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Protecting West Virginia's Healthiest Streams... Right Now!
- Tier 2.5 Protection
"Stop the Fish Kills" Potomac Campaign:
Fish kills and fish diseases are plaguing the Potomac Watershed.
Setting a New Standard for the Ohio River:
It's in your backyard!
Acid Mine Drainage
Protecting Streams from Becoming "Dead Zones"
In the past year WVRC worked to prevent the Mettiki E-mine permit from damaging the North Fork of the Potomac River and the Blackwater River of the Cheat watershed with acid mine drainage (AMD). The devastation of AMD could impact the rivers for generations. In April, WVRC, along with other environmental groups, asked the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement to review the coal mining permit granted by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Mountaintop Removal
Over 1,000 Miles of Streams Buried and Counting
Coal mining has been at the heart of West Virginia's identity -- and turmoil -- for well over 100 years. But as technology has allowed coal production to soar in the last few years, it has also meant the destruction of the Mountain State's hills and streams by mountaintop removal coal mining and the resulting valley fills.
Watershed Permit Assistance Program
A Guide to Protecting Your Watershed
WVRC provides water protection workshops to watershed groups, engineers and consultants in West Virginia and around the region. We are continuing our technical workshops next year, and expanding our education outreach to smaller groups that generally have less money and resources to protect the streams in their communities.
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Other Important Issues Facing West Virginia's Rivers
Wilderness Protection
WVRC supports The "Wild Monongahela" efforts of the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition because where there is wilderness protection there is also stream protection.
Public Access
We helped successfully facilitate river access for the 2005 Gauley Whitewater Season and we continue to support the vision of the Gauley River properly managed and protected by the National Park Service.
Mercury Contamination
WVRC is appealing a permit allowing pollution discharge into the Ohio River in Marshall County by PPG Industries, West Virginia’s most significant contributor of harmful mercury to West Virginia’s rivers.
Watershed Resources
WVRC created a 60-page technical wastewater manual for distribution to local watershed groups in West Virginia for understanding, correcting and enforcing solutions to the ongoing problem of inadequate wastewater treatment in West Virginia.
Stream Protection
WVRC worked diligently on behalf of Preston County landowners who nominated their backyard stream, Watkins Run, for Tier 2.5 protection. Watkins Run became the first WV stream ever successfully designated as a high quality Tier 2.5 resource under the public nomination process of the state’s antidegradation policy.
Land Development
Non-industrial land use activity is presenting new threats to West Virginia’s most pristine river corridors, including timbering in the Cheat, Big Sandy and Blackwater canyons and development proposals in the New River Gorge.
Industry Investors vs. Community Investment
Industry continues to lobby and undermine the water quality standards for West Virginia Rivers. Recently, WVRC countered an industry-led violation of public participation laws related to toxic pollutant criteria.
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