Fracking industry targets Egypt Valley Wildlife Area

For 70 years, the land that makes up Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont and Guernsey counties was subjected to surface mining. In 1995, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources bought 14,300 acres from The Conservation Fund to create a wildlife area.

Over the next several years, ODNR worked with Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society and other groups to expand Egypt Valley to over 18,000 acres. Today all of the forests consist of second and third growth timber.

Much of the land that was cleared is now grassland or brushland and dotted with many small ponds and wetlands. Piedmont Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake, managed by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is located in the middle of the two land parcels that make up Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.

But now, the fracking industry is targeting this beautiful wildlife area for more oil and gas extraction through toxic and radioactive fracking.

Tell the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission that you do not support fracking of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. Please visit the Nomination Comment Form, choose Nomination #24-DNR-0001, and submit your comment.

Egypt Valley Wildlife Area is popular for hunting, fishing, and other forms of wildlife recreation. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, squirrel, grouse, rabbit, and dove are the most sought after species for hunting. Many of the small ponds have been stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegills by the division and offer good fishing opportunities. Hiking, bird watching, photography, and sightseeing are also popular on the wildlife area. Boating is allowed on nearby Piedmont Lake. 

Species not traditionally found in eastern Ohio such as the short-eared owl, Northern harrier, Henslow’s sparrow, and bobolink can be found on the large expanses of grassland. Bald eagles and ospreys occasionally stop on the wildlife area on their annual migration. River otters were reintroduced to this area in 1993 and now a thriving population can be found there.

None of this is compatible with fracking. Please tell the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission that you don’t support fracking of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. Visit the Nomination Comment Form, choose Nomination #24-DNR-0001, and submit your comment before April 25, 2024.

You can use our sample letter — but please personalize to explain why preserving our wildlife areas is important to you:

To the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission:

I am writing to strongly oppose fracking of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. This beautiful wildlife area is widely used for hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, photography, and site-seeing. None of this is compatible with the noise, toxic air pollution, methane leaks, lights, and numerous truck trips entailed in any fracking operation.

ODNR acquired the land that makes up Egypt Valley from The Conservation Fund, and it was meant to be protected. Numerous species call Egypt Valley home, including common species like deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse, rabbit, and dove, and rare species like the short-eared owl, Northern harrier, Henslow’s sparrow, and bobolink. Bald eagles and osprey often stop there. River otters were reintroduced to this area in 1993 and now a thriving population can be found there.

At the center of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area is Piedmont Lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and extremely popular with boaters and swimmers. Fracking uses tens of millions of gallons of fresh water for each frack — taking that much water from Piedmont Lake or the surrounding ponds and streams will degrade the habitat for fish and other aquatic species throughout the wildlife area.

The people of Ohio pay for and use our public lands, including Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. We do not want to see any more oil and gas extraction from this land. Enough is enough. Please DENY nomination 24-DNR-0001, and preserve Egypt Valley as it was meant to be.

Thank you.

Photo credit: Egypt Valley Wildlife Areas by Grant Eugene Williams