River Information

The Coal River Watershed
Important Information - Big Coal River
Important Information - Little Coal River
What is a watershed?
Tell me about The Coal Rivers - Big, Little and Coal
What makes the coal rivers different from other rivers in West Virginia?

THE COAL RIVER WATERSHED:

Big Coal River

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION - BIG COAL RIVER

Little Coal River

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION-LITTLE COAL RIVER

Coal River

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What is a watershed?
A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. John Wesley Powell, scientist geographer, put it best when he said that a watershed is:

"that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community."

Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. In the continental US, there are 2,110 watersheds; including Hawaii Alaska, and Puerto Rico, there are 2,267 watersheds.

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Tell me about the The Coal Rivers – Big, Little and Coal

Originally named Walhondecepe by the Delaware Indians,The three rivers that make up the Coal River Watershed, Big,Little and Coal River were renamed in the 18th century by explorer John Peter Salley for the coal deposits found along its banks.

Since humans first arrived in the region the three rivers that make up the Coal River Watershed have served as a vital transportation link to the Kanawaha River. The Indians used the rivers as favorite hunting and fishing sites. Early settlers in the region discovered that outcrops of (Cannel) Coal along the Big Coal River could be utilized as an excellent source of heat and light. The abundant timber reserves found in the region also could be transported to the Kanawha Valley during floods and sold to the growing Kanawha Valley.

The availability of large seams of Cannel Coal, which could be used to produce a very desirable coal oil, brought investors to the region in the mid 1800's. The coal could be utilized to produce a coal oil which was in high demand in the urban areas of the US. The oil was used to replace whale oil for lighting. Cannel Coal oil burned brighty and produced very little smoke. The utilization of the rivers for navigation was enhanced in mid 1851 by the construction of a 34-mile lock and dam system. The Coal River Navigation Company was formed and invested approximately $208,000 to complete the system. (from Coal, Steamboats, Timber and Trains, Bill Dean Author Published 2008)

The lock and dam system was repeatedly washed out by floods but continued to be rebuilt by investors. The system operated successfully from 1855 through 1861. In 1860 over 850,000 bushels of coal were shipped. The outbreak of the Civil War stopped operations of the system but in 1867 a new company was formed and the lock and dams returned to service until 1881. The lock and dams operated for 16 years. The system is now listed on the National Historic Register as is a series of log booms built after the locks and the dams were washed away. The log booms helped to channel cut timber into sawmill locations along the Coal River near St. Albans, WV.

The Coal River from St. Albans to Tornado remains designated as a U.S. navigable waterway.

Beginning around 1800, flax mills and gristmills were built and operated along the river, yielding fiber for the production of textiles in addition to staples such as flour and cornmeal.

After failed attempts by others, the Coal River and Western Railway Company established scheduled rail service along the river at the dawn of the 20th century. This finally provided a reliable source of transportation for the coal and timber industries, sparking an economic boom in the region.

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What makes the Coal Rivers different from other rivers in West Virginia?

Did you know: The Coal Rivers are the second largest river system flowing entirely within the states borders (Total 88 miles)? (The Elk is the longest at 120 miles)
Did you know: The Coal rivers are registered on the National Historic Register because of the Lock and Dam system built in the 1850’s and the series of Log Booms constructed in the 1890”s.
Did you know: The Coal Rivers Lock and Dam system was the first working lock and dams on an inland waterway in the US.
Did you know: The Coal Rivers were hauling over 800,000 bushels of Cannel Coal from the Boone County coal fields in the 1860’s.
Did you know: 100 ft. long Paddle wheel steamboats could navigate the Coal River via the lock and dam system in 1855?
Did you know: Fish in the Coal River include: Musky, Hybrid Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Sauger, Sugeye,Tiger Musky,Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Freshwater Drum, Gar,Shad, skip Jack Herring, Carp,Crappie, Walleye, White Bass, Spotted Bass, Hell benders.
Did you know: The Walhonde Water Trail on the Coal River is the first water trail totally on a WV River system?

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