Lake Norman Algal Bloom

Diana Daniels • September 27, 2022

Algal Bloom at Lake Norman State Park

On Thursday September 22nd, your Riverkeeper Brandon Jones, was called to the Lake Norman State Park swim beach to collect a water sample in preparation for a triathlon on Sunday. The organizing company Cal Tri had requested confirmation that the water was safe for athletes. We sampled this location weekly this summer as a part of our Swim Guide program, with all results coming back safe for swimming. However, on Thursday morning there was an algal bloom stretching across the swim beach.

With the triathlon planned for Sunday, Brandon immediately went out to examine the bloom and collect a sample. Under the microscope at our lab, Brandon was able to identify the bloom as microcystis, a toxin producing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). After communicating with the race director, park staff, and the Department of Environmental Quality, Riverkeeper staff returned Thursday afternoon with a drone to map the extent of the bloom and measure for toxins. Fortunately, the afternoon wind had dissipated and pushed the bloom out of the swim area. The results of the toxin test strip showed it to be at a concentration of 5 ppb (parts per billion.) The EPA does not recommend swimming in concentrations above 10 ppb. The visible bloom did not return, and a resampling effort on Saturday morning showed safe water conditions. Algal blooms are notoriously ephemeral and difficult to predict, however most thrive in warm stagnant water. The colder temperatures Thursday and Friday night likely contributed to the bloom’s quick disappearance.

With a watchful eye to any other changes, the event was able to go off as planned! We are extremely grateful to have a Riverkeeper who could monitor this bloom and make sure the race was safe for participants. The Riverkeeper team is thankful to have access to a new lab, funded by Xylem Watermark that makes important work like this possible! Special thanks to Cal Tri staff who always put participant safety first and to Lake Norman State Park for a quick drone permit and great communication throughout the process.New Paragraph

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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.