South Fork Basin Protection and Restoration Plan

Catawba Riverkeeper recently published the “South Fork Catawba Sub-Basin Protection and Restoration Plan,” which identifies potential projects that would improve water quality across the South Fork sub-basin. The South Fork sub-basin originates in the South Mountains as the Jacob Fork and Henry Fork. These tributaries merge downstream to create the South Fork River that flows to Lake Wylie. The South Fork flows through four counties: Burke, Catawba, Lincoln, and Gaston. There 748 miles of streams in the South Fork basin, 118 of which are listed as impaired on the state’s 303(d) list.

With funding from the NC Land and Water Fund, and with input from numerous stakeholder groups including the South Fork Collective, Watershed Manager Ámbar Torres Molinari identified 22 projects that would improve water quality. Projects range from bank stabilization, bank restoration, monitoring initiatives, cattle fencing pilot programs, dam removals and more!

Unlike other watershed plans, Catawba Riverkeeper’s plan is a living document presented as an interactive story map. Users can explore different regions, waterbodies, and projects. Explore the plan in English or Spanish by clicking the image below.

Explore the South Fork Plan

Click Image Below

The Protection and Restoration Plan can be updated to include new projects that have yet to be identified.

To suggest ideas, contact ambar.t@catawbariverkeeper.org. Catawba Riverkeeper does not own the identified projects nor have exclusivity to complete them. Any group, organization, or municipality is invited to execute proposed projects. While Catawba Riverkeeper expects to lead on many of these projects, we are also happy to support efforts led by other entities.

Request a Presentation!

Ámbar Torres will be presenting the plan to municipalities, educational institutions, civic organizations and elected officials over the next year. Interested parties may request presentations here.

Partners

Catawba Riverkeeper would like to publicly thank the South Fork Collective for their involvement with this plan. The South Fork Collective is a coalition of municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, and utilities, along the South Fork who work collaboratively to improve the quality of the South Fork.