Written Testimony of Gil Willis, Owner and Operator of the Elk River Touring Center/Elk River Inn and Restaurant to the House Natural Resources Committee Hearing on
H.R. 5151 The Wild Monongahela Act
Tuesday, February 26th 2008
Intro:
I would like to thank Subcommittee Chairman Grijalva and my Congressman, Nick Rahall and members of the committee for allowing me to speak today in support for the Wild Monongahela Act. This is an historic piece of legislation that will help insure the future of West Virginia's greatest natural treasure – our National Forest.
Let me begin my comments by commending Congressman Rahall and the entire West Virginia congressional delegation for their commitment to working and listening to the people of West Virginia. This bill truly reflects the thoughts and concerns of residents of the Mountain State who appreciate our national forests and the wild areas that are included in those lands. Our Congressional team has developed a proposal that protects our forest and meets the needs of the forest’s many users.
I especially appreciated the open process that Congressman Rahall has had and the entire delegation's willingness to meet with me and other concerned West Virginians and their desire to work with all of us to develop a proposal that truly represents West Virginians and will ensure the future of our state's forests for generations to come.
Recreation/Business:
As a member of the West Virginia business community whose business is dependant on our state’s wild and wonderful landscape, I am very supportive of efforts to ensure the wild future of our forests… My wife and I own and operate Elk River Inn, Restaurant & Touring Center, which is open year round as a skiing, fly fishing, cycling and hiking resort. We have been at the forefront of the outdoor industry since its infancy in West Virginia for over 30 years. Our company currently employees over 20 full and part time staff. I also for the last 15 years have sat on the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Our remote mountain setting in Pocahontas County relies on quality wild outdoors places. All of the counties which the new wilderness areas are located in will benefit both socially and economically from this bill and the high quality of the visitors that they will attract. West Virginia's mountain region is "the last best place" in the mid Atlantic. This of course is a marketing term which hits close to the heart.
Wilderness designation for these areas included in the Wild Monongahela Act will provide unparalleled primitive and traditional outdoor recreation opportunities,
such as hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, camping, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing and much more. These areas and the activities not only keep us competitive in regional and national markets but also provide a much-needed and affordable outdoor experience for our local residents.
Environmental/future generations:
Protecting our rivers and our forests with wilderness designation is an investment in West Virginia's future. The state's abundance of God-given natural resources have been providing coal, natural gas, wood products and chemical ingredients to the nation and world for almost 200 years. Our economic landscape has changed, and our natural resources will not last forever. The northern mountains which fall into and border of the Monongahelia National forest are very important to our future as a region. We have a real connection to our mountains and forests and have a responsibility to leave these special places as a clean and pristine environment to our children and our children’s children.
Pocahontas County is referred to as the "Birthplace of Rivers". Much of the clean water for the Mid-Atlantic originates from our county. This renewable resource cannot be taken for granted. I would like to see in the future even more federal protection for our valuable and vanishing clean water resources in the great state of West Virginia which affects the whole mid- Atlantic region's future and health.
Specific places included in the bill
Cranberry Expansion – connected ecologically and recreationally to the existing wilderness with a network of hiking trails that feed into it. It also would protect the scenic backdrop for the world class fly fishing along the Cranberry River that borders the area.
The Big Draft Area – would protect wilderness in the iconic Greenbrier River Valley, where none exists currently. Big Draft is home to excellent trout and bass fishing as well as an excellent whitewater run that would be our state’s first whitewater trip in a designated wilderness
The Spice Run Area – a place containing deep dark forest and wonderful mystique. One of the wildest places in our wild and wonderful state that has been a prime spot for hunting and native brook trout angling.
Areas left out of the proposal – we’ll have to see what the situation is with this
While I whole heartedly support the Wild Monongahela Act I am concerned about a number of special areas that are not included in the legislation. Specifically, I would like to see the delegation amend this legislation to include Seneca Creek, Roaring Plains and East Fork of the Greenbrier. Like the others special places included in the legislation, these areas represent some of the last, truly wild places in the east and they deserve protection. As I have mentioned I am deeply concerned about our states water quality and Seneca Creek and East Fork of the
Greenbrier River.
Conclusion:
Chairman Grijalva and members of the subcommittee, thank you once again for allowing me to voice my support for this historic legislation. West Virginian’s have a strong connection and desire for protecting our one of a kind forests and this legislation goes a long way towards helping us live up to this responsibility.

_________________
JR Petsko

Since Pocahontas County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Elk River Touring Center/Gil Willis and Snowshoe Mountain LOVE Wilderness so much, why don't you have any new Wilderness to speak of in Pocahontas County in this proposal you all support???

Why don't we trade some of the proposed Wilderness in Tucker and Pendleton County like Dolly Sods North and Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek for the Tea Creek Mountain and the National Forest around Snowshoe in Pocahontas???

What!?! All of the sudden you are against Wilderness when it is in your own backyard and affects YOUR businesses?!? O.K., I see how it is now.

Thanks, I can't wait to get rid of our low quality customers and replace them with the high quality ones Gil is talking about.

I certainly don't want more wilderness in Pocahontas County; however, I understand your anger. It is unfortunate that Gil and Snowshoe who make money on biking would show up supporting wilderness which, in effect, takes money and bikers away from other businesses elsewhere. For that matter, perhaps that was their plan.

I am especially disappointed in Gil. I will not ride the Wild 100 again.


For all who read this, mountain bikers can still save Seneca Creek. It is extermely important that you contact Shelly Moore Capito and request that Seneca Creek not be included in the wilderness plan. It is unfair to kick out mountain bikers because of a ongoing fight between the wilderness coalition and natural resource extractors.

Shelly Moore Capito
Washington, DC Office:
1431 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2711
Fax: (202) 225-7856 Ask for Virginia Gum

DO IT NOW!!!!!

I'll do my best to make sure everyone I know doesn't participate in any event held by ERTC. I am seriously disappointed at Gil and will tell him that via phone, after I calm down. If you know anyone who rides that area, be sure to ask them to avoid ERTC and Snowshoe. You don't bite the hand that feeds you...

As noted, lets be sure to make the effort to keep Seneca Creek / Spruce Knob (Huckleberry, Judy Springs Trails) out of this mess. Get on the horn folks.


ODN

Shame on gil and ertc as a former employee and friend of ertc I find it hard to believe that gil would finally land on either side of the fence my guess is more wilderness folks eat at the restaurant than mountainbikers after numerous conversations about wilderness I find it hard to believe that gil would encourage closing seneca creek to mtn bikers i have took many of his paying customers touring huckleberry, seneca creek ,allegheney mtn trail, and many others . wvmba signed a contract with asda forest service and ertc to rebuild sections of gaulley mountain trail last year .It will be hard for people to support ertc on this when they support trail closures in other peoples back yard. I would like to encourage folks to help the forest service on this project that doesnt mean you have to support ertc though. Gil should of done the right thing and encouraged to change the wording of non mechanized not support trail closures. I know this will have a negative impact on his race and business he may have officially ran off the last mountainbiker coming to slatyfork Feel free to contact gill willis on this matter Gil@ertc.com

So....Gil is the guy putting on the Wild 100 this coming weekend right? He is the one advocating for trail closures in other people's backyard right?


I know the answers....just needed a reminder.