ELKINS, W.Va. — The Chairman of the Corridor H Highway Authority believes the designation of the Blackwater River as an “endangered” river by a national environmental group is a scare tactic.
“It’s listed on an endangered list because of what COULD happen and what the possibilities are,” said Robbie Morris. “I think it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and fear tactics trying to scare people.”
Environmental group American Rivers placed the Blackwater River in Tucker County at number 10 on its 2024 list of endangered waters which was released this week. The group said development of the highway passing through the environmentally sensitive area creates a number of potential threats to the area’s scenic beauty, sites of historical significance, and the river’s quality.
But Morris said all of those factors are already being taken into consideration in the ongoing environmental impact study on what is considered the ROPA or Revised Original Preferred Alignment. The ROPA route would bring the highway between the towns of Davis and Thomas.
“I believe in the plans they have shown so far, they are doing a lot and taking a lot of great strides to avoid any of the known issues up there,” he said.
But opponents advocate construction of a route to the north of the two towns. It’s known officially as the Blackwater Avoidance Alternative, but most call it simply “..the Northern Route.” The Federal Highway Administration recently advised the West Virginia Division of Highways to take a closer look at the alternative as part of the ongoing assessment of the best path for the highway to travel through the mountainous region the route. The actual route has not been finalized yet.
Morris thinks the DOH will pay close attention to the process.
“DOH has a lot at stake and a lot on the line for doing their due diligence and putting every effort into making sure our environment is protected at all costs and we have no doubt they will continue to do that,” he said. “But putting it on an endangered list because of things that COULD happen when a route hasn’t even been selected is just trying to place fear where it isn’t needed.”