Elk RiverPocahontas County, West Virginia, is called the birthplace of rivers because the area marks the headwaters of no fewer than eight major rivers. Outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe flock to Pocahontas County to take advantage of its remarkable natural landscape. The Elk River, named for the large population of elk that once roamed the area, is the crown jewel of the state's many trout streams.

The confluence of Big Spring Creek and Old Field Creek near Slatyfork, West Virginia, forms the Elk River, which is fed along its way by numerous underground springs, some of which emanate from caves. The first four and a half miles of the Elk River, which is a catch-and-release only fishery, is unique, home to a naturally reproducing population of wild rainbows, brook, and brown trout. According to Mike Singleton, assistant Chief of Fisheries for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources "There is nothing comparable to the Elk" when it comes to naturally reproducing trout rivers in the state. The Elk is a cold water stream year round, in part because much of the upper river goes in and out of dozens of caves. The Elk is also poplar with hikers, canoe lovers, and rafters.

River lovers and cavers however aren't the only folks that travel to Pocahontas County in search of solitude. They share the great outdoors with patrons of Snowshoe Mountain Resort, one of the most popular ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic and Pocahontas County's largest employer. Of course, popularity comes at a price: West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection reports indicate that the Snowshoe water and sewage treatment plant has racked up a myriad of regulatory violations that run the gamut from overflowing manhole covers to a routine failure to report spills. According to the WVDEP, the Snowshoe treatment plant was cited for violations more than 30 times between 2004 and 2005 alone; 25 of these citations were for excessive ammonia nitrogen levels, which is especially hard on trout. One report cites a large sludge pile 80 feet long by 6 feet wide by 8 feet deep-as well as sludge worms and a plume of solids-in Big Spring, which feeds directly into the Elk River.

Pocahontas County Commission has stepped in to the Snowshoe sewage imbroglio with a plan: They have decided to pipe raw sewage five miles underground through areas riddled with sink holes and caves, eventually treating it on a site known as the Sharp Family Farm. The Sharp Family, as one might imagine, is less enthusiastic about the plan than the county commissioners are, and has launched a grass-roots campaign to save their family farm which county commissioners plan to take through eminent domain.

As county officials propose it, sewage treated at the Sharp Farm site will then be released directly into the Elk River. The plan also calls for the eventual diversion of up to 1.5 million gallons of water a day from the Shavers Fork River into the Elk River to help treat the effluent. Perhaps most alarming, when presented with this proposal, the WVDEP issued a finding of no significant impact despite the fact that no environmental impact study has been done. Officials believe that the proposed plant will cost at least $20 million, paid for by taxpayers-though court records indicate that more than 90 percent of initial system users would be located on resort property.

Snowshoe Resort was recently assessed a $3.12 million fine for regulatory violations, however, the WVDEP determined to waive 95 percent of the resort's fine when it donates its current problem-riddled treatment plant to the "regional" system. In that case, Snowshoe Mountain Resort will pay about $125,000 in fines for years of environmental abuses and simultaneously shift all responsibility for upgrading or replacing its long-overtaxed plant to the citizens of Pocahontas County.

In light of the danger to the environment, a group of caving enthusiasts known as 8 Rivers Safe Development has filed suit against the WVDEP. George Philips, president of 8 Rivers, minces no words in his assessment: "Environmental laws are in place for a reason: to protect our precious natural resources and ensure they are managed properly so that future generations can enjoy them as we do today. Anyone who tries to circumvent these laws by conducting incomplete or ‘check the box' analysis is recklessly and irresponsibly gambling with the environmental and financial future of our children and grandchildren. We didn't inherit a polluted Elk River; let's not leave one as our legacy."

The court case brought by 8 Rivers Safe Development against the WVDEP will be heard in May of 2008. According to Philips his organization doesn't want to thwart a regional sewer plant, they do however feel a through Environmental Impact Study must be done before construction of such a huge project to safe guard the Elk River. For more information regarding the Elk River, contact George Philips with 8 Rivers Safe Development at (304) 553-4981, or e-mail him at phillipsg63@gmail.com.

Beau Beasley is an award wining conservation writer that lives with his wife and children in Warrenton, Va. He can be reach through his web-site at www.beaubeasley.com