Coal River (West Virginia)
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{{otheruses|Coal River}}
[[Image:Coal River Tornado.jpg|250px|thumb|The Coal River at [[Tornado, West Virginia|Tornado]]]]
[[Image:Little Coal.jpg|thumb|250px|The Little Coal River at [[Madison, West Virginia|Madison]]]]
[[Image:Little Coal River.jpg|thumb|250px|The Little Coal River near [[Julian, West Virginia|Julian]]]]
The '''Coal River''' is a [[tributary]] of the [[Kanawha River]] in southern [[West Virginia]]. It is formed near the community of [[Alum Creek, West Virginia|Alum Creek]] by the [[Confluence (geography)|confluence]] of the '''Big''' and '''Little Coal Rivers''', and flows generally northward through western [[Kanawha County, West Virginia|Kanawha County]], past the community of [[Tornado, West Virginia|Tornado]] and into the Kanawha River at [[St. Albans, West Virginia|St. Albans]].
==History==
Originally named Walhondecepe by the [[Lenape|Delaware Indians]], Coal River was renamed in the 18th century by explorer [[John Peter Salley]] for the [[coal]] deposits along its banks.
Development of [[mining]] enterprises in the southern West Virginia coalfields turned the river into a [[Navigability|navigable]] [[waterway]] in the 19th century. A series of [[Canal lock|locks]] and [[dam]]s supported [[Commerce|commercial]] [[barge]] traffic using [[Steamboat|steam-powered sternwheelers]]. However, this system proved unworkable because of recurring [[flood]] damage to the wooden locks, which were abandoned. The Coal River remains a [[Federal government of the United States|federally]]-designated navigable waterway to this day.
Beginning around 1800, [[flax]] [[Watermill|mills]] and [[gristmill]]s were built and operated along the river, yielding [[fiber]] for the production of [[textile]]s in addition to [[Staple food|staples]] such as [[flour]] and [[cornmeal]]. In the latter half of the century, a series of [[log boom]]s were built to [[Facilitation|facilitate]] commercial [[logging]] [[Business operations|operations]]. Conveniently, the [[hydropower]] made by the existing dams enabled the establishment of [[sawmill]]s, which processed the harvested logs into finished lumber.
After failed attempts by others, the Coal River and Western Railway Company established scheduled [[Rail transport|rail]] service along the river at the dawn of the 20th century. This finally provided a reliable source of [[transport]]ation for the coal and [[timber]] [[Industry|industries]], sparking an economic boom in the region.
==Environmental Concerns==
The period since [[World War II]] is characterized by [[controversy]] over the practices of timber and coal operators. Of particular concern is the damaging effects of [[coal mining]]. While this activity adds billions of dollars in [[Value added|value]] to the West Virginia economy, it also wreaks [[Environmental science|environmental]] devastation on the Coal River.
Numerous [[environmental hazard]]s are posed by [[Sub-surface mining|underground]] and [[surface mining]] operations in the Coal River [[Drainage basin|watershed]]. Especially troubling to many residents and the [[United Mine Workers]] is the [[coal slurry impoundment]]s that are a byproduct of coal mining and [[Coal preparation plant|preparation]]. Some are hundreds of feet tall and contain billions of gallons of [[Hazardous waste|toxic waste]]. This sludge includes dozens of [[carcinogen]]ic chemicals used for processing, in addition to [[heavy metals]] such as [[arsenic]], [[cadmium]], [[lead]] and [[Mercury (element)|mercury]]. A persistent fear is that a repeat of the nearby [[Buffalo Creek Flood|Buffalo Creek]] disaster is possible, especially since today's impoundments dwarf the one there. [[Blackwater (coal)|Blackwater]] spills and [[Water pollution|surface water contamination]] on [[Tributary|tributaries]] of the Coal River are common. [[Activism]] in opposition to the practices of mine operators is a constant and normal feature of life in the region.
==Big Coal River==
The '''Big Coal River''' rises in [[Raleigh County, West Virginia|Raleigh County]] as two streams, the '''Clear Fork''' and the '''Marsh Fork''', which join near [[Whitesville, West Virginia|Whitesville]]. The river then flows generally northwest through [[Boone County, West Virginia|Boone County]], past the towns of [[Sylvester, West Virginia|Sylvester]] and [[Racine, West Virginia|Racine]].
==Little Coal River==
The '''Little Coal River''' also rises as two streams, the '''Spruce Fork''' in [[Logan County, West Virginia|Logan County]] and the '''Pond Fork''' in Boone County. They meet at [[Madison, West Virginia|Madison]] in Boone County and the river then flows generally northward, past the towns of [[Danville, West Virginia|Danville]] and [[Julian, West Virginia|Julian]].
==See also==
*[[Julia Bonds]]
*[[List of West Virginia rivers]]
== External links ==
*[http://upperfalls.us/coalriver/ Coal River Flood Remediation Project]
*United States Geological Survey
**{{Gnis|1537464|Coal River}}
**{{Gnis|1535815|Big Coal River}}
**{{Gnis|1542056|Little Coal River}}
*United States Environmental Protection Agency
**[http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/huc.cfm?huc_code=05050009 Coal Watershed]
[[Category:Rivers of West Virginia]]
[[Category:Kanawha River]]