The Clinch River is located in Southwest Virginia and flows through parts of Tazewell, Russell, Scott, Wise, and Lee County. Looping its way around and through the mountainous terrain of the Cumberland Plateau, the Clinch River is a nearly unbelievable 1,773 miles long. The Clinch River watershed drains 805,322 acres.
Following a national review of rivers, The Nature Conservancy named the Clinch River as the most biologically rich river in the country. The Clinch River is home to 29 rare mussel species and 19 rare fish species, many found nowhere else in the world. Although the Clinch has been recognized as a river of global significance, the river’s water quality is by no means assured, and the vigilance of its citizens is required to protect the life within it.
Land use in the main stem of the Clinch River is predominantly agricultural, but there has been a significant amount of historical impact contributed by coal mining, especially prior to 1977. Even today, the harmful effects of past coal mining still linger, with eroding sites from abandoned mine lands, acid mine drainage, and inadequate sewage disposal from former “coal mining” communities still contributing toxic and persistent pollution to the waterway. Timber harvesting in this region also contributes nonpoint source pollution to this river, in the form of increased sedimentation. Although logging practices have improved somewhat in recent years, the steep slopes of the Appalachian landscape presents a challenge for loggers when harvesting timber from highly-erodible sites.
Contact information
DCR’s Tennessee-Big Sandy Watersheds Office
252 W. Main St., Suite 3
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: (276) 676-5528
Fax: (276) 676-5527
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