RECLAMATION SUCCESS

Before this project, Beaver Creek, located next to the Town of Davis near the headwaters of the Blackwater River, was a source of acid mine drainage. Much of the mining along this stream occurred during a period when reclamation laws required only minimal restoration. As a result, numerous seeps and discharges developed along its course. To make matters worse, about 5 miles downstream, the North Fork of the Blackwater joined the main stem further increasing the river's overall acid loading. The combination of these two pollution sources devastated aquatic life in nearly the entire Blackwater River watershed.

To address this problem, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection Abandoned Mine Lands & Reclamation Office, and the Department of Natural Resources built a limestone drum station that provides treatment with two different methods. First, a rotary drum system uses six water-powered cylinders to grind limestone aggregate into a slurry thereby providing the river's main source of treatment. As changes occur in the river's flow, the drums automatically adjust their slurry output. When river flow increases, more water enters the sluice and additional drums begin operation. Just as soon as river flow decreases, the reverse occurs. As the slurried mineral dissolves, it provides alkalinity to neutralize the water's acidity.	Treatment Station Site Prior to Construction.
	This  picture is looking south, showing the dam's crest, stilling basin, flow gates, sluice way, and stone storage area.
The second method employs a dozer with powdered limestone stored in a 50-ton silo. This arrangement is actually a backup system for high river flow events and the first of its kind constructed in West Virginia. This project far exceeded even the most optimistic expectations in improvements to down-river water chemistry along the Blackwater River. The generated alkalinity has neutralized all of the acid mine drainage from Beaver Creek as well as most of the acid entering from the North Fork. Since the station began operation in 1994, the pH at the Blackwater's mouth increased to near 6.0 for the first time in 35 years. The picture below is of the treatment station in operation. Limestone slurry is clearly visible mixing with water in the river.

This is one of West Virginia's best reclamation success stories from the standpoint of uniqueness in design and its overall effectiveness. It not only improved water quality in an important waterway, but also had additional, multi-state impacts further downstream. As the Blackwater River continues its flow northward, it combines with two other streams, forming the Cheat River. As the Cheat flows on into Pennsylvania, the benefit continues. Moreover, a substantial fraction of the eastern United States realizes an improvement in water quality since the Cheat River ultimately flows southward to form the Ohio River as well as the Mississippi.

Almost overnight, this facility turned a formerly dead river into a high quality trout fishery. To this day, anglers enjoy outstanding trout fishing downstream of the station. Blackwater Falls State Park, also located downstream, is one of West Virginia's premier recreation facilities, attracting tourists from across the nation and around the world. Completion of this project has helped the park increase its visitation and income.