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The Coal River Group has been formed to "Preserve History, Develop Tourism and Recreation on the Great Coal River".

The mission statement of the group is based on building value for an often overlooked and misunderstood river that flows through two basins in Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha Counties. The river offers a plethora of opportunities that recreational enthusiasts and tourists are easily drawn too

An overlooked asset of this magnitude can provide an economic engine to grow the areas economy if it is fully understood and appreciated by the public, Government and Industry. Creating this understanding and working to provide the infrastructure needed to capitalize on the rivers inherent economic values is the foundation of the CRG’s efforts.

The Great Coal River provides an excellent base for development activities. The History of the river is so important that a portion of it has been recognized by the National Historic Register as a National Historic Site. The entire 440 surface acres of the river was successfully listed on the prestigious Historic Register in 1997. The basis for the acceptance of the river into this National Registry was the extensive lock and dam system (9 locks and Dams) that where built in 1850 to accommodate up to 123 ft Sternwheeler boats and similar sized barges. Later in the 1880s an elaborate system of log booms where built in several parts of the river to facilitate the delivery by river of 100,000s of thousands of floating logs from the virgin forest areas in Boone and Lincoln counties.

The historic significance and the incredible engineering feats that where accomplished by the early coal and timber companies represent a significant opportunity for the development of interpretive centers along the river. The Coal River Group hopes to promote the development of these Tourist destination centers in St. Albans, Tornado, and at the Forks of Coal near the Corridor G intersection in Lincoln and Boone Counties.

The fact that nearly 600,000 West Virginians live within an easy 50-mile drive of the Coal makes the development of recreational opportunities along the coal a major goal.

Coal River both the Big and the Little offer something for everyone in terms of recreational potential. Members of the Group have floated; motor cruised, fished, kayaked and swam the length of the river. Not many people have ever looked at the river from this vantage point. The Group members have and they report that the river is an untapped Mecca for all the river sports.

It offers some of the south central West Virginias finest opportunities for recreation, yet it is literally unknown for most of these attributes. The group is working to establish a 54 mile river trail on the river complete with light boat put-ins and specified river trail trips for a day or multi-day trips. The DNR has reviewed this plan and has indicated a willingness to work with the group to help move the project forward.

But the Coal River is most widely known as one of the most endangered rivers in the Country. The dubious reports about its demise are poorly documented and in terms of pollution it has received a black eye as a result of a single study conducted in 1997 that reported high fecal content. Further reviews of that study have reveled that the study only took three samples from the Coal River…. instead the samples where primarily taken on small creeks flowing into the river.

Questions persist and that is a primary goal of the Coal River Group. ESTABLISH A COMPLETE AND CONTINUING, SAMPLING PROGRAM FOR POLLUTANTS IN THE RIVER. The Group realizes that if the river does have a pollution problem then that must be fixed. They plan to promote a series of programs to establish a base line of river quality and create a continuing program to maintain regular sampling programs to monitor conditions. After all- the group’s children swim and play in the river, as do many 1000s of others.

Water Quality Testing Results

The success of the group’s activities will create VALUE for the river. The fact is the Coal River has been overlooked as a Tourist and Recreational asset for the South Central West Virginia area. Instead it has been treated as if it has no value other than as a permitted stream for coal waste and pollution dilution.

The potential to positively impact the areas economy by creating new recreation opportunities, develop destination centers to interpret the areas history, coupled with the success of Tourism efforts throughout West Virginia makes the Coal River a primary asset for developing that industry in the region.

The success of the Hatfield and McCoy trail with many access points along the Coal River – averaging 3000 paid visitors per month – makes the Coal River Groups efforts to capitalize on the recreational and historical value of the river a very attainable goal.

It is time to move the South Central area of West Virginia into the mainstream of the quickly developing Tourism Industry and the Coal River Group wants to be a catalyst for that development.

Note:

People interested in joining with the Group to help "bring life back to the Coal River" are asked to contact its President, Bill Currey for more information on how they can help.

e-mail Currey@CurreyRealty.com or phone 727-0660

*About the group      *Goals and Objectives     *History Committee     *Recreation Committee     *Tourism Committee     *Preservation/Development    *Sponsors  *Contact us    *Links     *Home