Waterkeepers Carolina is a science-based, environmental advocacy group. We safeguard water supplies, so you can drink clean water and enjoy beautiful beaches, lakes, and rivers.
Waterkeepers Carolina (WKC) is committed to the goal of environmental justice and equity for all people and communities in our collective watersheds.
WKC recognizes the benefits and impact of diverse leadership, building trust in impacted communities, and inclusive programming to ensure our network serves the needs of all communities within the river basins we represent across North and South Carolina.
We believe all people should have access to the enjoyment of the natural world and a voice in decisions that may affect their environment and health. No group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences, nor should they have less access to beneficial environmental goods.
WKC member organizations are committed to ongoing activities focused on learning, reflection, adaptation. We are committed to intentional and focused outreach to diverse communities – as our respective organizations and as WKC collectively – to ensure our work reflects, respects, engages, and includes communities of color, and low wealth communities.
On behalf of our Waterkeepers, we collectively advocate for clean water across the state of North Carolina. Waterkeepers Carolina is continually working to improve legislation and enforcement to protect your water quality further. We advocate for:
Adopting statewide water-quality standards for nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and increasing funding for NCDEQ, NCDHHS, and county health departments to monitor, sample, and assess HABs and cyanotoxins and notify the public with swim advisories when needed will limit HABs and improve public safety in recreational waters.
Strengthening and adopting statewide regulations for PFAS will limit exposure to chemicals linked to harmful health effects.
Infrastructure, homes, businesses, and contamination sources remaining in the 100-year floodplain are vulnerable to flooding from storms, like Hurricane Floyd and Helene. Restricting siting and offering voluntary buyouts will reduce flood risk and damages.
Increasing state funding to help farmers implement more sustainable practices will reduce pollution in rivers and streams. The Agricultural Cost Share Program (ASCP), the Agricultural Water Resource Assistance Program (AgWRAP), and Funding for the Community Conservation Assistance Program help farmers afford improvements such as new cattle fencing, riparian buffers and septic systems.
Since 2012, our mission has been to protect North Carolina’s waterways and develop actionable campaigns that serve to benefit the community. Dive into the details of some of our comprehensive research and investigations:
Meet the people and organizations dedicated to protecting your waters:
