Pennsylvania is famous for the beauty of its countryside -- the small
towns, mountains and farmlands. Yet the land hides an unseen killer,
polluted water, resulting from drainage from abandoned coal mines.
There are over 83,000 miles of streams and lakes in the state, and over 4,000
miles, or about five percent, are impacted by mine drainage. These aren't just the big rivers around
cities like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. They are small steams and creeks
running throughout the Commonwealth. "Water: An Endangered
Resource," a
Penn State Public Broadcasting production, looks at the problem,
the dangers to wildlife, recreation and the economy and what is being done
to clean it up.
(These figures updated 5/19/06, courtesy Trout Unlimited & DEP)