Into the Canyon - Newsletter of Friends of the Cheat Winter 2025
Board of Directors and Key Personnel
Amanda Pitzer, Executive Director; Owen Mulkeen, Associate Director; Madison Ball, Conservation Program Director; Garrett Richardson, Project Coordinator; Maggie Biss, Conservation Technician; Beth Warnick, Media and Outreach Specialist; Lisa Maraffa, Program Assistant and Events Producer, Stephen Estrada, Bookkeeper
Board Members
Chair: Rich Dennis, Vice-Chair: Chris Wade, Treasurer: Miranda Peddicord, Secretary: Michael Strager, Charlie Walbridge, Sarah Hinnant, Connie Miller, Ben Hogan, Zach Fowler, Dani Martin, Justin Reedy, Tess Meinert
FOC Secures Richard Mellon Grant to Enhance Cheat River Recreation
Friends of the Cheat (FOC) has received $100,000 in grant funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation to support a year-long effort to activate recreation along our river corridor. The timing of the project aligns with the long-awaiting opening of the first 3 miles of the Cheat River Rail-Trail. This significant investment allows FOC to advance critical and complementary public access projects and develop new programming that promotes outdoor recreation, seeds environmental stewardship, and grows community engagement. It is our ultimate hope that by drawing people to the trailhead and rail-trail that they feel a sense of shared ownership and community pride so that this important resource can be maintained for generations to come.
Here's a closer look at what this funding will support and how it will positively impact the Cheat River watershed and its visitors.
Expanding and Improving "The Caves" Put-in on the Cheat Narrows
One of the most anticipated projects funded by this grant is the development of shovel-ready plans for "The Caves" public river access point on the Cheat Narrows. This stretch of river is renowned for its stunning scenery and Class II & III whitewater opportunities which attract over 4,000 commercial and private boaters each year. However, the current lack of formal infrastructure presents challenges for users and raises safety concerns for both rivergoers and vehicles traveling along the Cheat River Scenic Byway.
Work towards "The Caves" project has been ongoing since 2022. With this grant, FOC will work with Thrasher Engineering to develop detailed site plans, complete with designated parking, bus and trailer pull-through spaces, and a formal boat launch. These improvements will make accessing the Cheat Narrows safer and more convenient while protecting the surrounding environment. The improved access site will complement the ongoing development of the Cheat River Rail-Trail, creating a cohesive recreational experience for paddlers, hikers, bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Activating Community Engagement Through Programming
The grant also provides funding for a robust lineup of community programming designed to connect people of all ages to the Cheat River watershed.
FOC has a litany of ongoing programs and events that inspire a love of the outdoors, foster environmental stewardship, and create lasting memories for participants. FOC's Snorkel Club offers participants a chance to explore the underwater world of the Cheat River. These hands-on events educate attendees about freshwater ecology, native fish and macro-benthic invertebrate species, and the importance of clean water for all. Funding from the RK Mellon grant will purchase additional wetsuits for Snorkel Club participants to ensure their comfort and safety in cool water temps. FOC community favorites like the Cheat Fest 5K footrace, Meet the Cheat paddle, and Paddler Appreciation Days will also benefit from the funding.
The grant will enable FOC to introduce fresh programming, including naturalist lectures, guided paddles, bike rides, and an event series at the Cheat River Trailhead this summer. The event series will feature live music under the Keith Pitzer Memorial Pavilion, food trucks, educational displays, kids' activities and crafts, and engaging workshops and will be free to the public. The first event will be Friday, June 13, featuring music by Chris Felton/Reckert Hollow and Heather’s Original Philly Cheesesteaks. The Wilson Family Band will play on Friday, July 11, and more details will follow for the July 25 and August 8 events.
To ensure the success of these initiatives, FOC is planning to hire a seasonal WV Promise Americorps team member focused solely on outreach programming and events. The grant funding will cover the Americorps program fee, plus supplies and equipment for the event series and other recreational project needs. Key items include trail signage to guide visitors along the Cheat River Rail-Trail, new Cheat River Water Trail maps, and a bicycle for staff to maintain the rail-trail and access points effectively.
Economic and Environmental Impact
The projects funded are more than just a series of improvements and events; it is an investment in the economic and environmental health of the Cheat River community. By enhancing access to the river and promoting outdoor recreation, this initiative will increase local use and attract more visitors to the region, thereby boosting local businesses and supporting a more sustainable outdoor economy. By educating event participants about the Cheat River's unique ecosystem and promoting responsible outdoor activities, we are fostering a culture of conservation.
Looking Ahead
As FOC moves forward with planning, programming, and infrastructure development, we're committed to providing our community opportunities to deepen their connection to the natural world, while continuing our mission to restore, preserve, and promote. Whether you're a paddler, hiker, cyclist, or simply someone who loves the outdoors, there are countless ways to get involved and support FOC's work. Together, we can ensure that the Cheat River remains a source of joy, inspiration, and opportunity for all who visit.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!
Cheat Watershed Sponsors: Walbridge Family Foundation, Charlie Walbridge, Margaret Walbridge, Patrick & Lisa Ward, Tom & Hope Covey, Robert Uram, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, Scott & Maureen Patton, Szilagyi Family Foundation
Cheat River Sponsors: The Reed Foundation, Northeast Natural Energy, Anne Kibler, Healthberry Farm
Stream Stewards: Joe Sinsheimer & Toddi Steelman, John & Emy Hinnant, Don & Susan Sauter, David Brisell, Keel-Haulers Canoe Club, Bill & Megan Carlson, Fred & Kim Wright, James Scott, The Oakland Foundation, Robert Moore, Judith Cronauer & Gerard Lechowick, Stratford Douglas & Jodie Jackson, Eric & Sara Henrickson, J.L. Pretzel Contracting LLC, Bronnie Stroud, Gregory Moser, Giles Wright, Rod Cavanaugh, Kim & Fred Wright, Constance Miller, John Williams, John Kobak, Russell Bounds, John Guiilfoose & Leah Holloran, Randy Robinson, Heather Lukacs & Kyle Doerksen
For the period November 3, 2024 through December 31, 2024
Canyon Contributors: Joe Sinsheimer & Toddi Steelman, Pamela Schwer, Scott Mitchell & Daniel Cardinali, Stephen & Catherine Kelso, Elizabeth Wilson & William Guthrie, Michael Buric and Patricia Kotchek, Dave Hough & Cyndy Graves, Adam Webster
Narrows Navigators: Andrew Lindsay, Charles Duffy, Daria and Randy Jones, David Davis, David Greenwald, David Plott, Fern Abrams & David Talmage, Henry Otto, Michael & Amy Savage, Pamela Moe, Roger and Linda Abrahams, Steve Taylor, Thomas Batchelor, Three Rivers Paddling Club, Upper Monongahela River Association (UMRA), Allie Smith, Katie Heisler, Mike & Diane Green, Dale and Carolyn McVicker, David & Robin Barnett, Samuel Liston, Mac Thornton, Adam Wells, Ross Koch, Mr. Jake Smith, Michael Strager, Kelly Collins, Jonathan Myers, Charles Wade, Jon Zeidler, Tim Osborne & Julie O’Hagan
Confluence Crew: Bob & Alice Vernon, Bruce & Kathy Jenkins, Edward Gertler, Jack Lewis, Susan Gordon in memory of Bill & Anna Mae Thorne, Thomas Pue, Tom Maraffa, Ann Pancake, Jessica Zamias, Lois Uranowski, Terezie Palmer, Vicky Shears, Monica Fronzaglio, Barry Tuscano, Fern and Rita Mulkeen, Roger Perry, Mark Eakin, William Corley, Robert Vagnetti, Jeff Cessna, Patrick McGinnis in honor of Christopher Kirkman, Mark Barger, Paul Albin, Caitlin Sullivan
Five Forks Friends: Barbara Horn, David Gross, Jen Short, John & Ruth Geiger, John Sweet, Simon Chavez, Charles and Lee Mullett, Dan Twardus, Duane Lazzell and Sally Wilts, Jamie Pflasterer, Jeanne & Josh Kaufman, Marissa Bennett, Michael Rzesutock, Tim McIntosh, William Sheppell, Liz Deardorff, Steven J Runfola, Caroline Coleman, Shannon Orcutt
Good Ole Friends: Perry Ramsden, Newton Gorrell, William R. Lickert, Jr & Sheila Taylor, J. L. Pretzel Contracting, LLC, David Atkinson, Jennifer Vick, Martha Summers, Ned & Diane Sawyers, Vanessa Vick, Ben & Lindsey Beasley, Ben Grimm, Bobbie Sue Burnside & Robin Myers, Diane and Ed Rader, Don Frew, Greg Dick, Kent Mason, Patty Snow, Rich Widmann, Jim Siekmeier & Catherine Tall, Mark Healey, Timothy Zinn, Stephen Koch, Michael Burk, Brenden Lingg, Janie White, Karen Frank, Kenneth Durr, Dr. Peter Wentzel
Swim Guide Donors: Adam Webster, Theo, Colette, Sera, & Nico Zegre
Education & Outreach Donors: Atilla Szilagyi, Dale Griffiths, Martha and Chip White, William Wotring, Cathy Summers, Karen Kish & The West Virginia Entomological Society, Danielle Mucciarone, James Nardozzi, Lohren Deeg, Robert & Ashley Ottone in memory of Normajean Rosenau, Timothy Miller, Joan Pitzer, Lea Chidlow, Ben Badger & Jessica Zamias, Cara Damm, Douglas & Margaret Richardson, Kathy DeWitt, Andy Maraffa, Christina Parrish, Gary & Jennifer Cooper, Christie Warnick
Cheat River Rail-Trail Donors: Anastasia Riley in memory of Marylin Thoburn, Michael Higgins, Peter Daly, Janet & Dan Lenox in memory of Keith Pitzer
In Memoriam: Duane Paul Lazell
Duane Paul Lazell was born in Morgantown on October 31st, 1950 to Rufus Lazzell II and Sarah Louise Hooper Lazzell. He died at his home in Bruceton Mills Saturday morning, February 15, 2025.
He worked as a union carpenter with Carpenters Local 604 in Morgantown. He often had to work out of state but returned home every weekend.
He married Linda Lewis in 1982 and they had a daughter Melissa Dawn Lazzell in 1983. They were later divorced and he married Sara Wilts in 2002. They shared a home in Bruceton Mills.
He was a great lover of nature and hiked and paddled his canoe or kayaks whenever he had a chance. He was unfailingly kind and compassionate, always helping others.
We wish to thank his devoted caregivers who added so much to his life: Kathy Young, Sue Chipps, Buffy Lewis and Nancy Cooley among many others. Amedisys Hospice has been a constant source of guidance and comfort.
He is survived by his wife Sara, daughter Melissa Metheny and her husband Rydell and grandchildren Aiden and Preston. He also has a brother David Walter Lazzell in Morgantown.
He was preceded in death by his parents, half – brothers Rufus Lazzell, III, Carl Lazzell and Charles Lazzell.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
2025 Cheat River Festival Announcements
by Lisa Maraffa, Cheat Fest Coordinator
The Cheat River Festival is Friends of the Cheat's largest annual fundraiser, bringing together over 3,000 passionate supporters to help clean up and preserve the Cheat River watershed for the past 30 years.
The celebration begins Friday night with the Cheat River Massacre-ence, the nation’s largest mass-start downriver race. Over the two-days, attendees can enjoy live local music, delicious food, unique art and craft vendors, yoga classes, educational presentations, nonprofit displays, and a vibrant kids’ tent packed with activities. On Saturday morning, the Cheat Fest 5K Foot Race takes runners along the stunning Cheat River on the newly constructed Cheat River Rail-Trail.
Sponsorships
Want to make a bigger impact? Consider becoming a sponsor or volunteering to help make this event a success!
Cheat Fest attracts around 3,000 attendees each year, making it a cornerstone event in our community and an ideal opportunity for exposure. With a range of sponsorship levels for the main festival, the Downriver Race, and the 5K, you are sure to find the perfect option tailored to fit your business. Email Lisa@cheat.org for information.
Downriver Race
The Cheat River Festival weekend kicks off on Friday with the Cheat River “Massacre-ence,” the largest mass-start whitewater downriver race in the country. Rich in history, this thrilling event attracts top whitewater paddlers from across the East Coast, as well as accomplished local favorites. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a first-time racer, this event promises to challenge your skills while you take in the stunning beauty of the Cheat River Canyon.
Online registration closes at midnight on Sunday, April 27, 2025 - cheatfest.org/races-2/
5K Foot Race
The Cheat Fest 5K Foot Race takes place on Saturday morning during Cheat Fest, offering a lively start to the day as festival goers recover from Friday night's fun. Traditionally held at the Preston County Country Club, this year’s race will potentially move to the scenic Cheat River Rail-Trail. Participants will begin at the Cheat Trailhead, running an out-and-back 5-mile course along the picturesque Cheat River. All racers receive free entry to the festival on Saturday and a commemorative water bottle as a keepsake.
Online registration closes at noon on April 30, 2025 - cheatfest.org/races-2/
Volunteers
Our festival is more than just an event - it’s a celebration of the Cheat River community. By volunteering, you play a key role in helping us create something truly special while raising awareness about the issues facing our watershed. Volunteer shifts are typically 4 hours and come with great perks, including festival entry, onsite camping, and backstage food on Saturday. Sign up to volunteer at https://cheatfest.org/volunteer/!
Food Drive
We are once again partnering with Food for Preston to collect non-perishable food and hygiene items to stock their 11 pantries across Preston County. We encourage all attendees to contribute to our drive. You can find the donation list at cheatfest.org.
This has been a challenging column to write. There are a lot of reasons why. Some are likely obvious to readers of Into the Canyon, such as the looming impact of the new administration and the continually changing circumstances around Federal funding. Other reasons are more personal, like the emotional weight and worry for my dedicated staff and our friends and partners at the Federal agencies in the eye of the storm.
Historically, the vast majority of FOC’s program work is paid for by Federal grants.
In the last 5 years, the organization has diversified funding streams through private foundation grants. However, these funds pale in comparison in both number of funders and total funds to Federal grants, agreements, and flow-through Federal funds granted to state agencies, notably the WV Department of Environmental Protection.
These Federal funds are budgeted to cover nearly $200,000 of FOC’s 2025 payroll and benefit expenses, approximately 40% of total payroll costs. The projects wrapped up in this work include, well, just about everything we do in pursuit of our mission:
- Assessment, including water quality monitoring, and the development of plans to restore degraded streams and protect healthy ones
- Eliminating non-point source pollution from the watershed, including acid mine drainage from abandoned mine lands and sediment from across the landscape
- Removing barriers to fish passage and other improvements to habitat
- Riparian tree plantings to reduce erosion and sedimentation and increase flood and climate resiliency
- Collaboration with researchers and local communities to understand current flood risks and develop citizen-led plans for disaster preparedness
- Construction of the Cheat River Rail-Trail
- Regional recreation economy initiatives to improve community livability, health and wellness, economic development, and seed stewardship
The good news is that only 1 of these grants is “frozen” and under scrutiny due to the manner in which the Federal funds were authorized - via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA aka BIL) versus the standard budgeting process authorized by Congress. The rest of the Federal funds included in our 2025 budget are under agreement/contract aside from 1 pot of construction funds for the rail-trail. We are proceeding cautiously and holding off on any large expenditures that could get jammed up in the reimbursement process and tie up precious FOC cash.
I don’t know what is going to happen. Keeping up with the news and its analysis is a full-time job. I try to remain optimistic despite quotes from WV’s senior Senator, someone who has proudly worn the appropriator badge, stating they are “pretty comfortable” with these efforts.
I haven’t had much brainpower left at the end of the day to contemplate the larger questions about the role of government and how we as a society place value on natural resources and ecosystem services. It is easy to get turned upside down in the flood and forget which way is up while running out of air.
Last week, I took a big gulp of fresh air on a site visit to Freeland Run. After a brisk hike up 3 miles to view the 4 culverts FOC is working to replace, I wandered into the White Grass Lodge and crashed the annual gathering of the Professional Ski Instructors of America. I passed my business card to a ski instructor from the Poconos interested in trout fishing when a lady next to him leaned over and asked, “Is that a Friends of the Cheat card?” I introduced myself, and she said, “Oh, I know you!” I had serendipitously bumped into Jan Steckel! Jan was paddling the Cheat Canyon with Dave Bassage and others on the day of the infamous mine blowout in 1994. She recounted the formative story and Dave’s assertion, while the group was enjoying apres paddle at Jenkinsburg, that “he was going to do something about this.”
Jan and I played the name game and told stories of our lives and families. She asked about her old Ohiopyle Trading Post buddy Steve Clear’s daughter Lindsey (Jaquay) and my heart swelled when I showed her a picture of my son Emmitt and Lindsey’s daughter Kaiya together. Jan is also a seasoned Federal employee at the Department of Energy. Upon that reveal, I agreed to a glass of wine. And then a shot of a magical Norwegian spirit that must’ve opened my lungs and heart even wider because when I stepped out of the lodge into the beautiful, open vista of the valley floor and “What a Wonderful World” was playing over the soundsystem, I couldn’t hold back my tears of joy and gratitude. Jan and White Grass magic lit something inside of me that had been dimmed. Despite all the hardships and challenges, which are vast and daunting, I am truly grateful to be able to do this work, with these people, in this place. I’m not giving up and I’m not going anywhere. Take a deep breath, lean in, and hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Currents & Craft: FOC Benefit Dinner Hosted by Brewery and the Beast
Mark your calendars for March 12, 2025, at 6:30 PM and indulge in an unforgettable five-course beer pairing dinner crafted by Chefs Craig Frazee & Mykl Messer.
This exclusive benefit dinner will feature a thoughtfully curated menu paired with exceptional brews, all in support of Friends of the Cheat and our ongoing mission. Seating is limited - reserve your spot today at cheat.org/currentscraftdinner/
Last day for ticket purchase is Wednesday, March 5th at midnight.
Cost: $150 per person. Gratuity is included - $60 of each ticket is tax-deductible.
Location: Brewery & the Beast, 418 S Main St., Accident, MD 21520
Website: breweryandthebeastmd.com
Phone: (301) 691-2739
1st Course: Potato Bon Bon with Trout Roe & Chive Dill Crème Fraîche - Paired with Hard Day Heffe Norwegian Farmhouse Ale
2nd Course: Crayfish & Corn Bisque - Paired with Campfire Breeze Rauchbier
3rd Course: Seared Duck Breast with Duck Confit and Mushroom Buckwheat Crepe, Shaved Asparagus with a Huckleberry Sauce and Chive Oil - Served with Mad Scientist IPA
4th Course: Apple Sorbet with Ginger & Walnut Crumble - Paired with Call the Police Cream Ale
5th Course: Lemon Rhubarb Meringue with a Pistachio Buttercream, Strawberry Buttercream, Sherry Syrup and Chestnut Puree - Served with Choc’ed Full Spiced Stout