Part 2 in the Series: Celebrating 40 Years of the Clean Water Act

Fishable

It was 1989 and the Director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries declared the Pamlico River "commercially dead".  Community members from old to young, held a funeral procession in downtown Washington.  Dressed in black, concerned citizens were not there to mourn; they were there to send a message. Stated best by then PTRF executive director, Dave McNaught, 

"The river itself is not dead. If we act now we can breathe life back into the Pamlico."

In the mid 1980's, the recorded commercial catch in the river fell from 5 million lbs crab and more than 1 million lbs of fin-fish to less than half that by 1988. Fish and crab kills greatly increased over the same time period.  Fungal diseases that cause open sores now common in Pamlico estuarine fish were first reported by commercial fisherman in 1984.

Polluted River, Unhealthy Fish

Since the middle 1980's, an array of environmental problems has occurred in the Pamlico estuary: algal blooms, fish kills, crab and fish diseases. Human-induced stressors, such as nutrient pollution, play a significant role in the frequency and amounts of fish kills as well as the presence of open sores on fish. Since 1996 the Tar-Pamlico River has experienced at least 118 fish kills (those that have been recorded). During the summer of 2008, we experienced the largest fish kill seen in over a decade when more than 4 million juvenile fish succumbed to toxins released by a rare bloom of a dinoflagellate called karlodinium. Such an occurrence was tied to nutrient rich waters at the time, when rainstorms flushed large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into the river. 

In 1989 the North Carolina General Assembly declared the Tar-Pamlico River to be Nutrient Sensitive. In simple terms, an excessive amount of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus are entering our waterways wreaking havoc on the natural balance of the river system. While nitrogen and phosphorus are natural elements normally found in aquatic ecosystems, human impacts to the land, air and water cause an imbalance that can lead to algae blooms, low oxygen levels and ultimately fish kills.

An emerging problem for fish populations is pharmaceutical contamination due to introduction of drugs, antibiotics, hormones and other personal care products to our waters via wastewater discharges. Even though treated, our septic systems and wastewater plants are not capable of removing all of these chemicals. Introduction of drugs can lead to harmful changes to fish, including intersex characteristics that harm the reproduction ability of fish.  Hormones, certain prescription drugs, and antibiotics have all been found in the Tar River. The impact to fish populations in the Tar has not been studied, but we do know that in the Yadkin River, one study noted that 90% of the largemouth bass collected showed intersex characteristics.

Fish Consumption Advisories

The main goal of the Clean Water Act was to have every waterway in the country fishable, swimmable and drinkable. The fishable goal includes not only healthy waterways to allow for fish to survive and thrive so that we can catch them for consumption, but that when we do catch them and bring them home for dinner, what we eat is only a benefit to our bodies and not harmful due to contamination. The Tar-Pamlico River has not met the fishable goal. Of the 31 species of fish tested in Tar-Pamlico waters since 1990, all of them have some level of mercury in their tissue. Three species, bowfin, largemouth bass and chain pickerel, have levels above what North Carolina considers safe to consume for women of child-bearing age and children.  All in all, North Carolina has listed 24 species of fish that should be consumed only on a limited basis or avoided all together by children, pregnant women and those who may wish to bear children.  Data has also shown that fish sampled from the Tar-Pamlico river system contain some of the highest amount of organic chemical contamination as compared to other river systems across the state. Organic chemicals may include PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides.

The Pamlico River estuary has improved from the days described as "commercially dead." And that is partially due to the nutrient management measures put in place in the 1990's and early 2000's to aid in improving water quality and the fisheries environment. Such measures included reducing nutrients from developed land (i.e. reducing polluted runoff), reducing runoff from farmland and improving our wastewater treatment plants.  One of the simplest, yet most effective measures is the protection of riparian buffers, or the strip of land located along river and stream banks. When left alone in its natural state, buffers offer great protection to the river, often removing most of the nitrogen and phosphorus that drains into the buffer.  In the Tar-Pamlico river basin, as well as in others, the state currently requires that a 50-foot buffer remain relatively untouched.  Unfortunately the buffer rules have been weakened by legislative changes and we anticipate an attempt this spring to further weaken our most cost-effective management tool to protect our river.

As for mercury, the main human-induced source is the burning of coal for electricity which emits mercury into the atmosphere that rains back down into our rivers and streams. Studies in Florida have shown that reducing the majority of mercury emissions locally can lead to greatly reduced mercury contamination of fish, reptiles and predatory birds in about 10 years time. North Carolina passed the Clean Air Mercury Rule in 2006. That rule promised an 88% reduction of mercury emissions from Duke and Progress Energy coal fired power plants by 2018 by either implementing new technologies or shutting down old plants. It is unclear at the moment, what benefits have been gained by the rule. The passage of this rule was extremely important since the federal mercury rule was vacated by a court decision, but the state rule was maintained. Duke and Progress have shut down some of their older coal fired power plants, which most likely provided some benefits. Whether or not NC will reach the 88% reduction goal over the next 6 years is unclear at the moment.  

PTRF's Operation Medicine Cabinet program is shedding  light on pharmaceutical contamination of our river, as well as developing partnerships and programs to begin to reduce the introduction of drugs via flushing of unwanted medicines.

Fishable Waters: a Reachable Goal?

Can we once again bring fish to our table that are contamination free, as in zero pollutants? Probably not. Can we however meet a goal of reducing contamination to the point that it is at such low levels that we can safely consume more fish that we can now? Absolutely. Mercury reduction rules, programs like Operation Medicine Cabinet, and evolving management technologies can allow us to reach this goal in our lifetime. I see a future where we can share a fish with our sons and daughters and not have to worry about what effect it might have on their development, their health and their growing bodies. 

"Long Haired Activists"

By Jerry Eatman, President

Not long after I was first elected as a member of the PTRF Board of Directors, a Beaufort County commissioner purportedly described PTRF as a bunch of "long haired activists."  Given the receding nature of my hairline, this comment has generated quite a bit of levity at our board of director meetings.  I did pass this quote along to my college age children since activism has always been regarded as a virtue in our family.

As I approach the halfway point of my second term on the PTRF Board, I have had an opportunity to reflect on what a great experience serving on the PTRF Board has been.  I wanted to become more active in efforts to protect the Tar-Pamlico watershed and I have been very fortunate that the members of PTRF have given me the opportunity to do so as a board member. It is an experience I would encourage other PTRF members to consider.

The best part of serving on the PTRF Board is the quality of the other board members and the PTRF staff.  During my years on the board I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some terrific people who are as committed to protecting the river as they are enjoyable social companions.  Our staff ranks among the most respected in the environmental and conservation community and, to a person, are bright, creative, and delightful to work with.  These are all important factors, because the PTRF Board of Directors is a true working board of directors. 

The PTRF Board meets six times a year and I have never attended a meeting where we did not struggle to get through our meeting agenda in our allotted two hours.  We do serious environmental advocacy at PTRF, and our meetings involve serious discussions.  During my years on the board, PTRF has tackled some of the most important water quality issues facing North Carolina.  PTRF has always been the last line of defense for the river; but in this age of rampant deregulation and political hostility to government's role in protecting the environment, we are often the only line of defense. We are also a victim of our own success. Thanks to the financial support and volunteer efforts of our members, and the good decision making of our board, the staff at PTRF has had the tools and the support to make our organization the gold standard for professional conservation advocacy. Like most non-profit organizations, our resources are limited, and the board must often make hard decisions about priorities.  I am routinely humbled by the quality of the decision-making process shown by my fellow board members.  For those who are truly interested in becoming involved in protecting the Tar-Pamlico watershed and water quality issues in general, the PTRF Board of Directors is a great place to start.

Our mission at PTRF at times seems like an insurmountable task. We hear reports constantly of new threats to the watershed. There seems to often be little public interest in, much less outrage over, the appropriation of our great public trust waters by private industries. Despite the obstacles, my fellow board members approach their work with a sense of optimism and purpose that is inspiring.  I come away from each board meeting more determined than ever to defend our river. Perhaps in part because much of our work is done in the face of overwhelming odds, the PTRF Board of Directors enjoys an uncommon level of camaraderie. 

In addition to the mundane work of approving budgets, and the intense decision making involved in setting conservation priorities, the PTRF Board has a lot of fun working together on organization activities with our great volunteer members.  At most PTRF events there are board members working along with our staff and other volunteer members.  These activities range from the hard work associated with the annual oyster roast to the great fun of paddling kayaks in the Washington Christmas flotilla. 

Our board members and volunteers have put on some great fishing clinics and our involvement with River Jam in Greenville is now considered by most as critical to the continuation of this event. What other board of directors gets to paddle lighted kayaks in the snow in a Christmas boat parade?

Serving on the PTRF Board is a time commitment. Ours is not a ceremonial board; but the rewards are great. Until I recently recruited a friend to run for election to the board, I met all of my fellow board members for the first time at our meetings. I regard all of them now as friends.  

RIVERKEEPER ® Update

By Heather Deck, PTRF RIVERKEEPER®

Nash County Commissioners Pass Resolution in Support of Sanderson Farms

In a 5-2 vote, Nash County Commissioners resolved to continue to support and openly recruit Sanderson Farms to construct a poultry slaughterhouse on the south side of the Tar River reservoir. In late 2011, Sanderson Farms purchased the land necessary to build the hatchery. The county had previously purchased the land for the company to build the slaughterhouse.  Ignoring the environmental consequences and the concerns by many Nash and Wilson County residents, the commissioners are determined to roll out the red carpet for this prospective industry.

A new slaughterhouse will open the floodgates for new chicken houses in the Tar-Pamlico River watershed. Approximately 500 new houses, resulting in 90 million chickens and 175 million pounds of waste produced annually, will be located within a 50-mile radius of the slaughterhouse.  The Tar River currently struggles to absorb the nutrient-polluted runoff water from a variety of sources, including our swine and poultry industry.  Poultry litter is high in nitrogen and phosphorus and research conducted by NC State reveals that the majority of counties in the Tar-Pamlico River basin already have exceedingly high levels of phosphorus in the soils. When those soils erode, phosphorus enters the River and impacts the river's health.  Nitrogen is more easily washed from the soils into our waterways during rain events. 

In other updates, the Nash County Landowners Association continues its legal fight with appeals regarding the re-zoning process approved by the County Commissions that paved the way for a slaughterhouse.

Rose Acre Farms Appeals EMC Decision to State Court

PTRF and Friends of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge are seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Rose Acre Farms on March 2, 2012, that seeks to stop North Carolina from regulating the facility's pollutant discharges to surrounding waterways and the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge under the Clean Water Act. 

Rose Acre Farms is a massive industrial poultry facility that houses and processes more than three million birds annually.  The facility, one of the largest concentrated poultry-egg operators in the country, is located less than two miles from the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, North Carolina.  Rose Acre Farms uses large fans to blow ammonia and other pollutants out of the poultry houses, thereby polluting the surrounding waterways and wildlife refuge.

As reported in our Winter Newsletter, the NC Environmental Management Commission rejected Administrative Law Judge Augustus Elkin's decision that the state of North Carolina lacked authority under the Clean Water Act to limit the discharge of pollutants from Rose Acre Farms. The case was sent back to the administrative courts for a full evidentiary hearing, however Rose Acres filed a Petition for Judicial Review and Application for A Stay in State Superior Court in Hyde County asking the Court to reverse the decision of the Environmental Management Commission.

For more information, please visit previous editions of our newsletter online at www.ptrf.org.

State Agency Tells Martin Marietta: More information Required

Letters from the state Division of Water Quality in January, February and March have requested that Martin Marietta provide more details regarding the proposed new mine and the impact of 12 million gallons per day discharge to Blounts Creek.

DWQ has requested the company do the following:

-          Provide DWQ alternatives analysis that details other potential mine sites

-          Model the effect of the mine process wastewater discharge on the biochemistry of Blounts Creek.

-          Provide a qualitative indirect and cumulative impact analysis for the project.

-          Define the zone of impact to Blounts Creek from the wastewater discharge, analyzing the impact to salinity, amount of flow and impacts to fish and their habitat.

-          Provide alternatives analysis that includes 1) re-injection of the water and 2) treatment and conveyance the water as a drinking water supply or other re-usable purposes.

No public hearing date regarding the proposed mine has been set by Division of Water Quality. PTRF anticipates public notification of a hearing prior to the Summer newsletter.

Copies of the DWQ letters noted above can be found on our website at www.ptrf.org.

Spring Fishing on the Inner Banks

By Capt. Richard Andrews

Spring is one of the most exciting and anticipated seasons for Inner Banks anglers.  Many old wives tales exist about the signs of the spring bite such as the shad start running when the dogwoods begin blooming or the spring speckled trout bites heats up when you start seeing yellow butterflies flying about.  Some of these are true, but the best way to find out is to get out there and try it.  For Pamlico fishermen, spring came early this year with fishing picking up significantly in mid-March.  The winter striper and speckled trout fishing was consistent all winter; however, fishing improved dramatically by about the third week in March with excellent topwater action on the stripers around Washington and abundant speckled trout in just about every creek in the river.  So what does this mean for the spring?  Well, my prediction is that we are in store for a banner spring, summer, and fall on the Pamlico. 

Let's first discuss the spring striper fishing.  The March topwater bite has been second to none with opportunities for anglers to typically catch 10-30 stripers on topwater if ample time is spent pursuing them and conditions are right. Most of the fish will head up the river for their spawning run in April and early May, but these fish are residents of the lower Tar and Upper Pamlico, so fishing, expecially on topwater, should remain steady throughout the late spring and early summer.

What kind of conditions are ideal for topwater fishing?  First you need lower light conditions.  This varies considerably in my experience, as stripers will hit a topwater bait during the lowest light conditions just after sunrise, just before dark, or in the middle of a downpour.  They will also hit a bait when a small cloud moves in front on the sun on a bright sunny day.  If you find a really hungry group of fish that are ready to aggressively feed, then they will, on occasion, hit a topwater bait during the middle of a bright sunny day.  Getting topwater bites can depend considerably on the individual fish that you encounter.  Striped bass are opportunistic feeders, much like if someone were to present you with a big bowl of chocolate ice cream after a big meal.  Another ideal "condition" is low wind.  A nice slick calm day enables anglers to cast more efficiently with greater distance and to see the bait and the blow up or boil behind the bait as a striper pursues it.  Slick calm conditions also enable anglers to effectively throw and properly work "walk-the-dog" style baits such as Zara Spooks or SkidderWalks.  Those types of baits are tough to work in a chop.  Having a variety of topwater baits ranging from "walk-the-dogs" to chuggers and plugs in your box is a goodidea so that you can fish a variety of conditions.

Another "condition" is medium to high water levels in the river.  The Pamlico River is a wind tide driven system, which means that after prolonged periods of mild or short periods of heavy Northeast, East, or Southeast wind, the upper portion of the Pamlico River will fill up.  Water from the Pamlico Sound and eastern Pamlico River will be pushed up the river much like a fan at one end of a bathtub. Varying wind conditions can cause the river to typically fluctuate by 1-3 feet (sometimes much more during extreme weather events as shown during Hurricane Irene), depending on wind direction and speed at a particular time.  The reason why water level affects the striper bite is that the stripers like to peruse the banks among shallow structure looking for easy meals.  They move frequently and scan these banks for food.  During high or rising water they can most commonly be found frequenting the shallow flats, where they can be effectively targeted on topwater lures.  During low water or when the water is falling, the fish seem to move off the shallow flats into deeper areas to find food.  Water fluctuations by as little as 6-8 inches seem to make a difference in the movements and locations of these sporty topwater gamefish.

The speckled trout fishing in the spring should be outstanding based on the number of fish in the river so far this year.  Anglers are still encountering lots of smalls or dinks (under 14"), which is a great sign for the fall and next year's season, as specs grow quickly.  Some nicer fish have been encountered, which seems like the spec fishery is already better than last year's, where keeper sized fish were very hard to find. Anglers are allowed to keep 4 fish/person/day over 14".  Until last fall, the size limits were different in inland and coastal waters.

Anglers are having the best luck on the specs using Mirrolure MR-17's,  2-3" Gulp Shrimp on a 1/8 ounce jig head, and 2.5" Little Fishies on a 1/8 ounce jig head.  On any given day, a multitude of baits will work. Understanding their movements and behavior; locating them during different winds, water levels, and salinities; and using the proper presentation is most important to successful speckled trout fishing.

Decent flounder catches and consistent encounters with these flatfish were reported as early as mid-March this year, and flounder stocks are considered to be in good shape, so the spring and summer flattie season should be good for flounder enthusiasts.  The puppy and slot drum did not make a great showing last season in the Pamlico, but we are hoping that they make their typical appearance by late spring and early summer.  Flounder and puppy drum can often be caught in the same areas with both artificial, cut dead bait, and live bait.  Look for sandy bottoms along shorelines or around major shoals, especially those that have shallow structure such as stump fields, for the flounder and puppy drum.  Also, if you happen to be fishing in the eastern portion or the Pamlico River or the lower Pungo River,  target oyster beds in shallow areas for the pups. You also might find some specs mixed in. 

Many excellent angling opportunities await Inner Banks anglers this season.  Dust off your gear, get your boat or kayak in good working order, and spend the time on the water it takes to figure out these fish.  There's no substitute for time spent on the water.  The more you are out there, the more you will learn.  I learn just as much on slower days as I do on action-packed days.  An observant eye, a bit of passion for the sport, and little common sense is all you need to become a successful angler and have an absolute blast experiencing our beautiful natural resources here on the Inner Banks.

Capt. Richard Andrews is the owner of Tar-Pam Guide Service, a year-round guide service.

Seagrasses: An Underwater Treasure

By Peter Boettger

'I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey- work of the stars' - Walt Whitman

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), also called seagrass or sea weed, consists of vascular plants that are rooted in the bottom sediments.   Habitat includes marine, estuarine, and riverine environments.   Although sometimes extending to the surface of the water, these plants are generally submerged.  

Their importance to the overall ecologic health and productivity of the estuary cannot be overstated. Beds of SAV in the western Pamlico occur in sheltered riverine and estuarine waters where the bottom sediment is loose and unconsolidated.  Prevailing currents or wave turbulence must be moderate to minimal.  Sufficient sun light must be able to penetrate to the bottom, at least 15-25% of the light available at the surface.   Otherwise photosynthesis is inadequate, reproduction may be inhibited, and growth and survival cannot be sustained.  Thus, water clarity and light penetration are the primary factors controlling distribution of SAV. 

In the Pamlico seagrass growth is generally limited to depths of below about 8 feet, and when water clarity declines the beds in the deeper water are lost first.   Even though the western shoreline of the sound is generally less protected from the wind, the reduced currents, low tidal forces, and extensive shallows provide suitable habitat for SAV growth when water clarity and other water quality conditions allow.   

SAV beds support numerous complex food chains and are recognized as essential finfish and shellfish habitat.  Many species utilize it at some point in their life cycles, either by consuming it as a food source, hunting for prey along the edge of the beds, finding refuge from predators, or for spawning.   Included among the finfish relevant to healthy recreational fisheries are prey species such as croaker, spot, mullet, mud minnows, glass minnows, herring, shad, eel, menhaden, and white perch.  Striped bass, speckled trout, red drum, southern flounder, are a few of the higher order predators who rely on SAV as an important resource.  Blue crabs and other crustaceans, small invertebrates, various shrimp species, bay scallops, and hard clams are also strongly dependent on SAV beds.  Increased quantity and health of SAV are strongly associated with more abundant, diverse fish populations.

Aside from providing critical fish habitat, seagrass beds enhance the water qualities that they and other species in the ecosystem are dependent on.  The leaves, stems, and roots oxygenate the surrounding water through photosynthesis.  Sediments are filtered, trapped, and removed from the water column by slowing the velocity of waves and current, allowing the sediment to settle on the bottom.  There, the roots and bulbs stabilize the sediment and help prevent it from being stirred up again.  SAVs moderate erosion on nearby shorelines, by buffering wave energy, further reducing turbidity and helping to maintain marsh edge habitat.  Just as agricultural plants take up nitrogen and phosphorous nutrient fertilizers, seagrasses consume them as well, thereby reducing the chance that excess nutrients can result in noxious algal blooms.  All of these processes promote water clarity and improve overall conditions for further SAV growth. 

Dredging, filling activities, and infrastructure placement such as marinas and bridges have had great destructive impact on SAV.  Shading results in severe loss of light beneath docks.   Bottom disturbing commercial fishing gear can destroy or damage SAV.  Repeated agitation from boating wakes causes significant detrimental effect to seagrass beds by eroding, destabilizing, and re-suspending the bottom sediments beneath them, and reducing light penetration.  Propeller scarring occurs when outboard power boats motor through shallow areas,  cutting up the leaves, stems, and roots of SAVs, and churning a narrow trench through the sediment referred to as a 'prop scar'.  A 'blow hole' may also be created where boaters attempt to rapidly power off a shallow bottom.  Recovery of SAV from mechanically damaged areas may take extensive periods of time, sometimes many years, if at all.  Fishermen and other boaters should exercise deliberate care to avoid such damage. 

The major cause of SAV loss in the western Pamlico, both direct and indirect, is large-scale nutrient overloading. Turbidity and poor light penetration is chronically aggravated by algal growth associated with high nutrient loads.  Excessive growth of algal species that naturally grow on the surface of leaf blades, as well as drifting algae can smother photosynthetic production of oxygen by SAV.  Furthermore, the algae consume it during their own respiration, leading to acute and long term depletion of oxygen levels in the water. 

SAV habitat in the Western Pamlico is divided into two types of communities - higher salinity estuarine waters in one, and lower salinity to freshwater environments in the other.   The three estuarine species are eelgrass (Zostera marina), shoalgrass (Halodule  wrightii), and widgeon grass (Ruppia  maritima).   Eelgrass is a species of moderate temperature ranges, occurring at the southern limit of its Atlantic coastal range in North Carolina.  Conversely, NC is the northern most extent for shoalgass, a tropical species.  Widgeon grass grows most commonly in moderate salinities (~ 15 ppt), but has a wide salinity tolerance, and is found in both freshwater and high salinity waters.  The convergence of these three SAV species gives North Carolina's estuaries the potential for relatively high coverage of shallow bottoms, and is unique to the state.  Low salinity species occurring in the Pamlico include wild celery (Vallisneria  americana), redhead grass (Patomogeton perfoliatus), sago pondweed (Patomogeton pectinatus), bushy pondweed (Najas guadalupensis), and non-native Eurasian milfoil (Myrophyllum spicatum).

Peter Boettger is author of Fishing the Western Pamlico, available in the PTRF office.

WATERKEEPERS® Carolina Emerges as a Powerful Protector of North Carolina's Waters

By David Emmerling, Executive Director

Building on a variety of cooperative projects in the past, like Muddy Water Watch, the RIVERKEEPERS® across North Carolina recognized the mutual benefits that could be gained by a closer alliance. This realization precipitated a series of meetings over two years that were originally sparked by Dean Najouks, the Yadkin RIVERKEEPER®, and initially facilitated by Diana Toledo of River Network. The results of these meetings included a set of by-laws to guide and define organizational structure and operations, ground rules for communication and problem solving, and a consensus decision making process. The outstanding outcome of this work is the founding of WATERKEEPERS® Carolina. WATERKEEPERS® Carolina is the name of an increasingly powerful confederacy of RIVERKEEPERS®. The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation has been and is a key component of this achievement.

Knowing that this alliance could exponentially increase PTRF's and all the other RIVERKEEPER® organizations' abilities to protect, monitor, and restore the Tar-Pamlico River's and all North Carolina's water, the PTRF executive director at the request of the North Carolina RIVERKEEPERS® and with the full support and at the direction of the PTRF board of directors assumed administrative responsibility for the fledgling organization. WATERKEEPERS® Carolina will be an operational arm of PTRF until such time as it is necessary and feasible to establish it as an independent entity. With the organizational structure created and the administrative leadership arranged what remained was to find the start up money to fully launch the endeavor.

A grant for $40,000 from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation was awarded to WATERKEEPERS® Carolina through PTRF on the condition that an identical amount of matching money would be secured before the award would be made. The leadership of the Jo Allison and Eddie Smith Family Foundation accepted and reviewed a request for the matching funds. The Smith Family Foundation saw the need for the coordinated programing and advocacy WATERKEEPERS® Carolina would offer and awarded the needed matching money. With the minimal start up money in hand full operations began in January of 2012.

Areas of operation within WATERKEEPERS® Carolina are threefold. These areas include coordinated campaigns and programs, unified advocacy initiatives, and improving the cost effective operations of all organizations. The programming area will highlight three critical areas for North Carolina's waters; pharmaceutical pollution known as Operation Medicine Cabinet; nutrient pollution; and mercury pollution. In addition, critical issues may be emergent such as fracking and require a response from the group. Advocacy agendas will be enhanced with consistent communications related to clean water issues from a single point of contact. This will improve the effectiveness of our advocacy work with legislators and regulators as well as enhance coordination with other environmental and conservation advocates. The cost containment area will develop the means and mechanisms that will allow RIVERKEEPER® organizations to realize the cost benefits of economy of scale when making purchases of usual and customary supplies and materials.

While on going and future funding may be challenging, the success of WATERKEEPERS® Carolina is a necessity for North Carolina. Clean water is our lifeblood and the front line protectors of that resource are the RIVERKEEPERS®. Collectively we are the largest and potentially the most powerful grassroots organization in the state. We will harness and direct efforts to optimize the environmental and human health benefits of WATERKEEPERS® Carolina while providing critical protections for our kids, communities, and waters.

Operation Medicine Cabinet is Getting the Drop On Drug Pollution of our Kids, Communities, and Water

By David Emmerling, Executive Director

Operation Medicine Cabinet (OMC) is a three pronged program led by the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation and WATERKEEPERS® Carolina that focuses on protecting our kids, communities, and waters from pharmaceuticals.  The OMC's three foci include "Operation Medicine Drop" which is the bi-annual drug take-back eventthat span North Carolina, development of policies and best practices that will reduce the amount of drugs that harm our children, communities, and waters, and reviewing the research literature and working with the scientific community to better define the problem and build creative solutions.

The most visible of these three activities is "Operation Medicine Drop". These events are driven by a unique partnership that includes the North Carolina RIVERKEEPERS®, Safe Kids North Carolina, the State Bureau of Investigation, and substance abuse prevention professionals. The steering committee for these efforts coordinated the most recent take-back campaign that coincides with "Poison Prevention Week" each year. This is an affirmation of the important role that take back programs have in protecting the children of our state from accidental poisonings by unwanted or unused pharmaceuticals. These drugs often closely resemble candy and can be visually tempting to our younger citizens.

This unique partnership makes for very successful events which to date have removed millions of doses from circulation that may have otherwise harmed our kids, communities, and waters.

The added benefit derived from protecting our kids is that in the process of the take backs parents learn about the safe storage of drugs and that there is an environmental safety issue associated with the problem. This creates and effective "teachable moment" that links human behavior with harm to the water of our state in a very direct way.  When parents learn that drugs are polluting our water and that this pharmaceutical pollution is being returned to us via our drinking water they become concerned. As the concern grows we increase the likelihood of developing stronger rules and regulations to control this pollution.

While it should be noted that even when we are optimally successful at safely disposing of unused drugs the bulk of the problem, about 90% of the source, is unmetabolized chemical compounds that are excreted by all of us. These chemicals like the ones flushed or dumped enter our surface and sometimes ground water resulting in their appearance in our surface and drinking water. This harms aquatic life and may pose a public health risk.

With small amounts of the drugs and chemicals in our drinking water that is drawn from surface water we are being exposed to varying amounts of a pharmaceutical soup. Stopping the micro dosing of our citizens will require improved wastewater treatment and the improved cleansing of our drinking water. This would eliminate the risk to pregnant women, fetuses, and young children but it would come at taxpayer expense and the a stricter set of rules and regulations for the treatment of waste and drinking water. 

RIFFLES & RUNS

R & R - River Jam 2012

River Jam 2012

Saturday, April 21 2 PM - 9 PM

Greenville Town Common

Celebrate Earth Day and the scenic Tar River with the Pamlico-
Tar River Foundation! Paddle in kayaks and canoe along the Tar River for FREE, munch on cook-out style food, listen to live music from local bands Mac & Juice, Freeway, and Sunshine & Crime.

We'll also have a guided bike tour of the Greenway, organizations will have information tables, and be sure to stay until the end for the lighted flotilla down the Tar River! Be sure to join us the night before, April 20th, at Tipsy Teapot on Evans Street in Uptown Greenville from 8 - 11 PM for our pre-party featuring even more local musicians!

R&R - Race for the River Kayakalon - Registration Ends Soon!!

Join us for the 6th Annual Race for the River Kayakalon

Date: Saturday, April 28th

Time: Race Start at 9am

Location: Goose Creek State Park, east of Washington, NC

This unique sprint triathlon takes place within the scenic Goose Creek State Park, located along the banks of the Pamlico River. Participants begin the race with a 1.5 mile kayak paddle in the beautiful (but unpredictable) Pamlico River. The next leg includes a 15-mile bike ride on flat country roads. Racers head to the finish line with a 3-mile run on shaded trails within the State Park.

Since 2007, the race has continually gained popularity and is attracting participants from many states. The race was also highlighted in Fitness magazine's May 2010 issue as a race at a great destination that shouldn't be missed!

This event appeals to all - the serious racer to the average athlete. Relay teams are not only accepted but encouraged and children the age of 12 are able to participate. So grab your friends and family and join us in April for the best sprint triathlon in the region!

New This Year: Athena and Clydesdale Divisions

For more information go to:  http://www.ptrf.org/kayakalon.php

To register on-line go to:  https://register.runtheeast.com/Register/groups/default.aspx?newgroup=true&event=9714

Help spread the word!  

R & R - RIVERKEEPER® Cup Cleanup Results  

Nearly 7,000 pounds of trash was removed from the Tar-Pamlico River, its banks and tributaries during last Saturday's 4th Annual Riverkeeper Cup Cleanup Challenge!

From the Washington Daily News:

February 19, 2012

"Kayakers from eastern North Carolina their nautical knowledge at the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation's Kayak Fishing Clinic on Saturday. Experts from the Great Outdoor Provision Company shared secrets on fishing and kayaks with 45 attendees at the Division of Marine Fisheries in Washington. 

Ashley "The Druminator" Williams and Matt Sadler demonstrated the best ways to outfit an existing kayak for fishing and how to choose a new fishing kayak. Sadler shared tips for fly fishing on the Pamlico-Tar River.

Following the clinic, Pamlico-Tar River Foundations executive director Dave Emmerling gave a primer on tying flies.

The Kayak Fishing Clinic was the foundation's second workshop teaching residents how to fish in the Pamlico-Tar. For more information on future workshops, contact PTRF at 252-946-7211".