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Cheat Lake drawdown
by Duane 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

> From: Andy Datsko > Date: November 15, 2012 12:48:55 PM EST > To: Duane <duane330(a)aol.com > Subject: Cheat Lake 10 foot drawdown > > Duane- > > Just wanted to let you know that due to construction at the dam we will be pulling the lake down gradually over the next week or so to about 860' for the week of November 27th and will hold it at that level for about 7-10 days weather permitting. > > We are in process of installing a 2nd debris boom at the dam and will need the reservoir down to construct the attachment hardware to the face of the dam for the new debris boom that will stretch from the dam to the west shore line. Once the work is down we will return to our normal winter operating schedule. > > Since we are within our FERC permitted limits for the winter and seasonal docks have been removed from the reservoir we will not be putting a public notice out on this but we just wanted to give you advanced information if CLEAR receives any questions on why the lake is down. > > Andy

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DID YOU HEAR IT, THE OLD BRIDGE IS DOWN
by Duane 26 Sep '12

26 Sep '12

At exactly 10 am today, the final portion of the old Ices Ferry Bridge was blown into the water. Did you hear it? We can look to YouTube for video coverage, hopefully! Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge Comes Down. BUILT BEFORE DAM, IN 1922, 90 YEARS AGO
by Duane 21 Sep '12

21 Sep '12

http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=55115&ty… Ices Ferry Bridge Comes Down With just one blast, 90 years worth of history fell into Cheat Lake Thursday. Contractors working for the state Division of Highways began the demolition process of the Ices Ferry Bridge Thursday. The boom shook the Cheat Lake area at about 10:02 a.m. Thursday as the first portion of the bridge came down. The rest of the bridge will be demolished next Wednesday. The bridge carried motorists across Cheat Lake from 1922 until its closing in May 2011. It will give way to a new bridge scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. Danny Johnson of Johnson Brothers Trucking says he drove over the old iron bridge dozens of times. Now, Johnson's company is hauling the steel from the bridge to be recycled. "I used to haul a lot of coal across this old bridge. I can't believe I'll haul it out of here now," Johnson said. A crane will be used to lift the steel out of the water onto a boat that will then move the steel to the lake's banks. The steel will be cut up and placed on trucks headed toward the Pittsburgh area for recycling. "They're going to cut it up and do it all; we're just going to haul it all away," Johnson said. Johnson said it will likely take three weeks before all the steel is removed from the lake. Workers established a large radius for the explosion that echoed throughout the Cheat Lake area. Brayman Construction Corp. of Saxonburg, Pa., took down the bridge and building the new one. The new bridge is expected to open by the end of the year. The replacement cost is about $12.5 million. Dozens of residents lined the banks of the lake, hiked up to the top of hills and even went out on boats to get the best view of the demolition. Joshua Clopeck brought his family to watch. He said he drove on the bridge in 2011 and a new structure was needed. "It's weird when you cross it. You look down and can see the water and it was old and rickety," he said. "I understand it needed to be improved ... especially with the boats needing to get through at some point." Justin Burns also attended the demolition. He said the bridge was a landmark, but it's time was up. "It's been 15 years since I crossed it, but out with the old and in with the new," Burns said. SEE VIDEO ON WEB SITE ABOVE . . . Video of Collapse - Uploaded by IcesFerryBridge

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"Thar she blows" on Cheat Lake
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

The new bridge deck is on the right, scheduled to open the first part of November 2012. The Cheat Lake dam construction was started in 1912, some one hundred years ago, finished in 1926. The old bridge shown here was built not that long thereafter, around 1936. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge 3/4 blown in Morgantown, WV
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGIOcetK6k0&feature=youtube_gdata_player Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Ices Ferry Bridge blown up this morning
by Duane 20 Sep '12

20 Sep '12

Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnzkH-Umy88&feature=youtube_gdata_player Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Waterkeepers Paddle for 40th Anniversary of Clean Water Act « EcoWatch:
by Duane 19 Sep '12

19 Sep '12

http://ecowatch.org/2012/anniversary-clean-water-act-2/ Waterkeepers Paddle for 40th Anniversary of Clean Water Act Potomac Riverkeeper Waterkeepers from around the country joined more than a hundred paddlers on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. to rally for clean water on Sept. 15. Paddlers, including more than 30 Waterkeeper organizations from Shenandoah Riverkeeper in Virginia to Klamath Riverkeeper in California, brought their boats, kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards and congregated under Key Bridge. They demonstrated solidarity for the Clean Water Act by paddling together towards the Georgetown waterfront. It was the largest gathering of Waterkeepers on the Potomac ever. It was an amazing sight. Marc Yaggi, Waterkeeper Alliance executive director, opened the rally, addressing both the spectators at Georgetown Waterfront Park and paddlers in the water. He was followed by speakers, Jeff Corbin senior advisor for the Environmental Protection Agency for Chesapeake Bay, David Baron managing attorney for Earthjustice and local Waterkeepers, all in agreement that the Clean Water Act works. The Clean Water Act works for our economy, our health and our communities. Clean water creates jobs and it’s more cost effective to invest in clean water than it is to clean polluted water. Clean water is essential for healthy families and communities. As Potomac Riverkeeper Ed Merrifield reminded the audience, the human body is about two-thirds water and those living in the DC area “are mostly Potomac River.” “We have a right to clean water! Let’s uphold the Clean Water Act!” Baron said passionately. “[It] was a ray of hope 40 years ago.” But now polluters and many in Congress are rolling back commonsense environmental protections. Waterkeepers all around the nation use the Clean Water Act every day to protect local waterways. But is that enough? “Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is water. Shouldn’t 70 percent of the world work on protecting that resource?” Corbin said. The rally to celebrate the Clean Water Act’s 40th Anniversary was a call to everyone to participate in the protection of clean water and to fight for the health of their families and communities. “I want to say thank you to the 1972 Congress,” Merrifield said. Let’s ensure that 40 years from now, we can say thank you to ourselves for upholding what the 1972 Congress intended for future generations—drinkable, fishable, swimmable waters. Visit EcoWatch’s CLEAN WATER ACT page for more related news on this topic. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Test. Share. Protect. World Water Monitoring Day 2012! | Healthy Waters for EPA's Mid-Atlantic Region
by Duane 12 Sep '12

12 Sep '12

http://blog.epa.gov/healthywaters/2012/09/test-share-protect-world-water-mo… Test. Share. Protect. World Water Monitoring Day 2012! By Trey Cody, Student at Penn State & EPA Intern Did you ever wonder how information is gathered on the condition of our streams, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waters? Or how we know whether it is safe to use these waters for drinking or recreational activities like fishing, swimming, and boating? September 18th is your day to not only ask these questions, but to get out and be involved in the data collection yourself… because September 18th is World Water Monitoring Day! You don’t have to consider yourself a scientist to help keep tabs on the health of your local watershed. As part of World Water Monitoring Day, you can do your own monitoring tests and enter your results into an international database. Simple monitoring kits are available for purchase by anyone interested in participating. The health of our water bodies is important more than just one day per year, which is why the World Water Monitoring Day Challenge runs annually from March 22nd (the United Nations’ World Water Day) until December 31st. Events are held, and tests can be conducted and results submitted at any time. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage people everywhere to TEST the quality of their waterways, SHARE their findings, and PROTECT our most precious resource. Watch this video for background on the event and to learn how to test for the four indicators (Turbidity, pH, Temperature, and Dissolved Oxygen) of the World Water Monitoring Day Challenge. By just testing these four parameters – and it’s easy to do – we can learn a lot about the health of our waterways. There are lots of materials out there to help you learn more about the importance of water monitoring. EPA’s Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality page and other outreach materials can help get people excited about water quality. So get out and assess your waters! Tell us about your water monitoring experiences and what you found in your data collection. About the Author: Trey Cody has been an intern with EPA’s Water Protection Division since graduation from high school in 2010. He is currently attending the Pennsylvania State University. 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation’s law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Throughout the year, EPA will be highlighting different aspects of the history and successes of the Clean Water Act in reducing pollution in the past 40 years. The month of September will focus on Action and Education. Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Boat Passage Under Cheat Lake Bridges
by Duane330＠aol.com 28 Aug '12

28 Aug '12

Duane, RE: New Bridge Construction on WV 857 Over Cheat Lake Date: August 28, 2012 The boating access (under the bridges) has not been cut off. It has been and will continue to be open to the public for the remainder of the project. Demolishment has begun on the existing bridge and access is still provided. The only exception to this will be the days that the spans on the existing bridge will be blasted. This will occur around the middle of September. Even then, access will only be temporarily restricted at the time of blasting. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Brett Fellers | Project Engineer, Brayman Construction Corporation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOTE: It would appear that the new Bridge should be completed and open to traffic by mid-November, or shortly thereafter (before snow flies, if snow flies this winter). DGN

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Go Jump in the Lake! « EcoWatch
by Duane 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

http://ecowatch.org/2012/go-jump-in-a-lake-2/ Go Jump in the Lake! Marc Yaggi This summer, grab your family and make the time to get out and enjoy your local waterway! Whether it’s swimming, surfing, paddling, snorkeling or just laying on the beach and enjoying the sound of surf breaking, take the time to enjoy YOUR right to clean, swimmable waters. Today, we are celebrating Swimmable Action Day—a day to advocate for our right to clean, swimmable waters for all. Why? Because the more we use our waterways, the more we will understand, and value, the importance of clean water to our communities. Access to clean swimmable waters gives us a day of recreation without fear of harmful pollutants, provides a sense of place and inspires us to act as stewards of our waterways. And that is exactly what we need today—an army of informed citizen advocates who understand that everyone has a right to clean water for swimming, drinking and fishing. An informed, active public is the best defense to preventing industrial polluters and corrupt politicians from privatizing our waters. Usually, all it takes to instill this is a meaningful connection—a positive experience—with one’s local waterway. Take a minute and listen to participants in the recently held Buzzards Bay Swim (a Waterkeeper Alliance Splash Series event presented by Toyota and KEEN) talk about their connection to their local waterway. Organized by Buzzards Baykeeper, the swim drew more than 300 people, who swam 1.2 miles across the bay to join hundreds of supporters in raising money and awareness for a clean bay. We interviewed dozens of swimmers and attendees. The most common reply to the question “what does clean water mean to you?” was “life.” Most of the participants couldn’t imagine a world where it wasn’t safe for them to jump in a local waterway and go for a swim. And swimming is good for you. According to the Centers for Disease Control, swimming is the second most popular sport in the United States and an excellent way to get regular aerobic activity. As an exercise, swimming can lead to improved health for those with diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic illnesses. Those who swim regularly have stronger hearts and good muscle stamina. Swimming also is easier on joints and muscles than most exercise and can improve mental health. But of course, we need clean water for other water-based recreation, such as kayaking, canoeing, surfing, sailing, waterskiing, fishing, and paddle boarding. A 2006 Study by the Outdoor Industry Association estimates that outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Apart from the significant economic impacts, the benefits of water-based recreation include increased physical fitness, meeting people, growing self-confidence, learning new skills and more. Added benefits include community pride, environmental awareness and cultural appreciation. Further, the America’s Great Outdoors report notes that “play and relaxation in nature can reduce stress and anxiety, promote learning and personal growth…” It is also a powerful antidote to the skyrocketing obesity rates across the nation, which have tripled among our children over the past 30 years. The report goes on to observe that “Americans’ increasing disconnection from the outdoors…also weakens the commitment to stewardship of our shared natural legacy.” If you have a memorable experience recreating on a waterway, aren’t you more likely to step up and fight for that waterway if someone abuses it? Of course. That is why, with the generous support of Toyota and KEEN, we are continuing to expand our National Splash Event Series. At Splash events, local supporters across the country swim, boat, paddle or fish in celebration of everyone’s right to clean water. To date in 2012, we’ve hosted Splash events in Biscayne Bay, FL; Potomac River in DC; Russian River in Healdsburg, CA; Mobile Bay in AL, and Buzzards Bay in MA. Looking ahead, we plan to get people splashing in Lake Erie, OH; New York Harbor; Hackensack River, NJ; Charleston, SC, and on the Kentucky River. Additionally, we are working to expand the new Waterkeeper Swim Guide (download it at the App Store or www.theswimguide.org) across the country. The Waterkeeper Swim Guide is a revolutionary smartphone app and website that tells you where your closest beaches are, which ones are open for swimming and which have unreliable monitoring data. The Waterkeeper Swim Guide goes further by describing the laws and policies and sampling procedures that apply to your beaches and also gives citizens a pollution reporting tool. This summer, we have launched the Swim Guide in Florida; California; New York, Connecticut; Mobile, Ala.; the Chesapeake region; the Great Lakes; Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and parts of Quebec. Let’s all celebrate Swimmable Action Day today. Please lend your support and go ‘jump in a lake’, or pond, river, bay, or stream! And post a photo of yourself, your kids or your dog enjoying your right to clean, swimmable water to our Facebook page. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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IMPORTANT: Domain change implemented
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 17 Aug '12

17 Aug '12

The domain change has been implemented for this email list. To send email to the CLEAR email list, you must now send it to clear(a)osenergy.org . -Jonathan

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(no subject)
by Dee Fulton 16 Aug '12

16 Aug '12

http://www.mightybuda.com/twinponds/wp-content/plugins/zhuatvfpffc/0vx6qx56… 8/16/2012 4:34:52 PM

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IMPORTANT: Domain change CLEAR list
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

Hello CLEAR list, This weekend, the Friends of Cheat will be moving their email services to Google for nonprofits. What this means is that the clear(a)cheat.org list will become clear(a)osenergy.org. This change will occur early Friday morning between 12:00 a.m - 6:00 a.m. I will send another message to this list alerting people after the change is complete. Until Friday morning you may continue to send emails to clear(a)cheat.org, but after the change you will need to send emails to clear(a)osenergy.org . Again, clear(a)cheat.org is changing to clear(a)osenergy.org! Also, I am phasing out my freesource(a)cheat.org address. Please reach me at Jonathan Rosenbaum <jr(a)wvcompletestreets.org> . Thanks! -Jonathan

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CLEAR has been heavily involved with this SNAIL and BAT in the CANYON
by Duane 15 Aug '12

15 Aug '12

$1.3 million in grants will support land acquisition and conservation planning for endangered species in W.Va. and Penn. Contact: Meagan Racey, 413-253-8558, meagan_racey(a)fws.gov The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today two grants to support conservation planning in Pennsylvania and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered animals in West Virginia. In Preston County, West Virginia, $700,000 will help acquire habitat for the threatened flat-spired three-toothed land snail and the endangered Indiana bat. In Pennsylvania, $600,000 will support state agencies’ efforts to address forest land management activities on state lands to benefit the Indiana bats and other bats. Awarded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, the grants are part of $33 million to fund projects in 21 states benefiting numerous species, from the Peninsular bighorn sheep to Kirtland’s warbler. “Our strong partnerships with states, landowners and local communities are the key to the successful protection and recovery of threatened and endangered species, and these grants will fund important conservation work,” said Secretary Salazar. “While dozens of imperiled species will benefit from these efforts, improving the health of our land and water will also help the people, communities and economies that depend on these resources.” Authorized by Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, these competitive grants enable states to work with private landowners, conservation groups and other government agencies to initiate conservation planning efforts and acquire and protect habitat to support the conservation of threatened and endangered species. “Ensuring the survival of imperiled species depends on long-term partnerships and voluntary landowner participation,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “The vital funding provided by these grants is matched by the states and leveraged to great advantage in helping conserve and recover some of the most imperiled wildlife in the country.” $700,000 grant will support land acquisition for W.Va. endangered species In Preston County, West Virginia, funds will go to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to help acquire habitat for the threatened flat-spired three-toothed land snail and the endangered Indiana bat. WVDNR has partnered with The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, and other non-governmental organizations to acquire land that expands an existing protected block of forest along the Cheat River Gorge. This property provides about 33 percent of the global range of the threatened snail and includes hibernacula for the endangered Indiana bat. $600,000 grant will support conservation planning for Penn. state agencies The Pennsylvania Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will use this funding to develop a habitat conservation plan addressing forest land management activities on state lands to benefit bat species across the state. The draft plan is a requirement for an application for a federal endangered species permit, called an incidental take permit, addressing impacts to the endangered Indiana bat. The plan will cover impacts to the Indiana bat on the 1.4 million acres of state game lands, the 2.2 million acres of state forests, and the 295,000 acres of state parks. The total 3.8 million acres of largely forested land provides potential foraging, roosting, maternity colony and fall swarming habitat for all bat species that occur in Pennsylvania. The conservation plan and related environmental analysis will evaluate the impacts of forest management practices on Indiana bats and use that information to develop a strategy to minimize and mitigate those impacts. The evaluation may also include other bats, such as the little brown bat, eastern small-footed bat, northern long-eared bat and the tri-colored bat, that have experienced rapid declines due to white-nose syndrome. The Endangered Species Act provides a critical safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife, and plants. The Service is working to actively engage conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. To learn more about the Endangered Species Program, visithttp://www.fws.gov/endangered/. Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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WV DEP Water Quality Standards Program public meeting Aug. 30
by Duane330＠aol.com 09 Aug '12

09 Aug '12

Thursday, August 9, 2012 @ 5:05 PM =========================================================== The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Quality Standards Program will conduct a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 30, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Coopers Rock Conference Room of DEP headquarters, located at 601 57th St., S.E, Charleston, W.Va. Staff from the DEP will update the public on relevant Water Quality Standards Program information and upcoming program projects. A meeting agenda will be posted on the Water Quality Standards Program Web site: http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Pages/default.aspx For more information, please contact Kevin Coyne at (304) 926-0499 or via email at Kevin.R.Coyne(a)wv.gov

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Update on PRESTON (COUNTY) CARES
by Duane 08 Aug '12

08 Aug '12

RE: Preston CARES (Citizens' Alliance for Resources and Environmental Safety). Preston CARES formed in Spring 2011 with the initial intent of preventing a landfill from being located on Benson Road which would receive waste from the hydraulic fracturing process. It has been quiet on this front lately. There were reports that the community's negative response to this issue surprised the company. The full acreage of the Benson Road parcel of land has gone back on the real estate market, so we are cautiously optimistic that this "development" has been suspended, if not halted altogether. When Preston CARES selected our name, it was because we had a shared concern for numerous environmental issues in Preston County. In addition to fighting the landfill, we have engaged in three other efforts in the past year. At the Buckwheat Festival, we hosted a booth which informed people about our work, and we coordinated the first-ever recycling effort on the Fairgrounds. In late fall we coordinated two different day-long tours of gas drilling sites in Wetzel County, led by the Wetzel County Citizens' Action Group. We invited our County Commissioners and our Assessor to attend one of these tours with us, and they did. As a result of those tours we met with the County Health Officer, the Office of Emergency Management (911), and the Superintendent of Schools to discuss our concerns about increased drilling in our county and what various organizations may need to be aware of. Finally, in March we helped Friends of the Cheat, Friends of Deckers' Creek, and the WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization host a community symposium in Bruceton about gas drilling and landowners' rights. It was well-attended, and you can see the news clip on our Facebook page.) Preston CARES is continuing to engage in work related to environmental issues in our county. This year we are revamping the Buckwheat Festival Recycling Project, and we have received a grant to host a film festival in October. We hope that you too are concerned about the beautiful place in which we live, The folks at Preston CARES

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One in five streams damaged by mine pollution in southern West Virginia: study
by Duane 06 Aug '12

06 Aug '12

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-streams-pollution-southern-west-virginia.html One in five streams damaged by mine pollution in southern West Virginia: study The study, published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology, documents substantial losses in aquatic insect biodiversity and increases in salinity linked to sulfates and other pollutants in runoff from mines often located miles upstream. "Our findings offer concrete evidence of the cumulative impacts surface mining is having on a regional scale," said Emily S. Bernhardt, associate professor of biogeochemistry at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment. "The relationship is clear and direct. The more mining you have upstream, the higher the biological loss and salinity levels will be downstream, and the farther they will extend." Numerous recent studies have demonstrated the water-quality problems caused at or near the site of individual surface coal mines, Bernhardt noted. She and her team "set out to understand how the large and growing number of surface mines is affecting water quality throughout Appalachia." They used NASA satellite images and computer data to map the extent of surface mining taking place across a 12,000-square-mile area of the southern West Virginia coalfields between 1976 and 2005. They found that companies had converted more than five percent of the land into mine sites and buried 480 miles of streams beneath adjacent valley fills during this period. Chemical and biological data from 223 streams sampled by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection between 1997 and 2007 were combined with mapping to help the researchers determine that pollution runoff from the mines could substantially degrade more than 1,400 miles of streams in the region. That's four times the length of streams buried by the valley fills. "It's important to recognize that surface coal mining pollution doesn't stop at mine-permit boundaries," said Brian D. Lutz, a postdoctoral associate in Bernhardt's lab. "Our analysis suggests that mining only five percent of the land surface is degrading between 22 percent and 32 percent of the region's rivers," he said. Substantial declines in insect diversity began to occur when companies had mined as little as one percent of upstream land, the analysis showed. In areas where companies had converted about five percent of the land into mines, sensitive species such as mayflies and stoneflies had vanished or declined to an extent that the streams would qualify as biologically impaired under criteria set by the state of West Virginia. The designation means the streams could be placed on a list of waterways that the state must take steps to rehabilitate. "What is so compelling is that we found many different types of organisms are lost downstream of surface coal mines, and most of them begin to disappear at similar levels of mining," said Ryan S. King, associate professor of biology at Baylor. "Our analysis shows that coal mining is leading to widespread declines in aquatic biodiversity in Appalachian streams." Journal reference: Environmental Science & Technology Provided by Duke University

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Stop the Frack Attack
by Duane 31 Jul '12

31 Jul '12

Water is Life . .. ... .... ..... KEEP IT CLEAN. stop the frack attack 7-28-12 Duane Nichols, Cell- 304-216-5535.

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Illness is sometimes due to polluted water . . .
by Duane 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

September 8: Wellness and Water: Health Impacts of Fossil Fuel Extraction Join us at the Morgantown (W.Va.) First Presbyterian Church for this conference sponsored by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) and the WV Chapter of the Sierra Club. Our keynote speaker is chemist Wilma Subra, whom you may have seen in Gasland. We'll have workshops and panels with impacted residents, and experts including Dr. Ben Stout, whom you may have seen in The Last Mountain and Burning the Future, andDr. Michael Hendryx, whose research is shining a much-needed light on the extreme human health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining. Registration begins at 8 a.m. (We will have an online registration page up soon.) Keynote at 9 a.m. Closing reception at 1 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Contact Robin Blakeman at robin(a)ohvec.org or304-522-0246 for more information

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New Research Greenhouse in Morgantown
by Duane330＠aol.com 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Shared research greenhouse complete. WVU and US Forest Service (USDA) Station scientists studying the ecology and management of invasive species and forest ecosystem in Morgantown, W.Va., are moving into a new research greenhouse designed and built in cooperation with the West Virginia University. The greenhouse will accommodate work on invasive species, particularly plants, as well as research related to the natural regeneration of oak forests following disturbance. There will be a state-of-the-art computer-based controls system that allows users to program temperature controls, lights, and, optionally, irrigation systems.

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Egyptian geese visit Cheat Lake
by Duane330＠aol.com 26 Jul '12

26 Jul '12

Egyptian geese visit Cheat Lake............................ .............. see page 1-D of today's Morgantown Dominion Post.......................

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Farewell to the Ices Ferry Bridge
by Duane 21 Jul '12

21 Jul '12

Ices Ferry farewell: Old bridge’s dismantling starts Monday By EVELYN RYAN, The Morgantown Dominion Post, July 21, 2012 Piece by piece, starting Monday, the old Ices Ferry Bridge over Cheat Lake will be taken apart and removed. The West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) said Friday construction crews will start by removing portions of the old bridge’s rusted steel deck grid. The bridge was closed to traffic in May 2011, when Brayman Construction began work on the new structure, located next to the old one. The $12.5 million new bridge is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, weather permitting. People on foot and bikers have continued to use the old bridge, built in 1922, to cross the lake. That won’t be possible starting Monday, noted Jason Nelson, DOH District 4 construction engineer. “They are going to being cutting off and removing non-structural components of the old bridge the first of next week,” he said. Work will continue on the new bridge, he said. Plans are to begin putting in the deck sometime in the next 10 days or so. Once the demolition starts, and the contractor determines what shape the old bridge is in, plans for the rest of the demolition will be developed. “They will use explosives to break the bridge apart, into usable sections,” Nelson said. It won’t be as spectacular as the Star City Bridge demolition. “They are basically going to blast, drop it into the water (about 10 feet). That’s it.” Workers will cut the steel at the abutments and other key areas so it can drop quickly. The sections will be further cut into pieces so they can quickly be removed from the lake, he added, “so as to not block the lake more than they have to.” Although the contract calls for the bridge to be completed by Oct. 31, First Energy begins lowering the lake to its winter level during October. DOH officials said the water level on Cheat Lake will be too low in the fall to support the barges used during construction. The dry, hot weather has affected the lake level, however. “We have enough water depth right now,” Nelson said, “but it is low, according to our guys, as low as it can go for summer pool.” The lake is created by the Lake Lynn Power Plant, owned by First Energy. Todd Meyers, a First Energy spokesman, said the plant manager reported that because of the dry months, the level has been hovering at 868 feet above sea level. That’s the minimum requirement for recreation on the lake. “It’s a balancing act because we are also trying to generate power there as well,” Meyers said, to meet “the power demand in the northeast from the hot weather.” At 868 feet, there shouldn’t be any trouble with the barges. The lake itself is deepest in front of the dam, 75-90 feet. At the bridge construction site, it is 20-25 feet deep, he noted.

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Artists Celebrate The Lives Of Aquatic Life That Perished In Dunkard Creek | Essential Public Radio
by Duane 20 Jul '12

20 Jul '12

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-07-18/artists-celebrate-live… Artists Celebrate The Lives Of Aquatic Life That Perished In Dunkard Creek (Photo: Mountain Institute.) Mimic Shiners by Pittsburgh artist Connie Merriman is one of 90 images in the Dunkard Creek exhibition. Ann Payne and Wendy Henry exchange anxious glances as they walk. They are heading down a path to the bank of Dunkard Creek in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. The two haven't been to this spot since Henry asked her friend Payne, a Morgantown artist, to look at an unfolding disaster on the creek near her home. “Remember we walked down this way toward the creek and off to the left there was a bunch of birds and I thought good grief- there’s a bunch of green herons. We got closer and they were eating bodies of dead fish” says Payne. Ann and Wendy recall the scene as the “ perfect storm” for a massive kill of aquatic life. It was September and the creek was low. Scientists later surmised that discharge from a coal mine created the conditions for a toxic algae bloom. As many as 65,000 aquatic animals suffocated in the salty water along the length of the stream. “The smell was unbelievable. It was death. And I'm a country girl and I've smelled many dead things along the woods. But this was a death I never smelt before” says Henry. Payne says she walked away from the creek determined to do something. First, she questioned scientists about the animals that disappeared from the creek. She got an official list of fish, but had to sleuth for the kinds of reptiles, mussels, amphibians and insects that had lived in Dunkard, one of the most diversely populated creeks in the region. When she finished her research, she began painting portraits of individual species. “A year later, I think by 2010, I think I had ten paintings” says Payne. At age 70, Payne realized she'd never be done with this project in her lifetime. So she recruited 89 other artists with close ties to the Monongahela watershed to portray 90 lost species. After months of coordination, Reflections: An Homage to Dunkard Creek hit the road in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. On a recent night, about 100 people crowd into a college art gallery in Fairmont, West Virginia, one of the communities where the Dunkard exhibition will be hung . Ann Payne walks around the space. Small images of fish, mussels, water snakes, frogs, insects hang on the white walls. She says no two artists have used the same materials or styles to produce their portraits. “This is a digital inkjet print.This one is needle work. Is that fun? Uhm, this one cut wood that he has put together in layers . I have no idea how he did that. That's a mudpuppy,” says Payne. Across the gallery, Brandy Fluharty and her boyfriend stare at a portrait of mimic shiners, small fish often used as bait by people who once fished the creek. “Is it eye opening to see something like this” asks Murray. “Yes, it's really sad”, says Fluharty. “I was raised there’s a lot of farmland and we have creeks and I couldn’t imagine if something happened there.” Brent Bailey, director of the Appalachian program of the Mountain Institute, says this kind of conversation is exactly what his nonprofit had in mind when they agreed to sponsor the art show. “People have been coming into this art exhibit who have never been to an art exhibit before. And they might be people who have never been to a public hearing about water quality. It's giving folks an opportunity to look at something and have a conversation about what's happening in their own back yards,” says Bailey. Back at Dunkard Creek, Ann Payne and Wendy Henry hope that people don't stop looking or talking about the fate of the creek. “It just warms my heart knowing we have a chance now. The awareness will keep it in the forefront and not shove it under the rug,” says Henry. OUTRO: Consol Energy, blamed for the mine discharge that contributed to the disaster, has paid WV $500 thousand dollars for creek restoration and is building a $200 million dollar mine water treatment plant that must be finished by 2013. Pennsylvania agencies are currently suing Consol.

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News from Monongahela "River Town Program"
by Duane 19 Jul '12

19 Jul '12

> > > > River Town Program Newsletter > Volume 2, Issue 7 July 2012 > In This Issue > Mon River Sojourn Recap > Cal River Fest > RL Concert Series > PM Public Art > Wyatt Park > MBRA Events > River Town Action Team Meetings > California - 3rd Saturday of the month, 10am, after Parks Authority meeting > > Brownsville - Blueprint Community Meetings, 1st Friday of the month, 9am, borough building > > Fredericktown - 1st Wednesday of the month, 6pm, fire hall > > Rices Landing - 4th Wednesday of the month, 6pm, Pavilion by the Lock Wall > > Greensboro - Neighborhood Advisory Council, 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:30pm, log cabin > > Point Marion - 4th Monday of the month, 7pm, Boy Scout building > Town Websites > Brownsville > > Fredericktown - Maxwell Basin Recreation Area > > Greensboro > Local Blogs > SWPA Rural Exploration > > Lost Monongahela > > Ten Mile Creek > > Warrior Trail > Quick Links > For more information > McCollom Development Strategies > > Pennsylvania Environmental Council > > SCA Corps > > Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation > More > Open Fishing Days > > > > > Mon River Sojourn Recap > First Mon River Sojourn a Success! > > > > On June 9, 2012, over 60 participants in canoes and kayaks paddled the Mon River between Rices Landing and Fredericktown as part of the first ever Mon River Sojourn. The 57 participants and 8 safety boaters were provided a welcome to the region by Ryan Belski, Mayor of Rices Landing Borough, before launching. Just before reaching Millsboro, the sojourners paddled up Ten Mile Creek and stopped at the Greene Cove Yacht Club for a delicious boxed lunch in the pavilion and enjoyed an informative presentation on water quality and citizen water monitoring efforts, presented by Ken Dufalla and Chuck Hummell of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), Harry Enstrom Chapter. > > After lunch, participants enjoyed the scenery of a more tranquil paddle up Ten Mile Creek a few miles, then floated back to the Mon and took out for the day at the Fredericktown Ferry Landing. Most participants walked as a group to the Riviera for Ribfest 2012 and enjoyed food, drinks, and sharing stories about the trip. > > It was a beautiful day to show off the River Towns to plenty of visitors--only 12 participants were from the River Town area! Of the rest of the paddlers, 24 were from Pittsburgh; 11 from Waynesburg; 6 from Morgantown; 2 from Washington; and 2 from north of Pittsburgh. Many were first time visitors and were impressed with the beauty of the river and the number of events occurring throughout the summer. All participants left with a commemorative t-shirt and a packet of information about attractions and upcoming events in all six River Towns. > > > > > Thank you to all of the River Town volunteers who helped to make the day a success and especially to our business sponsors: Bee Graphix, Bower Brothers, Brownsville Area Redevelopment Corporation (BARC), Connie's Pizza n Pies, Fredericktown Butcher Shop, Greene Cove Yacht Club, and The Riviera Restaurant and Lounge. The trip was supported by a grant through the Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds and River (POWR) and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). > Featured Business of the Month > Point Marion Marina, Point Marion, PA > > Point Marion Marina has recently opened for business along the Monongahela River. The marina is located at the corner of Water Street and Penn Street, or at approximately Mile 90 along the river. Owner Bobby Delansky says it is part of a bigger dream to get more people on the water in Point Marion, and to get people on the river to stop and come into town. > The marina currently has space for 20 boats. 19 of those spaces are for rental, with one additional space left for public use. The floating docks are attached to high pilings to raise and lower with the water level. The marina has space for an attached business and addition of more dock space in the future. > For dock space rental, please contact Jim Delansky at 724-557-5344, and for seasonal rental or use, contact Bobby Delansky at 724-998-5407. > California River Fest > > Planning Stages > > On Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th, California will be hosting the first annual River Fest. This will be a 2-day outdoor festival on lower Wood Street including food and craft vendors, live music, games, and fireworks. It will also be held in conjunction with the California Grand Prix bike race in town. > > > > > > > > > > > > > If you or anyone you know would like to become a vendor or sponsor the event, please contact: > Marah Vecenie at (724) 603-3151 or at sca.mvecenie(a)gmail.com. > > Go Green with the River Towns Program! > > Interested in saving energy, reducing waste, and protecting our environment? > > For more information on how you can help the River Towns "go green," contact Lindsay Baxter at lbaxter(a)pecpa.org. > > Like Us On Facebook! > Take a few seconds to like the River Town Program on Facebook! Get community updates more often and check out photos from River Town events! > > Rices Landing Summer Concert Series > A Growing Audience > > The Rices Landing summer concert series has been growing with each concert. The most recent event saw over 120 people along and on the Mon in anchored boats rocking out to local band, Hit n' Run. > Local vendors were in attendance, including Jefferson Morgan Marching Band selling nachos and hotdogs, Rices Landing Boy Scouts selling deep fried oreos and funnel cakes, Fredericktown area vendor selling shaved ice and a variety of foods, and a Fredericktown artist selling hand-made bracelets. > > All concerts are free and open to the public. They occur 6PM-9PM, every second and fourth Saturday through September. Concessions and crafts are available for purchase from local vendors and recycling is available at each concert. > > Join us for the remaining 2012 concerts: > July 28: Jaguar Mountain Rundown > August 11: Flashback > August 25: The Jades > September 8: Proof Positive & The Classics > September 22: The Split > > Bring your lawn chairs out and sit by the river for this free, family-friendly event. > > Are you a vendor? Please contact us to sell your product at our concerts! > Samantha Lichtenwald, SCA River Town Outreach Corps, sca.slichtenwald(a)gmail.com, (724) 603-3151. > Point Marion Public Art Project > Update for ongoing public art project in Point Marion, PA > An exciting, and very visible, step was taken last month for the Point Marion Public Art Project. All of the signs were taken down off of the blue building in town to prepare the wall for power-washing and a fresh coat of paint later this month. The colors for the background of the mosaic were voted on during the Regatta on Memorial Day weekend. By the end of August we will hopefully see this great work of art completed. > > If you would like to help with this project there are still workshops and work days you can get involved in! > > > July 18 (Wednesday): 1PM to ? - Artist Debbie will be directing work on the large panels > July 24 (Tuesday): 9AM to 5PM - Cut glass will be glued on the large panels > August 3 (Friday): 9AM to ? - Artist Debbie will be back to work on the large panels > > On the first floor of the Jordan Building, and it has been hot - so dress appropriately. Bottled water will be available. > > Sadler Building painting begins on Saturday, July 21! Prior to painting, the building must be spray washed, degreased, and sprayed again. Can YOU help by providing sprayers, extension ladders, or labor? > > Help spread the word by telling your friends, family, and neighbors! > Wyatt Park - California, PA > California's Wyatt Park improvements > > In the heart of downtown California sits Wyatt Park, a beautiful piece of public green space right on the river. But there is a predicament with the park; you cannot see the river without peering through undergrowth and vines. > The SCA Corps members started fixing up the park in late June by clearing out undergrowth, small trees, and vines that were covering the fence (before and after photos shown below) but this park needs a lot more TLC to be able to see the water on the other side. > Recently, the California Borough Recreation Authority (CBRA) decided to give $4,000 to clean up Wyatt Park and open up view corridors to the river. > Bids were taken from three different tree service companies in > the area. After much discussion, one was chosen. > > After > Treecision, from Charleroi, will be taking on the job > clearing vegetation up to 8 feet, leaving all large trees. They will also be removing dead and small invasive trees, as well as removing other trash and debris. The project is expected to be complete in the very near future. Once complete, the SCA Corps members will go back in and pick up where the tree service company left off and continuing to improve upon the beauty of this park. > > Before > Maxwell Basin Recreation Area > Fredericktown Area Summer Events > > > Photo by Randy Miller. > > The summer fun is continuing in the Fredericktown area, thanks to the Maxwell Basin Recreation Area's (MBRA) schedule of events. Ribfest at the Riviera was delicious as usual, and the fireworks prior to the 4th were spectacular. The show lasted more than 25 minutes, and both the town and river were packed. The businesses partnering to host some of these events are having some of their best years ever, as they attract both visitors and residents! > > > > Upcoming events include a beach volleyball tournament, concerts, and the return of Dock Dogs! > > Visit the MBRA website for the full summer schedule and more information! > > What the SCA Corps Has Been Up To > As summer set in along the Mon River in June, the SCA corps were busy as usual with a wide variety of projects. The corps members ran in the "Oyster Race" in Pittsburgh, which benefited our partner agency, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). PEC also hosted the Mon River Sojourn, in which more than 50 people came out to paddle. The SCA corps helped with the logistics of the event, and served as the safety crew during the excursion. Town-by-town, here else is what was accomplished: > > Point Marion: > > The corps recently spent a day working on the currently unfinished bike trail leading to West Virginia. They cut, sawed, and removed downed trees and branches, picked up trash, and removed tires and other large debris. This trail will someday connect Point Marion to the network of biking trails in northern West Virginia. Also, corps members hung some window clings in businesses around town. Look for them next time you are out and about! > > > > > > Greensboro: > > Planning for Greensboro's annual "Art Blast on the Mon" event is underway, with assistance from the SCA corps. The event will be held on Labor Day weekend, and will feature a wide variety of musical and artistic acts, vendors, etc... More information will be released in the coming weeks and months. > > > > > Rices Landing: > The corps assisted with the planning and the logistics of the Mon River Sojourn, hosted by PEC, which left from the boat launch at Rices Landing. Corps members also served as the safety boaters during the event. The summer concert series is also well underway, with increasing attendance at each event. These concerts will run through September. > > > Fredericktown: > > Fredericktown served as the end-point for the Mon River Sojourn, with paddlers taking out at the ferry landing. After helping everyone unload and packing the gear, the corps stopped by Rib Fest for a bit. And while there have not been as many work days in Fredericktown this past month, planning is underway for meetings, events, and projects throughout the late summer and fall. > > Brownsville: > > The SCA corps is working to expand its activities in Brownsville. They are reaching out for more community members to attend meetings and get involved in projects. The corps is also working to plan more work days in Central Park and at the wharf. Finally, the corps is looking to do some creek clean-ups, and will start in Brownsville. > > > > > > California: > > The entire corps spent a work day in Wyatt Park this past month. They worked to cut small trees, remove invasive species, and pull vines and debris from along the fence. Thanks to their hard work, there is now a beautiful view of the river from Wood Street, the Library, and Wyatt Park. The corps will be back for more park and river improvements, and are continuing to plan River Fest. > River Town Events & Projects! > > California > - Wed., July 18, 5-7PM: Annual Kids Fair, The Center in The Woods, 724-938-6800 FMI > - Thurs., Aug 2, 8PM: Budd Grebb Mem. Summer Basketball League Championship game, > Mechanic Street Park, contact Phil Pergola 412-721-7300 > - Wed., Aug 8, 5-8PM: Car & Bike Show, free, The Center in The Woods, 724-938-3554 FMI > - Sat., Aug 18 9AM-5PM: ABRA California Grand Prix bike race > - Sat.-Sun., Aug 18-19, all day: River Fest, lower Wood Street, 724-301-3151 FMI > - Sat., Sept 8: Waffle Breakfast & Flea Market, The Center in The Woods, 724-938-3554 FMI > > Brownsville > - Now to Aug 6: Kara Ruth Snyder's "Inward Morning", Frank L. Melega Art Museum, > 71 Market St., FMI visit melegaartmuseum.org > - Wed., Now to Sept. 26, 4-7PM: Farmers Market sponsored by Buy Local, Downtown Market St. > parking lot, FMI call 724-437-7913 or visit buylocalfayette.org/brownsville > - Sun., July 22, 11AM-5PM: Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser put on by Friends of Market Street > Arts and the Brownsville Sons of Italy, Frank Ricco Lodge 731, 16 Race St, $7 per adult > - Sun., July 22, 6-8PM: Music on the Mon, The Jades classic rock band, Nemacolin Castle, 136 > Front Street > - Fri., July 27-Sun., July 29: 50th Anniversary of Nemacolin Castle Public Opening, 136 Front > St. Hours: Fri. 11AM-10PM, Sat. 10AM-10PM, Sun. Noon-10PM, FMI call 724-785-6882 or visit > www.nemacolincastle.org > - Thurs., Aug 2: Kennywood Community Picnic, Patsy Hillman Community Park > - Sat., Aug 4, 11AM-8PM: 3rd Annual Brownsville Community Festival and 4th Annual > Ducky Race, Snowden Square, FMI call 724-785-3363 > - Sun., Aug 5, 4-8PM: Classic Car Show, Fiddle's Restaurant, 101 Bridge Street > > Fredericktown > - Fri.-Sat., July 20-21: Great American Food Drive, Washington County Fairgrounds > - Sat., July 21: Beach Volleyball Tournament, Greene Cove Sand Volleyball Court-POSTPONED! > - Sat., July 21, 1PM: Horseshoe Tournament, Owls Club in Millsboro > - Sun., July 29, 1PM: Rockin' on the Mon, South of Ten Mile Creek > - Sat.-Sun., Aug 4-5: Dock Dogs Competition, Greene Cove > - Fri., Aug 10, 8PM: Bachelor Auction, Benefit for Tyler Miller > > Rices Landing > - Sat., July 28, 6-9PM: Gazebo Concert - Jaguar Mountain Rundown, Min Love Park Gazebo > - Sat., Aug 11, 6-9PM: Gazebo Concert - Flashback, Min Love Park Gazebo > - Thurs., 5:30PM open: Bingo Night, Rices Landing Fire Hall > > Greensboro > - Sat., May-Oct 9AM-1PM: Farmer's Market at the Gazebo > - Sat., Sept. 1 10AM-5PM & Sun., Sept. 2, 12-4PM: Art Blast on the Mon, Log Cabin > > Point Marion > - Wed., July 18, 1PM: Public Art Workshop, Jordan Auto Building, Penn & Main > - Mon., July 23, 7PM: River Town Meeting, Boy Scout Building > - Tues., July 24, 9AM-5PM: Public Art Workshop, Jordan Auto Building, Penn & Main > - Fri., Aug 3, 9AM: Public Art Workshop, Jordan Auto Building, Penn & Main > - Tues., Aug 7, 11AM: Kids Summer Reading Program, Meet birds from WV Raptor Center, > Point Marion Public Library > - Sun., Aug 12, 1PM: General Membership Meeting, Prepare for FestiFall, Friendship Hill > Green Tip of the Month > Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species > > Aquatic invasive species are plants and animals that have been introduced into new ecosystems. > These organisms can have environmental, recreational, economic, or health impacts in the areas they affect. The invaders may damage equipment and compete with native species. Anglers and boaters commonly introduce aquatic invasive species into new waters on accident. Many species are virtually invisible. They can easily hitch a ride on boats, boat trailers, fishing equipment, > diving equipment, or even clothing that comes in contact with the water. These hitchhikers can > then be transported to different water ways. Once invasive species become established, they are > very difficult to control, and often times they are impossible to remove completely. That is why > preventing the spread of invaders like zebra mussels, Asian clams, purple loosestrife, Asian carp, > and didymo in Pennsylvania is such a high priority. > > You can help protect Pennsylvania's waterways by following these guidelines: > Check for and remove plants, mud, and aquatic life from your boat and the following equipment before transporting: > Anchor, rope, motor lower unit, hull, trailer hitch, rollers, lights, axle, life jackets,swimming floats, water skis, wakeboards, tubes, shoes, boots, clothing, fishing vests, waders, rod, reel, line, hooks, lures, and tackle boxes. > Always drain water from the following before transporting: > Motor, jet drive, live well, compartments, boat hull, bilge, shoes, boots and waders, bait buckets, life jackets, swimming floats, water skis, wakeboards, and tubes. > Clean boat and gear by spraying with a high-pressure washer with hot water (140° F) or dry everything for at least five days. Thick and dense material like life jackets and felt-soled wading gear will hold moisture longer and can be more difficult to clean. > Dispose of bait properly; do not release bait back into the water unless you collected the bait there. > Never dip your bait bucket into a lake or river if it contains water from another water source. > Visit PA Fish and Boat Commission for more information. > Contact Info > Cathy McCollom > Principal, McCollom Development Strategies > csm(a)mccollomds.com > 814-521-3520 > > Forward this email > > > River Town Program | 716 Oden Street | Confluence | PA | 15424

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Boy Drowns in Cheat Lake Tuesday, July 17, 2012
by Duane 18 Jul '12

18 Jul '12

Teen dies in lake: Victim believed to have drowned BY CASSIE SHANER, The Dominion Post A teenage boy died Tuesday afternoon while swimming in Cheat Lake with family and friends. The group was swimming under the Interstate 68 bridge that crosses the lake. The Monongalia County Sheriff ’s Department did not identify the boy, 16, of Point Marion, Pa., on Tuesday. According to a press release, his identity is being withheld to allow the family to make proper notification. The boy’s brother, Josh Williams, 29, said they had just arrived and were swimming toward the closest pier when he looked back and saw his brother going under the water. Williams said he and a friend swam to the boy and tried to keep his head above water. Williams started “taking on water,” left his brother with his friend and swam back to the rocky shoreline under the bridge to call 911. “By the time I got back to the guardrail, I didn’t see him no more,” Williams said, fighting back tears. “It happened so fast.” A volunteer firefighter estimated the water’s depth at 15 feet, perhaps slightly deeper by the pier. Three other boys appeared to have been swimming with Williams and his friend. They watched the search from the pier before being brought back to shore by Monongalia EMS. Williams, his friend and the three boys were all visibly upset. Williams’ friend angrily struck the guardrail along W.Va. 857 while watching the search. He declined to describe what happened, saying simply, “My buddy drowned.” Family members and friends arrived throughout the afternoon. “Oh, my God,” one woman shouted, as she hugged one of the boys. Another woman yelled at Williams and the other swimmers. “He should have never been allowed in the [lake],” she said. “I’ve told you all summer.” After calming down, she sat quietly with other family members and watched the search. The sheriff ’s department said the death is believed to be accidential and no foul play is suspected. The drowning was reported to MECCA 911 at 1:38 p.m. Police, fire and EMS officials spent more than four hours searching the water by boat. Emergency radio traffic indicated that the boy’s body was found at about 6 p.m., just after lightning was reported within a 15-mile radius. Emergency workers removed his body from the lake before the feared storm arrived, pulling him out at Sunset Beach Marina. EMS dragged the water with a pole until divers from the Morgantown police and fire departments arrived. A few recreational boaters appeared to be searching the water, too, before other emergency vessels arrived. The Granville Volunteer Fire Department used its VideoRay — a submersible robotic device with a camera — to search the murky water, which seemed to be moving slowly. The Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Point Marion (Pa.) Volunteer Fire Co. assisted, the latter with a rescue boat. The state Division of Natural Resources and the Monongalia County Medical Examiner’s Office assisted, as well. Tuesday’s incident was the second drowning in the area this year, but the first since 2010 involving a swimmer. Fred McCauley, 62, is believed to have fallen into the Monongahela River while fishing at Edith B. Barill Riverfront Park on Feb. 28. His body was found June 7 by two people fishing from a boat just north of Point Marion Borough, in Fayette County, Pa. The last swimmer who drowned was Tyler James Murphy, 21, of Morgantown. His body was found more than four hours after he went under water while swimming in the Cobun Creek Reservoir, in June 2010.

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