NEWBURG – Water pollution and acid mine drainage were the main topics of discussion at the Tuesday meeting of Newburg Council.
Mayor Edgar Fortney said during a recent visit to the lake he saw a ditch containing mine drainage. He told council the ditch was blocked but the drainage could seep into the lake.
The lake, located on Little Raccoon Creek, is also known as the B&O Dam. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is caused when water flows over or through sulfur-bearing materials, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Problems associated with AMD include contaminated drinking water and disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals. The lake is not Newburg’s water source but is a recreation area.
Councilwoman Rhonda Myers questioned the effect drainage would have on fish. “If it kills the fish will we be compensated?” she asked. She said the lake also is home to ducks and turtles that would be affected if the water becomes contaminated. Fortney said the town wouldn’t be compensated for the fish because they are stocked by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).
The DNR web site says the lake covers five acres and it is stocked with trout February through May. Fortney said the lake is 18 feet deep in the center.
Fortney said the state engineer working on the dam suggested making the spillway wall taller.
The mayor disagreed with that option. “If you are already worried about a 40-foot wall breaching, and you want to add another wall on top of that one, what do you think is going to happen?” he said. Fortney said the engineer is looking into other options.
The next meeting of Newburg Council will be 6 p.m. Aug. 26.
