Mountaintop coal mining causes Appalachian rivers to run 'consistently saltier'

Mountaintop coal mining causes Appalachian rivers to run 'consistently saltier' 07/21/2017 09:46 AM EDT Over time, alkaline salts and other contaminants from the coal residue and crushed rocks in valley fills leach into nearby streams and rivers, degrading water quality and causing dramatic increases in salinity that are harmful to downstream ecosystems. Full story at http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2017/07/study-mountaintop-coal-mining-causes-appalachian-rivers-to-run-consistently-saltier.html Source University of Wyoming This is an NSF News From the Field item.   Follow NSF:  This email was sent using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Science Foundation Update · 4201 Wilson Boulevard · Arlington, VA 22230 · 703-292-5111