Gauley River Named One Of 2025's Most Endangered Rivers
American Rivers agreed, based on information provided by Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance and its partners, Appalachian Voices and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, that the threats faced by the Gauley from coal mining in its major tributary, the Cherry River, make it one of the most At-Risk rivers in the country. However, there is still time to protect the river and stop the pollution upstream from destroying this monument to natural beauty and a cornerstone of West Virginia's outdoor adventure economy.
Stop Illegal Coal Hauling Through Our National Forests!
ABRA—together with the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Appalachian Voices—has been deeply involved in exposing and challenging an illegal coal haul road used by South Fork Coal Company in the Monongahela National Forest. Help us force regulators to enforce the law and stop the illegal use of our forests to support the fossil fuel industry.
The ABRA CONSERVATION HUB
– a community empowerment initiative
Explore Conservation Web Maps
Snapshot
- Biosolids Application Areas in Virginia
- Brown Grove Rural Historic District: Polluting Facilities Encroachment
- Mining in Guyandotte Crayfish and Candy Darter Critical Habitat
- Mining Impacts to Pinnacle Creek
- Proposed Cabin Run Pumped Storage Project
- Proposed Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Buckingham County, Virginia
- Red Spruce Ecosystem in West Virginia
- Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project: Roots Run Deep Tours
- Virginia Minerals and Mining
In-Depth
- Coal Operations and Candy Darter Habitat – Information Page
- Corridor H: Parsons to Davis – Information Page
- Corridor H: Wardensville to Virginia State Line – Information Page
- Gold Prospecting in Buckingham County, Virginia – Information Page
- The Candy Darter Map – Information Page
- Proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area – Information Page
- Protecting West Virginia Trails from Off-Road Vehicles – Information Page
- Rocky Forge Wind Project – Information Page
- Virginia Biosolids: Augusta and Rockbridge Counties – Information Page
U.S. Forest Service Projects
- Archer Knob: Proposed Action
- Cranberry Spring Creek – Information Page
- Deer Creek: Proposed Action
- Dunlap Creek: Proposed Action
- Eastern Divide Insect and Disease Phase II – Information Page
- Gauley Healthy Forest Restoration – Information Page
- Grassy Ridge – Information Page
- Greenbrier Southeast – Information Page
- Upper Cheat River Project – Information Page
- Upper Elk River Project – Information Page
Resources
Conservation Hub Sites

National Forest Integrity Project
Hub sites have been developed for eight proposed or recently approved projects involving commercial timber harvest and road development in the National Forests of the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region. Multiple ABRA partners are engaged in the review process for these projects.
ORV Use on Public Lands
This Hub site addresses the environmental damage, disruption, and ongoing costs that come with off-road vehicle use and the continuing push to allow more off-road vehicle use in state and federal public lands in West Virginia.
Proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area
Located west of the Shenandoah Valley in the George Washington National Forest, Shenandoah Mountain is one of the largest tracts of wild land in the Eastern United States. A broad coalition seeks to permanently protect this special area for the benefit of future generations.
Candy Darter Preservation and Restoration
This Hub site relates the remnant distribution of this endangered species to environmental context and proposed land management projects, providing a framework for oversight of agency responses to requirements of the Endangered Species Act.
Corridor H Planning and Construction
The incomplete four-lane highway known as Corridor H in West Virginia covers some of the most mountainous terrain in the eastern United States. This Hub Site will provide mapping for construction plans, sensitive ecosystems, known violations, and other sites of significance along the route.
Coal Mining Infrastructure Affecting Aquatic Habitat
A new Hub site will examine regulatory oversight of mining operations and haul roads affecting brook trout streams and critical habitat for the endangered candy darter in the South Fork of Cherry River area.
Land Application of Biosolids
Land application of wastewater treatment plant sludge and other biosolids is not well-regulated and concern about PFAS and other problematic chemicals is increasing. A Hub site will initially provide mapping for existing and proposed application locations in two Shenandoah Valley counties.
Gold Prospecting
Following the 2020 announcement of “promising” gold deposits in Buckingham County, Va., opposition to mining has developed due to concerns about loss of agricultural land, toxic mine waste dumps, and pollution of local ground water and the nearby James River.Online Here

Ridgeline Wind Energy Development
Since 2016, Apex Clean Energy has been pursuing Virginia’s first on-shore, ridge-top, utility-scale wind energy facility. Planned for North Mountain in Botetourt County, Va., the Rocky Forge project would include up to 22 turbines, each 680-ft tall.Online Here
Support our access to information campaign
A central part of the mission of the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance is to facilitate informed public review and oversight to ensure that federal and state agencies tasked with environmental protection uphold their responsibilities. Without access to critical information, the path to holding these agencies accountable becomes futile.