The Upper Cheat River is a treasure within the Monongahela National Forest. The forest provides clean drinking water and flood protection for communities, wildlife habitat for endangered species, and miles of trails to explore the outdoors. Despite that, the Forest Service is pushing forward a poorly-planned project that would clearcut large swaths of this critical area.

The project would log forests on very steep slopes, leading to increased risk of flooding and sediment deposition in the rivers and streams. In addition, opening the canopy will increase temperatures in cold-water streams that native brook trout require for their survival. It would also adversely impact important habitat for other species like long-eared bats and hellbender salamanders.

Now is the time to preserve mature and old-growth trees - which store much higher amounts of carbon and help fight climate change. These mature forests are worth more standing. Join us on Nov. 14th at 1pm at the US Forest Service Office in Elkins!

Sierra Club West Virginia, Speak For The Trees Too, West Virginia Environmental Council, and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy are co-hosting this event with Friends of Blackwater.