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
Covekeeper Meetings

Join us for our monthly Covekeeper Meetings:

Lake James: 2nd Thursday at 6:30 p.m. - 4794 E. Shores Dr., Morganton, NC.

Lake Hickory & Lake Rhodhiss: 3rd Monday at 7 p.m. - 320 Mauney Hall at Lenoir-Rhyne College 

Lake Norman: 4th Thursday - East Lincoln Fire Department on South Pilot Knob Road off Hwy. 16.

Mountain Island Lake: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. - Cooks Presbyterian Church

Lake Wylie: 2nd Wednesday at 7 p.m. - T-Bones on the Lake 

Lake Wateree: 2nd Thursday at 7 p.m. - Dutchman Creek Fire Dept. 

Please check the calendar section of the website to verify the meeting time and location.

News
Jan 30, 2012 Catawba River One of Top 10 Endangered Places in the South
On January 26, 2012, the Southern Environmental Law Center announced its annual list of the Top 10 Endangered Places in the Solutheastern U.S. The Catawba-Wateree River was back on the list as the 3rd most endangered place in the Southeast because of the threats from coal ash, power plant water use and unnecessary reservoirs.
Jan 26, 2012 Soil runoff from Target project still damaging stream
Catawba Riverkeeper volunteers have been closely monitoring the development of the new Target store near Cox Road and I-85. This project required moving a large portion of a hillside and rerouting a stream. As reported in the article, it is questionable about whether it is feasible to limit sedimentation in the short-term and whether the site will be stable over the long term.
Jan 18, 2012 Catawba Riverkeeper Files Lawsuit Against SCE&G
On January 12, 2012, The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Catawba Riverkeeper, filed a lawsuit against SCE&G to require a cleanup of coal ash ponds with a long history of leakage.
Jan 07, 2012 Coal Ash Dumping on the Rise
The Environmental Integrity Project reports that toxic coal ash dumping on the rise in the South.
Dec 15, 2011 Concerns Raised Again About Coal Ash Pond on Wateree River
Coal ash pervasive: 2 billion pounds of power plant waste gets in ponds, landfills in SC.
More news…
Alliances

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, River Network, the North Carolina Conservation Network, and the Waterkeeper Alliance.  EarthShare North Carolina makes it possible for employees to support the environment through workplace giving programs.  River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country.  The NC Conservation Network supports, trains and coordinates diverse groups and directly advocates to achieve equitable and sustainable solutions for our environment.  The Waterkeeper Alliance is a worldwide network of advocates for protection of our water resources.  For more information about these organizations or to inquire about enrolling your employer in EarthShare NC, please contact CRF@catawbariverkeeper.org.

EarthShare of North Carolina Logo

 

NC Conservation Network Logo

 

River Network Logo

    

Waterkeeper Alliance Logo

 
Make a Donation

Your River needs you as much as you need the River

Donate Here

River maps and Recreational options

Maps

Recreation

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 
  • Invasive aquatic species
  • Exceeding Pollution Limits
  • Discharges exceeding allowable limits
  • Unpermitted discharges
  • Other issues that concern you

Click here to fill out a pollution report or

Call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494 (ext. 3)

How to contact your NC Legislator

Sometimes you just can't get the action that is needed to protect our water without contacting your legislator.  To find out who represents you in the North Carolina legislature and how to contact them, click here.

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