Virginia Wilderness: Keeping It Like It Is

SELC scored a major victory on March 25 when Congress passed the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, forever protecting 53,000 wild acres in the Jefferson National Forest, in Virginia.  SELC worked for several years with our partner conservation groups, and a broad coalition of citizens, organizations, business leaders, and elected officials to secure congressional protection for some of southwest Virginia’s most pristine mountain forests.

The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, passed as part of an omnibus public lands bill, protects 43,000 acres as Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas, and more than 10,000 acres in two new National Scenic Areas. By passing this law, Congress ensures that these remarkable public lands remain undisturbed by logging, mining and roadbuilding, while still affording access for hiking, hunting, fishing, and other recreational uses.

Special thanks

The legislation is the result of a bipartisan, collaborative effort by Representative Rick Boucher of Virginia and Senator John Warner of Virginia (now retired), who originally introduced the bills to the House and Senate in 2004.  Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner of Virginia are co-sponsors of the bill this year, and VIrginia Governor Tim Kaine has also been a ardent supporter.

In addition, numerous local, regional, and national environmental and recreational organizations worked to help pass the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, including Virginia Tourism Corporation, Garden Club of Virginia and several local chapters, Appalachian Trail Conference, Mt. Rogers Outfitters, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Virginia Audubon Council, Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, Committee on Stewardship of the Creation-Episcopal Diocese of Virginia,
Scenic America, International Mountain Bicycling Association

The bill now goes to the President to be signed into law.

Special places

The new Virginia areas brought into the national wilderness system today include:

• Garden Mountain (3,291 acres), Hunting Camp Creek (8,470 acres), and Lynn Camp Creek (3,226 acres) in Bland County;
• Brush Mountain (4,794 acres) in Montgomery County;
• Stone Mountain (3,270) in Lee County;
• Raccoon Branch (4,223 acres in Smyth County; and 
• Brush Mountain East (3,769 acres) in Craig County.

Also, two new national scenic areas - Bear Creek (5,503 acres), and Seng Mountain (6,455 acres) both in Smyth County -  were included in the bill, as were additions of six existing wilderness areas from Craig County down to Grayson County.

Click here for a list of the endorsers of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act. (pdf)