News Release

National Park Service Seeks Comment on Pike Drive Dam

A view across the Pike Drive pond toward the failing dam in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

NPS photo

News Release Date: September 10, 2021

Contact: Dave Bieri, 304-465-2631

GLEN JEAN, WV- The National Park Service is conducting civic engagement on the Pike Drive Dam/Pond Decommissioning and Restoration Project. Comments are being accepted starting on September 10, 2021 through September 23, 2021.

The NPS is considering decommissioning an earthen pond dam and reclaiming the 1.25-acre impounded area as a wetland and wildlife habitat. The dam and pond, located in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve off Pike Drive at Interstate 64, exit 129, do not meet modern design criteria and are currently failing and hazardous to human safety, natural resources, and infrastructure below the dam. The NPS is considering decommissioning the dam because of the present hazards, high cost of repair, and relatively low value of the pond for natural resources or visitor use.

In addition to general comments, the NPS is seeking comments on two topic questions:

1. Are there any visitor use, wildlife, vegetation, aquatic, or cultural resources impacts that the NPS should consider?

2. Are there any visitor opportunities or considerations that you would like to see addressed in this area?

How to Comment

Please consider the topic questions above then number your responses to match the corresponding question. Please feel free to provide general responses as well.

Members of the public and organizations are encouraged to provide comments online through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website, which is used by the agency to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process. From the project website, https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PikeDriveDam, navigate the menu on the left hand side of the page to Document List, and Comment on Document.

Comments may also be submitted in writing to:

Attn: Pike Drive Dam Project
National Park Service
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
PO Box 246
Glen Jean, WV 25846

Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by September 23, 2021, to receive consideration. Please be aware that the entire comment submitted – including personal identifying information such as address, phone number, e-mail address – may be made publicly available. Requests to withhold such personal identifying information from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve conserves and interprets the outstanding natural, scenic, and cultural resources in and around the New River Gorge and to preserve this portion of the New River in West Virginia as a free-flowing stream for the recreation and enjoyment of present and future generations. Learn more at www.nps.gov/neri.