North Fork Powell River Watershed (PL-566) Project



Prior to the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, mining for coal was regulated by the individual states. The less stringent regulations contributed to acid mine drainage (AMD), critically eroding areas, and stream degradation in the watershed.

The Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District (DBSWCD), Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME), the Lee County Board of Supervisors, and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed a watershed plan and entered an agreement on February 26, 2008 to address these problems in the North Fork Powell River Watershed. 

DBSWCD and DMME partnered to acquire land rights at affected sites to remediate these problems.  Daniel Boone SWCD worked with Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Middlesboro, Kentucky to obtain all necessary easements and acquired properties on selected sites in the watershed plan.  Daniel Boone SWCD was also the permittee for any necessary environmental permits.  Nine of these sites currently have passive treatment systems installed.

To view some success stories about this project please click on the link or download the files.

www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/NorthForkPowellFactSheet0806.pdf

the_case_for_reinvesting_in_the_north_fork_powell.pdf
File Size: 554 kb
File Type: pdf
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fact_sheet.pdf
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COMPLETED SITES

Gilbert Creek 1

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channel
  • Designed by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Constructed by Estes Brothers Construction, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in August 2010

Gilbert Creek 2

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channels; revegetate eroded hillside
  • Designed by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Constructed by Estes Brothers Construction, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in August 2010

M&H

  • Passive Treatment:  Slurry wall, anoxic limestone drain, anaerobic wetland
  • Designed by Potesta & Associates, Inc. of Charleston, WV
  • Constructed by Glass Machinery & Excavation, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in May 2011

Lenges

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channels and SAPS pond
  • Designed by Potesta & Associates, Inc. of Charleston, WV
  • Constructed by Glass Machinery & Excavation, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in May 2011

Knuckles

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channels
  • Designed by Potesta & Associates, Inc. of Charleston, WV
  • Constructed by Glass Machinery & Excavation, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in May 2011

Triple R Mine

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channels
  • Designed by Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Middlesboro, KY
  • Constructed by L&M Construction, LLC of Rose Hill, VA
  • Completed in April 2014

Baker Mine

  • Passive Treatment:  Open limestone channels
  • Designed by Gress Engineering PC of Gate City, VA
  • Constructed by Guest River Enterprises, Inc. of Coeburn, VA
  • Completed in September 2014

Davis Wetland

  • Passive Treatment:  Mine seal, collection trench, anoxic limestone drain, RAPS pond, and horizontal limestone beds
  • Designed by Cardno MM&A of Bluefield, VA
  • Constructed by Estes Brothers Construction, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in May 2015

Penhook

  • Passive Treatment:  Mine seals, stream channel protection, SAPS ponds, aerobic wetland, and open limestone channels
  • Designed by Appalachian Technical Services, Inc. of Wise, VA
  • Constructed by Estes Brothers Construction, Inc. of Jonesville, VA
  • Completed in June 2015