Dunkard Creek meanders along the Mason-Dixon line for over 40 miles, back and forth across the Pennsylvania and West Virginia state lines, before it flows into the Monongahela River, recently listed as one of AmericaŹ¼s 10 most endangered rivers. The Monongahela River supplies drinking water to 850,000 people. In September 2009, the length of Dunkard Creek including all of its gilled inhabitants literally died when a fatal combination of chemical mine wastes and low water, exacerbated by industry water withdrawals, set off the bloom of an alien toxic algae, suffocating an estimated 65,000 animals.) See photos. See video.
In a law suit following the death of the Creek, Consolidated Coal (Consol) was ordered to pay $500,000 to ‘restore’ the creek. Consol also agreed to pay $200 million to upgrade its treatment facilities, in addition to $5.5 million in civil penalties.
In late spring of 2011, WV issued permits for two new hydraulic fracturing wells in Pentress, WV on Dunkard Creek. One such well, on average, uses 5.5 million gallons of water. Water for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is typically withdrawn from nearby streams or rivers . ( Update) See this 10/13 NYTimes article and this 04/20/12 Tom Wilber blog implicating fracking in the 2009 kill.
Reflections is a collaborative installation art project created by 90 practicing artists to commemorate the lives of many of the species who perished in Dunkard Creek during the warm days of late summer 2009. The artists participating in Reflections are united by a shared physical connection to the Monongahela Watershed. We invite you to explore the creek with us in this collection of art we dedicate to its former inhabitants.
"Reflections: Homage to Dunkard Creek" will be on exhibit in Lewisburg, WV, at the Museum Gallery at Carnegie Hall from January 4 to March, 2013 with a Gallery Talk on February 19.
For more information contact Lynn Creamer at creamer@carnegiehallwv.org
