This disastrous event was part of the impetus to form Friends of the Cheat and eventually resulted in a conviction of coal company owner Paul Thomas for violating the Clean Water Act. Acid Mine Drainage, or AMD, occurs when water, oxygen, and a small amount of bacteria come into contact with pyrite, a mineral that is often associated with coal in the Cheat and other Appalachian watersheds. It is often highly acidic and full of iron, aluminum, and some other trace metals. Aquatic life, including insects, are unable to survive in AMD runoff. Within the Cheat watershed many miles of streams are essentially dead as the result of over a century of mining the pyrite infused Upper Freeport coal seam.
Every watershed is important.
Our streams are the arteries that carry the lifeblood of the planet. Within the Cheat watershed can be found a broad range of individuals, businesses, and recreational opportunities. Some residents of the Cheat watershed boast of multiple generations born and raised on the same homestead. Others came here because of its incredible natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities. Native trout, wild turkey, black bear, and white tail deer abound in much of the watershed.