Guido of Belle Vernon last October. The muskie, which was caught on a football jig, weighed in at 38 pounds, making it the fourth-largest taken in the state last year. The top muskie, taken in the Lehigh River and was 52 inches long, weighing in at a whopping 50 pounds, four pounds less than the state record. • I am hearing reports of increased longnose gar sightings and catches in the lower Monongahela River. In the last Pennsylvania Fish Commission lock chamber survey of the Mon, completed in 2010, there were 29 longnose gar collected in the Grays Landing area. Just three longnose gar were collected in the Maxwell chamber in the same year, while one was collected at Braddock. In a similar sampling in 2003, no longnose gar were collected in either pool. I’m not saying a gar is responsible for the reported sightings of an alligator in the Monongahela area, but if you did see just the head and back of an adult longnose gar – which can grow from four to six feet in length – surface in the water, it would give the appearance of being a large reptile. There’s also the possibility it was a muskie. I remain skeptical it is an alligator. • Greene County Waterways Conservation Officer Eric Davis is currently looking for somebody to serve as a deputy WCO in that area. Deputy officers assist the WCO in all duties. They must be 21 years of age, and go through formal training before taking to the field. Those interested can submit a résumé and a brief cover letter stating why they wish to become a deputy to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Southwest Regional Office at 236 Lake Road, Somerset, Pa., 15501. Or, if you’re not sure what the duties entail, you can look them up on the commission web site, talk to Davis or call the region office at 814-445-8974. Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley Make text smaller Make text larger

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West Virginia Fish Advisory
by Duane 15 Apr '15

15 Apr '15

https://www.wvdhhr.org/fish/Current_Advisories.asp Fish Consumption Advisories Available for 2014 The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) have updated the West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory for 2014. West Virginia DHHR, through an interagency agreement, partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop consumption advisories for fish caught in West Virginia. Fish consumption advisories are reviewed annually and help West Virginia anglers make educated choices about eating the fish they catch. Certain West Virginia sport fish have been found to have low levels of chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, selenium and dioxin. To protect the good health of West Virginians, the West Virginia DHHR offers an advisory for how often these fish can be safely eaten. An advisory is advice, and should not be viewed as law or regulation. It is intended to help anglers and their families make educated choices about: where to fish, what types of fish to eat, how to limit the amount and frequency of fish eaten, and how to prepare and cook fish to reduce contaminants. This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters. Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the market place are the responsibility of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information you can contact the FDA at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm The following 2014 advisory recommendation is the result of reviewing new and recent fish tissue data. Data collected from lakes and rivers in West Virginia show that a general statewide advisory of sport-caught fish is appropriate. A review of this information indicates that mercury, PCBs, and dioxin are the chemicals of the greatest concern. If you would like more detailed information about these contaminants and the levels measured, consult the DHHR Web Site at http://www.wvdhhr.org/fish. Body weight and meal size are important factors in fish advisories. Use this chart to find the size of meal that corresponds to your body weight. This advisory is designed to keep the amount of chemicals you eat at a safe level. Meal Sizes A person weighing between Should eat no more than this amount per meal pounds ounces of precooked fish 20 or less 1.0 21-35 1.5 36-50 2.0 51-70 3.0 71-90 4.0 91-110 5.0 111-130 6.0 131-150 7.0 151 and over 8.0 Remember that 3.0 ounces of precooked fish is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards Remember that 1.5 ounces of precooked fish is about one-half the size of the palm of your hand or one-half of a deck of cards Find the meal advice for the fish you’ve caught. “Do Not Eat” means you should not eat those fish because of higher contamination. The other groups (“One Meal a Week”, “Two meals a Month”, “One Meal a Month”, and “Six Meals a Year”) are advice for how often to eat fish. Women of childbearing age, children, and people who regularly eat fish are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time. If you fall into one of these categories, you should be especially careful to follow the meal sizes and space fish meals out according to the advisory tables. Your body can get rid of some contaminants over time. Spacing the meals out helps prevent the contaminants from building up to harmful levels in the body. For example, if the fish you eat is in the “One Meal a Month Group”, wait a month before eating another meal of fish from any restricted category. Occasionally eating fish in quantities slightly greater than the advisories recommend, such as during an annual fishing vacation, should not present a health hazard.Follow the advice presented in this advisory, noting the differences between the General and Specific Advisories for all West Virginia waters and the Ohio River Advisory. Follow the advice presented in this advisory, noting the differences between the General Advisories for all West Virginia waters and the more restrictive Specific Advisories. General Advisories 2014 WV Statewide Consumption Advisories Water Body Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminants All Waters in West Virginia except where listed in the Specific Consumption Advisories. Hybrid Striped Bass 1 meal a month Mercury PCBs White Bass Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) 2 meals a month Channel Catfish greater than 17” Flathead Catfish Rock Bass Walleye and Saugeye Sauger All Suckers Channel Catfish less than 17” 1 meal a week All Other Species Rainbow Trout No Limit More restrictive advisories issued in 2014 affect the following water bodies: 2014 WV Specific Consumption Advisories Water Body Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminant(s)* Bluestone River Carp 1 meal a month PCBs Fish Creek Smallmouth Bass, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury Flat Fork Creek Carp Do not eat PCBs Channel Catfish, all sizes Suckers Kanawha River downstream of I-64 bridge in Dunbar including all backwaters, Armour Creek, Heizer Creek, Manila Creek, lower two miles Pocatalico River Flathead Catfish, all sizes Do not eat Dioxin* Mercury PCBs Channel Catfish, all sizes Carp Hybrid Striped Bass Suckers All other species 1 meal a month Little Kanawha and Hughes River Sauger 1 meal a month Mercury Upper Mud and Mount Storm lakes, and Pinnacle Creek** Follow Advisory Guidelines for WV Statewide Consumption. Selenium R.D. Bailey Lake Channel Catfish greater than 17” 6 meals a year PCBs Shenandoah River Carp Do not eat Mercury PCBs* Smallmouth bass 1 meal a month Mercury Summersville Lake Flathead Catfish, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury 1 meal a monthh Sutton Lake Black Bass, all sizes 1 meal a month Mercury Note: *Contaminant- Meal Limits are determined by the chemical with asterisk. Other chemicals, such as dioxin, (Hg) methyl mercury may have an advisory at a less restrictive level. **Measureable levels of selenium were detected in samples from the listed water bodies. The levels measured would suggest advisories that are less restrictive or consistent with the statewide consumption advice in place for mercury and PCBs. PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls - The protocol used to determine Ohio River fish consumption advisories (ORFCAP) is the product of the efforts of a multi-agency workgroup consisting of representatives from the six main stem states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) as well as the US EPA and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) to develop consistent fish advisories along the Ohio River main stem. The online Ohio River advisory is available at: http://216.68.102.178/comm/fishconsumption/default.asp , please refer to the website for recent updates. 2014 Ohio River Consumption Advisory Ohio River Segmentt Species Limit your fish meals to: Contaminant(s)* Pennsylvania Border (East Liverpool) to Belleville Lock (Brooke Hancock, Marshall Ohio, Pleasants Tyler, Wetzel, Wood Counties) Channel Catfish 18” and over Do Not Eat PCBs Channel Catfish less than 18”, Common Carp, Striped Bass Hybrid, White Bass 6 meals a year Black Crappie Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum 14”and over Largemouth Bass Sauger Saugeye Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Spotted Bass All Suckers Walleye White Crappie 1 meal a monthh Belleville Lock to the Kentucky Border (Cabell, Jackson Mason, Wayne Counties) Channel Catfish 18” and over 6 meals a year PCBs Channel Catfish less than 18” Common Carp Flathead Catfish Freshwater Drum 14” and over Striped Bass Striped Bass Hybrid All Suckers White Bass 1 meal a month Note:*Contaminant- Meal Limits are determined by the chemical with asterisk. Other chemicals, such as dioxin, (Hg) methyl mercury may have an advisory at a less restrictive level. PCBs: Polychlorinated Biphenyls For further information or the most current advice consult the WV DHHR Web Site at www.wvdhhr.org/fish or call (304) 558-2771. Other contacts: Consult the WV Division of Natural Resources Web Site at www.wvdnr.gov/fishing/fishing.shtm or call (304) 558-2771. www.dep.wv.gov/or call (304) 926-0495. Consult the US EPA Web Site at www.epa.gov/ost/fish Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Cheat Canyon in W.Va. permanently conserved - Herald-Standard
by Duane 12 Apr '15

12 Apr '15

http://www.heraldstandard.com/content/tncms/live/ Cheat Canyon in W.Va. permanently conserved By Steve Ferris, Uniontown Herald-Standard, April 11, 2015 The Cheat Canyon, eight miles of rugged West Virginia mountains with the Cheat River and the Allegheny Trail running through it, has been permanently conserved. State, federal and conservation organization officials named it the Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area after they pulled together $7 million to buy the property from a private owner last fall. “It’s been a priority for conservation for a long time,” said Ann Simonelli of the Conservation Fund, one of organizations involved in the effort.The canyon had been a target for preservation since the 1970s. Preserving the canyon was the subject of a letter sent to Patrick Noonan in 1976, when he was president of the Nature Conservancy, Simonelli said. Later, Noonan left the Conservancy and created the Conservation Fund. The Nature Conservancy is another one of the groups involved in the canyon project. “People have been trying to protect this part of Cheat Canyon for a long time,” Simonelli said. “Local residents and people who love the outdoors realize what kind of treasure this land is. They’ll be able to experience the landscape. It will be unmarred by development.” The 3,800-acre canyon has trail heads at each end — just upstream of Coopers Rock State Forest and in Albright. It is a popular whitewater rafting and kayaking destination and is home to unique and rare wildlife. “The primary goal for acquiring that area was the Indiana bat, an endangered species, and the flat-spired, three-toothed land snail, which is a threatened species,” said Steve Rauch, of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR). “It puts the known locations of the snail under state control, which is really important for management.” Development and fire are the main treats to those animals, Rauch said. The state does not allow mountain bike riding on the trail to protect the snail, which is found nowhere else in the world, he said. “It is the only place on this Earth where this thing lives,” said Keith Fisher of the Nature Conservancy. Green salamanders also reside in the canyon. Rare plants grow in the scoured gravel bars in and along the river and caves dot the canyon walls, Fisher said. Part of the trail at the Albright end of the canyon was closed by the previous owner, who also cut some timber there, he said. “This will re-establish the trail,” Rauch said. The logging road used in the timber cutting is now part of the trail, Fisher said. The state opened the canyon to hunting for the first time in the fall and the harvest included a number of white-tailed deer and a black bear, he said. “It’s also a whitewater hot spot,” Fisher said. “The Cheat Canyon is a pretty special place. It’s been abused repeatedly for a long time. It’s great to have it protected. Not just the water resource, but the land resource,” said Eric Martin, owner of Wilderness Voyageurs of Ohiopyle, which is among the outfitters that take whitewater rafting trips down the Cheat River. The river had a legacy of a “ridiculous amount of acid mine drainage” and timber cutting that didn’t always employ best practices, Martin said. Remediation efforts spearheaded by conservation groups like the Friends of the Cheat have improved the quality of the water and the fishery, he said. “It’s the largest undammed watershed east of the Mississippi River and spectacular, unique place,” Martin said. Rafting and kayaking is done mostly in the spring when rains create class 4 and greater rapids, he said. “It’s mostly known as a spring trip for big water, every bit as much action as the Gauley (River). It’s a springtime run because there’s no dam. We run primarily in the spring when rain brings water — a class 4, 4-plus trips,” Martin said. A 1,361-acre section of the 3,800 acre canyon that surrounds the river is owned by the Conservancy, which is leasing it to the state, Fisher said. The Conservation Fund will eventually transfer the remaining 2,500 acres to the DNR, which will manage it as a part of the other recreational land it owns along the lower Cheat River, Simonelli said. Public and private funding was used to purchase the land. Private sources included a $2.6 million donation from the Charlotte Ryde estate and a combined $1 million donation from Warburg Pincus and Antero Resources to the Nature Conservancy. Public money came from a package of grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund and the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, as well as mitigation dollars. 3 images Michael Palm|Herald-Standard Michael Palm|Herald-Standard The Cheat Canyon shown from the Cooper’s Rock State Forest overlook in West Virginia has been permanently conserved. Cheat Canyon Wildlife Management Area is eight miles of rugged mountains with the Cheat River and the Allegheny Trail running through it. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Six professors earn 2015 WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching
by Duane 09 Apr '15

09 Apr '15

http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2015/04/08/six-professors-earn-2015-wvu-foundatio… Six professors earn 2015 WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching Every year, the West Virginia University Foundation celebrates a special class of teacher: The kind that nudges students toward their dreams. The kind that groggy-eyed underclassmen have no problem waking up for at 8 a.m. The kind that you remember and keep in touch with decades after graduating. These professors leave a lasting impact, and are recipients of the WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching. This year’s honorees are: • Joshua Arthurs, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences ; • Damien Clement, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences ; • Melissa Morris, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources • Mario Perhinschi, Statler College; • Michael Strager, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design ; and • Elaine Wilson, College of Law. “These six professors inspire students to achieve more than they themselves ever thought they could,” said Provost Joyce McConnell. “President Gee and I often publicly assert that West Virginia University offers an exceptional education – and we’re proud to be able to point to this kind of passionate, exciting teaching as the foundation of that education.” The WVU Foundation established the awards in 1985 as a way to celebrate faculty who’ve established patterns of distinguished teaching and exceptional innovation in teaching methods, course and curriculum design, and instructional tools. A list of previous recipients is available here. “We congratulate this year’s recipients who truly go above and beyond in their areas of expertise,” said Cindi Roth, WVU Foundation president and CEO. “WVU is fortunate to have such high caliber faculty inspiring our students. The Foundation is pleased to be able to fund these awards annually because of the tremendous generosity of our donors.” Michael Strager During his time as an educator at WVU, Strager, associate professor of spatial analysis, has developed eight new courses introducing students to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies like GPS, remote sensing, and GIS/spatial analysis. “Many of the courses he has created have become academic requirements for undergraduate programs, and they have provided his students with an extremely marketable skill set, in addition to giving them a unique perspective on the resources and landscapes they plan to further study and manage during their careers,” said Davis College Dean Daniel J. Robison. Strager teaches six to seven classes a year, dividing his focus between forestry and natural resources and agricultural and natural resource economics. While managing this high volume of students, he’s uniformly credited by them for providing far more than an average classroom experience. Instead of textbooks, he uses practical examples drawn from government and industry, and relating material to his students from his own research publications and interests. “He inspires students and challenges them,” Robison said. “To talk with Mike is to understand his passion as an educator.”

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Bats In Pennsylvania Threatened By White Nose Syndrome
by Duane 08 Apr '15

08 Apr '15

Bats In Pennsylvania Threatened By White Nose Syndrome From Associated Press, Huffington Post, April 6, 2015 PITTSBURGH (AP) — One of the most common bat species in Pennsylvania is being threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats of that species and others in North America. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the northern long-eared bat as a "threatened" species, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1Cb0Nh3 ) reported Monday. The agency was considering listing the species as "endangered" — a more serious designation — but decided on "threatened" because the bat's population has not been affected outside areas where the fungal disease has caused problems, the newspaper reported. The agency is proposing interim rules meant to safeguard the bat's habitat, including limits on forest timbering. But the rules could also impact the wind energy and natural gas and oil drilling industries. Lora Zimmerman, a project leader with the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the "threatened" listing in Pennsylvania might seem odd in light of the fact that the long-eared bat's population in the state is only less than 5 percent of what it was before 2006, when the fungus that produces white-nose syndrome was discovered in a cave in upstate New York. Pennsylvania is an area hard hit by the white-nose syndrome, and the designation "will likely be re-evaluated regularly," Zimmerman said. The interim "threatened" listing was announced Thursday in the federal register and takes effect in 30 days along with interim environmental rules. The wildlife agency plans to take 90 days of public comment on those rules, in hopes of finalizing them by year's end. The Independent Petroleum Association of American has commented on the bat's threatened designation, but it may not file comments on the accompanying environmental rules, spokesman Neal Kirby said. He said that's because the bat's habitat isn't affected as much by drilling as it is by the fungus, and other industries, like timbering. But Michael Gannon, a Penn State University bat expert and member of the Mammal Technical Committee for the Pennsylvania Biological Society, said rules to protect the bats are needed soon. That's because bats feed on insects and pesticide use might have to increase if the bat population doesn't rebound. Bats, in general, provide $22 billion worth of ecological services in the United States annually, including $292 million in Pennsylvania, he said. "Shortsighted individuals that ignore the science and economics and feel protection of this valuable natural resource is not warranted will cost us considerably in the future," Gannon said. ___

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DEP Issues Statement After Reports of Orange Rocks in Cheat Rive - WBOY.com
by Duane 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28731748/dep-issues-statement-after-reports-of-or… WV-DEP Issues Statement After Reports of Orange Rocks in Cheat River in Preston County From WV DEP, April 6, 2015 The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has been receiving reports from Cheat River boaters noticing orange rocks at the mouth of Muddy Creek in Preston County. The DEP issued a statement Monday assuring the public that the situation is under control. According to the statement, the DEP believes the orange rocks were caused by an occurrence inside an old mine near Valley Point, such as a roof collapse, which created a temporary blockage and allowed iron-laden water to build up inside the mine. Finally, the water began pouring out of the mine quickly into the creek in March. While the iron levels in the creek were higher than normal, the DEP assures no fish or plant life would have been affected as that section of Muddy Creek is considered "dead." The DEP had engineers and geologists investigating the rocks and are in the process of developing a plan that should prevent this type of incident from occurring in the future.

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Cheat Fest to Host A Dozen Bands - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather
by Duane 25 Mar '15

25 Mar '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28603576/cheat-fest-to-host-a-dozen-bands Cheat Fest to Host A Dozen Bands Posted: Mar 24, 2015 3:45 PM EDT Updated: Mar 24, 2015 5:24 PM EDT By Krista Baker, Monongalia and Preston County Reporter There are only 39 days and counting until the annual Cheat Fest kicks off in Albright. The Cheat River Festival will be on May 2nd from noon-11 p.m. It features dozens of bands, a kids tent, and of course, education about the Cheat River. All of the proceeds from the event go to Friends of the Cheat to help reserve, preserve and promote the river. Tickets to the festival and the annual t-shirts are on sale at CheatFest.org. www.FrackCheckWV.net

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Urgent: Last Chance to Improve Storage Tank Bill !!!
by Duane330＠aol.com 10 Mar '15

10 Mar '15

From: WVEC - Vickie Wolfe [mailto:ibtreehugger@wvecouncil.org] Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 2:49 PM To: Don Strimbeck Subject: URGENT: Last Chance to Improve Tank Bill! (http://wvecouncil.org/) West Virginia Environmental Council Action Alert Mar. 10, 2015 Once again, we really need your help! By a vote of _13-12_ (http://media.wvgazette.com/static/watchdog/Tank%20Judiciary%20Amend%20Vote.…) late last night, the House Judiciary Committee narrowly rejected amendments that would have improved water protections in S.B. 423, “Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act.” A last push for amendments on the House floor could make the difference! Please act now: 1. If you can, please come to the Capitol this afternoon/evening or tomorrow to hand deliver a letter to Speaker Armstead in Room 228M (keep reading for what to say). Ask to see the speaker. Say you’ll be glad to wait. Sit in his outer office. If it overflows, stand in the hallway outside. But be very polite and respectful. 2. If you are not able to talk with the speaker in person, call him: 304.340.3210. If you aren’t able to hand deliver a letter, send an e-mail: _tim.armstead(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:tim.armstead@wvhouse.gov) Tell Speaker Armstead to please support amendments to S.B. 423 to improve protections for our water. 3. _Contact your Delegate_ (http://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/) (s) and tell him/her to support amendments to S.B. 423 to improve protections for our water. 4. Send an e-mail thanking committee members who voted last night FOR protective amendments and AGAINST advancing the bill to the floor: _patrick.lane(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov) , _tmanchin(a)manchininjurylaw.com_ (mailto:tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com) , _stephen.skinner(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:stephen.skinner@wvhouse.gov) , _john.mccuskey(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:john.mccuskey@wvhouse.gov) , _andrew.byrd(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:andrew.byrd@wvhouse.gov) , _barbaraf(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:barbaraf@wvhouse.gov) , _shawn.fluharty(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:shawn.fluharty@wvhouse.gov) , _ken.hicks(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:ken.hicks@wvhouse.gov) , _dana.lynch(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:dana.lynch@wvhouse.gov) , _clif.moore(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:clif.moore@wvhouse.gov) , _larry.rowe(a)wvhouse.gov_ (mailto:larry.rowe@wvhouse.gov) Click _here_ (http://wvrivers.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7558a78e42c942949aeb1383f…) for a summary of needed changes to SB 423. Finally: Please join us for our annual awards dinner/fundraiser TONIGHT, MARCH 10 at 6:00 p.m. We will enjoy dinner, music and fellowship in the pleasant surroundings of the Women’s Club, 1600 Virginia Street East, Charleston. Suggested donation $15. >From the WVEC Action Alert E-mail List _Subscribe or Unsubscribe Online_ (http://wvecouncil.org/archive/action-alerts/)

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Boat Docks Ripped Out by Ice Flows at Cheat Lake Marina and Edgewater Marina
by Duane330＠aol.com 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

Docks Destroyed by Ice at Cheat Lake Marina Written by _Alex Wiederspiel_ (http://www.wdtv.com/bios.cfm?user=Alex-Wiederspiel) Last updated on March 04, 2015 @ 8:51PM Created on March 04, 2015 @ 6:35PM Serious damage was done to the Cheat Lake Marina in Monongalia County as a result of large chunks of ice floating down the river. Every single dock that was attached to that marina is now debris in the Cheat River, much floating on into the Monongahela River. According to witnesses, the docks began to take damage around 11 AM Wednesday morning, and many described the noise as an intense grinding sound. "As I was working, I looked down and saw ice coming down the mouth of the lake," said Rodney Kovach, the principle owner of Key Contracting in Cheat Lake. "It was something like I've never seen before. The whole lake was full of ice and just took out all the docks and everything." Another man who lives in the Cheat Lake area said that he was fortunate that his docks were not damaged by the gushing chunks of ice that continued to float down the river Wednesday afternoon. "I witnessed all the edge water marina and the lakeside docks that were just put in last summer coming down the lake in a big sheet of ice," said Dr. Bill Rose, a resident of Cheat Lake. "So as you can see it's totally just devastation of all the marinas." There were people lined up and down the street from the marina past Ice's Ferry Bridge. Simply gazing at the destruction. If you have pictures or videos, you can e-mail them to us at news(a)wdtv.com See here: http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=view&section=5-News&item=Docks-Destroyed-…

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Ice Flow on Cheat Lake
by Duane Nichols 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

From: Skip Pratt [mailto:Skip.Pratt@NETL.DOE.GOV] Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 12:58 PM To: Kevin Moore; Parke Johnson Cc: dcsoinks(a)comcast.net Subject: Fwd: cheat lake pic Cheat Lake is being scoured by an ice flow....Kyle says all the docks at Biafora and edgewater are gone. See attached from some else. >>> Debra Turner 3/4/2015 12:41 PM >>> Sent from my iPhone

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NOTICE: Lake Lynn Hydro Recreation Update Moved to March 16th
by Duane 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

NOTICE: Due to adverse regional weather conditions, the 2015 Update Meeting on the Lake Lynn Hydro Recreation Plan has been moved to Monday, March 16th at 6:30 pm. Location: Lakeview Resort & Country Club on Cheat Lake at I - 68. Host for this meeting is Lake Lynn Hydro, LLC. Duane Nichols, CLEAR, Cell- 304-216-5535

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Winter Weather Alerts & Flood Watches and River Flood Watches Is - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown:
by Duane 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

http://www.wboy.com/story/28242202/winter-weather-alerts-flood-watches-and-… Winter Weather Alerts & Flood Watches and River Flood Watches Issued through Thursday... Clarksburg, WV (WBOY) - After a dry start to the work week, that all changes as we get from Tuesday and into Thursday... The National Weather Service has issued the following winter weather and flooding alerts in advance of our next weather maker on the way to the region... Flood Watch: In effect for the entire WBOY 12 News Viewing Area from Tuesday Morning through Thursday Morning in our Central and Southern Zones, and until Thursday Evening in our Northern Zones. Winter Weather Advisories from 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM Tuesday for Preston and Tucker Counties in West Virginia along with Garrett County, Maryland. Freezing Rain Advisories from 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM Tuesday for Randolph and Pocahontas Counties in West Virginia. River Flood Watch - Preston County, WV: Cheat River at Rowlesburg. As the rain moves into the area, river levels are anticipated to rise. Flood Stage for the river is 16.0 Feet, and minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is expected to be reached by Wednesday Afternoon and Evening. As the precipitation moves into the area on Tuesday, this could begin as a wintry mix for everyone, before quickly changing over to rain in the lowlands, but the wintry mix will hang on into the late morning and early afternoon in the higher elevations, before they change over to rain as well... Heavy rain will move into the region as we get from Tuesday Afternoon and into Wednesday, and we can't rule out a rumble of thunder late Tuesday and into Wednesday Morning, as the cold front moves through the area. Most places will see anywhere from 1-3" of rain, with isolated higher amounts, before the colder air moves in. Once the cold front moves through the area, we will usher in some colder air pretty quick, and this will chance the rain over to snow, and we could see some snowfall accumulations from Wednesday Night and into Thursday Morning, before we dry things out as we get into the end of the week. This is definitely a forecast you want to keep tabs on over the next few days because we have multiple hazards to watch from wintry weather and flooding rainfall as well, that will impact just about everyone. Stay with WBOY 12 News and StormTracker 12, we'll keep you ahead of the storm... --WBOY StormTracker 12 Meteorologist Bryan Schuerman http://www.wboy.com/story/28242202/winter-weather-alerts-flood-watches-and-… Submitted by: Duane Nichols, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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I Squared Capital grows its Cube Hydro platform by investing in ten run-of-the-river power plants in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States - Yahoo Finance
by Duane 02 Mar '15

02 Mar '15

The Lake Lynn Hydro Station and allied facilities on Cheat Lake have been purchased by Cube Hydro, effective February 19, 2015. The Lake Lynn facility has a capacity of 53 megawatts. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/squared-capital-grows-cube-hydro-231900530.ht… I Squared Capital grows its Cube Hydro platform by investing in ten run-of-the-river power plants in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic States NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, a portfolio company of the ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund, has acquired a 100 percent ownership interest in ten run-of-the-river hydro facilities from Harbor Hydro, LLC, a portfolio company of LS Power Equity Advisors. Totaling 83 megawatts of generation assets in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the portfolio benefits from favorable hydrology and is scheduled to produce approximately 255 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable electricity per year. Following this acquisition, Cube Hydro’s combined assets will generate more than 106 MW of clean, renewable energy. Kristina Johnson, CEO of Cube Hydro said, “Hydropower is the original renewable source of electricity. We are excited to add these ten plants to our platform.” “These additional assets allow us to optimize the performance of our existing portfolio and drive long-term value,” said John Collins, Managing Director of Cube Hydro. “Working side-by-side with I Squared Capital over the last year, we have developed a strong team to identify and execute attractive investment opportunities in hydroelectric assets.” “We are pleased with our hydropower platform’s expansion to a region characterized by dependable river basins, a highly efficient electricity market and a diverse off-taker base,” said Thomas Lefebvre, Managing Director at I Squared Capital. “Cube Hydro is set on a successful growth path to identify attractive assets with the opportunity for future optimization through equipment upgrades and operational improvements.” About Cube Hydro Partners: Led by former U.S. Undersecretary of Energy Kristina Johnson, Cube Hydro Partners, LLC, is a hydropower development and operating platform investing in mid-sized greenfield and operating hydro projects in the U.S. and Canada. About I Squared Capital: I Squared Capital is an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities, and transport in North America, Europe, and select high growth economies. The Firm has offices in New York, Houston, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong and Singapore. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535, www.FrackCheckWV.net

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