By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Laird, Compton, Frederick, Flanigan, Campbell, Louisos, Leach, Wills, Willis, Pino, Mahan, Susman, McGraw and Thompson:
H. R. 11 -- "Recognizing the designation of the New River as an American Heritage River and advocating the continued support of the New River Initiative Action Plan."
Whereas, The New River has been designated by President William Jefferson Clinton as one of fourteen American Heritage Rivers, in an effort to help communities along these waterways revitalize their economies and preserve their heritage and rivers; and
Whereas, The New River, at approximately 320 million years old by geologists' estimates, is thought to be the second oldest river in the world and the oldest on the North American continent; and,
Whereas, The New River is home to a diversity of animal life, including theKanawha minnow, the Kanawha darter and a species of riffle beetle that is found only in the New River, as well as hell bender salamanders, ducks, beavers, turkeys, deer, ospreys, groundhogs, foxes, muskrats, opossums, raccoons and numerous species of fish, birds and butterflies that have long been a part of the heritage and life in the surrounding communities; and
Whereas, The American Heritage River designation will provide federal assistance to New River communities, agencies and organizations for implementation of the New River action plan; and will promote natural resources and water quality protection, economic revitalization, cultural and historic resource preservation, and education in the farms, businesses, residences, neighborhoods and rural communities that line the river through North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia; and
Whereas, on July 30, 1998, the federal government designated the New Riveras an American Heritage River from Blowing Rock in Watauga County, North Carolina, to Gauley Bridge in Fayette County, West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the State of West Virginia shall support the New River Community Partners and the communities, organizations, commissions and agencies in the watershed in implementing the American Heritage Rivers Initiative Action Plan for the New River; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the State of West Virginia shall cooperate with the federally designated River Navigator, federal agencies and departments and local governments and communities with respect to activities affecting the New River's American Heritage Rivers Action Plan; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the New River Community Partners.