Stormwater

Stormwater is probably the number one source of pollution of the Catawba River. Stormwater runoff includes runoff from industrial sites (which may carry hazardous pollutants), runoff from parking lots and roads (which typically carries oil, grease and other pollutants), lawns, agricultural properties and golf courses (which often has nutrients from fertilizers, pesticides and urbicides), logging activities (which often has large amounts of sediment) and construction projects (discussed above under "Sedimentation"), Both the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff is a problem.

Video about Stormwater Issues
Short video explaining the problems associated with stormwater discharges.
2008 American Rivers Report on Stormwater Solutions
 
Waterkeeper Alliance Report on Stormwater
 
Raingarden Design for Homeowners
 
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens can substantially reduce the impact on the environment from stormwater and building rain gardens is an easy way for homeowners to help minimize their contribution to water pollution.
Rainwater in yard
Rainwater in yard. medium sized 640 × 480 pixel photo of several people standing in rain looking at standing water in residential yard
Creating a Rain Garden
This information was obtained, edited and summarized from the NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION web site.
Plants for Rain Gardens in the Piedmont
 
Piedmont Rain Garden - Shade
 
Piedmont Rain Garden - Sun
 
Plants for Rain Gardens in the Mountains
 
Mountain Rain Garden - Shade
 
Mountain Rain Garden - Sun
 
Rain Garden Native Plant List
List of native plants appropriate for rain gardens.
Plants for Rain Gardens in the Coastal Plain
 
Rain Garden in front of house
Rain Garden in front of house. Medium sized 780 × 525 pixel wide shot photo of house with rain garden in front yard
Piedmont rain garden
Piedmont rain garden. Medium sized 1024 × 768 pixel photo of rain garden in residential yard
Cross-section of rain garden
Cross-section of rain garden
Rain garden drawing
Rain garden drawing
Document Actions
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News
May 15, 2013 Radiation Leak at Catawba Nuclear Station
On May 15, 2013, Duke Energy reported a leak of of radioactive Tritium at the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie. The available information raises more questions than answers.
May 09, 2013 Public Officials Request that People Stay Off the River
High water levels in the lakes, and unusually high flows and fast-moving water in the riverine sections of the River, are combining to make the River unsafe for swimming and paddling. Trees, debris and sewage are being carried with the floodwaters. PLEASE DON'T ADD TO THE BURDEN OF ALREADY STRESSED EMERGENCY RESPONDERS BY DOING SOMETHING DUMB WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO COME RESCUE YOU!
May 07, 2013 Rains Bring Sewage Spills, Trash and Floods
Recent rains have lead to a rash of sewage spills, large amounts of trash in the streams and river, as well as flooding. This doesn't have to happen!
May 06, 2013 Special Interest Money Puts Garden Parkway Back on Priority List
URGENT CALL TO ACTION – STOP THE UNDEAD TOLL ROAD. YOUR PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS NEEDED BY TUESDAY MAY 7.
May 03, 2013 PCB problem not easily fixed, water experts say
Area water experts haven’t figured out why a substance banned decades ago seems to be showing up in local lakes. Nor, more importantly, are they sure how to fix the problem.
More news…
Report Pollution in the Catawba River

Help protect your River! 

Tell your Riverkeeper if you see:

  • Sewage Overflows
  • Failure to control sediment from construction sites
  • Illegal clearing of buffer areas
  • Fish kills 
  • Unpermitted discharges
  • Other issues that concern you

Click here to fill out a pollution report or to report water pollution to Catawba Riverkeeper by phone, call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494.  In addition, to informing your Riverkeeper, you should also report spills or contamination to federal, state and local environmental officials.

To report South Carolina water pollution call 1-888-481-0125.

To report North Carolina spills or fish kills, call your local regional Department of Environment & Natural Resources office during normal business hours (704-663-1699 for most Catawba basin areas or (828) 296-4500 for Burke, Caldwell, McDowell and other mountain counties) or 800-858-0368 after hours.  (For more information on NC spill reporting, click here)

Alliances

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, the North Carolina Conservation Network, River Network and the Waterkeeper Alliance.  

EarthShare of North Carolina Logo

 

NC Conservation Network Logo

 

River Network Logo

    

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421 Minuet Ln Ste 205 . Charlotte, NC 28217-2784 . Phone: 704.679.9494 . Fax: 704.679.9559