1. Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument Project

2. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
-Preserve federal lands which contain unique ecological, historical, cultural or scientific values
-May be designated by an act of Congress or by presidential proclamation
-Congress has declared 40 National Monuments
-All but three presidents since 1906, Democrats and Republicans alike, have designated National Monuments. Between 1906 and 2012, presidents have designated a total of 128 National Monuments.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

3. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
-Monuments are managed by various agencies:
-US Forest Service
-National Park Service
-Bureau of Land Management
-US Fish and Wildlife Service
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

4. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Giant Sequoia NM, California US Forest Service
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

5. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Devil’s Tower NM, Wyoming National Park Service
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

6. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Carizo Plain NM, California Bureau of Land Management
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

7. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Hanford Reach NM, Washington Fish and Wildlife Service
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

8. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
America’s Great Outdoors
-AGO Report drafted after listening sessions and collecting public comments from various user groups, managing agencies, local governments and individuals.
-Report focused on how the administration should treat public lands and resources, especially connecting Americans with their treasured public lands.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

9. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

10. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
AGO Key Findings
-Provide job opportunities through protecting and restoring public lands
-Enhance recreational opportunities
-Raise awareness of the value of the great outdoors
-Engage young people in conservation
-Strengthen LWCF
-Protect and renew rivers and other waters
-Conserve and restore Parks, Forests, Refuges and other federal lands and waters
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

11. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
8. Conserve and Restore our National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Forests, and other Federal Lands and Waters
What was heard:
-Public lands are important for recreation, water quality and sustainable local economies.
-Public lands and natural features are threatened, and many of these threats require proactive management.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

12. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
8. Conserve and Restore our National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Forests, and other Federal Lands and Waters
Goal A:
Conserve, restore, and manage federal lands and waters to ensure access and enjoyment for future generations while contributing to the protection of a larger natural and cultural landscape.
Goal B:
Advance national, regional, and community-supported efforts to preserve and enhance unique landscapes, natural areas, historic sites, and cultural areas while ensuring openness and transparency in any
land designations.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

13. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Goal B:
Advance national, regional, and community-supported efforts to preserve and enhance unique landscapes, natural areas, historic sites, and cultural areas while ensuring openness and transparency in any
land designations.
Recommendation 8.4: Engage the public to identify and recommend potential sites on existing federal lands for protection under the 1906 Antiquities Act.
Recommendation 8.5: Identify potential areas for congressional designation that have strong local support.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

14. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
National Monuments
Why are these recommendations significant?
-The American people continue to mount broadly-backed, bipartisan initiatives to protect special areas on public land.
-In the current congressional session, House majority leaders have not allowed for the advancement of bi-partisan, broadly-supported conservation legislation.
-Current monument campaigns and opportunities are NOT presidential initiatives. Instead, they are generally “dual-track”, grassroots proposals, which still could be legislated by Congress.
-The recommendations simply present an opportunity to preserve public lands through a similar process, in the case of a gridlocked Congress.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

15. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
Tea Creek
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

16. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
Key feedback from decision makers
-Decision makers have expressed initial interest in the Birthplace of Rivers project
-Several factors are consistent with recommendations outlined in AGO
-opportunities to enhance recreation
-opportunities to protect and restore forests and streams
-opportunities to create sustainable economic growth in local communities
Williams River
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

17. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
The process moving forward
-Whether a Monument is designated by Congress or by Presidential proclamation, a collaborative process is critical.
-Not “Clinton style” designation.
Kens Creek
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

18. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-A continuation of existing conservation efforts by WVWC and others
-Would preserve a significant complex of important lands surrounding the existing Cranberry Wilderness
-Would provide enhanced protections, while allowing for the promotion of science-based ecological restoration, as well as fish and wildlife management
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

19. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-Goals of WVWC and its partner organizations include protection of broader landscapes through a mix of designations, which compliment existing Wilderness designation
-Additional Wilderness designation is not a goal of the National Monument project
-Flexibility in management allows for greater collaboration and promotion of various uses and management activities potentially incompatible with Wilderness designation:
-mountain biking
-stream liming
-active restoration and wildlife management activities
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

20. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
*final proposed boundaries and management parameters to be determined through a collaborative process.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

21. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

22. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-No private lands affected
-Generally, areas are managed under USFS prescriptions which promote backcountry recreation (6.2) or spruce restoration (4.1)
-Current management prescriptions outside Wilderness are temporary, subject to many administrative changes
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

23. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
The landscape is obviously treasured by West Virginians and our visitors, but does it meet National Monument criteria?
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

24. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-The area undoubtedly contains features of unique ecological and scientific importance.
-These areas are increasingly threatened.
Cranberry Glades
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

25. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-The potential monument undoubtedly contains areas of historical significance.
-Various sites of historic and archeological significance.
-Legacy of the Monongahela NF and its establishment to protect watersheds.
Williams River, early 1900s
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

26. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
-The landscape is culturally significant
-Local literary and musical contributions are tied directly to the landscape
-A tribute to regional land-use traditions, including hunting and fishing
Last Forest mural, Marlinton
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

27. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
Management vision: What would the Monument be?
-The area is a special landscape, which deserves protection. However, management issues require a certain flexibility, which monument designation can provide.
-Final details would be determined in a management plan for the area, but a collaborative proposal can help set important parameters before potential designation takes place.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

28. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
Management vision: What would the Monument be?
-The Monument would protect against certain activities:
-commercial logging
-road-construction, unless necessary for public safety or to further the protective and restorative goals of the Monument
-leasing and development of federally-owned minerals
-The Monument may prioritize activities such as restoration of native habitat for plant, animal and aquatic communities.
-The Monument may provide greater authority to USFS to direct development of private minerals in accordance with the Monument goals.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

29. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
The process moving forward
-Continue to work with local and statewide user groups, local business leaders, elected officials, etc.
-Continue outreach to agencies on state and federal levels
-Direct feedback to WV Congressional delegation and administration officials as developments surface
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard

30. A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard
Birthplace of Rivers
National Monument
Why Trout Unlimited matters
-National Monument gives us an opportunity to tell many stories, from many perspectives.
-The mission: Conserve, Protect, Restore
-Mission of TU should be reflected in potential monument proclamation or legislation.
A National Treasure in Our Own Backyard