Restoring Watersheds in Post-Coal Appalachian Landscapes: A Review of Restoration Strategies, Challenges, and the Role of Community Partnerships. 141 views

The Appalachian region of the eastern United States is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, though it has been subjected to centuries of coal extraction. Coal-mining impacted watersheds in Appalachia are often characterized by loss of headwater streams, deforestation, and acid mine drainage. Although federal initiatives such as the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program were established to address mining-related environmental degradation, significant ecological impairment persists across the region. This thesis reviews literature on watershed restoration in post-coal Appalachian landscapes to identify the strategies most effective at improving long-term watershed health. Findings show that successful restoration requires watershed-scale planning, site-specific mine drainage treatment tailored to flow and geochemistry, and reforestation using the Forestry Reclamation Approach to rebuild soils, improve hydrologic function, and support native species. Policy gaps and lack of funding continue to constrain ecological recovery in Appalachia. However, community-centered partnerships and stable, diverse funding structures can support and determine long-term success. Restoration approaches that combine site-specific mine drainage treatment, reforestation, and community-based stewardship provide the greatest potential for lasting watershed recovery and resilience in Appalachian communities that have experienced coal extraction.

MA (Master of Arts)

watershed restoration; Appalachia; acid mine drainage; reforestation; coal; surface mining

English

2026-04-10