Elk River (West Virginia)

Elk River in Charleston

Catchment area of ​​Elk River

The Elk River ( Elk = elk ) is a right tributary of the Kanawha River in the U.S. state of West Virginia.

The Elk River is formed at the confluence of Big Spring Fork and Old Field Fork in Pocahontas County in the Allegheny Mountains. From there it flows in a predominantly westerly direction. The following towns are located along the river: Webster Springs, Sutton, Gassaway, Clay and Clendenin. Finally, the Elk River to the capital of West Virginia, Charleston, where it discharges into the Kanawha River, a tributary of the Ohio River. In the middle course - above Sutton - the river of the Sutton Dam is dammed on Sutton Lake. The Holly River flows right side in the reservoir. The Elk River has a length of 283 km. It drains an area of ​​2451 km ².

Pollution

On January 9, 2014 mindestends reached 28,000 L of solvent 4- methylcyclohexyl methanol from a factory plant for coal washing in the river, contaminated the water mains of the American Water Works Company, and so affected the drinking water supply of West Virginia.

Species

The fish Crystallaria Cincotta of the subfamily of the fundamental bass is found only in the lower reaches of the Elk River.