The Catawba River recently has been listed as the 13^th most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers, a national conservation organization. The Catawba River basin is the fastest growing basin in the Carolinas, and the rapid development in the basin is affecting the river's ability to dilute waste, provide recreational opportunities, and supply drinking water to almost two million residents in the basin.

The impact of this growth is impacting Charlotte and Mecklenburg County waterways. 84 percent of county streams are now considered unsafe for primary human contact. And this growth is affecting the many plants and animals the river supports, as it provides critical habitat for 50 fish species, 160 bird species, and more than 120 native tree species, according to the Catawba River Foundation (CRF).

The Catawba River now provides drinking water for and receives waste discharges from 14 counties, 22 municipalities, and two states, according to CRF. These problems will only increase as the Charlotte area expands at a rate of 200,000 people per decade. The river's assimilative capacity is limited. The rapid rate of growth along the river demands a plan that allows for intelligent use of this resource. We need only to recall the water war between Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, caused by Atlanta's growth, to imagine what might happen in our area if the Catawba is not protected and properly managed.

Donna Lisenby, Catawba Riverkeeper, advises that "[A]s the threats to the Catawba River have increased, so have the need for proactive steps to protect and preserve the river. This designation [13th most endangered] signifies a critical crossroads for the Catawba. What we do from this point forward will determine whether future generations will be able to rely on the river for safe drinking water, power production and recreation."

The Catawba River Foundation has established the following initiatives as ways to protect the Catawba River:

• Encourage the EPA to provide the necessary oversight to ensure that the NC Department of Water Quality meets minimum water quality standards to adequately protect citizens and reduce trans-state pollution;
• Urge the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission to include tributaries when establishing temporary buffer rules, so as to prevent further endangerment to the Catawba River basin from large contributions of sediment, heavy metals, fecal coliform bacteria and pollutants washing into the river from tributary streams;
• Support a clean-up plan for Charlotte-area creeks polluted by fecal coliform bacteria by the Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection; and
• Encourage public input when Duke Power reapplies for its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license, with special attention to the current shoreline management plan, which currently permits 75% of Duke-owned reservoir shoreline to be developed.

Note: This information is drawn from the Spring 2001 issue of The Conservator, a periodical publication of the Catawba River Foundation.