Youghiogheny

The town of Friendsville has declared its opposition to building a durable bike trail through one of the most pristine areas of the Youghiogheny River, dealing a potentially fatal blow to a controversial project that had already lined up millions in state funding.

The letter — which Schlosnagle said he handed to Moore personally at an event in Annapolis last week — urges lawmakers and the DNR to use the trail funds set aside for the Youghiogheny River canyon for an alternative route that would run between Friendsville and Youghiogheny Lake and include a new bridge over existing bridge trestles.

The Aug. 26 Metro article “It’s a question of access” discussed proposed changes to the Youghiogheny River Scenic Corridor, a wild river in Western Maryland.

Michael M. Dreisbach, the nonprofit’s president, says it’s no secret that the organization has been pushing for trails in the Youghiogheny River for about 15 years.

The Youghiogheny River is the only Western Maryland river that doesn’t flow south — hence, its Algonkian name meaning “stream flowing in a contrary direction.”