GAULEY RIVER ACCESS REOPENED

GAULEY RIVER ACCESS REOPENED FOR FALL WHITEWATER SEASON

FAYETTEVILLE, WV: The West Virginia Rivers Coalition and the national conservation organization, American Whitewater, have been notified by the owners of some of the most popular river access sites in the Gauley River National Recreation Area that those areas will again be available for use by private kayakers and canoeists during the upcoming fall whitewater season. This accommodation by the property owners will avert what could have been a chaotic situation for the thousands of private boaters who flock to Fayette and Nicholas Counties each fall for the whitewater season on the Gauley River. Without this cooperative arrangement, river access would have been limited to Summersville Dam, the only publicly owned access site, and the community of Swiss, twenty-six miles downstream.

Since 1988, property owners Lost Paddle Inc. and Imre and Janet Szilagyi have allowed private kayakers and canoeists to use their mid-canyon access sites while negotiations took place with the National Park Service for the sale of their Woods Ferry property for use as a public access. The owners also allowed the West Virginia Rivers Coalition to conduct a popular shuttle service for the boaters who use the Mason Branch access. The shuttle service has proven to be an important fundraising vehicle for that conservation organization while managing traffic along the tight roads in the Gauley Canyon.

Prior to last fall's Gauley season, the landowners announced that they would discontinue their accommodation to the private boating community this year. The owners cited the on-going lack of agreement with the National Park Service over the appraised value of their Woods Ferry land. Fortunately, both parties have recently agreed to explore alternatives for acquisition of the site.

Landowner Imre Szilagyi noted "It has long been our goal to be as accommodating as possible in getting the Woods Ferry access site into the public domain. While there are no guarantees that current negotiations will result in an acceptable purchase offer, we are nevertheless encouraged enough by the Park Service's willingness to work through this issue with us that we have decided to allow private kayakers and canoeists to cross our lands for yet one more Gauley season."

Liz Garland, Executive Director of the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, commented "We welcome the news that the property owners have decided to allow kayakers and canoeists to continue accessing the Gauley River at places like Mason Branch and Buck Lick. And, we are delighted that Lost Paddle Inc. and the Szilagyis have again agreed to allow the Rivers Coalition to offer our shuttle service at Mason Branch. The service is a great relief to boaters who would otherwise have to lug boats up a steep trail to the canyon rim and financial donations from the shuttle help our work protecting the state's rivers. Now we look forward to a long-term agreement between the National Park Service and Lost Paddle that will bring needed management and protection to the Gauley River."

Mark Singleton, Executive Director of American Whitewater, also expressed relief and appreciation over this good news. "AW places a high priority on crafting a permanent solution for improved public access to the world-class recreation assets of the Gauley River. Thus, we appreciate the willingness of the landowners and the National Park Service to explore acquisition alternatives for the Woods Ferry access that has resulted in this short term accommodation for the thousands of private boaters who plan to paddle the Gauley's whitewater this fall season."