History of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation

MISSION STATEMENT

Introduction

The concept of the Riverkeeper is based on the ancient democratic understanding that water and waterways belong to all the people.  In England, some 200 years ago, fishermen fought for the use of their rivers.  In the USA, Hudson River fishermen gathered forces in the 1970’s to combat polluters of their beloved river.  In 1972, they formed the first Riverkeeper program.  Shortly afterward, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. became their legal counsel and in 1998, President of the international Waterkeeper® Alliance, Inc.  Since then, more than 175 Keepers of rivers, bays and sounds have become licensed members of the Waterkeeper Alliance around the world.

History of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation

In 1992, the Centralina Council of Governments (COG), a regional planning agency in Charlotte, NC, partnered with counties and businesses to develop the Catawba River Corridor Study.  This study brought together the counties of Union, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Lincoln, NC and York, SC, as well as Duke Energy, Jentzen Corporation and approximately 100 citizens from the various counties along the Catawba to identify potential threats and solutions for the Catawba River.  The study was a comprehensive overview of the river corridor from Lake Norman to Lake Wylie including extensive analysis on land use, demographics, water quality, plant and animal life, recreational facilities and public utilities.  In 1995, the study was complete, and the task forces established to evaluate the Catawba River’s water quality, land use and resource development, and community cooperative planning mechanisms, made eight recommendations which were adopted by the steering committee.

The committee’s FIRST recommendation was to “Establish a River-keeping System on the Catawba River.” Concurrently, the Lake Wylie and Lake Norman Marine Commissions conducted a joint workshop to evaluate the effectiveness of the Neuse Riverkeeper program in eastern NC.  Based on this and other information, the Marine Commissions decided that a Riverkeeper program could greatly benefit the entire Catawba River.

With financial support from both marine commissions, the LWMC formed the Catawba River Foundation (now Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation or CRF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to protecting and restoring the Catawba River.   They then made application to the National Alliance of River, Sound and Baykeepers (now named Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.) to license our own Catawba Riverkeeper.  This license was issued on Sept. 15, 1997.  The territory reserved by the Waterkeeper Alliance for the Catawba Riverkeeper includes the entire Catawba River basin, the Wateree River and its tributaries, as well as a portion of the lower Yadkin River basin.

In January 1998, a year earlier than expected, the CRF Board of Directors hired the first Catawba Riverkeeper.  For over ten years, the focus of this successful Riverkeeper program has been on directly improving water quality through monitoring and conservation advocacy, and on increasing public awareness through education and strong partnerships.

Currently, the CRF has a professional staff, Covekeeper, Covewatcher and Streamwatcher programs along the basin, and a committed group of volunteers and members.

More information about CRF: 

• Board of Directors

• Staff Information

• Accomplishments

• Awards

• Community Sponsors

• Riverkeeper Programs
• Covekeeper Programs
• Muddy Water Watch Program
• Youth Kayaking River Expedition Program
• Eco-Tours: Fall Leaf Tour or Spider Lily Eco-Tour
• More information