NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — Nearly 8,000 feet of the most northern trout stream in West Virginia have been restored at Tomlinson Run State Park, according to Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.
A public-private partnership between the division and Water and Land Solutions restored nearly 8,000 feet of stream, improved forest conditions, and created new wildlife viewing opportunities, McMillion said.
"I'm excited to see the completion of the restoration of this beautiful trout stream, especially with the limited opportunities in this area,” McMillion said.
“I want to sincerely thank Nate Ober and his team at Water and Land Solutions for their dedication on this project which has improved the park for many years to come.”
McMillion said Water and Land Solutions is a hybrid ecological restoration and mitigation solutions company specializing in restoring and protecting natural resources while providing cost-effective mitigation solutions.
Nate Ober, vice president of mitigation banking at Water and Land Solutions, said the partnership helped secure funding that's often not easily available for such projects.
“We need to look after our nation’s water systems, but it’s expensive, and uses taxpayer money that is often diverted to more urgent needs. That’s why I’m so excited about the Tomlinson Run project," Ober said.
The project includes several significant improvements to the park, he said.
- 7,891 linear feet of stream restored
- 8,906 indigenous trees planted
- Eradication of invasive species
- Aquatic and wildlife habitat improvements, including habitat protection for threatened and endangered mussel species
- 2,000 feet of accessible trails
- Five accessible platforms to fish or view wildlife
- New accessible pedestrian bridges over stream tributaries
Tomlinson Run State Park lies along the Ohio River near the northern tip of the state’s Northern Panhandle. It encompasses nearly 1,400 acres including a wilderness area and a developed public area offering traditional park activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.
Considered one of the best camping locations in the state, Tomlinson Run offers a campground with camper cabins and yurts. To book your visit today, visit wvstateparks.com.
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