Yadkin Riverkeeper

River protection and public education- Yadkin Riverkeeper is responsible for monitoring and protecting the health of the Yadkin river and its tributaries, which is the second largest river basin in north carolina and the source of drinking water for nearly one million residents of central north carolina. Yadkin Riverkeeper identifies and addresses threats to the river and its tributaries posed by coal ash disposal, inactive hazardous waste sites, sprawl, stormwater, agricultural runoff and others through water quality sampling, monitoring programs, aerial surveys, regulatory action, litigation and advocacy. Through our river reconnect program we develop and provide educational resources for the general public and sponsor public outreach events, educational forums and river/stream cleanup programs throughout the year.

Pure farms, pure water campaign- Yadkin Riverkeeper researches and assesses the impact of large sale animal production operations or "concentrated animal feeding operations" (cafos) on the water quality of the Yadkin river. The rate of growth of large-scale poultry houses in the watershed doubled between 2016-18, with more than 300 million chickens produced in the basin annually according to the most recent usda figures. As part of this program, yrk regularly monitors the waterways for increased nutrients and bacteria that runoff from field where the chicken litter is applied as fertilizer. We also conduct aerial surveys to identify improper manure storage and runoff. The unchecked growth in the industry is largely due to the lack of siting and permitting requirements in north carolina, which yrk is working with state agencies and others to address. The Yadkin river and its lakes have experienced more than 250 harmful algal blooms between 2012 -18, which can lead to cyanotoxins in the water and hypoxia in the lakes, both hazardous to humans, pets, wildlife and aquatic systems. As part of this program, yrk also has launched its sustainable farms initiative, which seeks to assist and support small livestock farmers that directly market their products in implementing best management practices to reduce agricultural runoff into the river and streams.

Yadkin river state trail program - yrk has been designated as the official nonprofit partner for the Yadkin river state trail (yrst) by the nc department of natural and cultural resources (ncdncr). The yrst is a state-designated 164-mile paddle trail that extends from the kerr scott reservoir in wilkes county to the confluence of the Yadkin with the uwharrie river at lake tillery in montgomery county. Yrk has developed a five-year plan to make improvements to existing yrst access areas and to identify new access areas. Yrk will use state capacity building funds to implement the five year plan to enhance access to and improve safety on the yrst paddle trail. We have been working on online and printed maps for the yrst blueway that will be released to the public in 2023. Yrk will use ncdncr's "complete the trail" funds to provide pass through grants to local partners to make access area improvements and post access area signs and mile markers along yrst.

Yadkin river historic paddle series- each summer, yrk organizes four-to-six river paddles highlighting the natural and cultural heritage of historic segments of the river. The paddles are educational and help build public awareness about the beauty of the river and the need to protect it from a myriad of threats. Annually, we put between 150-200 paddlers on the water. The paddles generate direct economic activity for the small towns and rural areas along the river and benefit the ecotourism industry in those communities, including outfitters, restaurants, wineries and other agritourism venues.