A Virginia state scenic river, the Russell Fork runs north through Southwest Virginia, Kentucky and eventually flows into the Big Sandy River. The Russell Fork is a popular destination for kayaking and other forms of recreation. However, several environmental threats are facing the waterways of the region.
Environmental Threats to the Russell Fork River:
Sedimentation blankets streambeds and damages aquatic habitats. Arises from the steepness of the surrounding landscape and poor environmental awareness.
Illegal dumping is a chronic problem in the region. Contributes to poor drainage and chemical contamination of waterways.
Poor wastewater management comes mostly in the form of straight-piping. Straight pipes are a public health risk that direct sewage from properties into streams.
Acid mine drainage results from the mixture of surface water with coal deposits. AMD contaminates streams.
The residents of the Russell Fork watershed are plagued by generational poverty. The heart of the watershed, Dickenson County, is listed by the Appalachian Regional Commission as economically at risk. There is little environmental awareness and few local resources to be spared on conservation.
Illegal dumping is a chronic problem in the region. Contributes to poor drainage and chemical contamination of waterways.
Poor wastewater management comes mostly in the form of straight-piping. Straight pipes are a public health risk that direct sewage from properties into streams.
Acid mine drainage results from the mixture of surface water with coal deposits. AMD contaminates streams.
The residents of the Russell Fork watershed are plagued by generational poverty. The heart of the watershed, Dickenson County, is listed by the Appalachian Regional Commission as economically at risk. There is little environmental awareness and few local resources to be spared on conservation.
Who are the Friends of the Russell Fork?
Friends of the Russell Fork (FORF) is a young watershed group based in the town of Haysi, Virginia. FORF comprises of local citizens, like you, who want to improve the quality of their watershed.
FORF's Mission:
Friends of the Russell Fork is dedicated to improving the quality of the Russell Fork River. FORF partners with schools, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits to promote environmental stewardship, environmental education and eco-tourism.
You can see FORF busy at work cleaning illegal dump sites,
monitoring streams, giving citizens access to lawful wastewater treatment, educating K-12 students on local environmental issues, planning for local hiking trails and raising public awareness on sustainable environmental practices.
You can see FORF busy at work cleaning illegal dump sites,
monitoring streams, giving citizens access to lawful wastewater treatment, educating K-12 students on local environmental issues, planning for local hiking trails and raising public awareness on sustainable environmental practices.
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