Gunnoe became involved in [[activism]] in 1997 as a [[Volunteering|volunteer]].<ref name=GJEP /> She expanded her efforts in the 2000s, when a [[Massey Energy|coal company]] started a [[mountaintop removal]] [[Mining|mine]] near her [[home]]. The mining caused [[pollution]] and dangerous [[flood]]ing near her home, leaving her home nearly washed away.<ref name="flatten">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/16/usa.paulharris|title=They flattened this mountaintop to find coal - and created a wasteland|last=Harris|first=Paul|date=16 January 2005|publisher=The Observer|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref><ref name="MGT">{{cite magazine|title=Maria Gunnoe: The Mountaintop Warrior|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/lists/the-fossil-fuel-resistance-meet-the-new-green-heroes-20130411/maria-gunnoe-the-mountaintop-warrior-19691231|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=11 April 2013|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="heat">{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0103/p02s01-ussc.html?s=widep|title=In coal country, heat rises over latest method of mining|last=Paulson|first=Amanda|date=January 3, 2006|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref><ref name="WL">{{cite web|title=2012, Maria Gunnoe|url=http://wallenberg.umich.edu/medal-recipients/2012-maria-gunnoe/|website=Wallenberg Legacy|date=23 October 2012 |accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref> The [[water]] near her home was also rendered contaminated.<ref name=GEP /> To protect her home, Gunnoe decided that she would start activist work against the coal company and mountaintop mining. She has continued to be active in advocating against mountaintop mining despite receiving both threats and acts of violence, including having her dog shot and killed.<ref name=GEP /><ref name=flatten /><ref name=MGT /><ref name=heat /><ref name=GJEP /><ref name=WL /> She has become an organizer for the [[Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition]] and SouthWings, a company that conducts flights to show aerial views and photography of mountaintop mining and mountaintop removal.<ref name=EJ /><ref name=GEP /> In 2007, she [[Testimony|testified]] against the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] in a suit brought against them by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition to stop mountaintop removal. She gathered 20 residents to testify with her.<ref name="WI">{{cite web|title=U.S. Activist Battles West Virginia Coal Industry|url=http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6094|website=Worldwatch Institute|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref> She now serves on the [[Board of directors|board]] of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and advocates to protect the [[Monongahela National Forest]] from [[natural gas]] extraction.<ref name="WVF">{{cite web|title=West Virginia's Wonder Women|url=http://www.wvfocus.com/2014/09/west-virginias-wonder-women/|website=West Virginia Focus|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref>
