Oftentimes, legislators refer to the economy as to why there is a lack of pro-conservation and environmental policy voting. It is imperative to understand that a healthy environment goes hand-in-hand with a healthy economy.  In fact, NC is ranked by national business publications, like Forbes, as “one of the top places to do business.”  Rankings account for important environmental criteria including quality of life (and access to natural areas) and fairness of the regulatory environment.  One exciting example of how NC allures new business is the recent announcement of popular brewing company Sierra Nevada announcing its second brewery location in Western NC.

Even if you don’t like beer, there are lots of people that drink it. Not only do these people like beer, but they like touring breweries and visiting the unique locations that offer a distinct “microbrew” culture. This “beer tourism” certainly doesn’t hurt our state’s economy. The 95 full-time jobs and 80 part-time positions the brewery will bring over the next five years will surely help as well. The founder of Sierra Nevada, Ken Grossman explains why they picked NC for their East Coast location: “The beer culture, water quality and quality of life are excellent.” Following Sierra Nevada, this past April the Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing company announced plans to also build a new brewery in Asheville, NC. There you have it! A clear cut example of how good environmental regulation leads to economic success.

To hit a little more closely to home: NC seafood contributes $67million a year. 95% of all seafood consumed spends a portion of its life in salt marsh habitats. Our White Oak basin encompasses 140,000 acres of salt marshes (About 35% of the size of Onslow County).  There is a message here signaling that the money we make from our seafood industry is directly affected by the health of our environment (salt marshes). The message becomes even more alerting by the fact that since the 1900s, NC’s oyster harvesting has declined by 90%. Today, the White Oak River has permanently closed 42% of its shellfish harvesting due to polluted storm water runoff (toxins, fecal coliform, nitrates, and various metals). It is now common for oysters to be imported from other states in the Gulf region. Last month, Louisiana waters were closed and ordered a recall of oysters after 14 people became ill with the norovirus from consuming oysters that were contaminated by sewage dumped from a boat in the harvesting area.

No, I am not saying drink more beer and eat less oysters. Hopefully we can have both, and even more options in the future that could bring us more products from business that our state’s environmental regulations and water quality can attract. It is important for us citizens to help make sure we have representatives in the General Assembly that understand Economy and Environment work together rather than against. You can visit the NC League of Conservation Voters, a statewide advocacy organization that educates citizens about how state leaders vote on selected bills, particularly focusing on electing those who make public health and conservation a priority for NC’s economy and quality of life.

Hello again, North Carolina! I have just returned from Portland, Oregon where I attended the River Rally conference. This year, River Network and Waterkeeper® Alliance partnered together for the first time ever in honor of 40^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Being a part of the largest international gathering of water advocates, it is hard not to leave awe and inspired after being amongst 750 like-minded people who dedicate their time to the same thing you do: clean water.

 Our issues are different and unique to our watersheds. The L.A. River was once not protected by the EPA because of its mostly concrete bottom; it was considered non-navigable.  L.A. River Expeditions led the way in preserving Clean Water Act protections for the L.A. River watershed by proving that all of the river was indeed navigable. With their canoes and kayaks, they turned its perception from a storm drain to a real river. This makes me so grateful that we are lucky enough to live in an area with beautiful paddling trails right in our own backyard.

Many watersheds in the Northwest Pacific region are dealing with coal plants including Columbia Riverkeeper® in Portland, Cook Inletkeeper® in Alaska, and Puget Soundkeeper® in Seattle. Another area that you would not think of that is protecting its waters from coal is the Qiantang River Waterkeeper® in China, the dumping grounds where the coal is exported to. Waterkeepers® from around the country (and the world) came together in downtown Portland on May 7^th to rally against coal export projects headed to the PNW area. Robert F Kennedy Jr., Waterkeeper® Alliance’s Chairman, spoke at the rally with more than 400 people in attendance.

So, while I have returned to the White Oak and the New to work on our own specific issues, I am motivated by the many battles that all of us Waterkeepers® face and the one important campaign we all strive to defend: clean water. 

 

The Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) was established by the General Assembly in 1996 to “help finance projects that specifically address water pollution problems and focus on upgrading surface waters, eliminating pollution, and protecting, preserving, and conserving unpolluted surface waters, including enhancement or development of drinking water supplies.” The GA has also focused on the importance of establishing a network of riparian buffers and greenways along with the protection of wildlife and marine fisheries habitats.

You can thank the CWMTF for several important and beneficial projects that have occurred right here on our coast. Since 1999, nine projects have been funded within our White Oak River basin totaling over 10 million dollars. One of these projects includes the restoration of salt marsh adjacent to Wilson Bay to treat polluted water runoff as it enters the bay, which was once a raw sewage dead zone before the Wilson Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant was shut down and turned into an environmental education facility.  Along with storm-water improvements, money has been allocated for land acquisition buffers on military bases and wastewater treatment plant enhancements.

It is no surprise that in recent years, the state allocations contributing to the CWMTF have dropped, especially within the last 3 years. This year will be the second year in a row for the trust fund to be operating with the lowest annual allotment ever at just $11.25 million (a 90% reduction from the previous year). Required in its statutes, the fund should be annually contributing $100 million.

This news has drawn much attention from conservation organizations as well as local governments. Over 100 NC sporting groups came together to voice their concerns for conservation funding in a signed joint letter asking the General Assembly to restore funding for the CWMTF to $40 million. Many game and sports organizations have good reason to considering the US Fish and Wildlife Service contribute $4.3 billion to our state’s economy and support over 46,000 jobs.

Many groups, like the Land for Tomorrow and NC Wildlife Federation are calling for the people to take action by urging state representatives to support natural resource trust funds. The CWMTF is only one of four in NC: Natural Heritage, Parks and Recreation and Agricultural Development, and Farmland Preservation. For every dollar invested, the state receives at least $4 of natural goods and services like protection for our drinking water. It is not surprising to understand why these trust funds are often tapped into when budget gaps are trying to be filled; yet, it is hard to ignore the fact that their investment increases its output value. NC parks also saw a record attendance of more than 14 million in 2011, making about $409 million.

Here at home, we have local government that count on such trust funds to help offset the high costs of restoring our water basin, which contributes to our tourism, seafood industry, and quality of life. It will be even harder now to compete with the ongoing development of our basin, which has increased along with our population growth.  On top of fund cuts, new provisions set in place for the first time require how and where the trust fund must spend its money. A quarter must be spent on administration and debt service, about 13% on buffer acquisition around military bases and the rest on water infrastructure and conservation easements.

This year, 161 applicants have asked for money from the trust fund (57 from the east), totaling a request of $125 million, just 25 million more than what was originally allocated. Now only 8% of that amount requested will be distributed. 

 

It is easy to get confused about which rivers we serve and what river belongs to which basin. This past Saturday I paddled on the White Oak River with our friends from Second Wind Eco Tours. The White Oak River basin includes both the White Oak and the New River. It isn’t called the New River basin because there is already a New River basin (confused, yet?). The other New River is part of the Ohio River watershed and is a tributary of the Kanawha River (which is 320 miles long). While our New River is the only river in the country to start and end in the same county, this other New River flows through many counties…and 3 states: North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Ok. So, now you know that a river can be a part of another river’s watershed. So what is a watershed? Everyone lives in one, even if you aren’t near any water! It is basically an area of land where all the water drains. It can be big (like the Mississippi River’s) or small…like ours!

So the White Oak River basin is home to two very important rivers that both share similarities (they lie within the coastal plain and face a lot of pollution) but are also very unique!

One thing I like to point out about issues regarding the rivers is that they both have high levels of nutrients and fecal coliform concentrations. The New River has a lot of farming operations located near its tributaries. When there are a lot of farm animals, there is a lot of animal waste. And when there is a lot of waste located near wet ditches and drainages, you’ve got yourself a river with high levels of bacteria.

The White Oak River also has high levels of bacteria. Although there are some large farming operations near its tributaries, the issue is mostly due to development. The primary sources of the bacteria are from wildlife and pets. The populations of wildlife species and pets have not increased as of recent times, but developments including roads, pavements, and buildings have. Forests and vegetative buffers that used to soak rain water into the ground and absorb runoff are now replaced with impervious surfaces that quickly move runoff into nearby creeks and streams.  

Because of this increase in bacteria concentrations (with the addition of other pollutants like sedimentation), many of the White Oak's oyster beds have had to permanently close down. This is devastating since oysters are known to provide many ecological services by filtering up to 50 gallons of water a day. They also support NC's seafood industry. However, with the steady decline of shellfish beds many oysters are now being shipped from Texas. Lets make sure we take care of our waters....and those tasty oysters!

Though I like to think every day is Earth Day, it is officially April 22^nd. We are already in the midst of a full blown Earth Day celebration though because this past Monday kicked off Earth Week (April 16^th through the 22^nd).  This year marks the 42^nd Anniversary and we have a man named Gaylord Nelson to thank because of it.  Before the 70s there were no regulations to dumping trash and/or toxins into backyards, waters, wherever. Rivers caught on fire and DDT was used to treat lice. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who channeled the emerging environmentally-conscious energy that labored from multiple events including the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California and the success of Rachel Carson’s bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. It was simple—he called for a national “teach-in” about the environment, resulting in 20 million Americans taking it up a notch. Students, colleagues, families, Republicans, Democrats: they all unified to celebrate the Earth.

Thanks to Earth Day, the US Environmental Protection Agency was formed in December of that year. This led the foundation for vital legislation in protecting our environment and health: The Clean Water Act in 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974. All one really needs to do to honor Earth Day is be thankful each and every time you use your water for cooking, bathing, washing, drinking, etc. As Waterkeepers, we make sure the Clean Water Act is being upheld and enforced to not only protect the river (or other water bodies) but to make sure the citizens that use its resources are protected as well.

Now that you are caught up to speed on the history behind Earth Day, what will you do in the present? There will be many trash pick-up events, which are great. Challenge yourself to pick up trash daily, even if it is just a receipt on the ground (if lucky, you may find some change!). A different approach is to get yourself outside. Try to find where the nearest body of water is to where you live. Where does the storm drain next to your road lead? Appreciating the environment is just as important as celebrating and protecting it. This Saturday, the White Oak-New Riverkeeper Alliance is partnering up with Second Wind Eco Tours and Yoga to host an Eco Tour on the White Oak River in honor of Earth Day.  This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get on the water and learn about their environment hands-on. And it is FUN! We will be departing from the boat launch in the Croatan National Forest off of Highway 58; paddle equipent and kayaks are provided as well as a lunch and you will receive a membership to the White Oak-New riverkeeper Alliance. Register here! We hope to see you on the water, but if not-make sure to celebrate in your own way, even if it is enjoying a nice glass of cold water from the tap!

I am not sure what most people think of when they hear the word “hog farm” or even “poultry farm”. I know that the first thing comes to my mind is poop. Granted, I read and study farms in terms of how their waste is regulated and how it affects our surface water. Growing up I probably thought of Wilbur and Charlotte running around happily in the barn yard. The word “farm” can be used equivocally with the term CAFO in NC. CAFO stands for concentrated animal feeding operation. Farms have become so intensive with their animal operations that in the past 30 years, the number of individual hog farms in the US has declined by 70%; yet the number of hogs remains almost the same (Natural Resources Defense Council).  Now, 2% of livestock farms raise 40% of all animals in the US. This is because many of the smaller sized farms that were geographically dispersed throughout the country have conglomerated under huge meat producing companies like Smithfield.  Smithfield Foods Inc. is the largest pork producer and processor in the country. Smithfield has purchased several meat-producing farms such as ConAgra Foods, Butterball, Murphy Farms, and Premium Standard Farms. In fact, Smithfield now controls approximately 90% of the hog market in NC alone. It is evident that Charlotte’s Web is history and has been long gone for some time now.

NC has more hogs than they do people. One hog produces 10 times more fecal waste than one person. Now you know why I automatically think about poop when I hear the word “farm.” Enough about that. Do you have an idea to how many farms you live in a 50 mile radius of? 25 miles? 10 miles?! I bet it would surprise you. I randomly picked a house on Google Earth in the Raintree neighborhood off of Gum Branch Rd. There are four farms (3 hogs and 1 poultry) all within a 1.25 mile radius! The Jacksonville Airport includes 15 farms within only a 5 mile radius. It makes sense when you think about how small our watershed is compared to others like the Neuse and the Cape Fear. Because our river is small, it means we have the opportunity to make a huge difference in our river since we do not have to worry about other issues going on upstream and out of our hands. Yet that means if these farms are not adhering to proper waste management regulations set by the Clean Water Act, our river will feel the effects full force!

 I am one of many NC Riverkeepers making sure our farms abide by the Clean Water Act. Pure Farms = Pure Waters! This past February, the president of Freedman Farms, Inc. was sentenced in federal court to five years probation and fined $1.5 million dollars for violating the Clean Water Act when his farm discharged hog waste into the Waccamaw River back in December 2007. There will be much more information to come in the next few months regarding CAFOs in eastern NC and the work being done to protect our water. Stay tuned!

 

Don’t worry. This isn’t one of those “What do you do if your see a piece of trash and it’s not yours?” type of blog posts. Even though we should all agree that the answer is to pick it up anyway! I don’t want to spend much time addressing the fact that we all need to take environmental responsibility and do our part to take care of our resources. I feel like an elementary school teacher telling everyone to pick up trash because it should be an inherent reaction we all know by now.

Instead, I am going to focus on the not so obvious issues that our community faces because of trash. Why not? Earth Day is around the corner and this morning while driving down the road to go to work I saw a patch of dense smoke fuming from a cigarette butt someone threw out their car window. I am sure that person didn’t think about the fact that cigarette butts are the number 1 litter item in the US. They are probably more prevalent than seashells on our beaches (definitely more so than shark’s teeth!).  The filters of cigarettes look harmless and fluffy but they are made out of a type of plastic material that takes a very long time to degrade. They are specifically designed to accumulate smoke and toxins. Besides threatening wildlife by ingestion of the filters, they leach toxins within the waterways and pose risk of contaminating our water.

I could go on and on about cigarette butts, however I want to address the economical downsides of littering. Being trashy is expensive!

• The US spends $11.5 billion each year on road-side cleaning programs.
• In 2007, North Carolina alone spent $16.6 million on taxpayer’s money solely on roadside litter cleaning.
• Houses in littered neighborhoods have a decreased value of approximately 7% than those in cleaner areas.
• 1,100 Americans are killed annually in litter/debris-caused vehicle accidents, increasing auto insurance rates, repair costs, and traffic/court fees.

 We already know littering is bad; actually, it is illegal—hopefully these interesting notes about the disadvantages littering can have on our economy and our bills may give you a new sense of inspiration to stop our trashiness at its root. How do we stop litter before it happens? Tough question! It would be hard to rebound a piece of gum spitting out of someone’s mouth (and gross, too). Being an example is what I aspire to be. There was a research study conducted using a control group and an experimental group at a river camp site documenting how groups reacted to those picking up trash and those that didn’t. Their results found that groups were more likely to pick up trash when others around them (even strangers) led by example.  Be the example! Participate in one (or all) of our Tour de Trash events this summer. They take place on the 3^rd Saturday of every month from June to September.

You can also swat a litter bug! The Swat-A-Litterbug Program is run by NC Department of Transportation. It allows you to hold litterbugs accountable of their actions. It may be a bit tricky, especially while on the road where you will encounter most litterbugs.  Keep a notepad nearby so you are able to jot down important information you may need to remember (license plate number, time of day, road) and enter it in here.

Although my biggest pet peeve is watching someone throw away a recyclable item into a trash can (especially when the two containers are side by side), I am happy to see the alternative. Most Americans live within a mile of a river or stream (and we all live in a watershed), so throwing trash anywhere but a trash can is refutable when 18% of all littered items end up in streams and waterways. I won’t allow myself to quit without saying that we should all recycle when we can! 70% of our trash is recyclable! So, please, don't be trashy....it's too expensive, anyway.

Though it feels like Spring has been with us since the New Year, the official first day of Spring arrived last week on March 20th. One of my favorite things to do to this time of year is Spring Cleaning. I don’t know why I look forward to my annual weekend of dusting, vacuuming, washing, and organizing. Maybe it is because I finally get to keep the windows open and let the sun illuminate all the rooms while the birds chirp, providing me with plenty of background music. I also love the fact that at the end of the day my winter sweaters and scarves are boxed away and tank tops and flip flops replace the room in my closet confirming that I am ready for not only Spring, but Summer as well.

Maybe you don’t look forward to Spring Cleaning as much as I do, but nonetheless, you will clean a room in your house or maybe even wash your car sooner or later. When you do, you can make a difference to your environment and waterways by being a little more “green” as you clean this year. These tips will not only help you conserve, but maybe even put a little more green (the other kind) back in your wallet.

-Soaps: Make sure you are using Phosphate-free soaps whether it is laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid. Phosphorous has been a main ingredient in detergents for decades. Recently, this key cleaning player has become notorious for its harmful effects on rivers, lakes and streams. Phosphorous is one of those elements that is naturally important for plant growth, which in turn, makes it vital for the health of a waterway. However, too much of a good thing is bad. Higher than normal phosphate levels create too much plant growth and lead to harmful algal blooms, which increase the water’s turbidity and decrease its Dissolved Oxygen levels. Fortunately, US legislation became aware of this huge problem and enacted laws and regulations limiting the use of phosphates in laundry detergents. Phosphates have been replaced with alternatives in laundry detergent, but other soaps like dishwashing liquids have not been regulated. Use soaps that will have a less harmful effect on our environment like Seventh Generation (one of our favorites), Method, and Green Works by Clorox.

-Laundry: Now that you know more than you want to about using phosphate-free detergents while laundering, make sure to use cold water when you can and to never wash a load that is not full. After washing, try to dry your clothes outside (weather-permitting, of course). Drying your clothes in an electric dryer isn’t just hard on your clothes; it’s also hard on the environment. Use a line instead of a dryer and you will reduce pollution, cut your energy bill, get more exercise and increase your wardrobe’s lifespan. Plus, they’ll smell like a clean breeze, not a fake “clean breeze scent.”

 

-Clean out your closet: If you are like me, I tend to hang onto clothes I haven’t worn in years…just in case that rare opportunity presents itself for that specific article of clothing I can’t find for anything else. Hey, I am not anywhere near getting my hour on Hoarders, but if it is pretty, I want to keep it. Recently, I have vowed to get rid of anything I haven’t worn within a year (with a few exceptions). I surprisingly had a trash bag full of clothes when I finished de-cluttering my wardrobe. I took them to my local consignment shop and made $30 bucks that next month!  You can give your clothes a second life even if they are torn and stained, by adding them to your rag collection and using them as re-usable paper towels and dusters. This is my favorite thing to do with my old socks that have holes in them, because I can use them as a duster while wearing them over my hands to keep my palms clean!

 

- Vehicles. Taking your car to a nearby Carwash is your best bet to saving water and decreasing stormwater runoff. Washing your car at home leads to soapy runoff entering the nearest storm drain where it discharges right into creaks, streams, and rivers full all of the pollutants from the road it has picked up along the way. Any licensed carwash in the US (and Canada) requires facilities to drain their wastewater into sewer systems, so it gets treated before discharging. Car washes also use controlled systems that minimize water usage and they also recycle and re-use their rinse water to save money! There are ways to still be green while washing your car at home. If you must wash, avoid the drive way.  Use bio-degradable soaps and wash on your lawn so that toxic waste water can be naturally absorbed and filtered in your soil instead of flowing into the storm drain.

 

- Kitchen: While cleaning up after a meal you have just cooked; make sure to not drain fats, oils, or grease (FOGs) down the sink! They solidify and clog drain pipes. Once these pipes have been blocked, sewage oftentimes becomes backed up and can lead to wastewater discharge without treatment, causing water contamination. Instead, wait for the FOGs to solidify; then use a napkin to wipe the grease and discard in the trash. Also, when washing dishes it is more efficient to use the dishwasher (fully loaded) rather than washing the dishes in the sink with the water continuously running.  Make sure to use those phosphate-free soaps!

 

- Food: If you are cleaning out your fridge making more space for those Spring seasonal beers that just came out and you notice your fruits and vegetables are going bad, compost them instead of throwing them out! Fruits, vegetables, coffee grinds, tea bags, egg shells, paper, leaves and yard-trimmings are just some items that can be composted that most people throw out without thinking twice. Not only are you reducing your waste, but you will be producing nutrient-rich soil that will help your gardens grow without having to use harsh fertilizers.

 

-Medicine Cabinet: Does this one sound familiar? It should! After our Operation Medicine Drop that took place this past Saturday (March 24^th)¸we have successfully collected almost 175,000 pills and medicines from circulation. These pills have been kept from flushing into our waterways and have been taken out of the hands of abusers.  If your medicine cabinet needs some Spring Cleaning and you missed our Operation Medicine Drop, it is not too late. There is a permanent drug drop-off box located in the JPD lobby. Happy cleaning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation Medicine Drop is set for this coming Saturday, March 24^th to help celebrate National Poison Prevention Week. This is a program that helps take care of everyone in one way or another.  The average North Carolinian fills 14 prescriptions a year. Now for those of you out there who don’t fill more than one…or even that many; how does this help you? Prescription drug misuse and abuse is the second leading cause of death in NC (and in the US). The Center for Disease Control is now identifying prescription drug overdose as an epidemic. Why is drug abuse so prevalent and how are people getting the drugs??

Well, it is simple really….there’s a lot of drugs out there. In fact, 40% of prescriptions dispensed are never used. We all have them right in our medicine cabinets. The fact that these drugs have legitimate uses for those they are prescribed to can give them a “safe” image to easily experiment with. 75% of teens who abuse prescription drugs report that they get the drugs from family and friends.  

OMD keeps our waters safe as well. Flushing medications down the toilet and draining them in the sink is a common misconception. Sewer systems and septic tanks are not designed to filter out the trace levels of pharmaceuticals, easily slipping through to our waterways, groundwater, and posing risks to our drinking water supply. In fact, most drinking water supplies are already showing the presence of pharmaceutical pollution. In August 2008, the Associated Press (AP) reported that at least 41 million American’s drinking water is contaminated with pharmaceutical drugs. Not to mention certain amphibious animals are showing signs of developmental disabilities in streams and rivers with high pharmaceutical pollution such as frogs and largemouth bass.

So, how do you get rid of them? That’s where we come in. Operation Medicine Drop was founded in Onslow County in 2010 with the partnership of White Oak-New Riverkeeper Alliance, Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff, and Swansboro Police and SafeKidsNC. Law enforcement officers provide assistance at each drop off location to ensure safety and proper disposal of medications. At the end of the day, the medications are then taken to be appropriately incinerated.  OMD is now successfully run state-wide!

Come take part in OMD at any Onslow County Food Lion or Walgreens location from 10am-2pm this Saturday. If you don't have any drugs to get rid of-tell your neighbors and your friends! And tell tell them to tell their neighbors and friends! You will help keep your community safe from the misuse of drugs as well as helping to protect our waters! It’s a win-win! Special thanks to all of the volunteers who have signed up to help! We cannot successfully function without you! I look forward to experiencing my first OMD and meeting as many of you as I can! Here's to safe communitites and safe water!

 

 

For those of you who have been keeping up with the Martin Marietta Rock Quarry issue (and those who haven’t), the Jacksonville Daily News reported last Friday that Martin Marietta had pulled its application for a special use permit one day after its public information meeting that took place last Tuesday, the 6th. Because the company withdrew their application voluntarily, they are able to resubmit it as many times as they want. The company did not give a statement as to why they pulled out their application. I know many Maple Hill/Haws Run residents who are happy to hear about their withdrawal; however, it is very important to remember that this company will come back. Though they met a very tough crowd last Tuesday evening, they have already invested years of time and lots of money into this quarry proposal.

With that said, I want to thank each and every individual who did show up Tuesday evening at the Jacksonville Conference Center. It was my first public meeting and I wasn't sure what to expect--fingers crossed I wouldn't be one of a handful sitting in a sea empty chairs. I was truly amazed at the community support that was felt throughout the entire room. Each person asked a different question that challenged the multi-million dollar mine company. It was evident and clearly written all over the representative's face that this was going to be a much bumpier road than initially expected. It is events like the coming together of a strong community that motivate and inspire me to be the best Riverkeeper I can be. Though MM will show up again, most likely after the election, I know that we have the strength to challenge them once more with the defense of this passionate network of neighbors. Let us speak with even louder voices next time!