How You Can Support Conservation in SC this Week

March 11, 2024

3 bills in the SC Senate that would protect water quality

All eyes are on the South Carolina Senate right now and we need all our South Carolina Riverkeepers’ help! There's a lot of other legislation outside of the conservation world and we need your help keeping our Senators focused on our water.


Below are a few updates on key legislation and how you can help advance these important bills.

Bill #1: S. 999 (Signage on NDPES Wastewater Discharge Pipes)

Description:  This bill would require all discharge pipes to be labeled with who the pipe belongs to and who to call if there is a problem. This is a small ask but would go a long way to improve monitoring and drastically speed up response time for when/if emergencies at the discharge site occur. 


What Catawba Riverkeeper Says: Having wastewater discharges labeled will greatly help the public know who is discharging into our waters and who to call in the event of a problem or emergency with the pipe. 


The link to the bill page can be found here.


Bill Status: Currently with the Senate Agriculture committee, has a subcommittee hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 at noon.


What You Can Do: Look up your State Senator here and send them an email, introducing yourself, saying what road you live off, that you are a constituent, and that you support transparency between wastewater dischargers and the public!

Bill #2: H. 3121 (Trails Tax Credit)

Description: This bill would provide a one-time income tax credit to a property owner who allows for public trails on their private property. This credit would be equal to 10 cents per square foot. 


What Catawba Riverkeeper Says: We support this bill because it dovetails beautifully with our push for enhanced vegetative buffers across our basin. The buffer ordinance we are pushing for allows for permeable surface trails within the buffer but our ordinance would only apply to new construction. We see this bill as a tool to pay property owners for putting in buffers.


The link to the bill page can be found here.


Bill Status: The bill passed the House UNANIMOUSLY and now only needs a final vote before the full senate.


What You Can Do: Look up your State Senator here and send them an email, introducing yourself, saying what road you live off, that you are a constituent, and you support the expansion of trails in your community. 

Bill #3: S. 1020 (Criminalizing Tire Dumping)

Description: This bill sets punishments for tire dumping as well as illegal transportation of tires. We are doing all we can to take tires out of our waters (over 100 were taken out of a 1/10 of a mile sand bar Sugar Creek last year alone), this bill will go a long way to keeping tires from being dumped. 


The chemicals that leach out of tires and into our waters and aquatic life are known carcinogens and more. While society used to believe that tires were good fish habitat, it turns out that tires are actually killing them and polluting us in the process.


The link to the bill page can be found here.


Bill Status: The bill is with the Judiciary Committee and is not currently scheduled for a committee hearing.


What You Can Do: Look up your State Senator here and send them an email, introducing yourself, saying what road you live off of, that you are a constituent, and you don't want to see any new tires in our water. If you have volunteered with us and/or ever removed a tire from the water, share that story too! If you have a picture of you doing it, even better! 

We're Moving Our Headquarters!

February 5, 2026
We're excited to announce that we are relocating Catawba Riverkeeper's headquarters to Confluence South Fork, our community center taproom in downtown Cramerton , NC . Th is move follows four years of operating out of The River Room in McAdenville and reflects an organizational transition focused on aligning our facilities with Catawba Riverkeeper's mission and long-term sustainability . “Our two taprooms have served as creative and welcoming spaces for engaging the community and inviting more people into the work of protecting our local waterways,” said Wendy Cauthen, Retail Manager. “We are grateful for all the opportunities we’ve had to connect with people over a beer brewed with water from the Catawba-Wateree River basin while enjoying a view of McAdenville Lake at The River Room. While we’ll miss that space, we’re excited to be just a few minutes down the road at Confluence, where we can more fully integrate our mission into a single, dynamic community hub.” Confluence, known affectionately as a “taproom with a purpose,” reminds all visitors who step through the door that “good beer needs good water.” Visitors are greeted by the phrase prominently displayed next to a striking mural by local artist Heidi Nisbett, which illustrates both the beauty and geography of the Catawba–Wateree River basin. “With staff now working on-site at Confluence, we can more intentionally connect the art, music, and recreation people already love with mission-driven programming that highlights education and conversation surrounding water conservation,” said Executive Director Dr. Mo Drinkard. “Our mission has always been to preserve, protect, and restore the waters that millions of Carolinians depend on every day. This move allows us to streamline our efforts, deepen public engagement, and continue serving as a trusted, science-based voice for the river.” We are deeply grateful for our time at The River Room and for the support of the Town of McAdenville, Pharr Corporation, and the surrounding community. Now headquartered just minutes away in Cramerton, we look forward to continuing these and other partnerships across the entire 5,610-square-mile Catawba–Wateree River basin. We invite longtime supporters, Confluence regulars, and new visitors alike to stop by and say hello to staff following our February move.

2025 Year in Review

January 13, 2026
Reflecting on a year of growth and impact.

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.