The West Virginia Rivers Coalition is making a difference! Help support the “Stop Fish Kills in the Potomac Watershed Campaign” so we can develop effective solutions to address these tragic problems.
The Problem
- Hundreds of fish are dying!
- The health of our rivers and streams and their aquatic life is an indicator of our
quality of life. Our drinking water is being poisoned.
- The travel and tourism economy is directly affected by the degradation of
our natural resources. Jobs and economic growth are threatened.
- The fish kills and “intersex” are being discovered in other rivers and streams.
- Populations of smallmouth bass, suckers, fallfish, sunfish and largemouth bass
are at risk and without an answer to these problems whole fish populations could become extinct.
- We do not yet know the potential effects on humans and the ecosystem at large.
What’s to Blame
Suspected compounds include estrogens in untreated human and livestock urine and in discarded birth control pills, as well as antimicrobial chemicals, compounds that make plastics flexible, fire retardants and pesticides. Although the exact culprit has not yet been exposed, none have been ruled out.
How You Make a Difference
Although research efforts are underway, a lack of funding is slowing them down.
Funding to support the research needed to analyze chemical and biological samples is desperately needed. That funding needs to come from local, state and federal levels, but can only happen in response to raised awareness about the problems facing the Potomac. We can not achieve this level of awareness without your help.
The Solution
People need to know about this growing threat to our rivers. State and local communities, politicians and the media all must be targeted. We plan to:
- Raise awareness at the local level through educational posters, educational meetings and working with local businesses.
- Raise awareness at the state level through letter writing campaigns and educating our state representatives as to the need for increased funding to our state and federal environmental agencies so they can conduct the necessary research.
- Raise awareness through the local, state and national media.
Stop the Kills on the Potomac:
- Become a member of WV Rivers Coalition. click here.
- Sponsor the Stop the Fish Kills Potomac Campaign.
- Call your local delegates asking them to support better research for Fish Kills.
- Report Fish Kills.
- Sign up for our enewsletter.
- Become a volunteer.
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