While there is no denying the reality of progress when it comes to addressing injustice, as recent events have shown, reality also lets us find fault in the systems even where progress is being made. Such is the case with the state of North Carolina’s efforts to respond to environmental justice groups that have formally complained on behalf of residents who are being unjustly exposed to health and property risk directly related to large scale hog production. The most recent being concerns with a report published by the NC Department of Environmental Quality that assesses the state’s efforts to address a range of air and water quality concerns related to large scale animal operations.

Yadkin Riverkeeper stands ready to support communities of color in mutual efforts to eliminate systemic, institutional racism in our community and country. We realize though, that as an organization and individuals, we are not where we need to be, but let us be clear: We support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Marc Yaggi, executive director of the Waterkeepers Alliance, in response to the unjustified killings of black and brown men and women by the police, has encouraged all Waterkeeper organizations to not only keep fighting for environmental justice, but also to fight racism and its root causes. His suggestion on where to start: Our own backyard. To quote from his statement, “Building a truly multiracial, inclusive environmental movement will also involve changing the culture of our organizations.”

These are unprecedented and uncertain times, but we must all work together to get through this crisis. The Yadkin Riverkeeper board and staff are committed to continue our work to protect and enhance the river, but we need your help to meet this challenge.

One of the compelling story lines emerging in response to the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of local farms and access to locally produced food. Did you know that there are more than 1,000 farms in the Yadkin River watershed that market their products directly to consumers, generating nearly $6.5 million for local, mostly rural communities?

We want to give you some updates on changes that are happening at Yadkin Riverkeeper due to COVID-19.

Nearly 50 concerned citizens gathered at North Rowan High School in Spencer on the evening on February 24 to learn more about Duke Energy’s closure plan for its coal ash basins at the Buck Power Station on the Yadkin River in Rowan County. The NC Department of Environmental Quality or NCDEQ, conducted the hearing and will be responsible for approving final closure plans and other water quality permits.

With last week’s release of the new rule changes to the Clean Water Act, there has been a tremendous amount of misinformation spread on the internet about the effect of the changes. YRK would like to address some of those statements.

Yadkin Riverkeeper has sponsored paddles since the very beginning of the organization, with the goal of getting folks on the river to experience it firsthand and raise awareness of the problems it faces. Over time these paddles have taken many forms. This past summer we introduced a new format: The Historical Paddle Series (HPS).

Yadkin Riverkeeper Comments Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-0463

Agency Policy for Determining if Harmful Algae Blooms or Hypoxia Event in Freshwater is an “Event of National Significance.”

Yadkin Riverkeeper is excited to be a part of the first annual NC Trail Days being held in Elkin and its across-the-river neighbor, Jonesville, May 31 – June 2. NC Trail Days will showcase the Elkin Valley Trail Association’s efforts to develop a network of hiking, biking, paddling and horse trails in and around Elkin, Jonesville and Surry County.

For 10,000 years, civilizations have gathered on the banks of the Yadkin River at the site of the soon to be opened Yadkin River Park in Davidson County. Located in the heart of both the Trading Ford and Yadkin River Crossings National Historic Districts, this site has served as a hub for exploration, commerce and revolution, as well as a connector of people and communities of all walks of life, for many generations. The park’s development was a major focus of the recent Piedmont Legacy Trails Summit held at Salem Lake Marina.

North Carolina Riverkeepers, including Yadkin Riverkeeper, are engaged in a high stakes battle to reign in the proliferation of concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs across the state. While it is true there has been a moratorium in place on new industrial hog operations (IHOs) using lagoon and spray field technologies for more than 20 years, the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeeper Alliance have recently issued a new report, ground truthed by our Riverkeeper, documenting a significant expansion of poultry operations in the state.

Over the past several years, Yadkin Riverkeeper has been closely following state regulatory efforts to assess and address the contamination resulting from the former ALCOA aluminum smelter near Badin Lake. That work is far from finished.

For nearly 50 years, the bipartisan Clean Water Act has protected America’s families, businesses and communities by preventing unchecked pollution from contaminating our waterways and drinking water sources. The Clean Water Act has provided a fundamental baseline of water protections for decades, cleaned up many of America’s waterways from their polluted state and stands as one of the greatest environmental success stories in our history. Unfortunately, those achievements are now threatened.

We need your help to let the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) know that you support their proposed permit that adds protections for communities and waterways near large scale hog industry operations.

Partnering with the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Wells Fargo Resilient Communities grant program, Yadkin Riverkeeper is developing a framework for a total watershed nutrient management plan.

Yadkin Riverkeeper, Winston-Salem, NC, has hired a new executive director and a new Riverkeeper as it enters its second decade as protector and voice for the Yadkin River.

The Yadkin Riverkeeper, a nonprofit conservation group represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, in partnership with Catawba Lands Conservancy, today announced the purchase of a conservation easement for a 339-acre property near Marshville, NC. 

EDITORIAL: On June 15, the N.C. General Assembly passed legislation to cut off rural community members from their rights, protected by the common law since before North Carolina was a state. Influential lobbyists and campaign donations by Smithfield Food’s political action committee supported Rep. Jimmy Dixon and Sen. Brent Jackson when they amended an omnibus bill that would ban these citizens from filing nuisance suits against farm operations that harm their ability to enjoy their homes, a clear response to similar suits this summer.