The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the

Allegheny Mountains The Allegheny Mountain Range ( ) — also spelled Alleghany or Allegany, less formally the Alleghenies — is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada. Historically it represented a significant barr ...

of eastern

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

, US. It protects over of federally managed land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties. The Monongahela National Forest includes some major landform features such as the Allegheny Front and the western portion of the

Ridge-and-valley Appalachians The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands division. The physiographic province is divided into three se ...

. Within the forest boundaries lie some of the highest mountain peaks in the state, including the highest,

Spruce Knob Spruce Mountain, located in eastern West Virginia, is the highest ridge of the Allegheny Mountains. The whale-backed ridge extends for only from northeast to southwest, but several of its peaks exceed in elevation. The summit, Spruce Knob (), ...

(4,863 ft). Spruce Knob is also the highest point in the Allegheny Mountains. Approximately 75 tree species are found in the forest. Almost all of the trees are a second growth forest, grown back after the land was heavily cut over around the start of the 20th century. Species for which the forest is important include red spruce (''Picea rubens''), balsam fir (''Abies balsamea''), and

mountain ash Mountain ash may refer to: * ''Eucalyptus regnans'', the tallest of all flowering plants, native to Australia * Mountain-ashes or rowans, varieties of trees and shrubs in the genus ''Sorbus'' See also

* Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, a town ...

(''Sorbus americana''). The Monongahela National Forest includes eight U.S. Wilderness Areas and several special-use areas, notably the Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.

Geography

The Monongahela National Forest encompasses most of the southern third of the

range (a section of the vast

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

range) and is entirely within the state of West Virginia. Elevations within the Monongahela National Forest range from about at Petersburg to at Spruce Knob. A

rain shadow effect A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. Evaporated moisture from body of water, bodies of water (such as oceans and larg ...

caused by slopes of the Allegheny Front results in of annual precipitation on the west side and about half that on the east side. Headwaters of six major river systems are located within the forest: Monongahela, Potomac, Greenbrier, Elk, Tygart, and Gauley. Twelve rivers are currently under study for possible inclusion in the

National Wild and Scenic Rivers System The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...

Administration

The main administrative headquarters is located in

Elkins, West Virginia Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 6,950 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It lies along the Tygart Valley River and was incorporated in 1890, taking its name fr ...

. The Monongahela also includes four ranger districts. The forest includes 105 permanent employees, seasonal employees, and volunteers. Monongahela National Forest is currently divided into four ranger districts. The Cheat-Potomac and Marlinton-White Sulphur Springs were formed by combining their namesake districts; in the merged districts, the offices for both original districts were retained. * Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, Headquarters:

Parsons, West Virginia Parsons is the largest city in and county seat of Tucker County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,322 at the 2020 census. Parsons is located at the confluence of the Shavers Fork and the Black Fork, forming the head of the ...

** Office (former HQ, Potomac Ranger District) at Petersburg, West Virginia * Gauley Ranger District, Headquarters: Richwood, West Virginia * Greenbrier Ranger District, Headquarters: Bartow, West Virginia * Marlinton-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Headquarters: Marlinton, West Virginia ** Office (former HQ, White Sulphur Springs Ranger District) at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

History

The Monongahela National Forest was established following the

Weeks Act The Weeks Act is a federal law (36 Stat. 961) enacted by the United States Congress on March 1, 1911. Introduced by Massachusetts Congressman John W. Weeks and signed into law by President William Howard Taft, the law authorized the United Stat ...

passage in 1911. This act authorized the purchase of land for long-term watershed protection and natural resource management following the massive cutting of the eastern forests in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1915, were acquired to begin the forest, called the "Monongahela Purchase", and on April 28, 1920, it became the "Monongahela National Forest". By the end of 1924, the Monongahela National Forest had total ownership of some . Although white-tail deer never vanished from the Monongahela National Forest, from the 1890s to the 1920s their numbers dropped substantially. In January 1930, eight deer procured from

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

were released into the forest near Parsons. From 1937 to 1939, a total of 17 more deer were released in the Flatrock-Roaring Plains area of the Forest. These releases served as the nucleus for reestablishing the healthy breeding populations of eastern West Virginia. (By the mid-1940s, deer were so numerous in the area that crop farmers had to patrol their fields by night.) In 1943 and 1944, as part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area, the U.S. Army used parts of the Monongahela National Forest as a practice

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

and mortar range and maneuver area before troops were sent to Europe to fight in World War II. Artillery and mortar shells shot into the area for practice are still occasionally found there today. Seneca Rocks and other area cliffs were also used for assault climbing instruction. This was the Army's only low-altitude climbing school. The fisher (''Pekania pennanti''), believed to have been exterminated in the state by 1912, was reintroduced during the winter of 1969. At that time 23 fishers were translocated from New Hampshire to two sites within the boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest (at Canaan Mountain in Tucker County and Cranberry Glades in Pocahontas County). In 1980, and again in 2005, the Monongahela National Forest was the venue for the annual

counterculture A counterculture is a culture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society, sometimes diametrically opposed to mainstream cultural mores.Eric Donald Hirsch. ''The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy''. Ho ...

Rainbow Gathering. In 1993, the Craig Run East Fork Rockshelter and Laurel Run Rockshelter in the Gauley Ranger District were listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. In 2011 West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin requested the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...

study the feasibility of transferring the northern portions of Monongahela National Forest to the NPS, including the Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, the Dolly Sods Wilderness, and the Otter Creek Wilderness. Advocates had proposed the area be designated as High Allegheny National Park and Preserve. Interconnecting public lands would become Preserve Areas, where hunting would be allowed; and adjacent private working farms and forests would be eligible for voluntary Heritage Area conservation easements. In October 2011, the

announced a Reconnaissance Survey, to be conducted from January to September 2012, to "determine whether the historic, natural, and recreational resources in the project area are 'likely' or 'unlikely' to meet congressionally required criteria for the designation of potential units of the National Park System". Historic Civil War sites within the proposed park and preserve include the Rich Mountain Battlefield, Beverly Historic District, Cheat Summit Fort, Camp Bartow, and Camp Allegheny. The historic Blackwater Industrial Complex in Tucker County—preserving artifacts of the coal, coke and timber empire of early West Virginia entrepreneur and Senator Henry Gassaway Davis—would also be included. In early 2012 Senator Manchin dropped his request for the study. Commentators on Manchin's approach to the proposal had noted that "the senator seemed to be in favor of a possible NPS label in the area only if there were no changes in existing land use or management practices". In February 2012, the NPS Director observed that some of Manchin's requests were incompatible with longstanding NPS policy, saying in part that "the continuation of extractive activities such as timber harvesting and oil and gas development would make the establishment of a national park infeasible".

Statistics and general information

General

* Land area: over * Wilderness areas: * Roads: * Visitor centers: 2 (Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and Seneca Rocks Discovery Center) * Designated Scenic Areas: 3 * Visitor observation towers: 2 ( Bickle Knob Tower and Olson Tower) * Picnic areas: 17 * Campgrounds: 23 * Snowmobile areas: 1 (Highland Scenic Highway) * Wildlife management areas (managed with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources): 10 * Warm-water fishing steams: * Trout streams: * Impoundments (reservoirs): 5

Trails

* Trails: 825 miles (1,327 km) ** Outside Wilderness Areas: 660 miles (1,062 km), ''not counting the 3 newest wildernesses'' ** In Wilderness Areas: 165 miles (265 km), ''not counting the 3 newest wildernesses''

Natural features

* Wilderness areas: 8

Sensitive species

* Sensitive plants and wildlife: 50 * Threatened and endangered species: 9

Ecology

The forest is noted for its rugged landscape, views, blueberry thickets, highland bogs and " sods", and open areas with exposed rocks. In addition to the second-growth forest trees, the wide range of botanical species found includes

rhododendron ''Rhododendron'' (; : ''rhododendra'') is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the Ericaceae, heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan ...

, laurel on the moist west side of the Allegheny Front, and

cactus A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

and endemic shale barren species on the drier eastern slopes. There are 230 known species of birds inhabiting the Monongahela National Forest: 159 are known to breed there, 89 are

Neotropical The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In biogeogra ...

migrants; 71 transit the forest during migration, but do not breed there, and 17 non-breeding species are Neotropical. The Brooks Bird Club (BBC) conducts an annual bird banding and survey project in the vicinity of Dolly Sods Scenic Area during migration (August – September). The forest provides habitat for 9 federally listed endangered or threatened species: 2 bird species, 2 bat species, 1 subspecies of flying squirrel, 1 salamander species, and 3 plant species. Fifty other species of rare/sensitive plants and animals also occur in the forest. Larger animals and game species found in the forest include black bear,

wild turkey The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of Turkey (bird), turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey (''M. g. dom ...

white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known Common name, commonly as the whitetail and the Virginia deer, is a medium-sized species of deer native to North America, North, Central America, Central and South America. It is the ...

, gray and

fox squirrel The fox squirrel (''Sciurus niger''), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel, is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. It is sometimes mistaken for the American red squirrel or eastern gray squirr ...

s, rabbits,

snowshoe hare The snowshoe hare (''Lepus americanus''), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sink ...

, woodcock, and

grouse Grouse are a group of birds from the order (biology), order Galliformes, in the family (biology), family Phasianidae. Grouse are presently assigned to the Tribe (biology), tribe Tetraonini (formerly the subfamily Tetraoninae and the family Tetr ...

. Limited waterfowl habitat exists in certain places. Furbearers include

beaver Beavers (genus ''Castor'') are large, semiaquatic rodents of the Northern Hemisphere. There are two existing species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers are the second-large ...

, red and

gray fox The gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus''), or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America. This species and its only congener (biology), congener, the diminutive island fox ...

bobcat The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the wildcat, bay lynx, or red lynx, is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus '' Lynx''. Native to North America, it ranges from southern Canada through most of the c ...

, fisher, river otter,

raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the North American, northern or common raccoon (also spelled racoon) to distinguish it from Procyonina, other species of raccoon, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest ...

and

mink Mink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera ''Neogale'' and '' Mustela'' and part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters, and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as "mink": the A ...

. Other hunted species include

coyote The coyote (''Canis latrans''), also known as the American jackal, prairie wolf, or brush wolf, is a species of canis, canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the Wolf, gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the c ...

s, skunks, opossums, woodchucks,

crows The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is a series of remote weapon stations used by the US military on its armored vehicles and ships. It allows weapon operators to engage targets without leaving the protection of their vehicle. ...

, and weasels. There are 12 species of game (pan) fish and 60 species of nongame or forage fish. Some 90% of the trout waters of West Virginia are within the forest.

Recreation

The Monongahela National Forest is a recreation destination and tourist attraction, hosting approximately 3 million visitors annually. The backwoods road and trail system is used for

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

mountain biking Mountain biking (MTB) is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability ...

horse riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding ( Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...

. Many miles of railroad grades are a link in the recreation use of the forest. (The longest is the Glady to Durbin West Fork Railroad Trail which is long.) Recreation ranges from self-reliant treks in the wildernesses and backcountry areas, to rock climbing challenges, to traditional developed-site camping.

Canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...

hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...

trapping Animal trapping, or simply trapping or ginning, is the use of a device to remotely catch and often kill an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including for meat, fur trade, fur/feathers, sport hunting, pest control, and w ...

, fishing, and

wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introdu ...

viewing are also common uses.

Campgrounds

The following are developed campgrounds in the forest: * Bear Heaven Campground * Big Bend Campground * Big Rock Campground * Bird Run Campground * Bishop Knob Campground * Blue Bend Recreation Area and Campground * Cranberry Campground * Cranberry River Sites * Day Run Campground * Gatewood Group Camp * Horseshoe Campground * Island Campground * Jess Judy Group Campground * Lake Sherwood Recreation Area and Campground * Laurel Fork Campground * Lower Glady Dispersed Campground * Middle Mountain Cabins * Pocahontas Campground * Red Creek Campground * Seneca Shadows Campground * Spruce Knob Lake Campground * Stuart Campground * Stuart Group Campground * Summit Lake Campground * Tea Creek Campground * Williams River sites

Commercial resources

The forest administration maintains wildlife and timber programs aimed at the responsible management of a mixed-age forest. About 81 percent of the total forest area is closed canopy forest over 60 years of age. The tree species most valuable for timber and wildlife food in the Monongahela National Forest are black cherry and oaks. The forest's commercial timber sale program averages 30 mbf (thousand board feet) of timber sold per year with a yearly average value of $7.5 million. Various cutting techniques are used, from cutting single trees to clearcutting blocks up to in size. Regeneration cuts (clear-cuts or other treatments designed to start a new timber stand) occur on approximately yearly out of the more than forest total. Mineral resources located in the Monongahela National Forest include coal, gas,

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

, and

gravel Gravel () is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally on Earth as a result of sedimentation, sedimentary and erosion, erosive geological processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone. Gr ...

. Sheep and cattle grazing occurs on about . Receipts for timber, grazing, land uses, minerals, and recreation use averaged $4,840,466 annually between FY92 and FY96, and 25% of that (an average of $1,210,116 per year) was returned to counties that include Monongahela National Forest lands. This money is intended for use by local schools and roads. The remaining 75% each year is returned to the U.S. Treasury.

Areas of interest

Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area

* Seneca Rocks * River Knobs * Spruce Knobs lake * Sites Homestead * Smoke Hole Canyon

Wilderness Areas

* Big Draft Wilderness, ' * Cranberry Wilderness, ' * Dolly Sods Wilderness, ' * Laurel Fork North Wilderness, ' * Laurel Fork South Wilderness, ' * Otter Creek Wilderness, ' * Roaring Plains West Wilderness, ' ** Mount Porte Crayon * Spice Run Wilderness, '

National Natural Landmarks

* Big Run Bog * Blister Run Swamp * Canaan Valley * Cranberry Glades Botanical Area * Fisher Spring Run Bog * Gaudineer Scenic Area * Germany Valley Karst Area * Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand * Sinnett-Thorn Mountain Cave System

Sites listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

:''Only sites actually on USFS land are listed here.'' * Rohrbaugh Cabin * Craig Run East Fork Rockshelter * Laurel Run Rockshelter * Sites Homestead

Stands of old-growth forest

Some of true

old-growth forest An old-growth forest or primary forest is a forest that has developed over a long period of time without disturbance. Due to this, old-growth forests exhibit unique ecological features. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Natio ...

have been documented within the Monongahela National Forest. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (September 2006)
''Monongahela National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan''
; Appendix B, pg 4. The largest of these areas are: * Fanny Bennett Hemlock Grove, ''a eastern hemlock stand'' * Gaudineer Scenic Area, ''50 acres of virgin red spruce forest'' * North Fork Mountain Red Pine Botanical Area, ''10 acres of

red pine ''Pinus resinosa'', known as red pine (also Norway pine in Minnesota), is a pine native to Eastern North America. Description Red pine is a coniferous evergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth. It usually ranges from in heigh ...

old growth forest'' * North Spruce Mountain Old Growth Site, ''about '' * Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand, ''a red spruce- hemlock stand, partly in the Otter Creek Wilderness'' * Virgin White Pine Botanical Area, ''a white pine stand''

Other features

* Fernow Experimental Forest * Lake Sherwood * Summit Lake * Falls of Hills Creek * Highland Scenic Highway * Williams River * Stuart Memorial Drive * Flatrock Plains * Sinks of Gandy Creek

Gallery

Image:Monongahela National Forest - Entrance Gate.jpg, Entrance gate along Old US 33 east of Elkins Image:NorthForkMountain.wmg.jpg, North Fork Mountain Image:Monongahela National Forest - Middle Mountain Cabins.jpg, Middle Mountain Cabins Image:Highland scenic highway.jpg, Highland Scenic Highway Image:Lake Sherwood (West Virginia).jpg, Lake Sherwood Image:Olson Observation Tower.jpg, Olson Observation Tower Image:SinksofGandyCreek1.jpg, The Sinks of Gandy Creek Image:Fernow Experimental Forest - Entrance Sign.jpg, Fernow Experimental Forest Image:SmokeHoleGorge.JPG, Smoke Hole Canyon from atop Cave Mountain File:A small portion of the Fanny Bennett Hemlock Grove on one side of Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest mountain, in Pendleton County LCCN2015634475.tif, Fanny Bennett Hemlock Grove

References

Citations

Other sources

* McKim, C.R. (1970), ''Monongahela National Forest History'', Unpublished manuscript available at the Monongahela National Forest Office,

. * de Hart, Allen and Bruce Sundquist (2006), ''Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide'', 8th edition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy,

Charleston, West Virginia Charleston () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in West Virginia, most populous city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is the county seat of Kanawha County, West Virginia, Kanawha County and ...

. * Berman, Gillian Mace, Melissa Conley-Spencer, Barbara J. Howe and Charlene Lattea (1992), ''The Monongahela National Forest: 1915-1990'', Morgantown, West Virginia: WVU Public History Program; For the United States Forest Service: Monongahela National Forest. (March 1992) * DeMeo, Tom and Julie Concannon (1996), "On the Mon: Image and Substance in West Virginia's National Forest", ''Inner Voice'', Vol. 8, Issue 1, January/February. * Weitzman, Sidney (1977), ''Lessons from the Monongahela Experience'', USDA, Forest Service, December. * ''This article contains information that originally came from US Government publications and websites and is in the public domain.''

External links