Sudden death of ecosystem ravages long creek (more environmental disaster from Appalachia)

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Just 20 days ago, Dunkard Creek, which meanders lazily back and forth across the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, was one of the most ecologically diverse streams in both states, containing freshwater mussels, mudpuppy salamanders and a host of fish species from minnows to 3-foot-long muskies.

Generations of families picnicked along its sycamore-lined banks and swam in its warm water. Fishermen plied its green, slow-moving pools with lures and bait in hopes of catching lunker bass.

But today, the 38-mile creek is all but dead, its 161 species of fish, mussels, salamanders, crayfish and aquatic insects killed by mysterious pollutants coming from sources state and federal agencies have yet to pinpoint despite aggressive field work.

"We've just been decimated down here. Everything is being killed almost from the headwaters of the creek to where it flows into the Monongahela River," said Betty Wiley, president of the Dunkard Creek Watershed Association. "It's such a tragedy for the creek. An ecosystem has been destroyed."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09263/999458-113.stm?cmpid=news.xml#ixzz0S01O0OPU

and here:
http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2009/09/23/dead-fish-on-dunkard-creek-the-saga-continues/

video (must-see)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJbx9XD5GXU

[PDJane]

1. And we still have people defending "clean coal"

It's time to realize that there is no such thing as clean coal. Not mining it, not processing it, not burning it......there isn't such a thing, and there won't be such a thing.

Period. Endit.

The more of the stuff we use, the more environmental disasters there will be. Forever and ever.

[Feron]

3. As per the article,

They're also looking at the possibility that illegally dumped gas well wastewater is the culprit.

Of course that brings up a host of other issues.

I do agree with you that clean coal is an oxymoron.

[theHandpuppet]

8. Gas wells in that part of the country often found on land being mined for coal

I'm sure the Feds have a list of those companies who have contracts to extract gas and coal from the area. I'd say the list of suspects is fairly short but someone is dragging their feet on this investigation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. K&R

[G_j]

4. K&R

:cry:

[defendandprotect]

5. k

[dipsydoodle]

6. Tragic

:(

[quaker bill]

7. K&R

[G_j]

9. kick

[glitch]

10. Heartbreaking. nt

[CrownPrinceBandar]

11. Dunkard Creek ran through the backyard of a house I once rented.............

The water was orange and smelled horrible. I did see a few Kingfishers flying around scouring the water for fish, but I never saw the birds come away with anything. This was near Mount Morris, PA about 10-12 years ago and I imagine the situation has gotten much worse since then.

Here's another video (warning: Evanescence soundtrack) of the damage done to the Dunkard filmed in Wana, WV in western Monongalia County. The foulness of the Dunkard is legendary in those parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCEG436BvE0&feature=fvw

But there is hope. If the EPA and the local DEP can do with the Dunkard what they are actively doing with Deckers Creek near Morgantown, they may yet salvage this watershed.

Friends of Deckers Creek:

http://www.deckerscreek.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=39&Itemid=60