CLEAR February 2009

clear@lists.cheatlakeclear.org

3 participants
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DRAFT-Recreation Plan Update comments
by Duane330＠aol.com 27 Feb '09

27 Feb '09

CHEAT LAKE ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION DRAFT—please comment a.s.a.p. Date: March 2, 2009 [see _www.cheatlaketoday.com_ (http://www.cheatlaketoday.com) ] Charles L. Simons, Recreation & Environmental Affairs Allegheny Energy Supply Company 4350 Northern Pike Monroeville, PA 15146-2841 Subject: Lake Lynn Hydro Station FERC Project No. 2459, License Article 417. 2009 RECREATION PLAN UPDATE CLEAR agrees with the conclusion that the “winter boat launch facility” near the Park headquarters, on the peninsula, should be open for usage only after the “summer pool height” season has passed. That is when it is needed, and that is when it’s usage will not interfere with the users of the Park and Trail. CLEAR believes that significant upgrades are needed at the end of the South Trail, for year-round support of trail users. First, the “observation deck” formerly located there should be re-established with a floating platform in the Lake to permit temporary tie-ups for small boats, as canoes or small motor craft, so as to provide access from the Lake to the end of the trail. This would also serve security, law-enforcement and recreation activities. Secondly, a bicycle rack and a picnic table should be located at the end of the trail to serve the recreational activities already present. If trail users were able to lock their bicycles to a rack, this would free the individual(s) for walking into the Cheat Haven Wildlife Viewing Area. CLEAR is supportive of a “primitive walking trail” in the Cheat Haven Wildlife Viewing Area. We have had some involvement with the on-going effort to establish this trail, which would benefit from appropriate signage and/or postings. CLEAR believes that the “privileged permit sites” should be administered via a set of rules that are known to the public and that annual statistics should be reported on the exact number of sites, the number of years each site has been leased by the same individual or family (with a limit of 5 years in the future for each site), and the charge made by AE for each site. Procedures which are fair and just to the public would involve a rotational procedure that provided an opportunity to the public to participate in these sites. At present, we suspect that a family can hold a site indefinitely passing it down from one generation to another. The current condition of many sites is “poor ”. That is, there is substantial debris on a number of the sites, there are permanent structures on a number of them, and there appears to be no common standard for their maintenance. CLEAR believes that the gate at Manning Run which limits access to the South Trail during the winter months could be opened during the daylight hours so as to permit hiking or cross-country ski access. There is little or no demonstrated security risk that justifies excluding hikers or skiers during the winter months. The primary facilities that need to be protected are north of the Manning Run gate. CLEAR believes that the Lake level should be reduced by one or two feet during the summer boating season, particularly on week-ends and holidays, to reduce the shore-line erosion from boat wake, given that the current level of strong waves during these periods is substantially eroding the shoreline at many locations. CLEAR recommends and is supportive of a study of the “carrying capacity” of Cheat Lake for boating (various types), fishing (various types), hiking, camping, docking, etc. The 19 picnic sites on the hillside loop are rarely used, so this area could be restructured to permit overnight camping for individual families, with a limit of three days stay, for example. AE admits that “ the least used facility is the picnic tables located in the picnic loop and near the Lake.” [See page 7 of the AE Recreation Plan Update, dated February 2009.] CLEAR believes that it is important to note that swimming is occurring in Cheat Lake, at a number of locations. This is primarily off boats moored in the Ruble Run and Morgan Run backwaters, at the Emma Kaufmann Camp, and off many of the various docks around the Lake. Swimming is not uncommon at the Old Iron Bridge, under the Interstate Bridge, and off the old piers of the former bridge over the Manning Run backwater. It would be reasonable to authorize CLEAR to establish a limited swimming area for children at the Mill Stone Point, which is adjacent to the “day-use boat docks” and the “fish cleaning station”. CLEAR believes that a Ranger should be hired to work five days each week during the summer months in support of recreation, health and safety, and security at the Park and Trail. This ranger would be knowledgeable in the fields of recreation and the environment as well as the history of the region. The ranger would also be authorized to provide security functions for the Park and Trail. Given current level of usage of the Park and Trail as well as the level of boating and fishing involved with the Lake, this is an overdue feature for the facilities involved. CLEAR is supportive of the establishment of a “Sheepskin Trail” that would extend from north of the area, to interface with the Cheat Lake Park and Trail at the Dam, that would extend over to and through Pt. Marion, PA, and then south along the Monongahela River to the WV State Line. We are submitting these “initial comments” by the published deadline of March 2, 2009 and intend to participate in the Public Meeting at the Cheat Lake Fire Hall on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. We reserve the opportunity to extend or clarify our comments for two weeks after the Public Meeting. Duane G. Nichols Duane G. Nichols, President Cheat Lake Environment & Recreation Association 330 Dream Catcher Circle Morgantown, WV 26508 **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&n…)

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Cheat Lake Park/Trail - comments due Feb 29!
by Peggy Pings 15 Feb '09

15 Feb '09

All, Friends of Cheat Lake Trail, the rail-trail community, the Mon County/Morgantown bike-ped boards, and WV State Trails Coordinator Bill Robinson, Spread the word.... Please read the attached 1.5 MB file. It is the Cheat Lake Park/Trail Recreation Update, found at: http://www.cheatlaketoday.com/ Have you been to the Cheat Lake Park & Trail before? Opened in June 2000, it is a 4.5 mile rail-trail, and 263 acre park, that includes the "140-acre Cheat Haven Peninsula nature viewing area". It is all owned & managed by Allegheny Power, as part of their hydropower license with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission). They are undergoing their Triennial Review requirements, to prove that they are meeting the public need. It is my personal opinion that they have a lot more they could be doing to better meet the public need. Feb 29. Written comments are due. Chuck Simon's email is csimons(a)alleghenyenergy.com Mar 11. Public meeting, 7pm, Cheat Lake VFD. ( mailto:csimons@alleghenyenergy.com ) Read on..... ------------- Here's a couple quick thoughts, and yes, I think letters are in order from whoever wants the Cheat Lake Park/Trail improved: Proposed Changes Page 8. Sec 3.4. "As previously stated, the recreational facilities provided are meeting the demonstrated demand for the general use for this area. Based on an evaluation of the usage figures the facilities are adequate for non-peak period demand. AE will continue to monitor usage to determine if any changes are warranted; however, at this time, no changes to the type, access and operation of facilities is proposed in this update." Hiking Trail. Yes, we should support the trail system, but we (the group) are suggesting a single-track dirt trail, nothing more. I would like to see this trail system link up into the Greystone community, slipping in from the wooded edge of the golf course to the roads, so the neighborhood that is not adjacent will have better bike/ped access. Need interpretive & directional signs, a little trailhead to park bikes safely while you walk the trail, and control of invasive species mentioned. Page 4. Sec 2.4. "The 140 acre Cheat Haven Peninsula area was designed to allow hikers to leave the hiking/biking trail and hike through the woods. AE is currently working with several individuals in the development of a primitive walking trail in this area. If an agreement can be reached, AE will include this new trail as part of this Plan Update and will file for an amendment with the FERC, if required. AE believes that a developed walking trail will help eliminate the possible destruction of habitat because individuals will be directed through the viewing area." Public Access Docks. Did you notice all 5 docks have been removed? Now, the visiting public has even worse access to the water. The map on page 26 shows where they used to be (as if they are still there). Page 3. Sec 2.2. "The five public access decks have been removed due to safety concerns. Over the last several years, vandalism of the locking pins and general horseplay on the access docks has lead to their removal. Also, in several locations with the shoreline shifting, several of the stairways were rendered unsafe and have been removed.The five public access decks have been removed due to safety concerns. Over the last several years, vandalism of the locking pins and general horseplay on the access docks has lead to their removal. Also, in several locations with the shoreline shifting, several of the stairways were rendered unsafe and have been removed." Trail Closure. The southern 3.1 miles is still closed to the public 4 months of the year (Nov1-Mar1). This has always been Totally Unacceptable to everyone, except a few adjacent Greystone landowners up high on the hill! Folks, winter conditions are not a problem for rail-trails, as they have repeatedly suggested! No other rail-trails that I know of close down for the winter. It looks like perhaps Page 3. Sec 2.2. "After the previous Recreation Plan Update (RPU) in 2006, AE did agree to open the the Southern Trail two additional months each year. This section of trail is now open from March 1 through October 31st." Management. Nothing on proposed/improved management changes (Bruce Miller's written proposal), nor changes made over the years -- this has been very secretive - not transparent at all. It should be managed as a community park, and it is not. For the amount of money AP spends on security and maintenance, we could have a very nicely managed regional park. The security guy is nice enough, but not welcoming. In fact, he has told me that "this is private property" when I stopped into his office one afternoon, making me feel unwelcome (but I knew better... that it was free & open to the public). There is no promotion of the Park/Trail, except word of mouth, and a really bad website that hardly anyone knows about. Directional Signs are missing along Rt 857. The map at the parking area has bad water/sun damage & cannot be read. There are no decent maps/brochures available. There are no events / activities. The park/trail is over 50% underutilized -- I can guess why. Page 7. Sec 3.1. "Most of the facilities at Cheat Lake Park and Trail are currently being used at less than 50% capacity for off-peak weekend days." I have plenty more ideas for improvement. What can you come up with? Peggy Pings 304-879-5622 home mpings(a)wvu.edu

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CLEAR February 2009