Lost Mountain (pg 85-162)

After finishing the assigned chapters, I found many paragraphs that stuck out in my mind. However, one in particular really grabbed my attention. It was the use of data and statistics used by Reece that captured my eye. On page 111, Reece explains the problem that strip mining is causing on the streams and waterways. He describes lost creek and how damage from blasting has caused the release of sulfuric acid into the water contaminating it and causing much harm to aquatic life. Reece describes how after acid mine drainage and acid rain, the only trout that is able to survive in the water is that of the brook trout, and even that species is becoming endangered. Reece then goes on to talk about Falling Rock Watershed. This watershed feeds into some of the cleanest streams in Kentucky. He uses factual data such as the amount of dissolved solids in the watershed as being typically between 50 and 60, and its chlorides, sulfates, magnesium, and sodium levels as being about one milligram per liter. Its what Reece then says that captured my attention. Only a half a mile away from Falling Rock, is the confluence of Buckhorn Creek. Buckhorn lies directly below a strip mine. Compared to the data provided from Falling Rock, Buckhorns numbers are drastically different. Where Falling Rock had a dissolved solids of 50 to 60, Buckhorn's is close to 1,000, and their levels of magnesium and calcium is close to 25. However, the most shocking to me was the amount of species in Buckhorn Creek. Compared to Falling Rock who has hundreds of species living within its waters, Buckhorn Creek can only support about about ten species. This truly demonstrates the effects that strip mining has on waterways and wildlife. If the amount of acid mine drainage has this much effect on wildlife, one can only imagine the effects it is having on the people living around these waterways and those that rely on this water was a source of drinking water. Later in the following chapters, Reece provides some personal stories from those living around the waters affect by strip mines, and you can see the negative effect it is having. One women even says that she hesitates to give her child a bath in the water and has to ensure that no water makes its way into her child's mouth when bathing because she is afraid of what it might do in the long run. In my opinion, no one should have to worry about bathing their children or their water being harmful to their health especially in the case of preventable contamination (such as strip mining).