West Virginia GIS Conference 2004

New River Gorge National River

West Virginia GIS Conference 2004

GIS activities at GIS activities at

New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National River

By Andrew SteelBy Andrew Steel


Background Background Background Background

• New River Gorge New River Gorge National River National River (NERI) established (NERI) established in 1978 to preserve in 1978 to preserve and protect 53 miles and protect 53 miles of the free-flowing of the free-flowing New River in West New River in West VirginiaVirginia

Grandview OverlookNew River Gorge National River• GARI/BLUE added in 1988GARI/BLUE added in 1988

• NERI/GARI/BLUE total approximately 88,000 acresNERI/GARI/BLUE total approximately 88,000 acres


Our Enabling LegislationOur Enabling LegislationOur Enabling LegislationOur Enabling Legislation

• ““For the purpose of conserving and For the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects in and around the historic values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, enjoyment of present and future generations, the Secretary shall establish and administer the the Secretary shall establish and administer the New River Gorge National River.”New River Gorge National River.”


Statistics for New River GorgeStatistics for New River GorgeStatistics for New River GorgeStatistics for New River Gorge

• 51,469 acres in federal ownership51,469 acres in federal ownership

• 3,587 acres within state parks3,587 acres within state parks

• 162 acres within scenic easement162 acres within scenic easement

• 184 miles of boundary184 miles of boundary

• 339 miles of property lines339 miles of property lines

• 72,189 acres72,189 acres

Bluestone National Scenic River


Statistics for BluestoneStatistics for BluestoneStatistics for BluestoneStatistics for Bluestone


• 1,238 acres within state parks1,238 acres within state parks• 29.5 miles of boundary29.5 miles of boundary

• 4,336 acres4,336 acres

Bluestone National Scenic River

Gauley River National Recreation Area


Statistics for GauleyStatistics for GauleyStatistics for GauleyStatistics for Gauley


• 66 miles of boundary66 miles of boundary• 76 miles of property lines76 miles of property lines

• 11,507 acres11,507 acres



• Visitation to Visitation to three park three park areas average areas average over 1.5 million over 1.5 million

Canyon Rim Visitor CenterNew River Gorge National River


Visitor Use Visitor Use

Thousands of Thousands of whitewater whitewater enthusiasts come to enthusiasts come to enjoy the enjoy the excitement…excitement…

• 145,000 New River145,000 New River• 62,600 Gauley River62,600 Gauley River

Whitewater RaftingNew River Gorge National River


Visitor UseVisitor Use

….rock climbers ….rock climbers come from around come from around the world .….over the world .….over 1600 named routes 1600 named routes both traditional and both traditional and sport climbs rated sport climbs rated 5.6- 5.145.6- 5.14

Climber at Bridge ButtressNew River Gorge National River


Taking the Leap on Bridge DayNew River Gorge National River

Visitor UseVisitor Use

….base jumpers ….base jumpers come from around come from around the world to attend the world to attend the annual Bridge the annual Bridge Day….this past year Day….this past year over 125,000 people over 125,000 people attendedattended


Resources we manage at New River:Resources we manage at New River:Resources we manage at New River:Resources we manage at New River:

• Forested LandsForested Lands• Agricultural LandsAgricultural Lands• Archaeological sitesArchaeological sites• Historic structuresHistoric structures• Water ResourcesWater Resources• Rare & Endangered Rare & Endangered

PlantsPlants• Historical LandscapesHistorical Landscapes• RecreationRecreation

• Rare & Endangered Rare & Endangered AnimalsAnimals

• Geologic ResourcesGeologic Resources• Ecological IntegrityEcological Integrity• Biological DiversityBiological Diversity• Aquatic plants and Aquatic plants and

animalsanimals• Cultural SitesCultural Sites


Forested LandsForested LandsForested LandsForested Lands



Agricultural LandsAgricultural LandsAgricultural LandsAgricultural Lands

Historic Ballard Farm


Archaeological SitesArchaeological SitesArchaeological SitesArchaeological Sites


Historic StructuresHistoric StructuresHistoric StructuresHistoric Structures


Water ResourcesWater ResourcesWater ResourcesWater Resources


Water QualityWater QualityWater QualityWater Quality


Rare and Endangered PlantsRare and Endangered PlantsRare and Endangered PlantsRare and Endangered Plants

Virginia Spiraea


Rare and Endangered AnimalsRare and Endangered AnimalsRare and Endangered AnimalsRare and Endangered Animals

Woodrat Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat


Rare CommunitiesRare CommunitiesRare CommunitiesRare Communities


Historic Landscapes - Thurmond 1929Historic Landscapes - Thurmond 1929Historic Landscapes - Thurmond 1929Historic Landscapes - Thurmond 1929


Geologic ResourcesGeologic ResourcesGeologic ResourcesGeologic Resources

Avis Limestone near the town of Sandstone. This was originally deposited by an ancient ocean. (West Virginia Geological Survey)


Biological DiversityBiological DiversityBiological DiversityBiological Diversity


Aquatic Plants and AnimalsAquatic Plants and AnimalsAquatic Plants and AnimalsAquatic Plants and Animals


RecreationRecreationRecreationRecreation


Fire ManagementFire ManagementFire ManagementFire Management


AccomplishmentsAccomplishmentsAccomplishmentsAccomplishments

• Acquired spring and fall 2003 aerial Acquired spring and fall 2003 aerial photography for the three parksphotography for the three parks

• Produced all geospatial data needed for work Produced all geospatial data needed for work on the Gauley river National Recreation Area on the Gauley river National Recreation Area Development Concept PlanDevelopment Concept Plan

• Acquired, compiled, and organized data Acquired, compiled, and organized data potentially needed for upcoming New River potentially needed for upcoming New River Gorge National River General Management Gorge National River General Management Plan ReviewPlan Review


Spring 2003 aerial photography


GoalsGoalsGoalsGoals

• Landscape change analysis for the New River Landscape change analysis for the New River Gorge National RiverGorge National River

• Contractor working on vegetation layer for Contractor working on vegetation layer for New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National River

• Mapping of trails and facilities within the Mapping of trails and facilities within the park along with updating the roads layers for park along with updating the roads layers for New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National River


Landscape change analysis utilizing 1945 imagery


QuestionQuestionQuestionQuestion

View from Beauty Mountain Looking NorthNew River Gorge National River

Andrew SteelAndrew Steel

New River Gorge National RiverNew River Gorge National River

P.O. Box 246P.O. Box 246

Glen Jean, WV 25846Glen Jean, WV 25846

304-465-6556 304-465-6556

[email protected][email protected]

• For more information please visit our web site at: For more information please visit our web site at: www.nps.gov/neri/home.htmlwww.nps.gov/neri/home.html

West Virginia GIS Conference 2004

Documents

Transcript of West Virginia GIS Conference 2004