Tickets now available, click here
Tickets now available, click here
Sediment is the number one pollutant in most waterways around the country.
Get trained on how to become an official “Muddy Water Watch” Volunteer, then help monitor and protect our waterways from harmful pollution by reporting erosion incidents in our easy-to-use mobile app (available to all trained volunteers).
The Muddy Water Watch is an initiative to reduce stormwater runoff from construction sites. We train local volunteers to properly identify and report sediment and erosion control violations.
Construction stormwater runoff carries sediment, debris, chemicals, and bacteria which are harmful to humans and aquatic habitat. Our Haw watershed continues to be developed at an alarming rate. Increased development means an increase in construction stormwater runoff — which is the leading water pollution problem in the nation (according to a 2008 report from the EPA).
Goals of the Project
We are partnering with county Sediment and Erosion Control programs to provide all the training, materials, and the tools necessary for volunteers to properly identify and report sediment and erosion control violations.
Training programs will be held in order of public interest. We are happy to train individuals and groups if you are interested.
If you are interested in participating in the project, please contact emily@hawriver.org.
In the training, volunteers will learn how to identify sediment pollution, failed sediment and erosion controls, and how to have a lasting and effective impact on water quality through monitoring and reporting construction stormwater pollution.
After receiving training from the Haw Riverkeeper and county officials, volunteers will monitor, record, and report on potential sediment and erosion control violations at constructions site through a user-friendly smartphone application, free in the app store.
Find the app, instructions, and reviews at muddywaterwatch.com
Reports are sent directly to the Haw Riverkeeper, and the Sediment and Erosion Control Officials in the county.
To follow up on a report you have created with the mobile app, search for your assigned report number in the Muddy Water Watch mobile app’s List of Reports or on this website on the Incident Reports page.
Use the following training resources to better understand how the clean water act, state laws, and local regulations impact and protect our waterways. The links below will also give you a detailed outline for the regulatory contacts that can address the issues you may run across as you help to protect our waterways.
READ THE FOLLOWING:
French Broad Enforcement Authority
Erosion and Sediment Control Planning and Design Manual
This manual is broken into eight chapters and explains the procedures and practices in great detail.
Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual
Use this for images of examples of successful Stormwater BMPs and stormwater ordinances.
General Permit Information/ National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NCG01000)
Division of Water Quality Fact Sheet on Discharging Stormwater for Construction Activities
NC Surface Waters Classification Map
Watershed Classifications determine water quality standards and protections. It is possible to get listings reclassified, which can raise the standards.
Watershed Classification Acronyms Explained
This page has a lot of detail on Watershed Classifications, but scroll to the bottom and you’ll find the Acronym key.
Impaired Waterways List (303d)
Information on the 303d list from the EPA: how water bodies are classified as impaired and how they are removed from the list. Find the EPA’s list at this site as well.
Water Quality Standards: Sediment Pollution Control Violations and Civil Penalties
This Excel spreadsheet is updated yearly and contains all Notices of Violation in the North Carolina. This spreadsheet can be sorted by county or by name of the violator. Use this chart to see if a development has previously received a Sediment and Erosion violation.
