Welcome to the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation

2012 Spider Lily Tour

Catawba Riverkeeper's annual Spider Lily Eco-Tour will be held on Saturday, May 26.  There will be a paddle trip in the morning and a paddle trip in the afternoon.  You can also see the spider lilies from viewing platforms along a path beside the historic Landsford Canal.   If you haven't seen the spider lilies before, come out and see one of the amazing aspects of the Catawba River.   For more information or to sign up for a paddle trip, click here.

Fracking News

In April, Senator Bob Rucho, working with Representative Mike Hager, unveiled a bill that would legalize fracking, horizontal drilling and even deep injection of fracking wastewater this summer.  There would be a two year moratorium while rules are being developed, but whether or not there is a regulatory program in place, permits for horizontal drilling and fracking could be issued in 2014!  Local ordinances that prohibit or place restrictions on oil and gas exploration and development activities would also be declared invalid if this bill becomes law.

Please contact your state Senator and Representative today and urge them to oppose Sen. Rucho’s proposed legislation on hydraulic fracturing.   While it is unlikely that there will be extensive fracking in the Catawba basin, legalizing fracking now without rules to ensure that drilling will be done safely is irresponsible and jeopardizes our water. Here is a summary of what the proposed bill would do (from Clean Water for North Carolina).   Read the full draft bill here (starts on page 37).  For more information, watch this YouTube video ("My Water's On Fire Tonight") or check out the NRF Website on Hyraulic Fracturing "Fracking" in North Carolina.   For more information about fracking issues in N.C. and upcoming events to oppose fracking, click here.

Many Thanks to Aveda & Carmen! Carmen! Prestige Salon

On May 3, as part of Aveda's Earth Month celebrations and Operation Clean Water, the Carmen! Carmen! Prestige Salon & Spa at Belk Columbiana had a fundraiser for CRF at Tin Roof.  There were lots of great gifts and auction items, but the highlight of the event may have been the models dressed as Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.  Many thanks to everybody involved for helping raise money to protect our water.

Catawba Riverkeeper Files Suit Against SCE&G to Cleanup Ash Ponds

On January 12, 2012, Catawba Riverkeeper (represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center) filed an action in United States District Court in Columbia, South Carolina to compel the cleanup of the coal ash ponds at the Wateree Steam Station near Eastover, South Carolina.  These coal ash ponds have history of leakage into the groundwater and the Wateree River.  A hearing in federal court in Charleston, SC is scheduled for May 22.  For more information about the lawsuit, click here.  To read a copy of the Complaint, click here.

New Mercury and Air Toxics Rule Provides Much Needed Protections

Have you heard about the major victory that will reduce emissions of mercury, other heavy metals and acid gases from coal-fired power plants by up to 91%?  

It's called the new Mercury and Air Toxics Rule, and EPA signed it into the books on December 16, 2011.  This new rule will go a very long way toward ensuring swimmable, fishable and drinkable water in the Catawba River on top of helping clean up our air quality.  Catawba Riverkeeper is thrilled to be a part of this solution to a mercury contamination problem that adversely affects developing brains and has effects on IQ, learning and memory. 

Since Duke Energy has stated several times that they do not plan to upgrade Riverbend Steam Station, this new rule stares the antiquated coal-fired power plant along the shores of Mountain Island Lake in the face!  The passage of this rule provides a true signal that the nearly 83 years-old site will shutter its doors as coal-burning facility that emits mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals into our River and spews acid rain producing compounds into our air.

EPA estimates the health benefits associated with reduced exposure to fine particles are $59-$140 billion in 2016, which far outweigh the costs of $10.9 billion in 2016.  Furthermore, this rule addresses the largest source of mercury emissions (50%), acid gasses (50%) and other heavy metals (25%) into our air and water resources.  This rule will avoid up to 17,000 premature deaths, 220,000 cases of respiratory symptoms, 4.500 cases of chronic bronchitis, 11,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma, 12,200 hospital and ER visits and 5.1 million days of restricted outdoor activities. To read more about this new rule, you can visit EPA's page dedicated to explaining the rule, its implementation and its benefits here. 

724,500 leftover and expired Medications Dropped-Off at 12 Events in Charlotte-Mecklenburg during Spring Take Back

Poisoning from prescription drugs is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. If that isn't bad enough, these drugs are also poisoning our water!  Even though water treatment plants can kill bacteria and remove most metals, they CANNOT remove prescription drugs. In fact, prescription drugs like birth control, blood pressure medications and anti-depression drugs have been found in municipal drinking water supplies throughout the U.S. These endocrine disrupting chemicals in the water have lead to male fish growing eggs instead of sperm. 

So, don't flush them - find a Drop-Off Event near you.  Remember, don't flush your pills down the toilet or sink, they will only end up in your drinking water supply leading to problems never imagined. The next major drop-off event will be held in the Fall of 2012.

Report Documents Stress to Catawba River from Power Plants

According to a new report, water used to cool power plants that generate electicity are stressing freshwater resources around the country.  One of the most stressed rivers is the Catawba River.  Catawba Riverkeeper is partnering with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and the Union of Concerned Scientists to release the report, which calculated the available water in every major watershed in the U.S. and measured that against the water used by power plants in each watershed.  The new research found that the Catawba basin – a region commonly viewed as having an abundance of water – is  experiencing high water-supply stress.  Unlike the Southwest, where the majority of power plants have minimized their water use, a large share of water stress in the Southeast is being caused by power plants.  The study found that power plants (primarily those owned by Duke Energy) consume between 5 and 19 billion gallons of water per year for cooling from the Catawba River basin. A Duke Energy study concluded that by 2048 water supply in the Catawba River will not be able to meet demand.  To view a copy of the report, click here.  For an overview of the collision between energy and water, click here.

Proposed Dam in Lancaster County, SC Along Catawba River Unnecessary

Catawba River Water Supply Project, a venture of Lancaster County, SC and Union County, NC, applied for a permit to build a 92 acre reservoir that would hold over 1 billion gallons of water pumped from the Catawba River.  

Catawba Riverkeeper, American Rivers and the U.S. EPA have submitted comments raising concerns about this project and opposing this project in its current form.  Additionally, the NC-SC Catawba Wateree Bi-State Advisory Commission has scheduled a special meeting on Oct. 7, 2011 to learn more about the proposed dam. Read more about this project and read comments submitted to the Corps here under Interbasin Transfer (IBT).

Youth Kayaking Program

For the past three years Catawba Riverkeeper has partnered with The Salvation Army, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte and other organizations to take youth out on the River who would not otherwise have the opportunity to go kayaking or get out on the River.  Catawba Riverkeeper took over 250 youth out on the water during the summer of 2010 and we are on track to take over 300 children out on the river in 2011.  For more information about the youth kayaking program, or to volunteer to help with the program, click here.

Catawba Riverkeeper Video

Click below for a 13 minute video about issues facing the Catawba River:

Many thanks to volunteers Ken Teeter and Randy Miller for their work creating the video.

Link to more video about the Catawba

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The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to educate people about the Catawba-Wateree River, to protect the River, and to advocate for the River.  It is a big job and we need your help.  The Catawba-Wateree basin includes approximately 5000 miles of waterways flowing through 11 major lakes.  The basin includes portions of 24 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina.  Please read the upcoming events for some opportunities to participate in efforts to protect our River. 

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

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For more information about the Covekeeper programs please contact the Catawba Riverkeeper (riverkeeper@catawbariverkeeper.org).  You can view information about each of the covekeeper programs by clicking on the following links:

• Lake Hickory Covekeepers
• Lake James Covekeepers
• Lake Norman Covekeepers
• Lake Wateree Covekeepers
• Lake Wylie Covekeepers
• Mountain Island Lake Covekeepers

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Job Openings

Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is currently accepting applications for paid positions and unpaid student interns. More information about job openings is available here.

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The CRF site's banner photographs have been generously contributed by 

Bill Stokes and Randy Miller.