There is a new movement to open up national forests to extraction, an movement that was fought against during the Bush administration.
Trout Unlimited is highlighting the George Washington and Jefferson national forests in Virginia and West Virginia that are places that are at risk from gas drilling activities.
Trout Unlimited's new "10 Special Places" report ranks the region as fifth for its areas that are rich in fish, game and natural beauty.
The report covers threats to the specific regions and offers recommendations for the best approaches that can be used to protect these areas from potential risks.
The group says it would be almost impossible to develop drilling without severely impacting and changing the character of the national forest, its woodlands and streams.
West Virginia is set to approve drilling for natural gas under the Ohio River. The Ohio River supplies drinking water to 5 million people.
The national forests cover nearly 1.8 million acres.
See "NO TREE LEFT BEHIND" - Bush Opens Mon National Forest For Development
WV OPENS DRILLING AND FRACKING IN OHIO RIVER - River Supplies Water To 5 Million People |