Published October 1989 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd West Virginia's First National Wildlife Refuge One of the crown jewels in West Virginia's treasury of natural wonders is the magnificent Ohio River. A number of islands dot the West Virginia stretch of that stream; islands rich in history, wildlife significance, and cultural importance. Recently, as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I obtained $850,000 in federal funds to purchase thirteen of the Ohio River islands as the initial acquisitions for the "Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge,” the first national wildlife refuge in our state. Through the farsightedness of a number of West Virginia citizens, corporations, conservationists, and foundations, the Ohio River islands were made available for federal purchase. The thirteen islands that will compose the core of this refuge: Witten Towhead, Crab, Wells, Mill Creek, Grandview, Grape Island, Muskingum, Phillis, Georgetown, Baker, Williamson, Broadback, and Paden offer generous wetlands, floodplain forests, and river bottoms. These special features provide the natural habitat for an abundance of rare fish, plants, and wildlife populations. Particularly, these islands serve as important feeding and resting areas for migratory birds native to Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States, among them Canada geese, mallards, black ducks, and wood ducks. Recently, great blue heron rookeries were discovered on two of the islands. Additionally, ospreys, green-backed herons, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons are frequent visitors to the islands. Roughly 55 species of fish, including large and small-mouth bass, spotted bass, channel and flathead catfish, sauger, and freshwater drum find cover among the stumps, logs, and aquatic beds surrounding the islands. Preserved on these islands will also be historical data and artifacts from America's and West Virginia's past, not the least of which will be the sites of numerous prehistoric Indian encampments. The creation of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, as well as providing sanctuary for countless varieties of plant and animal life, will afford West Virginians and visitors to our state precious opportunities to observe and appreciate vital facets of West Virginia's natural and historical heritage; a heritage of which future West Virginians will be proud. October 18, 1989