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Tickets now available, click here
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:
Polluters may find it easier to pay the fine than fix the problem. Current fines for sewage and pollution breaches are often far less than the cost of a long-term fix to the problem. Investing in infrastructure would solve some issues with water contamination, a solution waterkeepers support.
Legislators should restrict siting and fund buyouts for industrial hog and poultry operations remaining in the 100-year floodplain. The swine farm buyout is a voluntary program that was established in the wake of Hurricane Floyd to remove swine farms from the 100-year floodplain.
Increasing state funding to help farmers reduce pollution in rivers and streams. TheAgricultural 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.
Restoring funding to the Waste Detection and Elimination (WaDE) program would help homeowners fix leaking and failing septic systems.
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.
Strengthening temporary groundwater limits for PFAs and adopting permanent, statewide groundwater standards for PFAs.
Our 2021 Submission
Many of the water quality issues we face in our respective watersheds are the result of impacts from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) and other livestock issues. In 2021, we respectfully submitted specific legislative priorities with the goal of improving water quality across the state and supporting NC farmers. See Our 2021 Legislative Priorities.
Our mission to protect North Carolina’s waterways become 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:
