A portion of the Cheat Canyon will reportedly become a nature preserve and a state wildlife management area, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The 3,800-acre property runs 7 miles from Albright's outskirts to a segment of Sandy Creek. It is the only place on Earth where the threatened Cheat threetooth snail can be found, according to Journal-News.net.
"The Conservation Fund and the Nature Conservancy bought the property from The Forestland Group. The conservation groups plan to transfer the property to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources over the next two years for establishment of a wildlife management area," said AP in their report.
The wildlife management area will include a nature preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy and managed by the DNR.
A partnership was reached on April 10 after being in the works for the last five years.
"Private, state and federal funds used for conservation not only leverage each other; they also reflect the national significance of the state's land, water and wildlife resources, the commitment of West Virginia's citizens through our public investment in our 'Wild and Wonderful' outdoors, and the creativity to bring together various partners to go the distance and reach this milestone," said Reggie Hall, West Virginia state director for The Conservation Fund, according to Journal-News.net.
Once the $7 million project is completed, it will conserve most of the canyon not included in Cooper's Rock State Forest and Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area.
A deal was reached late last week, according to AP.
"We are very lucky that a lot of things came together," said Rodney Bartgis, state director of The Nature Conservancy in West Virginia, according to Journal-News.net.
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