Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 455 Canaan Valley & Environs 2015 Southeastern Naturalist 14(Special Issue 7):455–465 Canaan Valley: Promised Land or Battleground for Outdoor Recreation and Nature-based Tourism Steven W. Selin1,* and Naira Zepeda1 Abstract - We assessed outdoor recreation and tourism trends for Canaan Valley (hereafter, the Valley) and Tucker County, WV, from historical and contemporary perspectives. Using various primary and secondary sources, including academic research papers, agency reports, newspaper articles, and personal interviews, we developed a socio-demographic profile of Tucker County to gain a context for understanding the issues associated with outdoor recreation and tourism in the region. We then developed a historical model to outline discrete stages of outdoor recreation and tourism development in the Valley. We identified critical issues, such as the lack of coordination and level of conflict, then formulated sustainable development options for the Valley and its environs. Two specific strategies towards sustainable development include (1) the creation of a Canaan Valley Coordinating Council and (2) the County’s active participation in regional heritage- and nature-based tourism initiatives. Tourism development should be part of a broad economic diversification strategy, not just a replacement for a traditional boom-and-bust, resource-based economy. Introduction Canaan Valley (hereafter, the Valley) is located in northeastern Tucker County, high in the Allegheny Mountains of northeastern West Virginia (Fig. 1). The natural beauty and uniqueness of the Valley’s mountainous terrain, forests, streams, and wetlands have long provided rich opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure tourism for both local residents and visitors. Speculation over the Valley’s recreation and tourism development potential is fueled by its proximity to the East’s large urban population. We examined the Valley’s outdoor recreation and tourism industry from a historical perspective. Then, we assessed contemporary critical issues and trends. Based on these past and present findings, we articulate a set of strategies to advance a shared vision for outdoor recreation and tourism in the Valley—a vision that supports sustainable economic development, community well-being, and environmental integrity. We gathered data through a literature review and interviews with diverse stakeholders. Clearly, the uniqueness of the Valley’s biological resources has turned it into a crucible for competing interests that advocate for economic development, habitat protection, or land-use planning. Rather than a symphony of blended voices, the Valley’s social landscape has often been marked by bitter, protracted conflicts and lawsuits (Zaricki 1993). Concerted effort will be needed 1Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Program, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, PO Box 6125, Morgantown, WV 26506. *Corresponding author - sselin@wvu.edu. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 456 Figure 1. Map showing location of Tucker County, WV. to advance sustainable development options that bring people together. We hope this paper contributes towards that end. Tucker County Population Trends To understand the context for outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities in the Valley’s region, we examined how these opportunities fit within the social and geographic profiles of Tucker County from historic and contemporary perspectives. Figure 2 illustrates the population trends in Tucker County from 1900 to 2002 (BBER 2000). The county’s population peaked at about 19,000 residents ca. 1900 when Davis and Thomas—the timber- and coal-boom towns, respectively— were at full capacity. By 1950, the coal and timber reserves were depleted, companies had moved elsewhere, and the county’s population had declined steadily. Since the 1960s, the county’s population has averaged just under 8000 residents. The outdoor recreation and tourism potential of the Valley and the rest of Tucker County are often couched by supporters in terms of community economic growth and jobs-creation. One Davis business owner said, “If we ever have enough of a population base here we can start making some changes. We just don’t have enough people to support very many businesses. Everybody is struggling that I know, everybody.” (W. Ranalli, Davis, WV, pers comm.). Unemployment rates in the county hovered above the state and national averages over the past 35 years (Fig. 3). Occupational patterns in Tucker County Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 457 Figure 2. Population trends of Tucker County, WV, 1900–2000. also provide a context for understanding outdoor recreation and tourism trends. Figure 4 shows employment by industry for Tucker County in 1998 (BBER 2000). About 70% of the county’s residents were employed by the service sector, Figure 3. Unemployment rates in Tucker County, the state of West Virginia, and the US, 1980–2000. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 458 government, and retail businesses; only about 12 percent of the jobs were attributed to manufacturing or traditional resource industries like mining and agriculture. These figures outline Tucker County’s transition from a traditional resource-based economy to one dominated by government and service-sector jobs. This trend is understandable given that the outdoor recreation and tourism industries are part of a service economy. These data also illustrate the transitional nature of the county’s economy. The high percentage of government employment in Tucker County is explained by patterns of land ownership. In 2002, about 60% of the county’s land was either state- or federally-owned. To encourage sustainable forest management and multiple uses of lands devastated by overcutting, soil erosion, and forest fires, large parts of the county became part of the Monongahela National Forest in 1911. Two large state parks, Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley State Park, were established in 1937 and 1956, respectively, to preserve outstanding scenic and biological characteristics and to provide for long-term public enjoyment through high-quality outdoor recreation services. Finally, the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (hereafter “the Refuge”) was dedicated in 1994 to preserve the wetlands of the Valley’s floor, protect fish and wildlife populations, and provide opportunities for low-impact recreation activities like hiking, nature observation, and environmental education. The high proportion of public lands in Tucker County has led to considerable debate among local residents over the relative benefits and costs of public land Figure 4. Employment by industriy in Tucker County, WV, in 1998. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 459 management. On one hand, public-land advocates argue that recreation opportunities on public lands translate into economic benefits for the local economy. According to one Davis business owner, “There is a lot of conflict up here about the large amount of property that is owned by the federal and state governments. People, developer-types, are worried that there won’t be enough land to be developed but I think there is plenty of land to develop … I think that our lack of development is going to be very attractive … If you go up and down the valley all you see is for sale signs so there is property. I don’t buy this complaint.”(W. Ranalli, Davis, WV, pers comm.). Private developers and tourism operators counter that public-land designation “locks up” land with high development value and starves the county of tax receipts. One Tucker County tourism advocate said “Twenty-five years ago a lot of us stakeholders here had some dreams of inter-connecting ski trips and golf courses, more amenities. We were sure in 1994 that the US Fish and Wildlife Service did not want anything to do with the southern end of the valley and it turned out a whole lot different than with what we were presented. So we are rolling with the punches … In the far future, it has been stated that Canaan Valley from rim to rim is going to be owned by the Department of Interior.” (W. Smith, Davis, WV, pers comm.). Supply and Demand On the supply side, the Valley and Tucker County offer rich year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. Reliable snow conditions and ample public trails provide a wide array of downhill and crosscountry skiing opportunities. The Timberline Ski Area and Canaan Valley resorts offer downhill skiing; White Grass is a mecca for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Dispersed trail and road systems within the Monongahela National Forest attract day hikers, backpackers, and mountain bikers. The Dolly Sods Wilderness provides remote hiking and sightseeing opportunities along the dramatic Allegheny Front. Tucker County’s forests and streams have long attracted hunters and fishermen, though access has been an issue because some private landowners allow only fee-paying hunt clubs to use their land. The 2 state parks have developed into full-service resorts, with conference facilities and overnight lodges, cabins, and campgrounds. In addition, Canaan Valley State Park offers an 18-hole golf course and ice skating. A number of vacation and second-home developments have been sited, mainly around Timberline Ski Resort. Towns like Davis and Thomas have been trying to transform themselves from old industrial towns to modern gateway communities that offer a wide range of hospitality services. Community leaders are also taking advantage of the growth in heritage tourism to restore historic buildings and tell the rich stories of the old logging and coal days. A number of celebrations, such as the Leafpeepers Festival, are held during the year to boost visitation, particularly during spring and fall, both of which are considered to be off-season. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 460 The economic impact of outdoor recreation and tourism in the Valley has increased in recent years. Earnings from hotel and lodging receipts have gone up from $846,000 in 1977 to $5,335,000 in 1998 (BBER 2000), an increase by a factor of 6.3 over 22 years. Revenue for recreation services has increased from $128,000 in 1985 to $383,000 in 1998 (BBER 2000). Furthermore, the number of visitors to Canaan Valley State Park increased every year during 1997–2002, except for the years 2001–2002 (TCCVB 2002). That 1-year drop in visitation, from 513,420 to 395,488, illustrates the elastic nature of the tourism industry. It is an industry that depends on a number of structural factors including economic prosperity, the weather, and seasonality. In the case of 2001, the terrorist attacks of 11 September likely resulted in reduced travel. In spite of, or possibly because of, its flexible response, tourism continues to be a major industry in the county. Historical Perspectives While a comprehensive analysis of the history of the Valley’s outdoor recreation and tourism industry is beyond the scope of this paper, we can propose several stages of development that generally characterize the historical trends of outdoor recreation and tourism (Fig. 5). Prehistoric evidence shows that Native Americans used the region as seasonal hunting and fishing grounds, though little evidence suggests the presence of permanent settlements in Canaan Valley (Constantz 2015 [this special issue], Venable 2001). By the mid-1700s, adventurous colonists were exploring the frontier of the Allegheny Mountains and penetrating the the Valley and Blackwater Canyon areas. A delightful travel journal, Blackwater Chronicle (Kennedy 1978), comically describes the adventures of a group of well-to-do Virginia gentlemen who journeyed into the Land of Canaan in 1851. Seeing Blackwater Falls for the first time, they gushed in romantic fervor: “The wilderness was rich everywhere with hues of all dyes, and the banks of the river gleamed for miles with the flowers of rhododendron. A scene of more enchantment would be difficult to imagine. . . . And perhaps in all this broad land of ours, whose wonders are not yet half revealed, no scene more beautifully grand ever broke the eye of poet or painter, historian or forester.” (Kennedy 1978: 171). Clearly, one thing that has not changed is the Valley’s attractiveness to adventurous people. During the era from 1870 to the early 1900s, “frivolous” outdoor recreation and travel gave way to the serious business of extracting the region’s coal and timber resources (Fig. 5). Railroad spurs were extended high into the mountains, spawning the coal and timber boom-towns of Thomas and Davis. Unfortunately, by the early 1900s, when the timber and coal reserves were depleted, these towns went into decline, leaving a legacy of denuded forests, forest fires, and eroded soil (Anonymous 1988). The twin phenomena of the end of the frontier and the increasing scarcity of natural resources prompted the conservation movement of the late 1800s and early Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 461 1900s (Fig. 5). By 1920, a large part of Tucker County had been designated as part of the Monongahela National Forest. It was to be managed by the US Forest Service following the principles of scientific forestry and multiple-use management (Mott 1972). Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley State Parks were created in 1936 and 1956, respectively. They grew out of the movement that inspired our national and state park systems, with the intent of preserving our natural and cultural treasures for future generations. The end of World War II ushered in a boom of public interest in outdoor recreation and travel as our nation became more affluent and the average workweek Figure 5. Stages in the historic development of Canaan Valley, WV, pre-1746–2002. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 462 was shortened. New ski areas were built in the Valley (Lutz 2015 [this special issue]). Further, new roads such as Corridor H were planned to stimulate economic development in West Virginia’s mountains and to efficiently transport people and goods between the urban east coast and the Valley region (Mott 1972). Other large development projects were also planned for the Valley. In 1970, the Allegheny Power System filed an application with the Federal Power Commission to build a 750,000-kilowatt electricity-generating plant that would have flooded about 7000 acres (2800 ha) of the Valley’s floor. The Davis Power Project proposal ushered in 25 years of debate, lawsuits, and gridlock over competing visions for the Valley (Sherwin 1976). In the late 1960s, new generational politics and the horrors of DDT contamination, including those depicted by Rachel Carson (1962) in Silent Spring, coalesced into a national environmental movement. This movement led to a series of new federal environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 that required the managers of projects with significant environmental effects to prepare detailed environmental impact statements and involve the public in the decision-making process. These same laws granted citizens the right to legally challenge or appeal decisions made by government agencies. The new laws and citizens’ rights led to the long-term delay of projects like Corridor H and the Davis Power Project. A seemingly endless series of lawsuits and counter-suits were filed on behalf of supporters and opponents of these two projects (Sherwin 1976, WVDOT 1994). Conflicts continue even today, reflecting an ongoing and broad public debate over competing visions of the Valley’s future. A growing chorus of voices advocating for sustainable development, defined as development that allows the current generation to meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (Swarbrooke 1999), has grown out of these conflicts. In 1990, the Canaan Valley Task Force was convened to bring diverse interests together to reduce the level of conflict and advance a shared vision for the Valley’s future (Clower et al. 1993). A series of public meetings was held and support grew for enhancing the permanent protections for the Valley. Public concern over possible environmental threats from the Davis Power Project, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and vacation-home development led in part to the creation of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in 1994. By 2002, the Refuge had grown to 15,245 acres (6098 ha) via continued land acquisitions. The Refuge’s habitats provide breeding and migration stop-over sites for many species of raptors, shorebirds, and waterfowl (USFWS 1994). Wildlife-dependent recreation, including wildlife observation and nature photography, hunting and fishing, and environmental education, is allowed on the Refuge. Mountain biking is allowed on 23 miles (37 km) of the Refuge’s trails. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 463 Contemporary Issues These historic and economic perspectives provide a context for understanding current issues pertaining to outdoor recreation and tourism in the Valley region. By reviewing the literature and interviewing key stakeholders, we were able to identify the following critical issues: • Several mega-recreational events, such as the Blackwater 100 ATV race and the 24 Hours of Canaan mountain bike race, were stopped or displaced by the creation of the Refuge. These events had been bringing significant economic benefits to the county. Some business owners claimed that the Refuge “locked up” land that could have supported economic development. • There appeared to be a lack of trust between some members of the business community and the Refuge’s staff. Some claimed that the Refuge planners had originally promised that land acquisition would not occur in the Valley’s southern third, thereby leaving it open for commercial development. These people felt betrayed. • New regulations concerning water-quality standards in the Blackwater River and subsequent lawsuits may limit large-scale commercial development within the Valley. • A lack of communication and coordination exists among natural resources management agencies and county and local economic development authorities. In 2002, revised master plans and marketing plans were being developed by the 2 state parks, the Monongahela National Forest, the Refuge, and the Tucker County Tourism Commission. However, little coordination, cooperative research, or resource sharing took place. • Economic revitalization plans for Thomas and Davis have been hampered by their declining populations, loss of private property, and the flight of youth to areas of greater economic opportunity . • Tucker County depends on the government and the relatively lowpaying service sector for employment. • Concern was expressed that the county and the Valley should not become overly dependent on tourism for its economic fortunes and that the region must not repeat the boom-and-bust cycles of the early coal and timber eras. • Issues such as the Blackwater Canyon debate, which pitted responsible forest management versus designation of the Canyon as a national park, have polarized the community. Stakeholders have pursued winner-take-all strategies, leaving little room for dialogue and consensus- building. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 464 Options for Sustainability From a sustainability perspective, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Valley region could be described as a de facto “commons” area because utility companies allowed many recreational uses on their land. Unfortunately, unrestricted ATV use, such as for the Blackwater 100 races, led to severe soil erosion within the Valley’s wetlands (USFWS 1994). Second-home and condominium development threatened biological and visual integrity (USFWS 1994). The Valley’s situation was similar to Garrett Hardin’s (1968) “tragedy of the commons,” in which “freedom in a commons brings ruin to all.” Hardin’s solution to the commons dilemma was “mutual coercion, mutually agreed to.” While not a perfect analogy, we suggest that the Refuge has emerged as this “mutually agreed upon coercion.” Still needed are further sustainable-development options that can contribute to the economic revitalization of the Valley region while being sensitive to its environmental and social integrity. To this end, several alternatives have emerged from discussions with the Valley’s stakeholders: • The need for better coordination and communication between economic development authorities and public-land management agencies in Tucker County could be addressed by forming a Canaan Valley Coordinating Council that serves as a forum for communicating, joint fact-finding, and resource sharing among key stakeholder groups. • To foster public participation in land-use decision-making, this coordinating council could be augmented with a citizen’s advisory committee. • With the creation of the Refuge, the region will be attracting a higher number of nature-oriented tourists. Economic-development authorities can capitalize on this opportunity by developing cooperative tourismmarketing campaigns that target nature-tourist niche markets. • There is a significant opportunity to promote heritage tourism in the Valley and its county. Communities like Davis and Thomas have a rich history as former coal and logging boomtowns. With the right product development, interpretation, and community-based marketing strategies, celebrating this cultural heritage could attract a significant number of heritage tourists. • Tucker County communities and land-management agencies could also reap significant economic benefits by participating jointly in regional community development and tourism initiatives. For example, the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area project (Selin and McGill 2005) is attempting to form a National Heritage Area around the themes of forest use and ecology in the highlands region. Southeastern Naturalist S.W. Selin and N. Zepeda 2015 Vol. 14, Special Issue 7 465 Conclusion In summary, it is clear that concerted, collaborative effort is needed to build a sustainable future for the Valley and its surrounding communities. Our assessment of the Valley’s recreation and tourism history suggests that Tucker County must pursue an economic diversification strategy in which tourism is viewed as part of an economic development mix, not just as a replacement for the coal and logging economy. In this way, Tucker County communities will avoid the boom-and-bust cycle that characterized the resource-based economy of the past. Literature Cited Anonymous. 1988. Where people and nature meet: A history of the West Virginia state parks. Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, Charleston, WV. 184 pp. Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER). 2000. County data profile. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. 76 pp. Carson, Rachel. 1962. Slient Spring. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. 368 pp. Clower, C.M., J.D. Forren, J.W. Rawson, and K. Bonner. 1993. Canaan Valley: A watershed protection approach. Proceedings of Watershed 93: A national conference on watershed management. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alexandria, VA. Constantz, G.D. 2015. Prehistory of Canaan Valley: An ecological view. Southeastern Naturalist 14(Special Issue 7):405–427. Hardin, G. 1968. The tragedy of the commons. Science 162:1243–1248. Kennedy, P.P. 2002. [PP?] In, T. Sweet (Ed.). The Blackwater Chronicle (2nd Edition), West Virginia University Press, Morgantown, WV. 211 pp. Lutz, J. 2015. Skiing from top to bottom: The history of Skiing in Canaan Valley. Southeastern Naturalist 14(Special Issue 7):447–454. Mott, P. 1972. History of Davis and Canaan Valley. McClain Printing Company, Parsons, WV. 544 pp. Selin, S., and D. McGill (2005). The heritage area movement: Redefining opportunities for extension professionals. Journal of Extension 43(2):1–14. Sherwin, L.S. 1976. A case study of the Davis power project in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, M.Sc. Thesis. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. 299 pp. Swarbrooke, J. 1999. Sustainable Tourism Development. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. 371 pp. Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau (TCCVB). 2002. Unpublished data on attendance at state parks. Davis, WV. US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1994. Station management plan: Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, West Virginia. Hadley, MA. 34 pp. Venable, N.J. 2001. Canaan Valley: Preserving a time past—Unique in West Virginia. McClain Printing, Parsons, WV. 36 pp. West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT). 1993. Appalachian Corridor H: Elkins to Interstate 81, decision document. Charleston, WV. 44 pp. WVDOT. 1994. Appalachian Corridor H: Elkins to Interstate 81, executive summary. West Virginia Department of Transportation, Charleston, WV. 24 pp. Zaricki, S.N. 1993. The economic impact of the proposed Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. M.Sc. Thesis. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. 368 pp.