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The Monongahela National Forest was established
following passage of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act authorized the
purchase of land for long-term watershed protection and natural
resource management following massive cutting of the Eastern forests
in the late 1800's and at the turn of the century.
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In 1915, 7,200 acres were acquired to begin
the forest, called the Monongahela Purchase, and then on April
28, 1920 it became the Monongahela National Forest. Today the
forest is over 919,000 acres in federal ownership in 10 counties
in West Virginia, making it the fourth largest National Forest
in 20 northeastern states. It is within one day's drive of one-third
of the population of the United States.
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- The forest is a recreation destination
and major tourism attraction, hosting approximately 3 million
visitors annually.
- There are 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas,
and 500 plus miles of hiking trails. The extensive backwoods
road and trail system is used for hiking, mountain biking and
horse riding. There are many miles of railroad grades that are
a link in the recreation use of the Forest. The longest is the
Glady to Durbin West Fork Railroad Trail which is 23 miles long.
- Recreation ranges from self reliant treks
in the wildernesses and backcountry areas to the challenges
of mountain climbing to traditional developed site camping.
- Five federally designated Wildernesses:
Otter Creek, Dolly Sods, Laurel Fork North, Laurel Fork South,
and Cranberry; and one National Recreation Area, Spruce Knob
- Seneca Rocks.
- There are 230 species of birds known to
use the Monongahela NF; 159 species are known to breed in the
NF; 89 species are Neotropical migrants; 71 species use the
forest during migration, but do not breed here, 17 non-breeding
species are Neotropical.
- Brooks Bird Club (BBC) conducts an annual
bird banding and survey project in the vicinity of Dolly Sods
Scenic Area (August-September) during the fall migration.
- The forest provides habitat for 9 federally
listed endangered or threatened species: 2 bird species, 2 bat
species, 1 subspecies of flying squirrel, 1 salamander species,
and 3 plant species. Fifty other species of rare/sensitive plants
and animals occur in the forest.
- Ten wildlife management units are cooperatively
managed with the WV DNR.
- Hunting, trapping, fishing, and wildlife
viewing are popular uses. Game species include black bear, wild
turkey, white-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, rabbits,
snowshoe hare, woodcock, and grouse. Limited waterfowl habitat
exists in places. Furbearers include beaver, red and gray fox,
bobcat, fisher, otter, raccoon and mink. Other hunted species
include coyotes, skunks, opossums, woodchucks, crows, and weasels.
- The Monongahela has 129 miles of warm water
fishing and 576 miles of trout streams; 90% of the trout waters
of West Virginia are within the forest.
- There are 12 species of game/pan fish and
60 species of nongame/forage fish.
- Headwaters of six major river systems are
located on the forest: Monongahela, Potomac, Greenbrier, Elk,
Tygart, and Gauley.
- Twelve rivers are being studied for potential
classification in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
- The forest is noted for its rugged landscape
with spectacular views, blueberry thickets, highland bogs, and
open areas with exposed rocks.
- Wide range of botanical species found includes
rhododendron, laurel on the moist west side of the Allegheny
Front, and cactus and endemic shale barren species on the drier
eastern slopes.
- Ranges in elevation from 900 feet at Petersburg
to 4,861 feet at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia.
- Rain shadow effect caused by slopes of
the Allegheny Front results in 60" of annual precipitation on
the west side and about half that on the east side.
- Mineral resources include coal, gas, limestone,
and gravel; but no oil.
- Sheep and cattle grazing occurs on about
7,000 acres.
- Approximately 75 tree species are found
on the forest.
- Almost all of the trees are a second-growth
forest grown up after the land was heavily cutover around the
turn of the century.
- The tree species most valuable for timber
and for wildlife food are black cherry and the oaks.
- Managing a diverse mix of species and ages
of trees is a common goal of both the wildlife and timber programs
of the Forest.
- The forest's commercial timber sale program
averages 30 'mmbf' (million board feet) of timber sold per year
with a yearly average value of $7.5 million.
- A variety of cutting techniques are used,
from cutting of single trees to clearcutting blocks up to 25
acres in size. Regeneration cuts (clearcuts or other treatments
designed to start a new timber stand) occur on approximately
1,300 acres yearly out of the more than 909,000 acres forest
total.
- The forest has approximately 105 permanent
employees, augmented by Senior Citizens, temporary employees,
and volunteers.
- Receipts for timber, grazing, land uses,
minerals, and recreation use averaged $4,840,466 for FY 92-96,
and 25% of that (an average of $1,210,116 per year) was returned
to counties that include NF lands. This money is to be used
by local schools and for roads. The remaining 75% each year
is returned to the U.S. Treasury.
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