Ed Wade, Jr. in a photo of the Falls
following the 2nd restoration:
Ed Wade, Jr. describes it this way:
Since 2007 when gas drilling began in northern
Wetzel County WV, Chesapeake Energy, the second
largest gas developer in the region, took advantage
of the resources in the Silver Hill area. When I saw
what they did overnight to the falls in Blake Run,
well, let’s just say it straight up made me, and
several others, upset. As far as it being a road, I
and many others have checked the Department of
Highways (DOH) map all the way back to the early
1900’s; not one showed County Rd 1/13 going down
that portion of the creek. Even though the DOH did
permit Chesapeake to do such work, I would have to
say they ran off the road.
Many of the gas companies waste so much money by not
thinking things through the first time – like the
removal of the falls. If Chesapeake were truly the
"Champion of Natural Beauty," as their ad claims,
they would not have destroyed the falls and would
have saved themselves a lot of money. No local or
State officials wanted to accept that they allowed
this to occur. Only when I contacted the US EPA did
any enforcement action take place.
Restoration work proceeds
Chesapeake had to remove several loads of limestone
from the falls and hundreds of feet of the creek
bed. GAI was the consultant for the falls’ rebuild
and removal of the stone, with contractor Anderson
Excavating out of Morgantown, WV. Both parties
treated the falls and creek like a new-born baby. I
spent almost three weeks at the site with those men,
daylight to dark, in some very cold, wet days; some
mornings the creek would have ice on its sides.
Those 2 companies did a good job and let me be a
part of it all, which I thank them for. I’d like to
think that Chesapeake and the other gas companies
that watched this unfold all learned a lesson.
Ed Wade, Jr (center)
Let me also add that no matter who you are, young or
old, you can make a difference. Let your conscience
be your guide.
Ed Wade Jr. of the Wetzel County Action Group
http://www.wcag-wv.org/
Define Road...
1.
a long,
narrow
stretch
with
a
smoothed
or
paved
surface,
made
for
traveling
by
motor
vehicle,
carriage,etc.,
between
two
or
more
points;
street
or highway.
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