Our local lakes, rivers, and streams need your help.
Restoring our waterways is more important now than ever before. Increased development, extreme weather, and legacy pollution continue to threaten the health of our river system, putting drinking water, wildlife habitat, and recreation at risk across the Catawba-Wateree River Basin's 8,900 miles of lakes, rivers, and creeks. Without consistent care and intervention, streambank and shoreline erosion worsens, causing sedimentation and harmful debris to pour into our waterways at an alarming rate.
That’s why the first weekend in February marked the official kickoff of our 2026 restoration season. As colder temperatures keep many people indoors, Catawba Riverkeeper staff and volunteers head into the field—taking advantage of lower water levels to stabilize vulnerable shorelines and restore critical habitats across the basin.
This early-season work sets the tone for the year ahead. Every restored stretch of shoreline, every trash cleanup we complete, and every hour spent on the water helps prevent long-term damage and builds resilience throughout the Catawba-Wateree River Basin before spring rains and increased recreational use return.
Your gift today ensures this work can continue from the very first project of the season to the last. Together, we’re restoring more than riverbanks and tributaries—we’re protecting the waters that connect our communities and safeguard a resource millions rely on every day.
Will you join us today in supporting our restoration and trash cleanup efforts?
Initiatives include stabilizing eroding stream banks and shorelines, restoring the critical habitats for the Rocky Shoal Spider Lily, removing thousands of pounds of trash from popular recreation sites, and more.
Thank you for being a part of this mission. Together, we can continue to restore the waters that we all depend on across the mountains and Carolina piedmont.
