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Mountain Island Lake Lakekeeper Message
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Mountain Island Lake Lakekeeper Message

A message from Alice Battle, the Mountain Island Lake Lakekeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation

 

Sand bar on July 4th 

      The Catawba River is 224 miles long. Its watershed has experienced some of the greatest growth in the state of North Carolina. American Rivers has listed the Catawba as one of the most endangered waterways in the country because of this development.

Mountain Island Lake, part of the Catawba River chain, is a small lake of 3,240 acres bordered by Mecklenburg, Gaston and Lincoln Counties. Mecklenburg County gets 80% of its water supply from Mountain Island Lake. The cities of Gastonia and Mt. Holly pump all their water from the lake.

 

 early morning on the lake

 

      A coal-fired steam plant, Riverbend, uses the lake as a source of water for its operation. It also has two settling basins for ash, which eventually empty into the lake. Coal ash contains heavy metals, which are harmful to living creatures.

McDowell Creek, one of the main streams that flow into the lake, receives the discharge from the largest waste water treatment plant in Mecklenburg County. McDowell Creek is also classified as an impaired steam (303-d) due to the development activity that is occurring in its watershed. Sediment has clogged it.

 

June sunset on our lake 

 

     The Mountain Island Covekeepers have the important role of monitoring activity on the lake. This includes monitoring buffer violations, building activity in the watershed, sediment spills, and any activity that would impair the water quality in the lake.

The Mountain Island Covekeepers are part of the volunteer corps that support the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation in its role of protecting and advocating for the entire Catawba River. Anyone who is interested in protecting the river is welcomed to join our group. All members of the Mountain Island Covekeepers must be members of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.

 Jet ski at sunset

 

 Send the Lakekeeper an email 

 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT THE CATAWBA RIVER AND WATEREE RIVER, CLICK HERE. 
 
 

 Go to the Catawba Riverkeeper Home Page

 


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