“Happy 100th Birthday Monongahela National Forest! FOC directly benefits from the Monongahela National Forest, as over 30% of our Cheat River watershed is protected by these forested lands. Without receiving the outstanding water quality that comes from our tributaries protected by the Monongahela National Forest, it is questionable if the Cheat River would have been able to make the recovery it has today. Some iconic areas protected by the Monongahela National Forest that fall in the Cheat River Watershed include: Dolly Sods Wilderness, Bickle Knob, Cheat Summit Fort, Otter Creek Wilderness, Glady Fork, Laurel Fork Wilderness, Gandy Creek, and Gaudineer Knob to name a few!”
– Madison Ball, FOC Restoration Program Manager
April 28 marks the 100-year anniversary (#MNF100) of the establishment of Monongahela National Forest. In 1920, following the passage of the Weeks Act in 1911, President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation designating land purchased for the protection of the Monongahela River as Monongahela National Forest. Since that time, the Forest has grown from an initial 7,200 acres to more than 900,000 acres, all in West Virginia. The Forest continues to benefit the public more than ever by providing recreational opportunities, a wide variety of forest products, and abundant natural resources for all to enjoy.
“We invite everyone to celebrate with us on April 28, in spirit and online, 100 years of caring for the land and serving the public on this National Forest,” said Shawn Cochran, Forest Supervisor. “I’d like to thank the State of West Virginia, our partners, volunteers, as well as past and present Forest Service employees who have served and dedicated themselves over the years to caring for this land that belongs to all of us.”
You can help celebrate the Forest’s birthday online at the following locations:
- The Forest will “take over” the Forest Service Instagram account April 28, #MNF100: https://www.
instagram.com/u.s. forestservice/ - There will be a flurry of tweets on the Eastern Region Twitter account April 28, #MNF100: https://twitter.com/
usfs_r9 - Visit the Centennial website: https://www.fs.usda.
gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/ fseprd623523.html - Read and share the “This Week in History” articles: https://www.fs.usda.
gov/main/mnf/learning/history- culture - View the 2020 Centennial Virtual Exhibit on Flickr: https://www.flickr.
com/photos/165530715@N03/ albums/72157712604421146 - Download the archaeology activity book for kids of all ages: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
detail/mnf/home/?cid= FSEPRD605698 - Explore these 360 virtual tours about forest restoration: https://www.
climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/ northeast/project/monongahela- forest-restoration
Be sure to check out the Forest’s website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf for more fun Centennial activities later this year.
Special thanks to the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area for assisting with planning the Forest’s Centennial and sharing information with the public. Learn more about them and link to their social media platforms at https://www.