2022 Engagement Impact

Hank Talmadge • November 10, 2022

Record Numbers get on and in the water in 2022

A crucial part of our 5-year strategic plan, Vision 2025, is to increase Catawba Riverkeeper’s opportunities to use engagement WITH the water to fund protection OF the water. Through our volunteer, community science, and kayaking programs we accomplished that at record levels in 2022!

We define “engagement” as anything that people do that is fun and interesting that gets them on, in, or near the water. This broad definition includes everything from stream and creek clean-ups to community science initiatives like our Trash Trap program to our popular kayak rental programs. This year more than 3,300 individuals took part in an engagement program with Catawba Riverkeeper, amassing a whopping 7,500 hours on or near the water!

Highlighted by our ever-popular clean-up programs, volunteers have contributed over 2,500 hours of time in 2022, a value of more than $75,000 based on the IRS’ volunteer time value rate. These individuals, corporate groups, schools, churches, and neighborhood associations have removed over 42,000 lbs of trash from our waterways thus far in 2022 and are working hard to grow that number before the end of the year as our local Riversweeps are ongoing with the cancellation of our annual Catawba Riversweep because of Hurricane Ian.

In addition to clean-ups, volunteers are also instrumental in two of our most popular and public sampling and collection programs – Swim Guide and Trash Traps. These programs train volunteers to conduct simple field work and report the data back to Catawba Riverkeeper for distribution to the public and for advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels. Swim Guide again had tens of thousands of views in 2022 and we couldn’t have done it without our volunteers and our Trash Traps continue to provide us valuable insights into the types and amount of litter in our waterways.

For those residents just looking for a good time or an adventure on the water, our recreational kayaking program has scaled to meet demand as well. Over 2,300 people joined us for a paddling event in 2022, a nearly 30% increase over the previous year. Our most popular trips included paddling the South Fork from The Boathouse, Lake Wylie from Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in Belmont, and our Thursday Evening Paddle Series that explores great paddling spots around the basin. We also added Full Moon Paddles at Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia in 2022 which were a huge hit! Many folks also engaged with the water for the first time through our Intro to Kayaking, SUP Basics, and Private Lessons throughout the year.

As we look forward to the 2023 on-the-water season, be sure to follow Blue Heron Adventures, the home of all things paddling and outdoor recreation at Catawba Riverkeeper. As a wholly owned entity of Catawba Riverkeeper, all proceeds of Blue Heron Adventures go back to preserving, protecting, and restoring the waters of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Plan your adventure now and know that you’ll not only have a great time, but you’ll learn how YOU can be a part of protecting clean water.

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, October-March is the best time for a river, lake, or stream clean-up when the temperatures, vegetation, and critters are lower. CLICK HERE for upcoming opportunities to get your feet wet and take some trash out of our waterways or LEARN MORE HERE about our Community Science offerings that will allow you to play a vital role in gathering data about our local waterways.

We’ll see you on the water in 2023!

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Catawba Riverkeeper Welcomes Dr. Mo Drinkard as New Executive Director

December 17, 2025

Catawba Riverkeeper is pleased to announce that Dr. Mo Drinkard has been hired as their new Executive Director. A standout among over 100 applicants, Mo was offered the position by the Catawba Riverkeeper Board of Directors search committee on Thursday, November 20th, and she assumed her role as leader of the organization on Monday, December 1st, 2025. Catawba Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, who participated on the search committee, shared that “Mo’s education, experience, and passion are directly aligned with the organization’s mission and needs. We are excited for her perspective and leadership in continuing the critical work of protecting our waters.” Mo is a mission-driven non-profit leader, professor, and scholar with a passion for building strong organizations, nurturing future leaders, and tackling big challenges in conservation, equity, and education. With over 20 years of experience spanning academia (Kent State University, Brevard College, Miami University), community partnerships, and environmental science, she's worn many hats: executive director, grant writer, program architect, DEIB strategist, faculty and student mentor, and not often enough, field biologist in muddy boots. Mo's work lives at the intersection of applied research and social change. She specializes in transforming great ideas into funded, functional, and impactful programs, whether that’s designing experiential learning curricula, guiding strategic organizational turnarounds, or helping community-based groups access the resources they need to thrive. From leading national workforce development initiatives to restoring urban watersheds (Doan Brook Watershed Partnership) and mentoring the next generation of environmental scientists, Mo brings an entrepreneurial spirit and deep subject matter expertise in biology, ecology, sustainability, and inclusion. Mo believes that science is for everyone, and that real change happens when we build spaces where all voices can lead. “I am honored and excited to offer leadership for the next chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s work. I believe deeply in the mission and am fully invested in the health and future of this watershed. I look forward to getting to work supporting the waterways, communities, and people that make up this expansive and impactful basin,” Dr. Drinkard said. Catawba Riverkeeper, currently one of the ten largest riverkeeper organizations in the United States, boasts over 8,000 members across the 26 counties of North and South Carolina where the waters of the Catawba flow. As the fifth Executive Director of the organization, Mo will bring new and innovative ways to advance the work of her predecessors and the mission of the organization in this new chapter of Catawba Riverkeeper’s leadership. Mo will be supported by 11 full-time staff and 22 volunteer board members to preserve, protect, and restore the Catawba River so that it sustains plentiful, clean water for generations to come.