Gauley River

https://www.nps.gov/gari/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauley_River_National_Recreation_Area The Gauley River National Recreation Area, located near Summersville, West Virginia, protects a 25-mile (40 km) portion of the Gauley River and a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) segment of the Meadow River in southern West Virginia. Little of the park is accessible via roads; one must travel via the river. At the upstream end of the park is the Summersville Dam, the only area of the park accessible by vehicle. The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east. Plane The largest airport is at Charleston, about 65 miles from Summersville. There are also small airports at Summersville and Beckley. Car The main entrance to Gauley River National Recreation Area is located off US Route 19 south of Summersville and north of Fayetteville, West Virginia. Turn off US Route 19 onto WV Route 129 toward Summersville Dam. Take the second left after you cross over the dam and follow the signs to Gauley River. Canyon Rim Visitor Center Canyon Rim Visitor Center is the closest visitor center to Gauley River National Recreation Area. The primary purpose of Canyon Rim Visitor Center is to act as a visitor contact station for area information and for interpretation of the natural, cultural, recreational, and historic values of the New River Gorge. With an estimated 300,000 visitors each year, the center provides the park with a nationally recognized facility, revealing the beauty of New River Gorge National River to the nation and the world. Gauley River National Recreation Area does not have any visitor center, the closest one is Canyon Rim Visitor Center at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The visitor center is 18 miles south of Gauley River Tailwaters and is located on U.S. Route 19, just north of Fayetteville, WV. U.S. Route 19 is easily reached from Interstates I-64 and I-79, as well as U.S. Route 60. Gauley Tailwaters The National Park Service offers primitive camping at Gauley Tailwaters, located just below Summersville Dam. From Route 19 at Mt. Nebo, take Route 129 west across the dam, then turn left at the river access sign. Bear right through the parking lot to the campsites. There are 18 drive-in sites for tents and RVs. Camp only at designated sites. RV, camper, or car camping in non-designated sites, walk-in sites, or any parking area is strictly prohibited. Gauley Tailwaters Campground 0.00 The National Park Service offers primitive camping at Gauley Tailwaters, located just below Summersville Dam. From Route 19 at Mt. Nebo, take Route 129 west across the dam, then turn left at the river access sign. Bear right through the parking lot to the campsites. There are 18 drive-in sites for tents and RVs. Gauley Tailwaters Campground Gauley Tailwaters Campground with tents A popular campground during Gauley Season Splashy Gauley River Rafters enjoying the Gauley River Gauley River is a popular whitewater river in the fall Smiling on the Gauley River Rafting on the Gauley River Gauley Season on the Gauley River is popular. Holding On - Gauley River Trying to stay in the raft on the Gauley River Enjoying the rapids on the Gauley River Before Sweets Falls Rafting on Gauley River before Sweets Falls fapid A popular spot to watch the boats on the Gauley River - Sweets Falls Kayaking Pillow Rock rapid on the Gauley River Watching the boats come by on the Gauley River A popular place on the Gauley River - Pillow Rock Kayaking Pillow Rock rapid Kayakers coming through Pillow Rock rapid on Gauley River Watching the kayaks come through Pillow Rock rapid Paddler's tapping Pillow Rock Tapping the rock at Pillow Rock rapid on the Gauley River Tapping the Pillow Rock is a ritual on the Gauley River Guiding on the Gauley River Guiding through a rapid on the Gauley River Whitewater rafting is popular during Gauley Season High siding on the Gauley River One of the many rapids on the Gauley River Enjoying the rapids on the Gauley River NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. Gauley River Gorge Riverscour Prairies Love Whitewater Too... The word “prairie” usually conjures images of herds of bison, rolling hills of grass waving in the wind, maybe a covered wagon and a little house. While the prairies along the New and Gauley Rivers are much smaller in size, they contain the same tall prairie grasses as found in the Midwest. They also harbor many rare plant species. The Eastern Rivers & Mountains Network collects information on the condition of riverscour prairies and how they are changing over time. Two people collecting data from a riverscour prairie vegetation monitoring plot The Future of Our Oak Forests: Can Fire and Fences Sustain Oak Forests for the Future? Oak-dominated forests are an important resource in the Appalachian Mountains, covering vast areas of the dry ridgetops and mesic hillsides. However, the future of these forests is uncertain due to the lack of regeneration that would form the future oak trees. Person crouched beside a forest health monitoring plot, recording data National Park Getaway: Gauley River National Recreation Area Each spring in Appalachia, the rivers run high and fast! But the Gauley River in southern West Virginia won’t reach its high season until fall. In September, when excess water is released through Summersville Dam, thousands of whitewater enthusiasts from all over the world flock to the Gauley to experience what is considered by many to be one of the most thrilling whitewater opportunities in the world. Group of kayakers on a river Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Monitoring Program Yields Insights into Forest Health in Bluestone, Gauley River, and New River Gorge Within the New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River, understanding the current condition of park forests and how the forests are changing is critical to long-term management of park ecosystems. One reason that monitoring forest health is so important—the forests are constantly changing. Storms, pests, pathogens, drought, and new species all play a role in shaping the forest. Forests lining the slopes and ridgetops in New River Gorge Forest Health in a Regional Context Eight Inventory and Monitoring networks have been collaborating on forest health monitoring since 2005. Participants include 61 national parks in the eastern United States. As a result of this collaboration, vegetation data are collected in similar ways, which allows us to compare various parks across the region. One person on the forest floor collecting data, while another records the data So Many Mushrooms! It started as a personal project. Biological technician Sarah Daugherty would be out collecting data for the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network’s forest health monitoring program, and notice so many cool mushrooms. She started taking photos and jotting down what she saw. Soon, she noticed that many of the species she was finding weren't on park species lists. Discussing her discoveries with her colleagues, everyone agreed that a more formal fungi inventory was in order. Mushrooms of different colors, shapes, and sizes, laid out next to each other on a floor 2019 Weather In Review: Gauley River National Recreation Area The Gauley River National Recreation Area had an extremely warm year in 2019. In total, it was the 3rd warmest year since 1895. In contrast, precipitation was normal for the year. Two kayakers paddling the Gauley River. Silent Witnesses, Old Trees are Hiding in Our Midst An article about old trees in Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) parks. ERMN scientists have collected cores from two "average" looking canopy trees adjacent to every permanent long-term forest health monitoring plot in network parks. Of the 700 trees cored, over 60 of them hovered near 200 years old. A woman uses an increment borer to take a core sample from a tree. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits 2020 Weather In Review: Gauley River National Recreation Area 2020 was very warm year at Gauley River National Recreation Area. In total, the year also had much more precipitation than normal. The year ended as the 9th warmest and 8th wettest on record. A yellow raft in the middle of a big rapid. All Hope is Not Lost – Parks plan strategically to treat invasive plants Managing invasive plant species can seem like an endless and insurmountable challenge, but parks are using a new strategic collaborative tool to protect their most valuable resources. Four photos show invasive plants spreading over an area during 12 years Triaging Invasive Plants: Strategic Planning Drives Success A winning strategy to combat invasive plants becomes a potent tool for restoring special places in several eastern parks. Rachel Vincent removes invasive knotweed from a historic stone wall 2021 Weather In Review: Gauley River National Recreation Area In all, 2021 was warmer and drier than average at the Gauley River National Recreation Area. The year ended as the 15th warmest and 37th driest on record. Gauley River and gorge Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring Resilient Forests Initiative - Forest Complexity Much of the forest in the eastern United States is around the same age, regrowing after widespread land clearing that peaked between the 1880's and 1920's. Throughout the twentieth century, forests began to regenerate, eventually spreading onto abandoned agricultural lands. Canopy gap 2022 Weather in Review: Gauley River National Recreation Area In all, 2022 was an extremely wet year for Gauley River National Recreation Area, and the counties surrounding the park received almost 10 inches more precipitation than is normal. The year ended as the 11th wettest and 41st warmest on record (since 1895). Kayakers floating down the Gauley River. NPS Resilient Forest Initiative Restores Forest Ecosystems in Appalachian National Parks In Appalachia, forests are crucial to the health of ecosystems and local communities in and around National Parks. However, forest health monitoring in eastern National Parks has shown that park forests are rapidly changing, and don’t have enough tree regeneration to replace canopy trees as they fall or die. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are being used to support the Resilient Forest Initiative in the restoration efforts within these parks. Two NPS workers in a forest. 2023 Weather in Review: Gauley River National Recreation Area The Gauley River National Recreation Area had a warm 2023 with total precipitation that was just below normal. In all, the year ended as the 10th warmest and 52nd driest on record (since 1895). A railroad bridge crossing the Gauley River Project Profile: Plug Orphaned Wells in Gauley River National Recreation Area The National Park Service (NPS) will plug the orphaned Mower Lumber #1 gas well and restore the wellsite I Gauley River National Recreation Area. The well is unplugged with derelict surface equipment on site. Access to the site is difficult and remote. The old access road will need to be regraded for a workover rig to reach the site. The wellhead shows signs of degradation and increases the risk of possible spills and hydrocarbon releases if not reclaimed properly. A forested sign that reads: "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Building a Better America" Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Inventory & Monitoring Partnerships Aim to Improve Park Forest Health from Coast to Coast From coast to coast, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division is helping park managers improve the health and function of forest ecosystems. From promoting resilient forests in the Northeast, to conserving whitebark pine in the West, to protecting Hawaiian forest birds from avian malaria, scientific partnerships are helping parks to share information, leverage funding sources, and work together for outcomes that extend beyond what any park could accomplish on its own. Four people, one in NPS uniform, stand in a forest. Three look upward through binoculars. Project Profile: Managing Resilient Eastern Forests The National Park Service will improve the ecological health of eastern forests in 38 parks using an array of management techniques. The NPS has selected forest ecosystems of high ecological and cultural value across multiple parks from Virginia to Maine that are at greatest risk of forest loss due to chronic and interacting stressors. Person gazes up at a tall tree Project Profile: Secure Abandoned Mine Features at Gauley River The National Park Service will construct physical safety closures on 13 abandoned mine adits and remove old mining equipment and debris on a 3-mile section of mine bench in Gauley River National Recreation Area. Two photos stacked on top of each other, one of a mine, the other of a sign