Monongahela National Forest
U.S. National Forest
View from the slopes of Back Allegheny Mountain looking east. Visible are Allegheny Mountain (middle distance) and Shenandoah Mountain (far distance). The latter is in the George Washington National Forest of Virginia
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Counties[1]	Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster
Ranger Districts[1]	Cheat-Potomac, Greenbrier, Marlinton-White Sulphur Springs, Gauley
Coordinates	38°55′45″N 79°50′52″W / 38.92917°N 79.84778°W / 38.92917; -79.84778
Highest point	Spruce Knob
- location	Pendleton County, WV
- elevation	4,863 ft (1,482.2 m)
- coordinates	38°41′59″N 79°31′58″W / 38.69972°N 79.53278°W / 38.69972; -79.53278
Lowest point	South Branch Potomac River
- location	west of Petersburg, WV
- elevation	968 ft (295 m)
- coordinates	39°00′05″N 79°09′46″W / 39.00139°N 79.16278°W / 39.00139; -79.16278
Area	910,155 acres (368,326.7 ha)
Established	1920-04-28
- Monongahela Purchase	1915
Owner	US Forest Service
IUCN category	VI - Managed Resource Protected Area
Headquarters	Elkins, West Virginia
Location of Monongahela National Forest
Wikimedia Commons: Monongahela National Forest
Website: Monongahela National Forest

The Monongahela National Forest (MNF) was established by the U.S. Congress in 1915 as the 7,200-acre (29 km²) "Monongahela Purchase". It became a U.S. National Forest on April 28, 1920 and now encompasses 910,155 acres (3,683 km²). It is located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA and includes parts of 10 West Virginia counties including much of the Potomac Highlands Region.

The MNF includes some major landform features such as the Allegheny Front and the western portion of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. Within the Forest are most of the highest mountain peaks in the state, including the highest, Spruce Knob (4,863 ft), also the highest point in the Alleghenies. 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 cutover around the turn of the 20th century. Species for which the Forest is important include red spruce (Picea rubens), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), and mountain ash (Sorbus americana).

The MNF includes eight U.S. Wilderness Areas and several special-use areas, notably the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area.

[edit] Forest administration

The MNF is administered from the main headquarters in Elkins, West Virginia and six ranger districts. The Forest has approximately 105 permanent employees, with this force augmented by Senior Citizens, temporary employees, and volunteers.

[edit] Ranger Districts

The Monongahela is currently divided into four ranger districts.^[1] The Cheat-Potomac and Marlinton-White Sulphur Springs were formed by combining their namesake districts; in the merged districts, the offices for both constituent districts were retained.

• Cheat-Potomac Ranger District, headquarters Parsons, West Virginia
  • office (former 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 White Sulphur Springs Ranger District) at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

[edit] History

The Monongahela National Forest was established following passage of the Weeks Act 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 1800s and early 1900s. In 1915, 7,200 acres (29 km²) were acquired to begin the forest, called the Monongahela Purchase, and on 28 April 1920 it became the Monongahela National Forest. By the end of 1924, the MNF had a total ownership of some 150,367 acres (609 km²).

In 1943 and 1944, as part of the West Virginia Maneuver Area, the U.S. Army used parts of the MNF as a practice artillery 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 mountain assault climbing school.

This section requires expansion.

[edit] Statistics and general information

[edit] General

• Land area: 910,155 acres (3,683 km²)
• Wilderness areas: 118,002 acres (478 km²)
• Roads: 570 miles (920 km)
• 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)
• ATV areas: 0
• Wildlife management units (managed with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources): 10
• Warm-water fishing steams: 129 miles (208 km)
• Trout streams: 576 miles (927 km)
• Impoundments (reservoirs): 5

[edit] 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

[edit] Natural features

• Wilderness areas: 8
• Rivers and stream miles: ???

[edit] Sensitive species

• Sensitive plants and wildlife: 50
• Threatened & endangered species: 9

[edit] Geography

The topography of the MNF ranges in elevation from about 900 feet (270 m) at Petersburg to 4,863 feet (1,482 m) at Spruce Knob. A rain shadow effect caused by slopes of the Allegheny Front results in 60 inches (1,500 mm) 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.

[edit] Ecology

The Forest is noted for its rugged landscape with spectacular views, blueberry thickets, highland bogs, and open areas with exposed rocks. In addition to the forest trees, the wide range of botanical species found includes rhododendron, laurel on the moist west side of the Allegheny Front, and cactus and endemic shale barren species on the drier eastern slopes.

There are 230 known species of birds inhabiting the MNF: 159 are known to breed there, 89 are Neotropical 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 mammals (also considered game species) include black bear, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, rabbits, snowshoe hare, woodcock, and grouse. Limited waterfowl habitat exists in certain places. Furbearers include beaver, red and gray fox, bobcat, fisher, otter, raccoon and mink. Other hunted species include coyotes, skunks, opossums, woodchucks, crows, and weasels. There are 12 species of game/pan fish and 60 species of nongame/forage fish. Some 90% of the trout waters of West Virginia are within the forest.

[edit] Recreation

The MNF is a recreation destination and major tourism attraction, hosting approximately 3 million visitors annually. The extensive backwoods road and trail system is available for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding. There are many miles of railroad grades that are a link in the recreation use of the Forest. (The longest is the Glady to Durbin West Fork Railroad Trail which is 23 miles (37 km) long.) Recreation ranges from self reliant treks in the wildernesses and backcountry areas to the challenges of mountain climbing to traditional developed site camping. Canoeing, hunting, trapping, fishing, and wildlife viewing are also popular uses.

[edit] Campgrounds^[2]

[edit] Commercial resources

The Forest administration maintains wildlife and timber programs aimed at managing a diverse mix of tree species and ages. 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 for wildlife food in the MNF are black cherry and oaks. The Forest's commercial timber sale program averages 30 mbf (million board feet) of timber sold per year with a yearly average value of $7.5 million. A variety of cutting techniques are used, from cutting of single trees to clearcutting blocks up to 25 acres (100,000 m²) in size. Regeneration cuts (clearcuts or other treatments designed to start a new timber stand) occur on approximately 1,300 acres (5.3 km²) yearly out of the more than 909,000 acres (3,680 km²) forest total.

Mineral resources located in the MNF include coal, gas, limestone, and gravel; but not oil. Sheep and cattle grazing occurs on about 7,000 acres (28 km²).

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 MNF lands. This money is intended for use by local schools and for roads. The remaining 75% each year is returned to the U.S. Treasury.

[edit] Areas of interest within the MNF

[edit] U.S. Wilderness Areas

• Big Draft Wilderness, 5,242 acres (21 km²)
• Cranberry Wilderness, 47,896 acres (194 km²)
• Dolly Sods Wilderness, 17,430 acres (71 km²)
• Laurel Fork North Wilderness, 6,055 acres (24.5 km²)
• Laurel Fork South Wilderness, 5,997 acres (24.3 km²)
• Otter Creek Wilderness, 21,438 acres (87 km²)
• Roaring Plains Wilderness, 6,820 acres (28 km²)
• Spice Run Wilderness, 6,030 acres (24 km²)^[3]

[edit] Registered National Natural Landmarks

Canada geese in Spruce Knob Lake.

• 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
• Swago Karst Area

[edit] Stands of old growth forest

• Fanny Bennett Hemlock Grove, a 70-acre (280,000 m²) 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 old growth forest
• North Spruce Mountain Old Growth Site, about 17 acres (69,000 m²)
• Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand, a 68-acre (280,000 m²) red spruce-hemlock stand, partly in the Otter Creek Wilderness
• Virgin White Pine Botanical Area, a 13-acre (53,000 m²) white pine stand

[edit] Other features

• Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
  • Spruce Knob
  • Seneca Rocks
  • River Knobs
  • Spruce Knob Lake
  • Sites Homestead
  • Smoke Hole Canyon
• Fernow Experimental Forest
• Blackwater Canyon
• Lake Sherwood
• Summit Lake
• Falls of Hills Creek
• Highland Scenic Highway
• Williams River
• Stuart Memorial Drive
• Flatrock-Roaring Plains
• Mount Porte Crayon
• Sinks of Gandy Creek

[edit] Photo gallery

Entrance gate along Old US 33 east of Elkins.	North Fork Mountain	Seneca Rocks	Blackwater Canyon
Back Allegheny Mountain	Middle Mountain Cabins	Douglas Falls on the North Fork Blackwater River	Highland Scenic Highway
Lake Sherwood	Olson Observation Tower	Roaring Plains Wilderness

[edit] See also

• Sods

[edit] References

[edit] Citations

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Monongahela National Forest: Land and Resource Management Plan" (PDF). Monongahela National Forest. September 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-01-19. http://www.webcitation.org/5dw8qM9B9. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
2. ^ Monongahela National Forest Campground Information Index
3. ^ "Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009". Library of Congress. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.111hr146. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 

[edit] Other sources

• McKim, C.R. (1970), Monongahela National Forest History, Unpublished manuscript available at the Monongahela National Forest Office, Elkins, West Virginia.
• de Hart, Allen and Bruce Sundquist (2006), Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide, 8th edition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Charleston, West Virginia.
• This article contains information that originally came from US Government publications and websites and is in the public domain.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Monongahela National Forest

• MNF Webpage on the USDA Forest Service Website
• Recreation.Gov Page