SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 50

(By Senators Stollings, Jeffries, Lindsay, and Romano)

[Introduced February 26, 2020]

Requesting the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the West Virginia Department of Commerce to research and make recommendations regarding construction of a lake where the headwaters of the Guyandotte and Coal Rivers meet in the areas of Raleigh, Wyoming, Boone, and Logan counties.

Whereas, West Virginia has recently made efforts to revitalize the tourism industry of the state, including outdoor recreational opportunities; and

Whereas, Adding dams to southern West Virginia could aid in preventing devastating floods on the Guyandotte and Coal Rivers in the areas of Raleigh, Wyoming, Boone, and Logan counties; and

Whereas, Hydroelectricity has the potential to power and revitalize the area; and

Whereas, The suitability of construction of such a lake in the aforementioned portion of West Virginia is properly determined through an investigation of all relevant factors such as, but not limited to, site geography, comparative costs for construction, post-mine land use, and the additional economic benefits to the local economy; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature hereby requests the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the West Virginia Department of Commerce to research and make recommendations regarding construction of a lake where the headwaters of the Guyandotte and Coal Rivers meet in the areas of Raleigh, Wyoming, Boone, and Logan counties; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby requests the departments to submit a written report of its research and findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2020; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce.