NOTE: At 10:15 am this coming Wednesday, June 21st, an agenda item for the
Monongalia County Commission is "The Status of the State-Owned Property at
Mt. Chateau". This topic was also discussed in a front page
story of today's Dominion Post. The State government has an evaluation
underway to determine the future of this and other sites, for possible economic
development.
The following memorandum has been prepared for consideration of the
Commissioners, to outline the importance and potential of the Mt. Chateau property.
It is my hope that the County Commission will adopt a resolution and write a
letter to the Governor in support of the preservation of the Mt. Chateau
property as public property.
YOU CAN HELP. READ THE FOLLOWING WITH A CRITICAL EYE AND TELL ME HOW TO
IMPROVE IT. SEND ME AN EMAIL, AND TELL ME YOU AGREE OR NOT. SEND THIS MESSAGE
TO OTHERS. SEND YOUR OWN LETTER TO: Governor Joe Manchin III, 1900 Kanawha
Boulevard, East, Charleston, WV 25305. You can phone or fax the Governor at
304-558-2000 (phone) or 558-7025 (fax). The email address is:
_Governor(a)WVGov.org_ (mailto:Governor@WVGov.org)
Send me a copy of your letter. Thank you for your help at this time, Duane
Nichols, CLEAR, 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508
_duane330(a)aol.com_ (mailto:duane330@aol.com)
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To: Governor Joe Manchin III, State of West Virginia Date: June 21, 2006
Re: Mt. Chateau Property on Cheat Lake, Monongalia County, WV
Cheat Lake was formed and dedicated in 1926 by West Penn Power “for
recreation and the providing of an essential service (electricity)”. Yet, access to
the full public use of the Lake is severely limited by the natural terrain,
which of course helps to make it “wild and wonderful”. Some public access is
afforded by Allegheny Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at
the Cheat Lake Park and Trail, where again access is severely limited, and
at the Sunset Beach where public boating access competes with dock rental
usage.
The State of West Virginia can take a major step toward increased public
access at the Mt. Chateau location, given the existing 13 acres there and the
perpetual access to the Lake that remains from the prior land sales and swaps
(that were not in the public interest). Monongalia County and the whole State
would greatly benefit from any combination of the following uses for the Mt.
Chateau property:
1. The continued function of the WV Geologic & Economic Survey at this site.
2. A museum based upon the existing geological specimens there with
additions of rocks and minerals from West Virginia.
3. An enhanced information center and environmental studies office, perhaps
featuring a nature center and/or a natural history museum.
4. This is an ideal location for a public park with a pavilion, picnic area,
playground, dog walk, perhaps with an observation deck, fishing platform,
and/or swim deck.
5. Location for a support facility for use of the perpetual legal access to
Cheat Lake remaining at the old Mt. Chateau beach, discarded by the State in
1974.
6. There is amble space for public parking unlike any other location around
Cheat Lake, in support of any of the above activities.
7. Location for access to Lake and Cheat Canyon for search & rescue
operations of stranded or injured hikers, boaters, rafters, hunters, etc.
8. Location for access to Coopers Rock State Forest, as only practical
public access to hiking trails from the Cheat Lake and River level.
9. Base station for monitoring of Cheat River water quality, siltation and
debris, as well as acid mine water. This is the one location where a possible
scheme could be devised for removal of substantial quantities of the debris
floating down from the Cheat River watershed, a perennial problem for Lake
usage.
10. Of course, the scenic beauty of this land and the surroundings are
justification in and of themselves for it preservation and retention as public
land.
What remains of the former Mt. Chateau State Park has significance to our
State far beyond any economic value for private development. Indeed, economic
development in Monongalia County is currently at a peak, and our population
growth calls out for the State to improve access to Cheat Lake for all our
people.
Duane Nichols, Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Association.
