Beavers + Restoration?

March 28, 2023

Could beavers help restore our waterways?

On Saturday, March 4, Catawba Riverkeeper and Foothills Conservancy were joined by 35 volunteers to build Beaver Dam Analogs to restore a small unnamed tributary of Canoe Creek! Learn more about Beaver Dam Analogs

With this being just 1 of a handful of projects like this in the Southeastern United States, it was truly a historic day for restoration for Catawba Riverkeeper.

In total, 5 dams were built, making a total of 6 Beaver Dam Analogs constructed on the property. We will be monitoring these structures for the next several years, thanks to University Partners from Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina Charlotte, and Montreat College. The monitoring will range from looking at water quality, as well as biologic monitoring looking at the fish and aquatic insect communities.

Thank you to everyone that came out to contribute your time and effort to help make this project a success! We will be posting updates to our social media pages and are looking forward to learning how Beaver Dam Analogs are used for restoring streams.

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One Year Later: Catawba Riverkeeper’s Response to Hurricane Helene

By Brandon Jones • September 26, 2025

This month marks the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, a storm that brought unprecedented flooding, infrastructure damage, and public health challenges across the Southeast, including the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. In the days, weeks, and months following the disaster, the Catawba Riverkeeper mobilized to provide relief and to help communities recover. Today, we reflect on those efforts and recommit to the work of building resilience for the future. Supply Distribution In the immediate aftermath, Catawba Riverkeeper coordinated with local partners to deliver emergency supplies to affected communities. Teams transported bottled water, food staples, hygiene kits, and cleaning materials donated by the public to supply hubs and airports. These efforts ensured that essential resources reached households experiencing prolonged disruptions in basic services.