New River Gorge Bridge

The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel-arch bridge, near Fayetteville, West Virginia, United States. With a length of 3,030 feet, it was for many years the longest in the world of that type. It is now the third largest arch bridge in the world. Its arch extends 1,700 feet. Part of U.S. Route 19, it is crossed by an average of 16,200 motor vehicles per day. Its construction marked the completion of Corridor L. In 2005the structure was further immortalized when a depiction of the span was placed on the West Virginia state quarter.

The New River Gorge Bridge carries US 19 over the New River at a height of 876 feet making it the second highest vehicular bridge in the Americas (behind the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge which bypasses the Hoover Dam), and the fifth highest in the world. Before the 2004 opening of the Millau Viaduct in France, it was the highest in the world. Several suspension bridges in China have since surpassed them. The current record holder is the Si Du River Bridge which opened in November 2009 and currently has 1,549 feet of clearance above the river of that name.

Construction began on the bridge in June 1974, and completed on October 22, 1977. It was designed by the Michael Baker Company, under the direction of Chief Engineer Clarence V. Knudsen, and executed by U.S. Steel's American Bridge Division. Final cost of construction was $37 million (approximately $4 million over bid). It is made from COR-TEN steel. The use of COR-TEN in construction presented several challenges; notable among them was ensuring that the weld-points weathered at the same rate as the rest of the steel.

Many locals say, with little exaggeration, that completion of the bridge cut the travel time from one side of the gorge to the other from 45 minutes to 45 seconds.

The bridge is the centerpiece of Fayette County's "Bridge Day", during which the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic. Until recently, the bridge was half-open, with two way traffic. Security concerns have prompted the closing of the entire span to vehicles during the festival. This festival includes demonstrations of rappelling, ascending and BASE jumping, and is held every October on the third Saturday. Bungee jumping has been banned from Bridge Day since 1993. The bridge is within the New River Gorge National River and the National Park Service operates a visitor center at the northern end of the bridge with scenic overlooks and a staircase that descends partially into the gorge. A Bridge Walk catwalk two feet wide runs the full length of the bridge underneath the roadway and a considerable fee is charged to walk the quarter mile with safety rigging.

Guided Catwalk tours are now available daily for $69.00 per person;
visit www.profishwv.com for more information

West Virginia Trout Stocking Week of April 4 - 8

ELKINS, W.Va. – The following waters were stocked with trout the week of April 4, 2011.

Anthony Creek
Beech Fork Tailwaters
Berwind Lake
Big Clear Creek
Big Run Lake
Big Sandy Creek
Blackwater River
Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
Buffalo Fork Lake
Bullskin Run
Cacapon Park Lake
Castleman Run Lake
Cherry River
Chief Logan Pond
Clover Run
Conaway Run Lake
Coopers Rock Lake
Cranberry River
Deer Creek (Pocahontas)
Dillons Run
Dry Fork
Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
Dunkard Fork Lake
East Fork Greenbrier River
East Lynn Tailwaters
Edwards Run
Elk River
Evitts Run
Fall Run
Fitzpatrick Lake
Fort Ashby Reservoir
French Creek Pond
Gandy Creek
Glade Creek of Mann
Glade Creek of New River
Glady Fork
Greenbrier River
Jimmy Lewis Lake
Knapps Creek
Laurel Fork (Randolph)
Laurel Fork Lake
Laurel Fork of Holly River
Left Fork of Holly River
Lick Creek Pond
Little Beaver Lake
Little Clear Creek
Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
Long Marsh Run
Lost River
Mason Lake
Middle Creek
Middle Wheeling Creek Lake
Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
Mill Creek of South Branch
Mill Run of Back Creek
Mountwood Park Lake
New Creek
Newburg Lake
North Fork Fishing Creek
North Fork of Anthony Creek
North Fork of Cherry River
North Fork of Patterson Creek
North Fork of South Branch
North River
Opequon Creek
Pinch Creek
Pipestem Lake
Poorhouse Pond
Rhine Creek
Rockhouse Lake
Rocky Marsh Run
Seneca Lake
Shavers Fork (Bemis)
Shavers Fork (C&R) Stuart Park Recreation Area
Shavers Fork (lower)
Shavers Fork (upper)
South Branch (Franklin)
South Branch (Smoke Hole)
South Fork Fishing Creek
Spruce Knob Lake
Spruce Laurel Fork
Summersville Tailwaters
Summit Lake
Thomas Park Lake
Tilhance Creek
Trout Run
Tuscarora Creek
Tygart Headwaters
Tygart Tailwaters
Waites Run
Watoga Lake
Wayne Dam
West Fork Greenbrier River
West Fork Greenbrier River (railroad grade)
West Fork of Twelvepole
Williams River (all sections stocked)
Wolf Creek

Guided Trout Fishing in West Virginia

West Virginia Trout Stocking March 2011

March 25, 2011

Anthony Creek
Buffalo Creek (Logan)
Dillons Run
Edwards Run
Ft. Ashby Reservoir
Glady Fork
Knapps Creek
Mill Creek of South Branch
North Fork of South Branch
Shavers Fork (Bemis)
Shavers Fork (lower)
South Branch (Smoke Hole)
Williams River (Tea Creek upstream to Day Run)
March 24, 2011

Elk River
Horseshoe Run
Red Creek
Shavers Fork (upper)
South Branch (Franklin)
Summit Lake
Tygart Headwaters
Warden Lake
Watoga Lake
March 23, 2011

Blackwater River
Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
Cacapon Park Lake
Castleman Run Lake
Cranberry River
East Fork Greenbrier River
French Creek Pond
Glade Creek of New River
Laurel Fork of Holly River
Left Fork of Holly River
Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
Marsh Fork
Middle Fork
Middle Wheeling Creek Lake
Opequon Creek
Rocky Marsh Run
Spruce Knob Lake
Tilhance Creek
West Fork Greenbrier River
March 22, 2011

Back Fork of Elk River
Big Sandy Creek
Bullskin Run
Chief Logan Pond
Coopers Rock Lake
Desert Fork
Evitts Run
Gandy Creek
Laurel Fork (Randolph)
Laurel Fork Lake
Middle Creek
Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
New Creek
North Fork of Patterson Creek
Sugar Creek
South Branch (C&R)
Tuscarora Creek
March 21, 2011

Anderson Lake
Boley Lake
Buffalo Fork Lake
Glade Creek of Mann
Greenbrier River
Little Kanawha Headwaters
Lost River
Miletree Lake
North Fork of Cherry River
North River
Potts Creek
Right Fork of Little Kanawha
South Fork of Cherry River
South Fork of Potts Creek
Trout Run
Waites Run
March 18, 2011

Back Fork of Elk (C&R)
Bullskin Run
Evitts Run
Gandy Creek
Kimsey Run Lake
Laurel Fork (Randolph)
Opequon Creek
Pennsboro Reservoir
Raleigh Co. Airport Pond (Children & Class Q)
Rocky Marsh Run
South Branch (Franklin)
Spruce Knob Lake
Tracy Lake
March 17, 2011

Anawalt Lake
Cedar Creek Lake
Dunkard Fork Lake
Jennings Randolph Tailwaters
Knapps Creek
Lost River
Lower Cove Run
Moores Run
Panther Creek
R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
Seneca Lake
Teter Creek Lake
Trout Run
Turkey Run Lake
Waites Run
Wallback Lake
Watoga Lake
March 16, 2011

Big Clear Creek
Burnsville Tailwaters
Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
Little Clear Creek
Middle Wheeling Creek (C&R)
Mountwood Park Lake
North Fork South Branch
Paw Paw Creek
Pinnacle Creek (lower section)
South Fork Cranberry River
Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
Sutton Tailwaters
Whiteday Creek
Wolf Creek
March 15, 2011

Blackwater River
Cacapon Park Lake
Camp Creek
Cherry River
Cranberry River
East Fork Greenbrier River
East River
Elk River
Glady Fork
Krodel Lake
Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
Middle Creek
Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
Mill Run of Back Creek
Paint Creek
Pond Fork
Shavers Fork (Bemis)
Shavers Fork (lower)
Shavers Frok (upper)
Summersville Tailwaters
West Fork Greenbrier River
March 14, 2011

Anthony Creek
Bear Rocks Lake
Beech Fork Tailwaters
Brandywine Lake
Brushy Fork Lake
Buckhannon River
East Lynn Tailwaters
Kings Creek
Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
Lick Creek Pond
New Creek
North Fork of Anthony Creek
North Fork of Lunice Creek
North Fork of Patterson Creek
Right Fork of Buckhannon River
South Branch (Smoke Hole)
South Mill Creek Lake
Summit Lake
Tomlinson Run
Tomlinson Run Lake
Wayne Dam
West Fork Twelvepole
Wheeling Creek
Williams River (Tea Creek upstream to Day Run)
March 11, 2011

Big Sandy Creek
Coopers Rock Lake
Clover Run
Dog Run Lake
Horse Creek Lake
Horseshoe Run
Lost River
North Fork of Cherry River
Shavers Fork (upper)
South Fork of Cherry River
Summit Lake
Trout Run
Tygart Headwaters
Waites Run
Warden Lake
Williams River (Tea Creek upstream to Day Run)
March 10, 2011

Anthony Creek
Blackwater River
Buffalo Fork Lake
Cranberry River
Curtisville Lake
Deer Creek (Pocahontas)
Dillons Run
East Fork Greenbrier River
Edwards Run
Fort Ashby Reservoir
Greenbrier River
Huey Lake
Indian Creek
Little River East Fork Greenbrier River
Little River West Fork Greenbrier River
Meadow Creek of Anthony Creek
Mill Creek of South Branch
Newburg Lake
North Fork of South Branch
Rhine Creek
Rich Creek (Monroe)
West Fork Greenbrier River
March 9, 2011

Bullskin Run
Dunloup Creek
Evitts Run
Glade Creek of Mann
Glade Creek of New River
Glady Fork
Hills Creek
Hopkins Fork
Long Marsh Run
Middle Creek
Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
New Creek
North Fork of Patterson Creek
Rockhouse Lake
Shavers Fork (Bemis)
Shavers Fork (lower)
South Branch (Smoke Hole)
Spruce Laurel Fork
March 8, 2011

Berwind Lake
Buffalo Creek (Brooke)
Cacapon Park Lake
Castleman Run Lake
Dry Fork (McDowell)
Elk River
Hurricane Reservoir
Kimsey Run Lake
Knapps Creek
Middle Wheeling Creek Lake
Opequon Creek
Poorhouse Pond
Rocky Marsh Run
Spruce Knob Lake
Watoga Lake
March 7, 2011

Chief Cornstalk Lake
Fall Run
Fitzpatrick Lake
French Creek Pond
Gandy Creek
Jimmy Lewis Lake
Laurel Fork of Holly River
Laurel Fork (Randolph)
Left Fork of Holly River
Little Beaver Lake
Meadow Creek of New River
Milligan Creek
Pipestem Lake
Red Creek
Rollins Lake
South Branch (Franklin)
Thomas Park Lake
Tygart Tailwaters
March 4, 2011

Brandywine Lake
Brushy Fork Lake
Cacapon Park Lake
Clear Fork of Guyandotte River (C&R)
Clear Fork of Guyandotte River
Elk River
Mason Lake
Opequon Creek
Paw Paw Creek
Pinnacle Creek
Rocky Marsh Run
Shavers Fork (upper)
Tilhance Creek
Westover Park Lake (Children & Class Q)
Whiteday Creek
March 3, 2011

Bear Rocks Lake
Bullskin Run
Burnsville Tailwaters
Cherry River
Deer Creek (Nicholas)
Evitts Run
Glady Fork
Laurel Creek of Cherry River
Middle Creek
Mill Creek of Opequon Creek
Mill Creek Reservoir
Paint Creek
Paint Creek (C&R)
Pond Fork
Shavers Fork (Bemis)
Shavers Fork (C&R) Stuarts Park Recreation Area
Shavers Fork (lower)
South Branch (Smoke Hole)
Stonewall Jackson Tailwaters
Summersville Tailwaters
Sutton Tailwaters
Teter Creek Lake
Tuscarora Creek
Wheeling Creek
Wood Pond (Children & Class Q)
March 2, 2011

Anthony Creek
Buckhannon River
Camp Creek
Coonskin Park Lake (Children & Class Q)
Dry Fork (Randolph, Tucker)
East River
Gandy Creek
Kanawha State Forest Pond (Children & Class Q)
Larenim Park Lakes
Laurel Fork (Randolph)
Left Fork of Right Fork of Buckhannon River
Logan County Airport Pond (Children & Class Q)
Mash Fork of Camp Creek (Children & Class Q)
Miller Fork Lake (Children & Class Q)
North Fork of Anthony Creek
North Fork of South Branch
Right Fork of Middle Fork
Seneca Lake
South Branch (Franklin)
South Mill Creek Lake
Underwood Lake (Children & Class Q)
March 1, 2011

Barboursville Lake
Big Clear Creek
Conaway Run Lake
Handley Pond (Children & Class Q)
James P. Bailey Lake
Little Clear Creek
Lost River
Mountwood Park Lake
New Creek
North Fork Fishing Creek
North Fork Lunice Creek
North Fork Patterson Creek
North River
R.D. Bailey Tailwaters
Ridenour Lake
South Fork Fishing Creek
Trout Run
Tuckahoe Lake
Waites Run

New River Gorge Fun Info

The New River Gorge National River is a unit of the U.S. National Park Service established in 1978 to protect 53 miles (85 km) of the New River and its gorge in southern West Virginia. The area encompasses more than 70,000 acres along and near the New River between Hinton, WV, in the south, and Ansted, WV, in the north.

Designation as a "national river" is conferred by the NPS to rivers of significant national value, culturally and naturally, among which the New River is prominent. National rivers are managed by the National Park Service, in the same manner and with the same goals as national parks. Thirty-nine national river areas are preserved in the U.S., including the nearby Bluestone National Scenic River and Gauley River National Recreation Area, though these latter national river areas are somewhat differently defined. The National Park Service headquarters for the New River Gorge National River are located in Glen Jean, WV. All three national river areas are managed through the Glen Jean headquarters.

Cultural History
Though largely uninhabited today, the New River Gorge was once among the most active coal mining regions in West Virginia. Thousands of miners lived with their families in small towns throughout the gorge. As the process of mining coal became more mechanized, and as accessible coal seams near the gorge were mined out, employment in the industry gradually dwindled. Most mining communities in the gorge were abandoned by the mid-1900s and exist today only as ghost towns. The National Park Service has preserved and interpreted relics of the region's industrial heritage at several sites within the gorge. Park visitors are invited to tour interpreted sites at Thurmond, one of the major shipping points in the gorge along the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.

Recreation
A large part of the popularity of the national parkland of the New River Gorge is due to the fame of the New River as a whitewater stream. Thousands of vacationers secure commercial whitewater rafting trips on the river annually while thousands more kayak or explore its rapids in other whitewater-worthy craft. Only the lower third of the river within the park is a whitewater stream: it's upper thirds are generally far more gentle, ideal for leisurely float trips and canoe expeditions. The gorge is also well known as a destination for rock climbing. Thousands of climbers tour the cliffs of the northern gorge each year. Hiking and biking trails also attract thousands of visitors annually, and new hiking trails. Fishing is popular on the river and in many of its tributary streams, and the New River has been cited as being among the best warm-water fisheries in the eastern U.S. Hunting is also popular within the park, though it is disallowed in areas near developed park service facilities such as camping areas and visitor centers.

Visitor Centers
The National Park Service operates four visitor centers in the territory of the New River Gorge National River. The Sandstone Visitor Center and Canyon Rim Visitor Center are open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., except on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving Day. The Thurmond Depot and Grandview Visitor Center operate seasonally from June until August: the depot is open seasonally from 10 a.m. until to 5 p.m.; Grandview, from noon to 5 p.m.

Camping
The National Park Service operates six primitive campgrounds and two special-use group campgrounds within the territory of the New River Gorge National River. Back-country camping is also available.

Fees, Permits & Reservations
No entrance fees are charged at the New River Gorge National River or for the use of its facilities. Reservations, however, must be made for the use of some facilities, including picnic shelters, such as those at Grandview, Burnwood, or Dun Glen. Permits may be required for commercial and non-commercial group activities within the park, including weddings, film making, and guided tours of 10 or more participants.




Earlier efforts to establish the New River Gorge National Park
Local efforts to establish the New River Gorge National Park began as early as 1959, when a proposal was advanced during hearings before the Senate Special Committee on Unemployment, chaired by Sen. Jennings Randolph. A formal study, conducted the following year, concluded the New River Gorge was unsuitable for such a national park due to the man-made development that had occurred within the gorge, which first began during the 1870s. Circa 1960, coal was still being mined in the gorge, a few of the coal mining towns of the New River Gorge were still occupied, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway's line through the gorge was active, hauling freight and transporting passengers. Again, in 1961, the Fayette County Court, acting in regards to the Federal Area Redevelopment Act, officially recommended the establishment of a New River Gorge National Park, calling it "by far the greatest recreational opportunity in southern West Virginia."

The construction of the New River Gorge Bridge acted as catalyst for renewed efforts to establish the New River Gorge National Park during the period of 1973-1977, and the concept enjoyed wide support among state and local elected and civil leaders as well as popular support among the general populace. A five-month study of the New River Gorge by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) in 1975 concluded that "the cumulative effects of the man-made developments in the gorage are sufficient justification for not establishing the New River Gorge as a... National Park." The study was the result an amendment sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd in 1974. That same year, Sen. Randolph introduced a bill to create the New River Gorge National Park, but the bill did not reach the Senate floor.

The original vision of the ill-fated efforts of the 1970s for the park was to include the 66 mile long stretch of the New River Gorge between Bluestone Dam, near Hinton, in Summers County, to Gauley Bridge, in Fayette County. One proposal would have included Hawks Nest State Park, Babcock State Park, Grandview State Park, Canyon Rim State Park and Sandstone Falls State Park in the proposed park.

Sandstone Falls

In Summers County, 10 miles north of Hinton, WV, Sandstone Falls is among the most visited natural landmarks within the territory of the New River Gorge National River, according to the National Park Service. Also known as "The Great Falls of the New River," the waterfall thunders over the thick shelf of the Stony Gap Sandstone in photographic spectacle.

NPS Sandstone Falls Natural Area

Downstream of Sandstone Falls, the National Park Service has established observation areas with wayside exhibits throughout the Sandstone Falls Natural Area connected by an elaborate boardwalk with rest stations. The wheelchair-access Sandstone Falls boardwalk leads visitors across a series of forested islands to the highest part of the falls on the eastern half of the river. The walk passes several smaller falls, pools, and rivulets, more-typical of the gentle western half of the river's descent. Picnic tables and public toilets are located near the Sandstone Falls parking area at the boardwalk entrance. Formerly a West Virginia state park, the park service acquired the falls area and began to develop the site in the late 1980s.

Sandstone Falls Ecology

The ecology of the Sandstone Falls Natural Area is classed as that of an Appalachian Flatrock Ecosystem, defined by continuous flats of sandstone. The edge of this sandstone layer creates the falls and is exposed among the islands and shoals above and below. This sandstone, the Stony Gap Sandstone, extends upstream for more than 12 miles. Its smooth rock top lies just below the surface during low water. Brooks Falls, six miles upstream, is created by a pitch in the sandstone. Waders enjoy plodding through the shoals along the western side of the river: the water above the falls is warmed to bath temperature by early summer as it flows languidly over the broad rock surface.

Flatrock ecosystems share similar characteristics, namely a lack of soil. At Sandstone Falls, frequent spring floods rage over the falls, shoals, and islands, tearing at roots and carrying off what little soil is available in deep narrow fissures. Only the hardiest plants survive here -- including Virginia pine and Red Cedar.


Use Caution Wading at Sandstone Falls: Fishing and wading are popular pastimes in the warm water of the shoals and shallows above the western side of the falls, but both waders and anglers should use extreme caution and understand the nature of currents, which may follow deeper crevasses above the falls. Several people have drowned at the falls.


Directions: From Interstate 64 exit 138 (Sandstone-Hinton exit), follow WV Route 20 (WV-20) south eleven miles through Hinton to River Road. Follow River Road (WV-26) 8.5 miles. Brooks Falls is located about six-miles upstream of Sandstone Falls. The falls may also be observed at a distance from the Sandstone Falls Overlook along W.Va. Route 20.

West Virginia Walleye

The walleye is the largest member of the perch family, which also includes sauger, yellow perch and darters. This species can be recognized by its torpedo-shaped body, forked tail, white spot on its lower tail fin, sharp canine teeth, and reflective eyes. The luminous appearance of the eyes is due to the tapetum lucidum, a layer of pigment that helps the Walleye to see at night or in murky water. Body coloration ranges from dark olive brown to yellowish gold, with brassy flecks on its sides.

Walleyes are native to central North America and Canada, including the Ohio River and Great Lakes watersheds. These popular sport fish have been extensively stocked throughout much of North America including West Virginias New River. Walleye typically weigh one or two pounds, although trophy catches may exceeds 15 pounds or more and reach lengths around 36 inches.

Smallmouth Bass

The smallmouth bass is one of North America’s most popular fish and the hardest fighting fresh water sport fish pound for pound. As their name implies, this fish’s mouth is somewhat smaller than its cousin, the largemouth bass. Otherwise these fish are similar, although typically browner and smaller in size. Smallmouth bass are also known as red eye bass, black bass,smallies or bronzebacks.

Smallmouth bass are found in rivers and clear lakes, usually over rocky or gravel bottoms, where they prey on crayfish and other invertibrates. Smallmouths often orient to pools and ledges during the cooler months, but may be found in grass beds or other environments during summer.

In lakes, smallmouth bass often visit shallow areas during the early morning and move to deeper water as water temperatures increase. They are known for orienting to structure and shade. Smallmouths often lurk near sand bars, submerged islands, points, drop offs and weed beds.