West Fork River Restoration, West Virginia

Removing three dams on the West Fork River back in 2016 has improved boating access and fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.

Learn more about fish passage along the river. But perhaps more importantly to local residents, the river's water quality and drinking water is improved, and it's safe to go boating and swimming now that the dams have been removed. Indeed, the river is becoming a tourist destination for anglers and boaters - improving everyone's social and economic futures. State biologists and anglers report there's better fishing up river now. The West Fork River offers plenty of opportunities for recreation and enjoyment as it flows north 103 miles, meandering through the valleys of north-central West Virginia until it joins with the Tygart Valley River to form the Monongahela River.