UVA Wise And Virginia Tech To Study Mining Impacted Stream Ecosystems

Fueled by a 700 thousand dollar grant, the University of Virginia at Wise and Virginia Tech will work together to study ecosystem processes in impacted streams in Southwest Virginia where Salinity has risen due to pollution from construction and mining activities. UVA Wise students will study and research impacted streams to reveal new insights into the understudied problem of stream Salinization. Southwest Virginia freshwater streams have become increasingly salty over the past century, due to human activities. In Appalachia, many long term impacts have contributed excess salt to headwater streams.