Lake James Symposium

Hank Talmadge • November 19, 2022

2022 Lake James Symposium

At the beginning of the month, Northern Basin Manager Grant Buckner and Riverkeeper Brandon Jones traveled to Western Piedmont Community College for the Annual Lake James Watershed Symposium. Over 85 people gathered to share knowledge, make connections, and plan for the protection of the Lake James watershed.


Grant presented about the Northern Catawba Basin Protection and Restoration plan with a focus on the priority projects to improve water quality. These projects include the Loom Creek Riparian Vegetation Restoration Project, Old Fort Finishing Dam Removal, and the White Creek Restoration Project. Brandon met with representatives from Burke, McDowell, and Gaston Counties to discuss local government’s role in protecting water quality.


A huge focus of 2023 for Catawba Riverkeeper will be our restoration projects! In 2022 we incorporated restore into our mission statement and recognized protection efforts alone will not address areas of previous degradation. It is vital over the next year to spend time focusing on restoration to revive our water! Here is a link to the projects in the Northern Basin identified through our Restoration Plan.

Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition Summer Meeting

By Mo Drinkard • August 14, 2026
Earlier this month, the Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition hosted their Summer Meeting at Confluence South Fork in Cramerton, NC. During the meeting, attendees received updates on projects occurring in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, including: Updates from Duke Energy on recreation, invasive species, shoreline management, and the current drought. Highlights from the latest Integrated Water Resources Plan including recommendations for ongoing and future management of our river system. Regional project updates throughout the river basin. You can view the slide decks shared at the meeting by clicking on the links below: Catawba Riverkeeper Update CWWMG Integrated Water Resources Plan Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition Shoreline Management Plan Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition Brief History Catawba-Wateree Recreation Use and Needs Study and Project Updates

What Is The Floating Classroom?

By Madison Washington • August 6, 2026
Catawba Riverkeeper Floating Classroom

What is Swim Guide?

By Madison Washington • July 23, 2026
Whether you're planning a day at the lake or a weekend on the river, knowing if the water is safe for swimming is an important part of any outdoor adventure. Today, that information is only a few clicks away thanks to Swim Guide, a program that has grown from a local initiative into the world's largest recreational water quality network.