With 45 years of experience, West Virginia DNR biologists were able to neutralize acidified streams that were adversely impacting the fishery because the acid was limiting fish reproduction and survival. By adding limestone to the streams, the acid was neutralized in an effective and cost-efficient manner. This allowed brook and brown trout to successfully reproduce, grow larger and expand into streams where reproduction was previously compromised. 

 

Recognizing the importance of this project, Plum Creek provides 75 percent of the recommended tonnage of limestone sand needed for the South Fork of the Cherry River and 100 percent for tributaries of the Upper Gauley and Meadow Rivers. The company builds and maintains access points to apply limestone sand from the network of roads in each watershed. 

 

For their part, the West Virginia DNR provides the balance of limestone sand, monitors water quality, and conducts research and stream surveys. Their reports and recommendations are incorporated in Plum Creek’s forest management planning and activities.

 

Since the initial limestone treatments and continued attention to BMPs, significant improvements have been made in water quality and trout population. In the South Fork of the Cherry River, the increase in fish biomass (defined as the amount of living matter (aquatic life) in a volume of habitat (stream)) is three-fold, which is much more than could have been expected by stocking alone. 

 

In addition, besides trout, many non-game species benefit from the stream enhancement project, including northern hogsuckers, central stonerollers, rosyside dace, bigmouth chubs and candy darters.

 

In 2002, Plum Creek received the West Virginia Business Environmental Leadership Award in recognition of its efforts in environmental stewardship related to this public-private partnership.

 

As a participant in the sustainable in the Sustainable Forestry Initiative* (SFI*), Plum Creek is committed to conserving fish and wildlife through protection of aquatic and riparian habitats, and the implementation of species-specific wildlife management plans and cooperative conservation projects.

 

The company will continue its partnership with the state of West Virginia, expanding limestone treatments further into headwater streams to expand the population of the native trout.

 

Plum Creek and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Section maintain a partnership to revitalize cold water fisheries on streams in the upper Gauley River watershed. These streams flow through Plum Creek property and include the main stream and tributaries of the upper Gauley, South Fork of the Cherry and Meadow Rivers.

In late 1997, Plum Creek’s predecessor sought the input of fish biologists with the West Virginia DNR after hearing about increased fishing activity and concerns over the impact of forest management activities. After studying the South Fork of the Cherry River watershed, the largest trout stream on the property, the biologists found a large part of the watershed was affected by surface mining, timbering, and road construction; yet, the physical stream habitat was in excellent condition. From that study, a unique public-private partnership was formed to enhance aquatic habitat and water quality in conjunction with forest management.