Green Forests Work, a non-profit dedicated to reforesting coal surface mined lands, is partnering with the United States Forest Service, American Forests, and the Mennen Environmental Foundation to host a volunteer tree planting event on formerly mined land on Cheat Mountain in the Monongahela National Forest.
The event site lies in an important migratory corridor for many species of birds, which is critically in need of reforestation because development is expanding on adjacent ridges. More than 80 species of Neotropical migratory songbirds are known to breed in the project area. Several other species of migratory birds (most notably raptors and waterfowl) use this area as a stopover point during both spring and fall migration. Restoration efforts on this site will immediately benefit a variety of species, most notably those that use early successional, wetland, and restored mine site habitats. In the long-term, restoration efforts will benefit over 24 Neotropical migratory songbird species dependent upon the red spruce ecosystem.
Directions to Event:
From Elkins, go south on 250/92/219 to Huttonsville. At Huttonsville, go straight on 92/250. Continue up the valley, past the prison, to the top of Cheat Mountain. Just past the ‘Shavers Fork – Fish for Fun’ sign at the top of the mountain, turn right onto forest road 227 (it is almost like a U-Turn).
From Durbin, go north on 250/92 up Shavers Mt. Just before you start down Cheat Mountain (and just before the ‘Shavers Fork – Fish for Fun’ sign) turn left onto forest road 227.
Go out forest road 227 (this is the main gravel road) for approximately 5.4 miles (you will cross Lambert Run and then continue another couple of miles) until you see all of the commotion on the road at the end of the most recent mineland restoration area.