Project Profile: Plug and Reclaim 6 Orphaned Wells at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Orphaned Wells | FY22 $1,050,000

Current Status: Anticipated work to begin October 2024.

Massive boulders near the Leatherwood Ford on the Big South Fork River.

NPS Photo

The National Park Service will plug six wells in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The project will fund the removal of abandoned production equipment, flowlines and reclamation of the sites to protect resources and provide for a safer visitor experience.

Why: The wells pose a threat to park resources and visitor safety that will only grow with time due to continued exposure to precipitation, groundwater, salt water and acidic water. Leaking plugs, rusty equipment, substantial subsidence around surface casing, and faulty valves creates the potential for the release of petroleum products into underground aquifers and surface ecosystems resulting in potential damage to water resources, vegetation, and terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Spontaneous release of pressurized and highly flammable well fluids poses risks to visitor safety and could cause property damage.

What else? Once a well is plugged, the site will be restored. Native seed will be used to return the disturbed sites to native vegetation. By plugging wells correctly, future environmental issues related to fluid or gas leakage can be prevented.

Learn More About This Project

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes critical investments in the resilience and restoration of America’s lands, skies, and waters, and enhances conservation and recreation opportunities. Visitors will see tangible results such as repaired and upgraded trails and campgrounds, removal of invasive species, as well as healthy wetlands, grasslands, and forests.