A Better Buffalo Creek
Nov 17 2022
Taylor Fork of Buffalo Creek, in Clay County, West Virginia,
has long suffered biological impairment due to Acid Mine
Drainage (AMD) from old coal mines that are present along the
watershed, but that have long since been abandoned. The
Buffalo Creek Watershed Improvement Association has been
working with the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection’s Division of Land Restoration and the West
Virginia Division of Natural Resources for several years to
treat the acidic waters in hopes of restoring the watershed.
Treatment consists of placing limestone sands in the watershed
to help raise the pH of the water, in order to improve the
water quality and the overall health of the watershed.
The Buffalo Creek Watershed Association was recently awarded $15,000.00 from the TC Energy Foundation to continue the remediation efforts in Taylor Fork of Buffalo Creek. The most current load of limestone sands was put in place on September 20, 2022. This money will be used to disperse limestone sands more frequently over the next few years, with placements currently planned for December 2022 and February 2023. The increase in treatment frequency, will help with the neutralization of the acidic waters, which will in turn help improve the biological integrity of the watershed and allow fish and other aquatic life to thrive in Taylor Fork. With aquatic life able to thrive, trout stockings can continue.
The Buffalo Creek Watershed Association wishes to thank the TC Energy Foundation for their donation and their compassion for helping us restore the waters of Taylor Fork. Environmental remediation is a great step in improving overall environmental health, and without the generosity of the TC Energy Foundation, the continuance of this remediation project would be difficult to achieve. If the waters of Taylor Fork are restored enough for fish to thrive, Clay County could become the home of great fishing spots along the waters of Buffalo Creek and our new West Virginia State Park.
The Buffalo Creek Watershed Association was recently awarded $15,000.00 from the TC Energy Foundation to continue the remediation efforts in Taylor Fork of Buffalo Creek. The most current load of limestone sands was put in place on September 20, 2022. This money will be used to disperse limestone sands more frequently over the next few years, with placements currently planned for December 2022 and February 2023. The increase in treatment frequency, will help with the neutralization of the acidic waters, which will in turn help improve the biological integrity of the watershed and allow fish and other aquatic life to thrive in Taylor Fork. With aquatic life able to thrive, trout stockings can continue.
The Buffalo Creek Watershed Association wishes to thank the TC Energy Foundation for their donation and their compassion for helping us restore the waters of Taylor Fork. Environmental remediation is a great step in improving overall environmental health, and without the generosity of the TC Energy Foundation, the continuance of this remediation project would be difficult to achieve. If the waters of Taylor Fork are restored enough for fish to thrive, Clay County could become the home of great fishing spots along the waters of Buffalo Creek and our new West Virginia State Park.
For any
questions concerning the above press release, please contact
WVU Clay County Extension Agent, Michael Shamblin at (304)
587-4267