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Using Aquaculture as a Post-mining Land Use in West Virginia

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Abstract

Using aquaculture as a post-mining land use has resulted in financial savings in site reclamation, increased positive media attention for coal companies, and new biosecure water sources for commercial aquaculture operations in the West Virginia coal region. Large underground coal mines in Appalachia have created numerous gravity flow sources of water. These mine water sources are often nearly ideal in temperature, alkalinity, and pH for trout and have the additional value of being devoid of any serious fish pathogens. At one site, modifying the post-mining land use permit to allow the water flowing from the portal of a closed mine to be used to produce commercial rainbow trout for the recreational market reduced site reclamation costs by nearly $450,000 (US). At another site, an acid mine water treatment plant was converted into a quality public fishing park with healthy warm water species (channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill sunfish). The county park is now being used for educational and recreational purposes to the benefit of the whole community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6108, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Daniel Miller

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  1. Daniel Miller
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Correspondence to Daniel Miller.

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Miller, D. Using Aquaculture as a Post-mining Land Use in West Virginia. Mine Water Environ 27, 122–126 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-008-0038-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-008-0038-4

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