"New federal research using data from southern West Virginia show streams affected by mountaintop removal mining have fewer fish species and fish overall than other streams.

Research released Tuesday from the U.S. Geological Survey is the latest in a series of reports from federal agencies arguing mountaintop removal mining practices contribute to pollution in streams throughout Appalachia.

“Our results indicate that headwater mining may be limiting fish communities by restricting the prey base available for fish,” said Nathaniel Hitt, a USGS research fish biologist and lead author of the study, said in a news release."

Dave Boucher reports for the Charleston Gazette July 1, 2014. [2]