Catawba Riverkeeper is saddened to share that longtime advocate and volunteer and one of our first board members, C.D. Collins, passed away last week.

C.D. was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Riversweep on Lake Wylie that has now grown to encompass the entire river basin and thousands of volunteers each year on the first Saturday of October. Additionally, C.D. helped us select and purchase our very first boat, the Rachel Carson, in 2002, and has worked diligently to keep her running and ready to respond to any need on the water for more than 20 years.

As the Admiral of the CRF Navy, C.D. has not only led the group of volunteers that keeps our boats in tip-top condition, but has taken in dozens of donated boats over the years, got them in great shape, and helped us resell them to support our efforts to be your on-the-water advocate, protecting our waters without compromise.

Today we remember all of C.D.’s efforts and will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers. It is members and volunteers like C.D. Collins who make this organization great! If you would like to remember C.D. with a memorial donation to our boat fund to ensure that our vessels are always ready to spring to action or to Riversweep, you may do so by clicking on the button below or mailing a check to: Catawba Riverkeeper, PO Box 11838, Charlotte, NC 28220.

Thank you C.D., you will never be forgotten.