American Rivers, a nonprofit organization, has named the Gauley River in West Virginia as one of the ten most endangered rivers in the United States for 2025. According to West Virginia Watch, the designation is due to pollution concerns from coal mining in the Cherry River, one of its tributaries.
American Rivers publishes the annual list to highlight rivers facing critical decisions that the public can influence. This year’s selection was based on the Gauley’s importance to people and wildlife, as well as the severity of threats.
Environmental groups are focusing on the South Fork Coal Company, which operates more than 3,000 acres of surface mines near the Monongahela National Forest in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties. The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Appalachian Voices have filed lawsuits against the company, accusing it of repeatedly violating the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
According to the groups, the mines have exceeded pollution limits at least 80 times since 2019, dumping sediment and toxic metals into nearby waterways.
The lawsuits also challenge the US Forest Service’s decision to allow the company to use a national forest road as a coal hauling route. The original 2013 application allegedly misrepresented the road’s location, claiming it did not cross into the national forest. The permit was renewed in both 2018 and 2023. The road was temporarily closed, but it reopened after the company filed an appeal with the Department of the Interior.
The lawsuits center on the Rocky Run Surface Mine, which has been in operation since 2021. Legal action has been stalled since the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, but coal transport has continued.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is currently reviewing the company’s request for a “valid existing rights” determination, which would allow continued use of the road in an area where mining is generally prohibited, except for certain exemptions.
Environmentalists argue that approving the request could weaken public land protections and allow for more mining in sensitive areas. They encourage the public to submit comments to OSMRE before a decision is made.
The Gauley River is a popular destination for whitewater rafting and fishing, with tens of thousands of visitors each year. Conservationists warn that pollution could harm recreation and the local economy.
The river’s endangered status is intended to raise awareness and prompt action from the general public and decision-makers. The outcome of the OSMRE decision could establish a national standard for how mining is permitted on public lands.