| Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 View of the northern half of Canaan Valley from atop Harmon Knob in 2015 | |
  Location of Canaan Valley NWR in West Virginia | |
| Location | Tucker, West Virginia, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°06′05″N79°23′20″W / 39.10139°N 79.38889°W /39.10139; -79.38889[1] |
| Area | 16,613.44 acres (67.2322 km2)[2][3] |
| Elevation | 3,284 ft (1,001 m)[1] |
| Established | July 11, 1994[4]: Sum-1 |
| Website | Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
TheCanaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge (CVNWR) inTucker County, West Virginia, was the 500thNational Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to be established in the United States. The refuge preserves a moist valley with unique wetlands and uplands at a relatively high elevation in theAllegheny Mountains. It is administered by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Advocacy for the establishment of a wildlife refuge inCanaan Valley began as early as 1961. In the 1970s, environmental and citizens' groups battled withAllegheny Power Systems (APS), which had owned more than 13,000 acres (53 km2) of Canaan Valley since 1923, over construction of a long-anticipatedhydroelectric facility that would have flooded about a quarter of the valley. In 1977, theFederal Power Commission issued a license to APS for construction of apumped storage hydroelectric project, formally known as the Davis Power Project. However, the following year the Project was denied aClean Water Act permit by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps' decision cited adverse impacts upon the Valley's wetlands, a relatively new concept at the time.[5]
Canaan Valley NWR was initially approved following anEnvironmental Impact Statement on May 30, 1979.[4]: Sum-1 APS appealed the Corps' decision all the way to theSupreme Court, which in 1988 declined to hear the case, thus clearing the way for creation of the refuge. About 86 acres (350,000 m2) were purchased in the valley to establish the refuge on July 11, 1994.[4]: Sum-1 [6] Another 12,000 acres (48 km2) were purchased from APS in 2002. With other additions, 120 acres in 2008 and 325 acres (1 km2) in 2011.[7] Most recently there was a 1971 acre expansion made in January 2024,[8] the refuge now encompasses some 16,628 acres (67 km2) of a total authorized size of 25,459 acres (103 km2).[3][6] This represents almost 70% of the valley's 25,000 acres (100 km2).
Several habitat types can be found in the wet soils of the forests,shrublands and open spaces in the refuge.White-tailed deer,raccoons,geese, andsquirrels are common, andminks,bobcats,black bears, andbarred owls can be seen.Beaver dams affect local water levels.Gamebird species includewild turkeys,ruffed grouse, andwoodcocks. The area is also an important habitat for many declining North American bird species, including thebobolink,clay-colored sparrow,Henslow's sparrow,northern saw-whet owl, andcerulean warbler. The fish fauna includes nativebrook trout andintroduced species oftrout andbass.
Facilitated refuge activities include wildlife observation and photography, hunting, fishing, hiking, environmental education, and nature programs.
The refuge maintains 31 miles (50 km) of designated trails, including:
The refuge also maintains 7 miles (11 km) of roads for licensed vehicles to provide public access.
