The Bluestone National Scenic River protects a section of the Bluestone River in Summers and Mercer counties of southern West Virginia. It was created 26 October 1988 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is protected by the National Park Service. The nation’s Wild and Scenic Rivers System was established for the purpose of protecting for the present, and preserving for the future, undeveloped, free-flowing rivers that possess “Outstandingly Remarkable” scenic, natural, cultural, geological and recreational values. Currently one hundred fifty six entire rivers or sections of rivers are protected under this system of publicly owned water resources. A section of Bluestone NSR is also protected by the West Virginia State Park System within Pipestem Resort State Park. The remaining portion is within a West Virginia Wildlife Management Area. Geology and Natural History The Bluestone River and the rugged gorge it has carved make up a richly diverse and scenic area of the Appalachian Plateau. The river cuts into Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks of the Mauch Chunk and Pottsville groups in southern West Virginia according to geologic mapping carried out by researchers at nearby Concord University. The modern name of the river is derived from the blueish-colored limestones exposed along the river bed and near the canyon floor. The rim of the canyon is mostly framed by sandstone cliffs of the Mississippian-age Princeton Formation (up to 100 ft thick) and the overlying Glady Fork Member (up to 40 ft thick) of the Bluestone Formation. More than a thousand species of plants grow in several diverse Appalachian forest habitat types. Two hundred species of birds have been spotted in the park. The Bluestone also provides excellent areas for watching many mammal, amphibian, reptile and insect species. The riverbed habitat is alive with a carpet of macro-invertebrate aquatic species, and supports healthy populations of many warm water game and non-game fishes. The Bluestone River is classified as a High Quality Warm Water Stream by the state of West Virginia. The headwaters of the Bluestone River begin at an elevation of 3500 feet on East River Mountain near Bluefield, Virginia and flow for 77 miles to Bluestone Lake near Hinton, West Virginia at 1409 feet. History American Indians called the river “Momongosenka” (Big Stone River), a name believed to have been derived by their travels along ancient pathways through the boulder-strewn lower gorge. Many native prehistoric sites, from nomadic Paleo-Indian hunting