Setting a New Standard for the Ohio River:
It's Your Backyard!
WVRC is making progress on the Ohio River. Last year we managed to keep the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, ORSANCO, from approving “wet weather standards” that would have allowed increased amounts of sewage-related bacteria into the water.
But, it’s not just sewage that lingers in the waters of the mighty Ohio River. PPG Industries’ chlorine plant, located along the river near Natrium, W.Va., is the largest single source of mercury pollution in the state. Pollution coming from numerous coal-fired power plants, steel mills, chemical manufacturers, and other industries are also impacting the river.
WVRC is launching our “Setting the New Standard” campaign throughout the Ohio River watershed over the next two years to help mobilize and train watershed groups. We are planning an “Ohio River Summit” in August 2008.
If you are interested in forming a watershed group along the Ohio River or its tributaries, or interested in involving your group in the effort to draw attention toward Ohio River pollution problems, please contact us. We need your help!
What we are Doing.
The value of the Ohio River to West Virginia communities is continually insulted by the idea that the river is a polluted mess, unsuitable for swimming, full of malformed fish, and a questionable drinking water supply. Yes, it’s true that the Ohio River has problems, but that isn’t a reason to keep it that way, which seems to be what some polluters want.
WVRC is taking action! For the past two years, WVRC has invested a lot of time and energy toward issues along the Ohio River that seem to fly under the radar. In the past year alone, we have fought proposals by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, ORSANCO, to allow increased sewage-related bacteria and mercury into the river.
WVRC also appealed a permit for PPG Industries, located near Natrium, W.Va., which allowed the company to release, at times, up to 47 times the legal limit of harmful mercury.
ORSANCO, an eight-state commission that recommends water quality standards for the entire 981-mile length of the Ohio River, continues to exploring harmful bacteria standards for the river. In addition, ORSANCO and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection changed mercury rules, allowing PPG
to continue polluting excessive amounts of mercury into the river.
WVRC remains active with these issues. We have established dialogue with decision-makers along the Ohio River and are working with downstream neighbors in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and other states.
Why does the Ohio River matter to you?
The Ohio River forms the western border of West Virginia. Most of the Ohio River watershed is drained by tributaries; less than five percent of the watershed
drains directly into the main stem. In West Virginia, for example, 85 percent of counties have tributaries that flow toward the Ohio River.
Thus, everything that happens in West Virginia waters—from Greenbrier to Guyandotte and Wheeling Creek to Winding Gulf—affects water quality in the Ohio River.
- Harmful rules created on the Ohio River set precedent for similar rules in other parts of West Virginia.
- The Ohio River watershed in West Virginia encompasses a majority of the
state’s coalfield regions, areas severely impacted by acid mine drainage, mountaintop removal, and other pollution.
- The Monongahela River originates in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest and flows toward Pittsburgh, Pa., where it joins the Allegheny River to form the Ohio River.
- The Ohio River is a source of drinking water for more than three million people, including West Virginians.
- More than 25 million people, almost 10 percent of the U.S. population, live in
the Ohio River watershed.
- Approximately 150 species of fish have been collected from the Ohio River.
- There are 20 dams and 49 power generating facilities on the Ohio River.
- Over 230 million tons of cargo is transported on the Ohio River each year. Coal and other energy products make up approximately 70 percent of the commerce traveling by barge.
- Fish consumption advisories exist for all species of fish in the Ohio River
(and all other West Virginia rivers) due to mercury pollution.
- PPG Industries, located near Natrium, W.Va., is West Virginia’s largest single source of mercury pollution, including both air and water emissions.
- Airborne pollution coming from Ohio River Valley power plants and other industries deposits mercury and other harmful contaminants throughout Mid-Atlantic and New England states.
- Acid rain, caused by coal-fired power plants located throughout the Ohio River watershed, is responsible for killing trout streams throughout West Virginia (including the Potomac watershed) and Northeast.
- The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge is located largely within West Virginia and is home to hundreds of species, including endangered mussels. It is also a critical pathway for thousands of migratory birds each year.
What can you do?
Legislators and decision-makers need to start hearing from people telling them that the Ohio River matters! There are lots of ways you can let them hear your voice, including starting a watershed group, writing letters, and organizing cleanups.
If you are interested in forming a watershed group along the Ohio River or its tributaries, or interested in involving your group in the effort to draw attention toward Ohio River pollution problems, please contact us. Is your watershed in a Ohio River Tributary? We need your help!
What can we offer?
WVRC is launching our “Setting the New Standard” campaign throughout the Ohio River watershed over the next two years to help mobilize and train watershed groups.
WVRC is offering training to groups in the Ohio River watershed on a variety of subjects, including helping them get established and understand water quality problems in their communities.
We are also recruiting groups to participate in the August 2008 “Ohio River Summit”, a multi-state gathering to discuss the future of Ohio River, and “River Rally,” a national training conference sponsored by River Network, held at
Huron, Ohio in May 2008.
Drop us a line, we would love to hear from you!
West Virginia Rivers Coalition
329 Davis Ave. Suite #7
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 637-7201
wvrivers@wvrivers.org
Learn More About The Ohio River:
Ohio River
http://wikipedia.org
http://wrc.iewatershed.com/
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge http://www.fws.gov/northeast/ohioriverislands/
PPG Industries Mercury Pollution
http://www.appalachian-center.org/
http://www.oceana.org/
