Southwest Virginia river the star of new state park

As much of central Appalachia looks to reinvent itself amid the decline of coal, community leaders in southwest Virginia say they’re seeing some early success from a focus on another natural resource

RICHMOND, Va. — As much of central Appalachia looks to reinvent itself amid the decline of coal, community leaders in southwest Virginia say they are seeing some early success by focusing on another natural resource: the Clinch River.

The Clinch, which flows for about 130 miles (209 kilometers) through four mountainous Virginia counties before crossing into Tennessee, is the centerpiece of what will be one of Virginia’s newest state parks, thanks to a yearslong grassroots effort. Advocates say the park that’s still under development will help protect the river, a biodiversity hot spot, and support a growing regional outdoor recreation and tourism industry.

“The Clinch is the greatest river in the U.S. that…