Friends of the Cheat has just received a donation of a four acres of riverside land located just upstream of the Rockville Bridge along Big Sandy Creek in Preston County, WV. The donor, Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is the third largest independent producer of natural gas in the USA.
This donation fills a vital need. Current river and trail access is haphazard and informal, and could be cut off at any time. On busy days traffic jams are the rule. We plan to create parking and river access facilities large enough to accommodate all whitewater paddlers, hikers, and fishermen who are drawn to this beautiful river.
To do this, we need your help. Our fundraising goal is $10,000. Now is the time for all of us who know and love the Big Sandy to step forward. All those who give $50 or more will receive a "Big Sandy Access Partner" sticker.
Please send your tax-deductible donations to:
Friends of Cheat Big Sandy Access Project 119 S. Price Street #206 Kingwood, WV 26537
Or call 304-329-3621 - we accept credit cards!
Friends of Cheat is a non-profit watershed group whose goal is to "restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River watershed. Founded by paddlers in the mid-nineties, their focus has been on neutralizing sources of acid mine drainage within the watershed. Thanks to their efforts, water quality in the Cheat River and its tributaries is much improved. They hold an annual Cheat River Festival on the first weekend in May and recently partnered with a local landowner and American Whitewater to upgrade the Jenkinsburg Access to the Cheat Canyon.