The Jug Millrace Today
Letter to: Earl Ray Tomblin, Governor; WV State Capitol; 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East; Charleston, WV 25305
Dear WV Governor Tomblin: November 28th
There are serious concerns about on-going activities to conduct Marcellus drilling and hydraulic fracturing under and/or within the Tyler County. The water supply to Middlebourne may be at risk and the air pollution is known to be impacting residents at our narrow valley home sites.
The potential risks of major drilling activities under the Ohio River, under the Conaway Run Wildlife Management Area and under or within The Jug Wildlife Management Area. The potential of such drilling and fracking for stimulating earthquakes is now being studied in Oklahoma, Colorado and Ohio; and, we believe the results of these studies are important to West Virginia. Also, the studies by West Virginia University have established the air pollution risks of the diesel equipment and trucks at frack well sites.
The Ohio River valley is where most of our population is located, so drilling in the valley and under the River puts these people at some significant risk, as we have seen many flares, fires, explosions, spills and leaks associated with the high pressure operations of fracking with undocumented toxic chemicals.
The Conaway Run Area contains the popular 30 acre Conaway Lake that could be at risk by local drilling and fracking. There is a rifle range on the property and over 500 acres of hunting land that should be protected.
The Jug Area is perhaps the most historical area in Tyler County, where Thomas Gregg took up residence in 1796. While this area is large, it is also very fragile due to the course of Middle Island Creek there, and because of all the efforts over the years to control the flows over versus around the Jug handle. The damages of the floods of 1873 and l875 can return and place drilling and fracking areas at greater risk. [Reference: History of Tyler County to 1984, pp. 122 – 124].
The Jug has incredible potential for contributing to a vibrant future for Tyler County. In addition to the hunting, fishing, boating and swimming, there could be a history center placed there that would be the envy of north central West Virginia dealing with the various grist mills, waterway projects, Civil War history, hunting and fishing activities, canoe & kayak adventures, etc. Our first Governor was raised on Middle Island Creek and information about this would add immensely to such a history center.
Let’s not continue to drive our West Virginia residents from our hills and valleys with continued Marcellus drilling and fracking, until the environmental and health impacts are understood and prevented. Please help us maintain a high quality of life in rural Tyler County. And, help us to expand the conservation effort to conserve our historical heritage, our soils and streams as well as our home sites and air quality.
Sincerely yours, Duane Nichols, Retired Chemical Engineer of Tyler & Monongalia Counties, WV
Historic Mill at The Jug -- Middle Island Creek originally flowed left around a large enclosed area and returned on the right in this picture
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Great letter. I hope that it helps.
Please preserve the water we have left, your children need clean water too!
WV is known for the natural beauty and lay of the land, so to speak.
At some point I hope we take a serious look at sustainable clean energy sources. Renewable energy provides the jobs and economics and a cleaner environment; but we as West Virginians need to ask that these be made serious options.
As long as we keep allowing the continued (under-regulated) extreme extraction of fossil fuels instead of looking for healthier solutions, we are guilty of enabling them to continue with a sense of entitlement on their behalf.
We must renew, sustain and always have vision.