Things we will do in 2013
with your help:

1.    Youth Education - We believe that adults care about protecting water and the environment if they spend time outdoors as youth.  Thus, for the past four summers, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte and other youth organizations, we've run a youth kayaking program to expose youth to the wonders and beauty of the Catawba River.   As a result of our Youth Kayak program, approximately 1100 youth have had the opportunity to paddle a kayak, to swim in the river, to examine wildlife, and to observe the consequences of pollution.  In addition, we have talked to youth about the River at schools, Y-camps, churches, scout troops and other youth organizations.  The direct costs and expenses associated with our youth program total approximately $15,000.  With your help, we will continue this program again in 2013.

2.    Water Testing and Other Research - We believe that good policies are based on good facts.  Unfortunately, due to shrinking budgets for environmental agencies, environmental agencies are forced to rely on data from the companies that are discharging waste into the Catawba for data about the impacts of those discharges.  That is why we spend a significant portion of our budget on water testing.  We do fecal coliform testing to identify illegal concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFOs), sewage overflows, improper application of sewage sludge, leaking septic tanks, malfunctioning sewage treatement plants and other sources of bacteria that make water unsafe for swimming and other uses.  We have been doing water, fish and sediment testing around coal ash ponds to identify illegal seeps of hazardous substances into our drinking water reservoirs.  During the past three years Catawba Riverkeeper conducted testing that prompted fish advisories to be issued in Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie for PCBs.  Each round of fish, water and sediment testing costs us approximately ten thousand dollars.  During the upcoming year, we have plans to expand our PCB testing program to try to determine whether the fish are safe to eat and identify potential sources of PCB pollution.  Please help us continue to be an independent source of information about the health of our water in 2013.

3.    Fight for Clean Water - The Clean Water Act had the goal of making all surface water in the U.S. fishable and swimmable by 1983.  Thirty years after that deadline, many streams, lakes and river segments in the Catawba basin are classified as "impaired waters" because they do not meet basic water quality requirements for fishing and swimming.   (For a map of impaired waters in the basin, click here.)  With your help, Catawba Riverkeeper will continue to fight for policies that will protect the quality of the water in our basin and oppose activities that will further degrade water quality.  In 2013, we will continue our fight against the construction of the Garden Parkway across Lake Wylie and the South Fork of the Catawba.  We will also continue our efforts to require that coal ash ponds stop leaking toxic substances into our drinking water reservoirs.  In addition, we anticipate that both NC and SC will be reviewing their nutrient standards in 2013 and that the U.S. Forest Service will be making revisions to its forest management plan.  Finally, with the help of our volunteers, we will continue efforts to identify illegal concentrated animal feedlot operations and improper application of sewage sludge.

4.    Fight for Plentiful Water - Recent studies project that the demand for water in the Catawba basin will exceed the available supply of water by approximately 2048.   If we do a better job of conserving water and protecting our water reservoirs from pollution, the Catawba is capable of meeting the future needs of the basin, but we need to begin making changes to our infrastructure and regulations today.  Consequently, Catawba Riverkeeper has led the fight to prevent some water users from squandering water resources while other users are forced to conserve.  This fight is not inexpensive.  To continue this effort, Catawba Riverkeeper needs to spend tens of thousands of dollars to hire experts, gather information and pay court costs associated with challenging requests by local governments that want to reduce conservation rather improve conservation.  examishashareshareshareshare the sharesharepIn to hi

5.    Fight for Water Security - Approximately 1.7 million people rely on the Catawba River for clean drinking water.  However, the majority of the people get their drinking water from intakes that are located downstream from coal ash ponds, and other threats, that could potentially make the reservoir unusable as a source of drinking water.  For example, Mountain Island Lake, which is the source of drinking water for approximately 860,000 people, has two active coal ash ponds located a short distance upstream from the water intakes for Charlotte, Mt. Holly, Belmont, Gastonia, Matthews and Mint Hill.  We have documented numerous leaks from these ponds.  If there was a catastrophic failure of the earthen dams that hold back the coal ash, this reservoir might become unusable.  In 2013, with your help, Catawba Riverkeeper will continue to fight to make sure that the risks of a catastrophic threat to our drinking water is minimized and that there are realistic contingency plans in place to address the threats to the water supply. 

6.    Train more volunteers - CRF's trained Covekeeper, Water Watch, and Muddy Water Watch volunteers make it possible for Catawba Riverkeeper to monitor and protect 5,000 miles of waterways in the basin with just two full-time staff.  We receive reports of potential threats to our water every day and in most cases we rely upon trained volunteers to investigate the issue.  However, volunteers burn out and move away so we need to keep replenishing our supply of trained volunteers.  In 2013, we would like to train at least 100 new volunteers throughout the basin.  If you would like to participate in Covekeeper, Water Watch or Muddy Water Watch training sessions, click here to volunteer.  If you would like to help fund a training class, click here.

 WE HOPE THAT YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE JOYFUL AND YOUR NEW YEAR IS FULL OF PEACE!

Covekeeper Meetings

Mark your calendars for our Covekeeper Meetings.  The meetings generally feature a speaker on a topic of local interest and the general public is encouraged to attend the meetings.  Please check our website Calendar to learn about last minute schedule changes.

Lake Wateree: 2nd Thursday of every month at Dutchman Creek Fire Dept.- 7pm

Lake Wylie: 2nd Wednesday of every month at the Lake Wylie Library on Blucher Circle in Lake Wylie, SC- 7pm

Mountain Island Lake: 2nd Monday of every month - Cooks Presbyterian- 7pm

Lake Norman: 4th Thursday of every month, East Lincoln VFD on S. Pilot Knob Road, Stanley, NC- 7pm

Lake Hickory: 3rd Monday of every month in 320 Mauney Hall at Lenoir-Rhyne College- 7pm

Lake James: 2nd Thursday of every month at 4794 E. Shores Dr., Morganton, NC.- 6:30pm (no meeting until March)
 

• Coal Ash
•  
  • Duke's Plans for Ash Ponds
     
  • NCEMC ruling on compliance boundary
     
• Drought

• Forest Management Plan

• Nutrient Standards
• Relicensing Status

Catawba Riverkeeper® is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.  Riverkeeper is a registered trademark of Riverkeeper, Inc., and is licensed for use herein.