Caves and Springs, Trout and Streams
From the lower end of Back Allegheny Mountain in the highlands of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, Big Spring Fork emerges to begin its journey north and westward towards and through the historic community of Slatyfork. Along its 8 mile journey, it disappears in places into some of the more than 68 known caves and springs that have formed in this limestone-bedded valley. In summer and fall, when precipitation is relatively low, Big Spring Fork flows almost entirely underground. During these times, for 5 miles a dry streambed would have one believe that there is no Fork. But there is. It flows hidden in part through famous Sharps Cave, its waters well-cooled, and then, nearly at its end, resurfaces as the Evva Shelton Spring—a glorious spring complex that provides the cold, clean water so essential to the naturally reproducing populations of brook, rainbow, and brown trout which grace this watershed.
Farther south, emerging from Red Lick Mountain, Old Field Fork flows north along the eastern side of Gauley Mountain, through Pleasant Valley, also on an 8 mile journey to the community of Slatyfork. When it gets there, having also ventured both above and below ground, Old Field Fork unites with Big Spring Fork. Together, they are the genesis of the Elk River—one of Pocahontas County’s famous “Eight Rivers” and one of the nation’s best trout fisheries.
The Elk River is famous for its remote and uncorrupted waters, as well as its remarkable geological nature. Four miles downstream from the confluence of Old Field Fork and Big Spring Fork, the Elk River itself disappears into the limestone-laden ground where it flows in secret for some 5 miles before uprising again through the Elk Springs—a series of large springs that provides cold water to a well-known trout hatchery nearby.
From its beginnings in Slatyfork, the Elk River embarks on a 170 mile journey through wilds and woods towards its rendezvous with the larger Kanawha River in Charleston. It is a journey through timeless scenery and history, a flowing story continually recounted by the many people who fish and enjoy this unique and irreplaceable watershed system.
The next chapter in the Elk’s story is being written right now. If the Pocahontas County Public Service District and proponents are successful in their current efforts, this new chapter will tell not of scenery and history, but instead of devastation and regret. And it will be equally as timeless.
The Problem Facing the Elk River
The Pocahontas County Public Service District is seeking to construct a new 1.5 million gallon-per-day sewage treatment facility in Slatyfork. The facility would serve the area's small local population, as well as Snowshoe Mountain Resort farther away (2,000 feet higher, 7 miles distant). The plan in part calls for 7 miles of PVC pipe to transport raw sewage over and through the streams, springs, caves, and voids of the valley of Big Spring Fork.
The selected site for the facility is a karst floodplain: a sinkhole-ridden field just 100 yards from the aforementioned Evva Shelton Spring, the coldwater source upon which the survival of the Upper Elk’s trout population depends. In routing the discharge pipe from the facility, the project plans to trench through the Evva Shelton Spring in order to discharge effluent into the dry bed of Big Spring Fork!
There are several smaller springs and sinkholes both on and adjacent to the site. All are active, either taking or discharging water depending on local conditions. Technical investigation of the site and planned path of the 7 mile raw sewage pipeline indicate the presence of voids (caves). This gives rise to the risk of collapse and spillage of raw sewage into this fragile watershed. Many private drinking wells are located along the project corridor.
Any failure of the facility or pipeline, any leak or overflow of manholes or pumping stations, will result in raw sewage directly entering the caves and underground streams. This would result in contamination of the many wells and would cause long-term, irreversible harm to the watershed and downstream trout fisheries.
How This Has Happened
A combination of factors led to the current state of things, including:
- An apparent lack of knowledge of the local geology, hydrology, and trout habitat of Big Spring Fork and the Upper Elk River by the project team—who have admitted they did not know that Big Spring Fork runs dry during most of the year, and did not know about the large Evva Shelton Spring adjacent to the site.
- Incomplete and inadequate assessment and risk analysis of the selected site.
- No clear project objectives; no clear ownership of the project.
- No consideration of alternatives to a new regional plant.
- The deliberate disregard of expert opinion and public input.
- No Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)—as required by West Virginia State Code—has been prepared for the project.
Eight Rivers Safe Development, Inc.
Eight Rivers Safe Development, Inc. is a West Virginia nonprofit corporation organized for charitable and educational purposes. We advocate the conservation and protection of karst, caves, and karst landscapes, and promote safe development on karst terrains.
Our organization is centered in Pocahontas County, West Virginia—home to some of the most beautiful wild cave and coldwater stream resources in the eastern United States.
We welcome support from all who value safe development as a key to our economic health. Eight Rivers Safe Development is part of a growing coalition of cavers, anglers, property owners, recreation groups, and conservation organizations who are opposed to the regional sewage treatment plant project as currently planned and the risk of irreversible harm this project presents to the Upper Elk River watershed.
What We Are Doing
Eight Rivers Safe Development, Inc. has filed a writ of mandamus action claiming that public officials violated the law. We demand the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) be withdrawn and that a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be prepared as required by West Virginia State Code. This EIS must include the potential impact of the project upon the local groundwater, caves, springs, and trout fisheries of the Upper Elk River Watershed. Please make your contribution today to help us with our efforts.
In addition, we are asking that the Pocahontas Public Service District stop the project and conduct a facilitated rural wastewater planning workshop—which involves all stakeholders—to consider alternatives to a regional plant.
The Support of Many
The following organizations share our concerns and support the recommendation to seek an alternative solution:
- The National Speleological Society
- West Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited
- Elk Headwaters Watershed Association
- Snowshoe Property Owners Council
- West Virginia Chapter of The Izaak Walton League
- West Virginia Chapter of The Sierra Club
- West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
- West Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen Association
- Federation of Fly Fishers
Our coalition strongly believes that a safe and sustainable solution must be found that addresses the current and future needs of the area—one that involves all stakeholders and balances the needs of environment, heritage, development, and recreation.
The Elk River—Our Responsibility, Our Legacy
The continuing story of the Elk River is in our hands. We have the power, the responsibility to ensure that its next chapter does not tell of devastation and regret, but rather of preservation and heritage. Many have come to fish this world-class trout stream, to enjoy its spectacular mountain scenery, wildlife, and rich history—both above and below ground. Many more should be afforded the opportunity to do so as well. Make your contribution today and help the flowing story of the Elk continue for our generations to come.
Photos used with permission.
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