Timeline of Events

 
(November 16, 1961) - Norris R Caryl, Area Conservationist SCS, Romney, WV outlines plans for a watershed project to create a recreational lake (not floodcontrol) and plans to pursue this through the department of natural resources.
 

(April 15, 1968) - Donal Biller, Hardy County Supervisor of the Soil Conservation Service, sends out letters to 27 landowners potentially affected by the lost river watershed dms stating the SCS's desire to develop a watershed plan for lost river.
 

(1968) - Hardy County Soil Conservation Service begins initial paperwork and design to construct a single watershed dam in Lost River.
 
Click here to view document  [JPG - kb] Source: 

(1974) - Hardy County Soil Conservation Service announces plans for one watershed dam in Lost River with an estimated cost of $200,000 of federal taxpayers money.
 
Click here to view document  [JPG - kb] Source: 

([me] October 1976) - The Lost River valley went through a small flood where only minimal damage was reported to fences, cornfields and some livestock.
 
Click here to view document  [JPG - kb] Source:  Moorefield Examiner

(November 3, 1976) - Review of the October flood damage, the Soil Conservation Service declares flooding frequency set to every 2.5-3 years
 

(1977) - Plans for Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 are put on hold due to massive public opposition.
 
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(November 5, 1985) - The worst flood in modern history struck WV after 20 inches of rain fell in 8 days.  Moorefield, Petersburg, and the entire South Branch Valley of the Potomac on the western side of the county suffered the vast majority of the damage.  200 mobile homes, 400 private homes were damaged or destroyed with three confirmed deaths.  The Lost River valley suffered little crop and livestock damage damage, 0 homes were lost, and 0 lives were lost.
 

(November 1985) - The West Virginia Advocate prints the only article on flood damage in the Lost River Valley stating only minor flood damage was reported.  No bridges were destroyed, no lives lost, and only pasture fences cose to the river were decimated by the force of the water.
 
Click here to view Document  [JPG - 466 kb] Source:  West Virginia Advocate

1987 - Hardy County Soil Conservation Service announces revised plans for five watershed dam's in the Lost River area with an estimated cost of over $12 million dollars of federal tax payers money.
 
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(November 22, 1989) - WV DNR and Soil Conservation Service announce public meeting regarding building Kimsey Run Dam Site #4.
 

(November 22, 1989) - Potomac Valley Soil Conservation Service only wants Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 constructed with public recorded comments of not wanting other dams.
 

(December 6, 1989) - The Hampshire Review reports that well over 400 local hardy county residents are fully opposed to Kimsey Run Dam site #4 in a public meeting
 

(December 6, 1989) - Moorefield Examiner details over 400 Hardy County citizens opposed to Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 and all other future Lost River Watershed projects
 

(December 13, 1989) - Raymond Daughtery submits letter to Moorefield Examiner detailing opposition to Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 and other future Lost River Watershed projects.
 

(February 21, 1990) - Allen Wilson announces candidacy for Hardy County Commissioner against Winston Teets while opposing the Kimsey Run Dam project.
 

(June 6, 1990) - County resident Gloria Walker submits letter to the editor of the Moorefield Examiner opposing Kimsey Run Dam site #4 and future dam site projects in the lost river watershed area.
 

(June 27, 1990) - Elizabeth Webster, President of the Lost River Committee submits a letter to the editor of the Moorefield Examiner detailing communities disgust with current county commissioners for approving funding when county residents oppose Kimsey Run Dam site #4 and questioning Soil Conservation Services methods of holding public meetings not in favor of the public.
 

(July 28, 1990) - Daily News Record reports the Lost River and Cacapon River Committees file suit in Federal Court to stop land condemnation and construction of Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 which would cost more than $12 million dollars.
 

(January 18, 1991) - The North Fork Journal reports on the upcoming hearing in Hardy County circuit court where the soil conservation service is seeking a ruling for eminent domain to be applied to 7 landowners in the Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 area to be removed from their property.
 
Click here to view Document 1  [JPG - 109 kb] Source:  North-Fork Journal
Click here to view Document 2  [JPG - 343 kb] Source:  North-Fork Journal

(January 26, 1991) - Daily News Record reports on an upcoming hearing in Hardy County circuit court with James Paul Geary, Sr. (Lost River Committee) arguing against Howard Krauskof (PVSCD) that county residents unamiously do not want the Kimsey Run Dam Site #4 with affected residents refusing to sell.
 

(January 29, 1991) - Hardy County Circuit Court ruled despite the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) concerns over
 

(January 30, 1991) - James Paul Geary, Sr. (Lost River Committee) and Howard Krauskof (Soil Conservation Service) present final arguments before Judge John Hamiliton of Hardy County Circuit Court to prevent the Potomac Valley Soil Conservation Districts from exercising eminent domain against local citizens affected by, and opposed to Kimsey Run Dam Site #4.
 
 
(February 12, 1991) - Judge John Hamilton of Hardy County Circuit Court begins deliberating on the legal use of eminent domain by the Potomac Valley Soil conservation District for acquiring land for Kimsey Run Dam Site #4.
 

(August 7, 1991) - Naomi E Walters from Falls Church, VA submits a letter to the Moorefield Examiner stating opposition to all dams in the lost river valley watershed.
 

(August 26, 1991) - Judge John Hamilton announces in his ruling that the Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District can not use eminent domain to acquire land from residents to build Kimsey Run Dam Site #4.  Ed Kesecker appeals to the West Virginia Supreme Court stating that Kimsey run Dam #4 is for recreational purposes and not flood control as previously debated.
 

(November 13, 1991) - West Virginia Supreme Court announces it refuses to hear the soil conservation services appeal to the August 26 ruling of circuit court Judge John Hamiliton preventing the soil conservation service from using eminent domain to acquire land.
 

(December 5, 1991) - The WV State Surpreme Court accepted a second appeal filed by the soil conservation service to overrule Judge John Hamiliton's August 26 decision.
 

(March 10, 2004) - Ed Kesecker (NRCS) and Donald Biller (Potomac Valley Soil Conservation District) announce submitting requesting of funds from the state of west Virginia for design of Lower Cove Dam Site #16.
 

(May 26, 2004) - Landowners at proposed dam site #16 in the Lower Cove received this letter in the mail. Landowners had not received any individual formal notification before this. The letter states the intention "to begin design work for the construction of the multi-purpose flood control dam and recreation site..." (Take notice of the signatures at the end.)
 

(June 2, 2004) - Despite public opposition to the Lower Cove Dam Site #16, using federal money the potomac valley soil conservation service released preliminary public satellite maps and drawings of planned construction, pools of water, and land required to build the Lower Cove Dam.  This dam site contains the most opposition.

 

(June 9, 2004) - After Wednesday's PVSCD meeting and a plea from landowners and citizens to stop the proposed dam site and to find other options, this document was served on landowners Thursday evening.

 
 


 

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