The American Chestnut Trees at Clements Tree Nursery

Screenshot from the video: Restoration Research of the American Chestnut (Part 1 Intro) by the Forest Service. The American Chestnut Foundation – October 10, 2026 update.

In September 2026, plans were announced for the development of a 580-acre high-impact data center facility in West Columbia, WV. *Potentially affected by this development sits a 200-tree American chestnut orchard with a rich and collaborative past, located at the former Clements State Tree Nursery in West Columbia. 

*10.10.26 update:

Good news! We now have verification that the Clements site is a separate property and is not part of the project’s development site. From the developer’s website: “The former Clements State Tree Nursery is a separate property and is not part of the Project Tamarack development site. Project Tamarack has no ownership, control, or management responsibility for the property. Questions regarding the chestnut grove, the former nursery, or the property’s management should be directed to the West Virginia Division of Forestry, which operated the facility prior to its closure in 2021.” […]

Click here to view the original article at www.tacf.org

Video: Restoration Research of the American Chestnut (Part 1 Intro) – Forest Service