America’s Most Endangered Rivers Includes the Gauley River, Threatened by Mountaintop Removal
Jun 3rd, 2010 by admin
The 2010 report by American Rivers has declared the Gauley River, in West Virginia, to be one of the most endangered rivers in the US. This river is one of many that are waiting for the EPA to take more decisive action and end mountaintop removal once and for all. The thriving tourist economy in this community is the kind that many coalfield communities are striving towards – and shouldn’t be permanently destroyed for a few years profit.
Learn more about the river and about the report here: Gauley River, West Virginia Threat: Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
Take action on the American Rivers website by clicking here!
From American Rivers:
The Gauley River is internationally famous for its whitewater, contributing approximately $16 million in annual revenue to West Virginia from commercial rafting. The river also supports trout and bass, but is scarred by coal mining impacts and subjected to degradation from ongoing mining activity. The process of mountaintop removal mining flattens mountaintops, buries streams under debris, and pollutes water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and cooperating agencies must stop the permitting of mine activity that harms the clean water and natural areas that are essential to the health and heritage of Appalachian communities.
Below is a powerful video that highlights the community trying to save Gauley Mountain and Gauley River:
