Tag: New River Gorge National River

New River Gorge Bridge to Camp Brookside Area Under Repair

The bridge that provides the only road access to the Camp Brookside area of New River Gorge National River in West Virginia has been closed for repairs.

The National Park Service says the shutdown began Thursday and is expected to last five weeks.

While the repairs are underway, the public won’t be able to access the trailhead and river access point located just outside the entrance gate to Camp Brookside Environmental Education Center. The center will also be closed while the repairs are being made.

The park says as Camp Brookside begins to be used more frequently, work is needed to maintain the bridge for heavier use.

The park says the project will ensure safe access for future visitors and provide access for emergency services personnel.

New River Gorge Offering Free Water Safety Instruction

Water safety instruction will be given this weekend at New River Gorge National River.

The National Park Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are offering their annual safety program on Saturday and Sunday. Water safety activities are free and offer the chance for anyone to learn how to be safe during recreational activities around water.

Instruction will be given on proper fitting and use of a personal flotation device or life jacket, as well as tips to stay safe while boating on rivers and lakes.

Summer hours for the four visitor centers also begin this weekend.

For water safety event schedule, visit http://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/water-safety-weekend.htm .

National Park Visitors Spent $58M in Southern W.Va. in 2016

The state’s three national parks in southern West Virginia saw more than one million visitors last year, resulting in a bump to the economies of the surrounding cities and towns. 

The National Park Service released the visitor totals Monday that show 1.3 million tourists from around the world stopped at the New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River and Gauley River National Recreation Area in 2016.

Visitors spent more than $58 million in the communities around the parks, supporting nearly 900 local jobs.

Park visitors spend the most on lodging followed by food, gas, and admissions.

The three parks are located in four counties: Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers.

Gov. Jim Justice has pushed for increased investment in tourism and marketing for the state as a whole since taking office in January. Justice has said putting more government dollars toward attracting people to state and national parks in West Virginia will help diversify the state’s economy.

Nationally, NPS says they return $10 for every $1 invested in the parks they oversee, with a cumulative benefit of nearly $35 billion to the U.S. economy last year.

The report was generated by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service. 

New River Gorge Seeking Local Teachers for Workshop

The National Park Service is looking for some local teachers to work with staff at New River Gorge National River to rework educational programming offered at the park for area schools.

The park is holding a four-day workshop in June and will pay an honorarium of $800 to each of 12 teachers attending. The park said in a news release that teachers from all primary and secondary grades can apply at https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/teacher-ranger-teacher-program.htm . The deadline is April 10, and the workshop is scheduled for June 26 to 29.

The park will also hire three teacher-ranger-teacher positions to help carry out recommendations identified in the workshop. The positions will last for six weeks.

New River Gorge National River Prescribed Fire Planned

A New River Gorge National River official says a prescribed fire is planned for Friday.The burn is to occur in an oak woodland area in the Grandview area…

A New River Gorge National River official says a prescribed fire is planned for Friday.

The burn is to occur in an oak woodland area in the Grandview area of the park.

The park has planned several prescribed fires through the end of May, ranging in size from 4 to 45 acres, and totaling about 95 acres.

Prescribed fires allow fire managers to conduct a safe burn under optimal conditions and with resources available in order to decrease risks from wildland fire to life, property and resources. The fires also allow managers to restore ecological processes and meet resource management goals.

Updated information on facility or trail closures and fire activity will be posted on the park’s social media sites.

New River Gorge Prescribed Fires Planned This Spring

New River Gorge National River officials say several prescribed fires are planned this spring between Monday and May 31.

The park said in a news release the sites range in size from 4 to 45 acres and total about 95 acres.

The exact dates of the fires will be determined by fuel and weather conditions.

Two of the units are in the park’s south district, Sandstone and Grandview. The other, Backus II, is in the park’s north district.

Prescribed fires allow fire managers to conduct a safe burn under optimal conditions and with resources available in order to decrease risks from wildland fire to life, property and resources. The fires also allow managers to restore ecological processes and meet resource management goals.

Updated information on facility or trail closures and fire activity will be posted on the park’s social media sites.

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