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.

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The ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

– a community empowerment initiative

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.