The Roanoke Times | File 2007

The sun sets behind the mountains of Giles County and the New River.

| Chris Winston

chris.winston@roanoke.com, 381-1678

Time is running out on a Giles County outfitter's attempt to gain support to federally protect a section of the New River.

Britt Stoudenmire, who with his wife, Leigh, runs New River Outdoor Co. in Pembroke, said he hopes regional support will help land a National Wild and Scenic River designation for a 19.3-mile stretch of the river from Glen Lyn to Bluestone Lake in West Virginia.

"This is the biggest thing that could ever happen to the river," Stoudenmire said.

A public comment period closes Friday on a National Park Service report nearly 20 years in the making.

The report, which was approved in 1992 and used to prevent Appalachian Power from building a large transmission line over the river more than a decade ago, has been delayed multiple times.

The 194-page report finds ample support for a scenic designation, considering the river's pristine surroundings, free-flowing nature, regional significance and contribution to the national river system. However, it found no impending threats to the section and noted mixed support from governmental agencies and residents. The park service recommended against the action.

Stoudenmire said most of the opposition appears to be coming from West Virginia, where residents are concerned about federal protection affecting how the river is used.

The section under consideration, which includes more than six miles of the river in Giles County, is predominantly owned by the federal government and overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That is preventing development along the stretch, but that could change.

"One of the reasons to get the designation is to prevent future dams from being built upstream," said Chris McKlarney, Giles County administrator.

Once the public comment closes, the report will go to the U.S. Department of the Interior and President Obama in early 2010. Congress and the Oval Office have the final say on the designation.

Stoudenmire hopes to have support from Obama, who designated 40 such rivers in March alone, bringing the national tally in the designation to about 200. Stoudenmire said only 10 are east of the Mississippi and none is in Virginia.

Stoudenmire and McKlarney both said the designation would put Giles County and the New River "on the map" for travelers and nature-lovers.

With the section of the river just 10 miles from Interstate 77 and 30 miles from Interstate 81, Stoudenmire said it might not stay so scenic forever.

The Giles County Board of Supervisors will consider a resolution supporting the designation at its Wednesday morning meeting.

Public comments will be accepted at the meeting and also on the county's Web site before the meeting.

McKlarney said most of the comments received as of Monday are positive.

"The New River is one of our great assets, and we've been able to capitalize on it, of late, fairly well," he said.

Many consider the New River, which flows north, to be the world's second-oldest river.