On March 30, 2009, President Obama signed into law one of the most sweeping pieces of conservation and public land management legislation in years. H.R. 146 creates over 2 million acres of new Wilderness in 9 states - and includes the areas designated in the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act in the Jefferson National Forest.
VWC has been working diligently on the passage of this act since 2002. Now, you are finally vindicated: the visionaries who crafted the first Virginia's Mountain Treasures, the foot soldiers who endured the long winter of Forest Service hearings, the believers of the Radford Group, the tenacious pursuers of the county Boards of Supervisors, and the congressional staffers who crafted and pushed the legislation. A special thanks goes to Mark Miller, who more than anyone else, pulled the whole thing together.
Now is the time to enjoy the fruits of victory. Visit Lee County to see the breathtaking views from the Stone Mountain Wilderness. Climb Dickey Knob and follow the round back down Raccoon Branch. Pop out from Blacksburg to sample the solitude of Brush Mountain and Brush Mountain East. And get lost in Garden Mountain and Hunting Camp Creek. (Read more about all these areas here.) Share in the knowledge that these wonderful places are forever safe from exploitation.
And stay tuned for upcoming announcements about a celebration party!