Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area
Encyclopedia
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area) is located in southern West Virginia
surrounding Bluestone Lake
and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the Bluestone River
to Bluestone Dam is in Bluestone State Park
; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA. Altogether, the WMA comprises 18019 acres (72.9 km²) of land and water.
The Wildlife Management Area is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
to provide recreation
opportunities to the public and to protect the natural resources of the land. The land is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and leased to WVDNR. The WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section operates the on-site office and camping facilities, while the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section is responsible for game management including the maintenance of food plots.
Free boat launches provide access to Indian Creek, the New River, and Bluestone Lake
.
. Altogether, these sites provide 330 primitive campsites:
The barn is the only one in the West Virginia State Parks system allowing users to bring their own horses rather than renting horses from a concessionaire. At one time, WVDNR biologists tried to ban horses from the WMA but were rebutted by a public outcry.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
surrounding Bluestone Lake
Bluestone Lake
Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, the lake can grow to over long at flood control pool...
and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the Bluestone River
Bluestone River
The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
to Bluestone Dam is in Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shores of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA. Altogether, the WMA comprises 18019 acres (72.9 km²) of land and water.
The Wildlife Management Area is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
to provide recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
opportunities to the public and to protect the natural resources of the land. The land is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
and leased to WVDNR. The WVDNR Parks and Recreation Section operates the on-site office and camping facilities, while the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section is responsible for game management including the maintenance of food plots.
Recreation
With the exception of camping, there are no fees for using the Wildlife Management Area. Day-use recreational opportunities include:- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
(with required state license), including stocked trout on Indian Creek - HuntingHuntingHunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
(with required state license) - HikingHikingHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
with 22 miles (35 km) of trails - Horseback riding
- CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
- BoatingBoatingBoating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
- Picnicking
- Rock ClimbingRock ClimbingRock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
Free boat launches provide access to Indian Creek, the New River, and Bluestone Lake
Bluestone Lake
Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, the lake can grow to over long at flood control pool...
.
Camping
There are seven camping areas spread over 12 miles (19.3 km) of the New River and Bluestone LakeBluestone Lake
Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, the lake can grow to over long at flood control pool...
. Altogether, these sites provide 330 primitive campsites:
- Bertha - 55 lakefront sites
- Bull Falls - 15 lakefront sites
- Cedar Branch - 45 riverside sites
- Indian Mills - 15 sites
- Keatley - 15 sites
- Mouth of Indian Creek - 94 riverside sites
- Shanklin's Ferry - 91 riverside sites
Sherman Ballard Recreation Area
The Sherman Ballard Recreation Area has a cabin and barn which offers rustic accommodations. The cabin is an open air construction offering five bunk beds sets, a full kitchen, full enclosed bathroom, and covered porch.The barn is the only one in the West Virginia State Parks system allowing users to bring their own horses rather than renting horses from a concessionaire. At one time, WVDNR biologists tried to ban horses from the WMA but were rebutted by a public outcry.
See also
- Bluestone State ParkBluestone State ParkBluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shores of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
- Bluestone LakeBluestone LakeBluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, the lake can grow to over long at flood control pool...
- New River