West Virginia
Blackwater River included on America's Most Endangered Rivers list for 2024 – WV MetroNews
DAVIS, W.Va. — One of West Virginia’s best known and most scenic waterways has been included on this year’s list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers. The Blackwater River in West Virginia is number ten on the list compiled and released today by the American Rivers organization.
In their announcement, American Rivers specifically noted the plans for construction of Corridor H through through the Tucker County towns of Thomas and Davis as the chief reason for the inclusion of the waterway on the endangered list.
“The Blackwater River is threatened by the currently State-preferred (but not yet adopted) route for a major four-lane highway, known as Corridor H, that would cross all of the river’s headwater streams
with major construction activity at each. This route was designed 30 years ago, with little thought to preserving the Blackwater River’s unique cultural, historic, and environmental integrity.” wrote the organization in a press release.
Judy Rodd is the longtime Executive Director of the Friends of Blackwater. She believed it was a significant development for their push to persuade the Federal Highway Administration to adopt what is often called the “northern route” for the Thomas and Davis section.
“This is a national group looking at the problems created by the mega-highway being built in the headwaters of the Blackwater River,” said Rodd. “It’s beloved by West Virginians and is a significant part of the tourism economy.”
The West Virginia Division of Highways and local advocates for the Corridor H project have maintained the current route, which would go between the two towns, is the most economical and appropriate route. However, the Federal Highway Administration in a notice of intent earlier this year allowed for an examination of not only the preferred route, but also the northern route.
Rodd said to her organization it’s an important shift in the analysis of the plans for the highway by the federal agency.
“It divides the historic towns of Thomas and Davis, with a big four-lane which is ridiculous in this day and age when the Biden Administration is saying, ‘We don’t want to divide towns anymore and make it difficult for people to visit each other,” said Rodd.
She added the other concern is environmental, which was what attracted the attention of American Rivers.
“It cuts over top of the North Fork of the Blackwater, which is the entry way to the Blackwater (Canyon). It cuts over top of the rail-trail, over top of a water treatment system we’re installing and over top of the Loop Trail which is a new venture. Then it cuts over five major waterways which feed into the Blackwater River,” she said.
“It would be a grave mistake on the part of the West Virginia Division of Highways and Federal Highway Administration, and a major disservice to local communities, to threaten the Blackwater River and simultaneously hinder the growth of the thriving outdoor recreation economy in this area,” said Olivia Miller, program director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy in a press release. “To those who know and love Tucker County—the Blackwater Canyon is the heart and soul of this region. To rob present and future generations of the opportunity to fully experience these special places and reap their many benefits is a huge error in judgment.”
The West Virginia Division of Highways has long maintained the current route they are putting forward is the fastest, most economical route and deny it poses any of threats to the environment or the historical status of the region which are claimed. However, Rodd and her organization hoped the designation would change before dirt is turned on what will be one of the final stretches of Corridor H. It’s also one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the entire longstanding project to connect Weston to I-81 in Virginia.
“A million people visit this area every year and those people are concerned their enjoyment of this area will be diminished and the people who live there are disturbed it’s going to tear up their landscape for years,” Rodd said.
“Part of this announcement is a call for people to take action and say what they think by sending those comments to the federal highway people,” she said.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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