Tributary of the Kanawha River
The
Coal River
is a
tributary
of the
Kanawha River
in southern
West Virginia
. It is formed near the community of
Alum Creek
by the
confluence
of the
Big
and
Little Coal Rivers
, and flows generally northward through western
Kanawha County
, past the community of
Upper Falls
and into the Kanawha River at
St. Albans
.
History
[
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]
Originally named Walhondecepe by the
Delaware Indians
, the three rivers that make up the Coal River Watershed, Big, Little and Coal River were renamed in the 18th century by explorer
John Peter Salling
for the
coal
deposits found along its banks.
Since humans first arrived in the region the three rivers that make up the Coal River Watershed have served as a vital transportation link to the Kanawha River. The Indians used the rivers as favorite hunting and fishing sites. Early settlers in the region discovered that outcrops of (Cannel) Coal along the Big Coal River could be utilized as an excellent source of heat and light. The abundant timber reserves found in the region also could be transported to the Kanawha Valley during floods and sold to the growing Kanawha Valley.
The availability of large seams of Cannel Coal, which could be used to produce a very desirable coal oil, brought investors to the region in the mid-19th century. The coal could be utilized to produce a coal oil which was in high demand in the urban areas of the US. The oil was used to replace whale oil for lighting. Cannel Coal oil burned bright and produced very little smoke. The utilization of the rivers for navigation was enhanced in the mid 1851 by the construction of a 34-mile (55 km) lock and dam system designed by
William Rosecrans
. The Coal River Navigation Company was formed and invested approximately $208,000 to complete the system.
[1]
The lock and dam system was repeatedly washed out by floods but continued to be rebuilt by investors. The system operated successfully from 1855 through 1861. In 1860 over 850,000 bushels of coal were shipped. The outbreak of the Civil War stopped operations of the system but in 1867 a new company was formed and the lock and dams returned to service until 1881. Altogether the lock and dams operated for 16 years. The system is now listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
as is a series of Log booms built after the locks on the dams were washed away as the
Coal River Locks, Dams, and Log Booms Archeological District
.
[2]
The log booms helped to channel cut timber into Sawmill locations along the Coal River near St. Albans, WV.
The Coal River from St. Albans to Upper Falls remains a federal government of the United States-designated navigable waterway.
Beginning around 1800,
flax
mills
and
gristmills
were built and operated along the river, yielding
fiber
for the production of
textiles
in addition to
staples
such as
flour
and
cornmeal
.
After failed attempts by others, the Coal River and Western Railway Company established scheduled
rail
service along the river at the dawn of the 20th century. This finally provided a reliable source of
transportation
for the coal and
timber
industries
, sparking an economic boom in the region.
Environmental concerns
[
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]
Environmental concerns are based on
underground
and
surface mining
operations in the Coal River
watershed
.
Coal slurry impoundments
are a byproduct of coal mining and
preparation
and contain
toxic waste
including
heavy metals
such as
arsenic
,
cadmium
,
lead
and
mercury
. A repeat of the nearby
Buffalo Creek
disaster is a concern.
Local volunteer watershed groups are working to restore the river and improve fish habitat and recreational opportunities. Also, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is implementing a program to restore the Little Coal River. A series of river structures are being built to move accumulated silt in order to improve fish habitat. Marshall University was hired to conduct a comprehensive river water quality study.
Big Coal River
[
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]
The
Big Coal River
rises in
Raleigh County
as two streams, the
Clear Fork
and the
Marsh Fork
, which join near
Whitesville
. The river then flows generally northwest through
Boone County
, past the towns of
Sylvester
, Seth and
Racine
.
Little Coal River
[
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]
The
Little Coal River
also rises as two streams, the
Spruce Fork
in
Logan County
and the
Pond Fork
in Boone County. They meet at
Madison
in Boone County and the river then flows generally northward, past the towns of
Danville
and
Julian
.
Tour de Coal
[
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]
The Tour de Coal, a "paddling event" for canoes and kayaks normally held in June, is an 11-mile (18 km) trip from Upper Falls to St. Albans. Paddlers negotiate the Lower Falls, a one-mile (1.6 km) rapid along the route. About 200 people participated in 2009.
See also
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References
[
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]
External links
[
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]
- United States Geological Survey
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
38°23′50″N
81°50′29″W
/
38.3972°N 81.8413°W
/
38.3972; -81.8413
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