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Tug Fork

Tug Fork is a 159-mile-long (256 km) tributary of the Big Sandy River in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States, originating near the Virginia state line in McDowell County, West Virginia, and flowing northwest through rugged terrain to join the Levisa Fork at Louisa in eastern Kentucky.^[1] It forms much of the border between West Virginia and Kentucky, draining approximately 1,560 square miles (4,040 km²) across parts of Mingo and McDowell counties in West Virginia, Pike County in Kentucky, and Buchanan County in Virginia.^[2] The river's watershed is characterized by steep ridges, narrow valleys, and forested lowlands in the Cumberland Mountains, making it part of the Mississippi River basin and one of the few north-flowing rivers in the region.^[3] Principal tributaries include Pigeon Creek, Panther Creek, Elkhorn Creek, and Dry Fork from West Virginia; Knox Creek from Virginia; and Rockcastle Creek from Kentucky.^[2] Ecologically, the Tug Fork supports a robust fishery, particularly for smallmouth bass reaching 21–22 inches (53–56 cm) and 3–4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kg), along with flathead catfish up to 45 pounds (20 kg), channel catfish, and stocked muskellunge.^[3] Historically, the river's name may derive from a 1756 incident when Virginia soldiers used strips of buffalo hide ("tugs") for food during an expedition, or from the Cherokee word tugulu, meaning "forks of a stream."^[1] It gained notoriety as the setting for the Hatfield–McCoy feud (1863–1891), a violent conflict between families from West Virginia and Kentucky that unfolded along its banks in the Tug Valley.^[4] The area has been shaped by coal mining and logging since the late 19th century, leading to past environmental degradation but improvements in water quality through restoration efforts over the past few decades, though challenges like bacterial impairments persist as of 2023.^[3]^[5] Today, the Tug Fork is valued for recreation, including kayaking, fishing, and trails like the 60-mile Bloody Mingo Water Trail in Mingo County, West Virginia, while serving as a vital corridor in the coal-rich Tug Valley region.^[6]^[7]

Geography

Course

The Tug Fork originates on Big Stone Ridge in McDowell County, West Virginia, near the community of Jenkinjones along the Virginia border, at an elevation of 2,604 feet (794 m). From this highland source, the river flows northwest for a total length of 159.3 miles (256.4 km), meandering through the rugged Appalachian Plateau of southwestern West Virginia, forming a significant portion of the state's southern boundary. The upper reaches feature steep gradients and narrow, V-shaped valleys carved into high hogback ridges, with local relief exceeding 1,200 feet in McDowell County, contributing to a dramatic descent through forested, mountainous terrain.^[8] As it progresses, the Tug Fork defines approximately 90 miles of the West Virginia-Kentucky state line, passing through Mingo and Wayne counties in West Virginia and paralleling Pike and Lawrence counties in Kentucky.^[8] The river's path includes steep drops averaging about 15 feet per mile in the middle sections, fostering rapids such as "the Roughs of the Tug," while the valley widens gradually downstream, transitioning to broader floodplains with reduced relief of 600–1,000 feet in lower Mingo County.^[8] This meandering route highlights the river's role in shaping the Appalachian landscape, where it drains rugged plateaus and supports a watershed of about 1,560 square miles. The Tug Fork reaches its mouth at the confluence with the Levisa Fork (also known as Louisa Fork) in Louisa, Kentucky, at coordinates 38°07′05″N 82°36′06″W and an elevation of 545 feet (166 m), where the two streams unite to form the Big Sandy River.^[9] This junction marks the end of the Tug Fork's independent course and integrates it into the larger Mississippi River watershed, ultimately draining via the Big Sandy River into the Ohio River and beyond.

Tributaries

The Tug Fork receives numerous tributaries along its course, which significantly expand its watershed to approximately 1,560 square miles across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia, contributing to the river's hydrological regime by draining rugged Appalachian terrain and channeling precipitation into the main stem.^[2] These streams, often originating in steep valleys, play a key role in shaping local geography through erosion and sediment transport, while their confluences mark important junctions that influence the river's northwest flow.^[10] Major left-bank tributaries, primarily entering from the south and associated with the Kentucky side of the border, include Big Creek, Dry Fork, Panther Creek, Peter Creek, Pond Creek, Turkey Creek, and Rockcastle Creek. Dry Fork, a 47.7-mile-long stream in McDowell County, West Virginia, joins the Tug Fork near Iaeger, close to the Virginia border, draining about 230 square miles and providing substantial upstream flow contributions.^[11] Panther Creek enters near Panther, West Virginia, with a drainage area of 31 square miles, supporting the river's volume in the upper reaches.^[2] Peter Creek confluences near Williamson, West Virginia, while Pond Creek and Turkey Creek join in the Williamson area, both from Pike County, Kentucky, adding drainage from southeastern Kentucky's plateau. Big Creek enters downstream near the Mingo County line, enhancing the watershed's extent along the lower border sections. Rockcastle Creek, approximately 18 miles long and draining about 121 square miles, enters from Pike County, Kentucky, as a principal contributor from the left bank.^[12] On the right bank, tributaries from the north, mainly in West Virginia's Mingo and McDowell counties, consist of Elkhorn Creek, Mate Creek, Pigeon Creek, Marrowbone Creek, Jennie Creek, Aflex Creek, Burnwell Creek, and Knox Creek. Elkhorn Creek, 23.7 miles long, joins at Welch, West Virginia, draining 84 square miles of the Elkhorn Valley and bolstering flow through coal-rich terrain.^[2] Pigeon Creek, 30.76 miles in length with a drainage area of 63.1 square miles, enters near Lenore, West Virginia, as one of the principal contributors to the middle Tug Fork's hydrology.^[13]^[2] Mate Creek joins at Matewan, West Virginia, while Marrowbone Creek (15.2 miles long) and Jennie Creek enter in Mingo County, expanding the watershed's northern extent.^[10] Aflex Creek and Burnwell Creek, smaller streams, confluence in the lower reaches near the Kentucky border, aiding in the integration of local runoff. Knox Creek, draining approximately 88 square miles from Buchanan County, Virginia, joins as a key right-bank tributary in the upper-middle reaches.^[2] The state of Kentucky itself serves as a de facto left-bank boundary for much of the Tug Fork's length, with intermittent drainage directly from its territory, while right-bank inputs from West Virginia dominate the upper and middle sections, collectively defining the river's bifurcated watershed character.^[14]

Hydrology

Discharge

The discharge of the Tug Fork is primarily monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) at gauging station 03214500, located near Kermit, West Virginia. This station records continuous data on streamflow, utilizing a stage-discharge rating curve derived from periodic velocity measurements via current meters and acoustic Doppler current profilers to compute discharge from water level readings.^[15] The drainage basin upstream of the station spans 1,277 square miles (3,310 km²), encompassing rugged Appalachian terrain that funnels precipitation and runoff into the river, thereby dictating the overall volume and variability of flow.^[16] At Kermit, the long-term average discharge is 1,457 cubic feet per second (41.3 m³/s), reflecting the cumulative contribution from the basin's rainfall and groundwater inputs over the period of record.^[15] The minimum recorded discharge stands at 14 cubic feet per second (0.40 m³/s), occurring during prolonged dry periods when baseflow dominates, while the maximum reached 107,000 cubic feet per second (3,030 m³/s) on April 6, 1977, highlighting the river's capacity for rapid response to intense storms across its expansive watershed.^[17] These extremes underscore the influence of the 1,277-square-mile (3,310 km²) basin, where upstream tributaries and surface runoff can amplify both low- and high-flow conditions. Flow patterns in the Tug Fork display marked seasonality, with elevated discharges in winter and spring driven by higher regional rainfall and occasional snowmelt, contrasting with reduced summer flows due to lower precipitation and elevated evapotranspiration.^[18] For instance, mean monthly discharges peak in early spring before tapering through the drier summer months, a regime shaped by the basin's climatic variability and the river's passage through steep, forested valleys. The USGS employs automated sensors for real-time stage monitoring, with discharge values periodically verified and adjusted to ensure accuracy in capturing these hydrological dynamics.

Floods

The Tug Fork basin has a history of severe flooding driven by its hydrological characteristics, with major events causing significant inundation and highlighting vulnerabilities in the region. One of the most notable floods occurred in January 1957, when prolonged heavy rainfall of 6 to 9 inches across southeastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia led to rapid runoff and peak discharges throughout the basin. At Williamson, West Virginia, the river reached a peak discharge of approximately 31,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on January 29, far exceeding normal flows and resulting in widespread flooding that submerged low-lying areas and infrastructure along the Tug Fork.^[19] Even more devastating was the April 1977 Tug Valley flood, recognized as a 100-year event, which stemmed from torrential rains totaling over 10 inches across much of the basin, with a maximum of 15.5 inches in about 30 hours at Jolo, West Virginia, in the headwaters. This event produced a record crest of 52.56 feet and a peak discharge of 94,000 cfs at Williamson on April 5, leading to extensive inundation of communities along the river, including Williamson and downstream areas in Kentucky. The flood's hydrological impact included overflow beyond historic levels, with damages estimated in the tens of millions in the Tug Fork basin alone.^[20]^[21] In February 2025, another major flood occurred due to heavy rainfall, with the Tug Fork reaching a crest of 49 feet at Williamson, the second-highest on record, causing widespread inundation in Mingo County, West Virginia, and surrounding areas.^[22] These floods are primarily caused by intense, localized rainfall typical of the Appalachian Mountains, which combines with the basin's steep terrain—averaging gradients of about 15 feet per mile—to accelerate surface runoff and concentrate flows in narrow valleys. Upstream coal mining activities further contribute by increasing sedimentation through erosion of disturbed lands and altering natural drainage patterns, which can amplify peak flows during storms.^[23]^[24]^[8] Analyses of long-term hydrologic data reveal an upward trend in the magnitude of annual flood peaks at key stations like Tug Fork at Litwar and near Kermit since the early 20th century, with statistical tests indicating increased intensity potentially linked to land use changes, including expanded surface mining that affects up to 8% of the basin. However, no significant increase in flood frequency has been observed, and climatic factors may also play a role.^[2] Following the 1977 disaster, federal responses focused on structural mitigation, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leading efforts to develop flood control infrastructure in the Big Sandy River basin, including the Tug Fork. Key projects included the design and construction of a floodwall in Williamson, completed in 1991 at a cost of about $25 million, capable of withstanding crests up to 63 feet and protecting downtown areas from future inundation. These initiatives were part of a broader $740 million regional plan to reduce flood risks through levees, walls, and non-structural measures.^[25]

History

Etymology

The name "Tug Fork" originates from an incident during the 1756 Sandy Creek Expedition, a military campaign led by Major Andrew Lewis involving approximately 340 Virginians and Cherokees aimed at raiding Shawnee villages in the Ohio Valley.^[8] Near the headwaters in present-day McDowell County, West Virginia, the starving expedition members boiled and consumed rawhide straps—known as "tugs"—from their boots or buffalo hides to sustain themselves, leading to the naming of the upper fork as Tug Fork to distinguish it from the nearby Dry Fork.^[10] This account is corroborated by toponymist George R. Stewart, who detailed the expedition's hardships in his analysis of American place names, noting the term "tug" referred to these leather strips rather than any effort to navigate the stream.^[1] An alternative etymology proposes a Native American linguistic root, with the Cherokee word "tugulu" meaning "forks of a stream," reflecting the river's branching confluence with the Levisa Fork to form the Big Sandy River; this interpretation aligns with similar naming patterns in other Cherokee-influenced regions, such as the Tugaloo River in Georgia.^[1] Stewart also referenced this possibility, suggesting it may have influenced early perceptions of the waterway's geography during the expedition, which included Cherokee participants.^[1] The name first appeared in European records during 18th-century surveys of the Appalachian frontier, where it was used to delineate the waterway's path along the Virginia (now West Virginia)-Kentucky border, initially applied to the upper reaches before extending downstream in colonial documents and boundary descriptions by the late 1700s.^[10] By the early 19th century, as noted in historical accounts like Solomon Brown's 1851 narrative, "Tug Fork" had become the standardized designation in maps and reports, solidifying its distinction from the Levisa Fork and persisting in official usage to the present day.^[10]

Settlement and the Hatfield-McCoy feud

Prior to European-American settlement, the Tug Fork Valley was utilized by Native American tribes, including the Shawnee who hunted and traveled through the region, and the Cherokee who allied with colonial forces during expeditions like the 1756 Sandy Creek campaign.^[8] European-American settlement along the Tug Fork began around 1800, as farmers of primarily English, Scotch-Irish, and German descent entered the Tug Valley to clear land for agriculture and small-scale logging operations.^[26] This influx was spurred by late 18th-century land grants issued by Virginia to Revolutionary War veterans and speculators, including a 1792 claim by Reverend James Madison for approximately 32,000 acres in the future Pike County, Kentucky, encompassing parts of the Tug Fork watershed.^[27] On the West Virginia side, similar grants facilitated entry into what became Logan and later Mingo Counties, where settlers established homesteads amid the valley's forested terrain.^[26] Logging emerged as an important industry in the basin during the 19th century, supporting farm expansion by providing timber for construction and fuel while contributing to early economic activity in the sparsely populated region.^[23] The Tug Fork, forming the border between Mingo County, West Virginia, and Pike County, Kentucky, became the dividing line for two prominent families whose rivalry escalated into one of America's most notorious feuds from the 1860s to the 1890s.^[28] The Hatfields, led by William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield, resided primarily on the West Virginia side in Logan County (later Mingo), while the McCoys, headed by Randolph McCoy, lived across the river in Pike County, Kentucky.^[29] Tensions, rooted in post-Civil War animosities and disputes over resources, boiled over in key incidents that drew in kin and allies from both sides. A pivotal early clash occurred on August 8, 1878, during a local election in Kentucky, where McCoy supporters fought Hatfield partisans, resulting in the death of Bill Tomlinson, a McCoy ally, and marking the feud's public escalation.^[30] In 1880, a dispute arose when Randolph McCoy accused Floyd Hatfield of stealing a hog; the trial, presided over by a Hatfield relative on the Kentucky side, acquitted Floyd, fueling McCoy resentment and leading to the murder of informant Bill Staton by McCoy sons Paris and Sam, who were later acquitted with Hatfield aid.^[29] Violence intensified on August 9, 1882, when three McCoy brothers—Tolbert, Pharmer, and Randolph Jr.—killed Ellison Hatfield during an election-day brawl; the brothers were captured and lynched by a Hatfield-led mob that night.^[30] The feud reached a horrific peak on August 31, 1882, with the murder of Alifair McCoy by a Hatfield group seeking revenge for Ellison's death, followed by the 1888 New Year's Massacre, in which Hatfields under Jim Vance and Cap Hatfield attacked the McCoy cabin, killing Alifair's mother Sarah and brother Calvin while wounding Randolph.^[29] These events prompted legal intervention, including Kentucky's attempts to extradite Hatfields, culminating in the 1888 U.S. Supreme Court case Mahon v. Justice, which ruled on interstate jurisdiction and limited extraditions, complicating prosecutions.^[30] Further trials in the late 1880s and early 1890s, involving special prosecutor Perry Cline and deputy Frank Phillips, led to arrests; eight Hatfields, including Ellison "Cotton Top" Mounts, were convicted, with Mounts hanged in 1890 for the New Year's killings.^[29] The feud effectively ended around 1891, as convictions and the exhaustion of violence deterred further reprisals, though lingering animosities persisted into the early 20th century.^[28]

Ecology

Water quality and aquatic life

The water quality of the Tug Fork River and its tributaries reflects a mix of impairments primarily from historical coal mining and inadequate sewage treatment, leading to overall impaired status for aquatic life use as determined in the 2003 watershed assessment.^[10] Key chemical indicators include elevated fecal coliform bacteria, with 48% of sampling sites in 2003 exceeding the state's standard of 400 counts per 100 mL, often due to failing septic systems and urban runoff.^[10] Specific conductance, a measure of ionic pollution frequently linked to mining discharges, exceeded 500 μS/cm at 60% of sites in 2003, compared to 42% in 1998 surveys.^[10] Metals such as iron and manganese also pose concerns, with 3% of 2003 samples surpassing iron limits (1.5 mg/L) and 4% exceeding manganese thresholds (1.0 mg/L) in earlier data, primarily from acid mine drainage.^[10]^[5] Macroinvertebrate communities serve as primary indicators of biological health in the Tug Fork, assessed using the West Virginia Stream Condition Index (WVSCI), which evaluates taxa richness, composition, and tolerance to pollution. WVSCI scores averaged in the 50–60 range across monitored sites, with 58% classified as impaired (scores ≤60.6) in 2003, up from 48% in 1998, reflecting stressors like sedimentation and chemical pollution from mining.^[10] Sensitive taxa such as Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) are often reduced in impacted areas, while tolerant groups like oligochaetes dominate downstream of mining influences.^[10] Panther Creek, serving as a minimally disturbed reference site, achieved a WVSCI score of 73.13, highlighting potential for recovery in less altered tributaries.^[10] The fish community in the Tug Fork supports a warmwater fishery, with notable species including smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), and muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), the latter stocked periodically by state agencies to enhance diversity.^[3] Smallmouth bass populations are particularly thriving, with sampling rates averaging 50 fish per hour and individuals commonly reaching 3–4 pounds, indicating fair to good conditions in upper reaches less affected by legacy mining.^[3] Flathead catfish exceed 30 pounds in the river, while channel catfish provide additional recreational value at sizes of 16–24 inches.^[3] Overall, the 2003 ecological assessment confirmed impaired aquatic life support across much of the watershed, with biological metrics underscoring the need for targeted pollution controls.^[10]

Environmental impacts and conservation

The Tug Fork River watershed faces significant anthropogenic pressures, primarily from legacy coal mining activities that generate acid mine drainage (AMD), which lowers stream pH and introduces elevated levels of metals such as iron, aluminum, and manganese.^[10] AMD from abandoned mines has impaired numerous tributaries, contributing to violations of water quality standards under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Additionally, sedimentation from historical logging, road construction, and surface mining disturbs streambeds and reduces habitat suitability for aquatic organisms.^[10] In rural areas, inadequate sewage treatment systems exacerbate pollution, with fecal coliform levels often exceeding state standards due to failing septic systems and straight-pipe discharges.^[10] Habitat assessments using the Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP) method, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indicate that riverine habitats in the Tug Fork watershed generally score in the "good" range, with an average total RBP score reflecting adequate substrate variety, channel morphology, and bank stability across sampled sites.^[10] However, disturbances from roadways, which alter stream channels through culverts and embankments, and riparian zone losses due to development and vegetation removal, have degraded conditions in affected segments, lowering scores for epifaunal substrate and vegetative protection.^[10] Conservation efforts include the establishment of the Friends of the Tug Fork River, a nonprofit organization formed in the 2010s to protect the watershed through cleanups, such as the 2024 Tire Tug of War event that removed over 700 tires from the river, advocacy, and community education on pollution prevention.^[31]^[32] The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has conducted ecological monitoring programs in the Tug Fork watershed since 1998, employing biological indices like the West Virginia Stream Condition Index (WVSCI) to track benthic macroinvertebrate and fish communities as indicators of overall ecosystem health.^[10] These programs involve probabilistic sampling across watersheds on a rotational cycle, enabling long-term trend analysis and targeted interventions. In 2023, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection developed and received EPA approval for total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) targeting impairments from metals such as iron and manganese, as well as other pollutants, in the watershed.^[5]^[33] Restoration initiatives focus on mine reclamation under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977, which mandates the treatment of AMD sources and revegetation of disturbed lands in the Tug Fork basin to mitigate ongoing pollution.^[34] Complementary projects include the established Tug Fork River Water Trail (also known as the Bloody Mingo Water Trail), a 60-mile recreational corridor that incorporates bank stabilization measures and access points to reduce erosion from informal use and promote sustainable land management practices.^[35]^[36]

Economy and human activity

Coal mining and industry

The coal mining industry in the Tug Fork valley emerged as a dominant economic force during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fueled by the arrival of railroads that facilitated large-scale extraction and shipment. The completion of the Norfolk and Western Railway through Mingo County, West Virginia, and adjacent Pike County, Kentucky, around 1890 transformed the region, enabling the transport of coal from remote hollows to markets. This infrastructure boom spurred rapid development, with branch lines extending into mining communities along the river, supporting operations in the Williamson Coalfield and beyond.^[26]^[37] Coal extraction in the Tug Fork basin relied on both underground and surface mining methods, targeting the region's thick bituminous seams within the Appalachian Plateau. Underground mines, often employing room-and-pillar techniques, dominated early operations, while surface mining, including contour and later mountaintop removal, gained prominence from the mid-20th century onward to access deeper reserves. By the 2000s, these activities had left numerous abandoned sites across Mingo and Pike Counties, contributing to the area's post-industrial landscape.^[38]^[39] During peak years in the 1920s, the Tug Fork basin played a key role in West Virginia's coal output, which exceeded 100 million short tons annually, driven by high demand for industrial and export markets. Production in southern counties like Mingo supported this surge, with the valley's mines contributing significantly to the state's position as a leading U.S. producer. However, output began declining after the 1980s due to mechanization, stricter safety and environmental regulations, and shifts in energy markets, reducing employment from thousands of workers at mid-century highs to approximately 1,200 direct jobs in Mingo County by 2008. As of 2020, regional annual production was approximately 9.4 million short tons, with further declines since then amid broader Appalachian trends, including West Virginia's total output falling to about 78 million short tons in 2023.^[40]^[41]^[42]^[43]^[44] The economic legacy of coal in the Tug Fork valley includes extensive infrastructure such as coal tipples for loading and processing, alongside rail lines that parallel the river through towns like Williamson. These facilities, including loading yards and branch spurs, were essential for efficient shipment, with Norfolk Southern lines continuing to serve remaining operations. While the industry once employed thousands and shaped local communities, its decline has prompted economic diversification efforts, though coal remains a foundational element of the region's identity. Recent proposals, such as a large ammonia plant in Mingo County, reflect ongoing interest in energy-related development.^[45]^[46]^[47]

Recreation and tourism

The Tug Fork offers a range of water-based recreational opportunities, including kayaking, canoeing, and fishing for species such as smallmouth bass and channel catfish. These activities are supported by designations like the 60-mile Bloody Mingo Tug Fork Water Trail in Mingo County, West Virginia, certified in 2021, with ongoing efforts including a river access master plan and 2024 federal grants to expand recreational infrastructure. The trail emphasizes calm to moderate waters suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.^[1]^[6]^[48]^[49] Land-based recreation along the Tug Fork includes the 2.1-mile Tug Fork River Trail near Williamson, West Virginia, an easy out-and-back path ideal for hiking and birdwatching, where visitors may spot bald eagles, ospreys, and other riparian species. This trail follows the riverbank, offering scenic views and interpretive signage about local flora and fauna, and typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete with minimal elevation gain. Tourism in the region is further enhanced by Hatfield-McCoy feud heritage sites, such as the Hatfield and McCoy Historic Sites in Pikeville, Kentucky, featuring restored cabins and driving tours, and the Matewan Depot Replica and Museum in Matewan, West Virginia, which displays artifacts from the feud era. Annual events like the Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival, held each June in Pikeville and Matewan, draw crowds with reenactments, music, and family reunions, boosting visitor numbers during three-day weekends. Growth in adventure tourism, including ATV trails, has contributed to West Virginia's statewide tourism economic impact exceeding $9 billion in 2024.^[50]^[51]^[52]^[53]^[54]^[55] Nonprofit initiatives, particularly the Friends of the Tug Fork River, play a key role in promoting eco-tourism along the waterway, organizing cleanups and awareness campaigns to transition the area from coal-dependent economies toward sustainable outdoor recreation. These efforts have helped generate local jobs in guiding, outfitting, and hospitality, especially in communities like Williamson and Mingo County, where tourism provides an alternative revenue stream amid declining mining activity. Public facilities support these activities, including a concrete boat launch in Kermit, West Virginia, for easy river access, and multiple points in Kentucky such as the Hatfield-McCoy Park ramp near Matewan and the South Williamson Boat Ramp off Route 292.^[56]^[48]^[57]^[58]^[59]

References

[1]
TUG FORK RIVER - Tug Valley Area CVB
The Tug Fork River stretches 159 Miles long from close to the Virginia state line in McDowell County, West Virginia to Louisa, Kentucky.
[2]
[PDF] Investigation of Trends in Flooding In the Tug Fork Basin of Kentucky ...
Hirsch, Robert M. Investigation of trends in flooding in the Tug Fork Basin of. Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. (U.S. Geological Survey water-supply ...
[3]
None
### Summary of Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River
[4]
HATFIELD MCCOY FEUD SITES - Tug Valley Area CVB
The infamous Hatfield McCoy Feud took place right here in the Tug Fork River Valley. The legacies of both Devil Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy live on today.
[5]
Tug Fork River - West Virginia Explorer
The Tug Fork River is a winding 159-mile tributary of the Big Sandy River that drains parts of southern and southwestern West Virginia.Missing: facts length<|separator|>
[6]
Tug Fork - e-WV
Feb 8, 2024 · The Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River forms the southwestern border of West Virginia for nearly 90 miles, flowing between the West Virginia counties of Mingo and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[7]
Tug Fork Topo Map WV, Wayne County (Louisa Area)
Coordinates: 38.1181432°N, -82.6015453°W ; Approx. Elevation: 545 feet (166 meters) ; USGS Map Area: Louisa ; Feature Type: Stream.Missing: confluence | Show results with:confluence
[8]
[PDF] Tug Fork Watershed
The Tug Fork of Big Sandy River re- ceived its name during the 1756 winter campaign of Cherokees and Virginians against the Shawnees during the French &. Indian ...Missing: course length coordinates
[9]
[PDF] A FLOOD MODEL FOR THE TUG FORK BASIN, KENTUCKY ...
the basin is the Tug Fork which winds through the basin for about. 150 mi. For much of this length, the Tug Fork serves as the political boundary between ...
[10]
USGS 03212750 TUG FORK DOWNSTREAM OF ELKHORN ...
Datum of gage: 1,267.66 feet above NAVD88. AVAILABLE DATA: Data Type, Begin Date, End Date, Count. Current / Historical Observations (availability statement) ...Missing: length | Show results with:length
[11]
None
Summary of each segment:
[12]
[PDF] Interim report on the investigation of flooding in the Tug Fork basin of ...
gravels) deposited on the floodplain floor of the Tug Fork and along the banks of its major tributaries. The source material for the majority of these ...
[13]
https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/watershed/TMDL/grpc/Documents/Tug%20Fork/7440_Tug_tmdl.pdf
[14]
USGS 03214500 TUG FORK AT KERMIT, WV
Explore the NEW USGS National Water Dashboard interactive map to access real-time water data from over 13,500 stations nationwide. USGS 03214500 TUG FORK AT ...Missing: station | Show results with:station
[15]
Statistics for Tug Fork at Kermit, WV - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Statistics tables for daily mean (average) data Tug Fork at Kermit, WV - USGS-03214500 ... Drainage area: 1277 square miles. Important. Not ... Day of year ...
[16]
[PDF] Floods of January-February 1957 in Southeastern Kentucky and ...
... Tug Fork upstream form Welch, W.Va. ______. Elkhorn Creek upstream from ... 35,400. 32,700. 32,400. 34,100. 33,300. 33,500. 33,900. 34,300. 36,500. 38,900.
[17]
[PDF] FLOOD OF APRIL 1977 IN THE APPALACHIAN REGION OF ...
Apr 4, 1977 · Maximum daily suspended- sediment discharges on April 5, 1977, on Guyandotte River near Baileysville, W. Va., and Tug Fork at Glenhayes, W. Va., ...
[18]
Flood of April 1977 in the Appalachian region of Kentucky ...
Flood discharges along the upper Guyandotte River; Tug Fork and Levisa Fork in the Big Sandy River basin; Cumberland River; and Clinch River and Dowell ...
[19]
[PDF] Investigation of trends in flooding in the Tug Fork basin of Kentucky ...
Land use in the Tug Fork basin for 1973-1976. 5. Annual surface coal production in the Tug Fork basin. . . 6. Statistics of annual flood series. 7. Trends in ...
[20]
Flood Without Relief: The Story of the Tug Valley Disaster
Mar 1, 1978 · The steady rain in the first week of April, 1977, swelled rivers and creeks throughout the Appalachian parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
[21]
[PDF] Corps of Engineers' Inspections of West Williamson Flood Wall Project
Aug 7, 1989 · The overall project involves flood control activities in the Big Sandy and Upper Cumberland River basins which will probably cost about $740 ...Missing: post- | Show results with:post-
[22]
Mingo County - e-WV
Mar 16, 2024 · The first settlers of European descent were farmers who entered the Tug Valley about 1800. They were largely of English, Scotch-Irish, and ...Missing: society | Show results with:society
[23]
FROM CONTINENTS TO COUNTIES - Pike County Historical Society
Aug 14, 2021 · Under the first phase of Kentucky grants, Reverend James Madison surveyed and claimed nearly 32,000 acres of land in what eventually became Pike ...
[24]
The Hatfield-McCoy Feud - e-WV
Feb 8, 2024 · The earliest known violence between the families was the January 1865 murder in Pike County of Harmon McCoy, a Union army veteran and brother of ...Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline<|separator|>
[25]
[PDF] Destructive Leadership: The Hatfield And Mccoy Feud - ERIC
This paper explores the phenomenon of destructive leadership using the historical case study of the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys.Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
[26]
"The Hatfields and the McCoys" by Otis K. Rice - UKnowledge
Dec 31, 1982 · The Hatfield-McCoy feud has long been the most famous vendetta of the southern Appalachians. Over the years it has become encrusted with myth ...Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
[27]
None
Summary of each segment:
[28]
Friends Of The Tug Fork River - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica
Friends Of The Tug Fork River. Williamson, WV; Tax-exempt since May 2022; EIN ... Nonprofit Explorer has no Form 990 data for Friends Of The Tug Fork River.
[29]
Biological Monitoring
Since 1998, WAB has used the benthic macroinvertebrate data to measure the biological health of West Virginia streams. Fish community sampling in streams has ...Missing: Tug Fork
[30]
Recognized Projects - WV Department of Environmental Protection
The project area drains into Elkhorn Creek, which eventually flows into the Tug Fork River as it meanders its way westward to create the state boundary between ...Missing: trail | Show results with:trail
[31]
[PDF] A NEW HORIZON - Innovative Reclamation for a Just Transition
Tug Fork River, transforming the river into a recreational water trail. This complementary project is poised to build on these budding ecotourism efforts by ...
[32]
[PDF] THROUGH THE COAL FIELDS - ROSA P
The railway constructed numerous small branch lines in McDowell and Mingo counties as mines ... Mingo along with Tazewell County, Virginia, coal mining achieved.
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[PDF] The Appalachian Coalfield in Historical Context - USDA Forest Service
With numerous and thick coal seams accessible by both surface and under- ground mines, Appalachia was the US's primary coal-producing region from the. 1800s ...
[34]
Geology of Kentucky: Chapter 22, Coal
Coal production in Kentucky by counties, 1910-1937 (Western District). An ... Alma Coal (West Virginia and Tug Fork region of Pike County, Kentucky).
[35]
Mingo County, WV Diversifies Local Economy through ...
... Mingo County now has thousands of acres of former coal plant and mine sites. ... As many as 30 mines and power plants employed some 3,000 of the county's ...Missing: Pike KY
[36]
Coal Industry - e-WV
Oct 10, 2025 · In 1997, West Virginia reached a peak coal production of more than 180 million tons. In 2011, West Virginia coal mines produced 133 million tons ...
[37]
[PDF] Coal Facts 2008 - West Virginia Coal Association
Principal Waterway – Tug Fork River. Mines. 71. Employees. 940. Estimated Direct Wages. $58,938,000. Severance Tax Receipts. $782,363. Production (tons).
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[PDF] Coal Production in West Virginia: 2017-2040
For example, West Virginia's share of total US coal production fell from 13.5 percent in. 2008 down to less than 11 percent in 2016. Over that same time period ...Missing: Tug Fork
[39]
[PDF] An Overview of Coal and the Economy in Appalachia
Coal production fell by more than 65 percent overall in Appalachia between 2005 and 2020. This loss is significantly higher than the rate of decline in the ...Missing: Tug Fork
[40]
[PDF] COAL HERITAGE SURVEY UPDATE FINAL REPORT, MCDOWELL ...
Norfolk Southern railway operates in McDowell County with lines generally paralleling the Tug Fork, Dry Fork and Elkhorn Creek. The land that became McDowell ...
[41]
https://www.wvcoal.com/docs/Coal-Facts-2008.pdf
[42]
Water Trail, Mingo - Friends of the Tug Fork River
The Bloody Mingo Tug Fork River Water Trail is 60 miles long, running through Mingo County, WV, and is a certified water trail.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[43]
Tug Fork River Trail, West Virginia - 4 Reviews, Map - AllTrails
Rating 4.8 (4) Tug Fork River Trail is considered an easy hike that covers 2.1 mi, with an elevation gain of 16 ft. It takes about 0.5–1 hr to complete. Easy trails are ...
[44]
Hatfield and McCoy Historic Sites (2025) - All You Need to Know ...
Rating 4.1 (59) Hatfield and McCoy Historic Sites ; H&M Driving Tour. Oct 2020 • Couples · Written October 6, 2020 ; Great Adventure. Sep 2023 · Written September 28, 2023.Missing: Matewan festivals
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Matewan Depot Replica Museum - West Virginia Tourism
The Matewan Depot Replica Museum is a replica of a train depot with artifacts from the Hatfield/McCoy Feud and Matewan Massacre. It also functions as a welcome ...
[46]
Hatfield McCoy Reunion Festival - Facebook
Hatfield McCoy Reunion Festival · Public · Hosted by Matewan Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc · Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 10:00AM – 10:00PM EDT · Matewan, WV.Missing: annual Pikeville
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Friends of the Tug Fork River
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[48]
Tug Fork River designated as water trail bringing new opportunity
Oct 17, 2021 · 60 miles of the Tug Fork that runs through Mingo County was recently classified as a West Virginia Flat Water River Trail by the Department of Transportation.
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[PDF] Mingo County, West Virginia - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ...
The Tug Fork and Guyandotte Rivers are seeing more attention via “Friends Of” clean-up projects that improve opportunities for fishing and kayaking. Reducing ...
[50]
Recreation | Tug Valley Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau | Trails
Fish (Or Float) The Tug Fork River. Matewan, Williamson, Kermit, WV. With several access points located throughout the city, access to the Tug Fork River has ...
[51]
78.3 South Williamson Boat Ramp - Friends of the Tug Fork River
The South Williamson Boat Ramp is a gently sloped concrete ramp on river left (Kentucky). It is located off of Route 292 in South Williamson, KY.Missing: Kermit points