These pages are a developing project. Residents of the communities and others are encouraged to add their thoughts and comments. Please send feedback. The river runs orange through Holden.
Orange rivers are a fairly common sight in the northern part of the state.
The higher-sulfur coal there is more likely to produce the orange water, known as acid mine drainage. The sulfide minerals in coal oxidize when exposed to air and water. The southern part of the state has lower-sulfur coal and tends to have less acid mine drainage and fewer orange streams. One exception is the river in Holden. The acid mine drainage there is being caused by drainage from old, abandoned deep mines.