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Background information.—Historically, the Powell River supported abundant and diverse populations of freshwater mussels. In recent decades, mussel density and species richness have declined and many freshwater mussel species are listed as either State or Federally threatened or endangered species. Environmental degradation from coal mining has been identified as one of the drivers of this decline. An example is the 1996 Lone Mountain slurry spill that directly affected mussel populations, as well as their host fish species. Freshwater mussels feed by filtering small particles from water, thereby improving water quality and providing an essential ecosystem service in rivers and streams. Mussels also serve as a food...
Categories: Project;
Types: Map Service,
OGC WFS Layer,
OGC WMS Layer,
OGC WMS Service;
Tags: Aquatic,
Aquatic species propagation,
Bank stabilization/erosion control,
Broadleaf,
Conservation easement,
Background information.— The Powell and Clinch Rivers provide vital habitat for many forms of wildlife and are inhabited by one of the world’s richest and most diverse assemblages of freshwater mussels (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003). The rivers are also multiple-use recreation areas and a valuable water source that supplies water for the residents of Lee County, Virginia. The Lone Mountain coal slurry spill released sediment and hazardous substances affecting water quality and impacting 12 Federally listed mussels and critical habitat for 2 Federally listed fish. Fish and mussel habitat depends on the riparian habitats surrounding the river. In order to recover lost fish and mussel habitat, the Lone Mountain...
Background information.—The Powell River watershed has a long history of coal mining. Prior to August 3, 1977, Virginia laws and regulations required the reclamation of areas affected by coal surface mining, but there were no regulations addressing reclamation of underground mines. Flows or seeps from these abandoned mines have long degraded the waters of the Powell River watershed (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2008). Water that is discharged from these sites can be highly acidic and it commonly contains high concentrations of dissolved iron and aluminum sulfates. This acid mine drainage degrades the water quality of streams and water supplies and is a major contributor to aquatic habitat degradation. Led by...
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