More than 200 people, representing a variety of government and conservation agencies, gathered on the Elon campus Friday, Sept. 27 for "A River Runs Through Us." Details...
Hosted by the Elon University Center for Environmental Studies, the day-long workshop is designed “to initiate a discussion about land use, water supplies, and to make sure we have adequate water resources in the future,” says Janet MacFall, director of the center. “It is critical that we get a handle on the water issues facing our region.”
Panelists and scholars from a variety of agencies, including the N.C. Division of Water Resources, the Deep River Citizens Coalition and Audubon International offered presentations on the key issues affecting the Cape Fear River Basin, which supplies water to 27 percent of North Carolinians. The EPA estimates there are 563 miles of impaired rivers within the Cape Fear Basin, which includes the Haw and Deep Rivers.
The recent drought affecting most of central North Carolina has highlighted the need for a unified approach to water conservation, says Don Freeman, executive director of the Cape Fear River Assembly, who attended the conference.
“It’s going to require a multi-faceted approach, a team approach to insure the health of our water resources,” Freeman said. He described the state’s system of rivers as a circulatory system, with the Cape Fear basin serving as the main artery. “We need to understand that all 17 river basins in North Carolina are dependent on each other. Because if we’ve become aware of anything in this drought, it’s the fact that we can’t do without water.”
Allan Williams, director of water resources for the city of Greensboro, said the conference is important to dispel the notion that cities and municipalities are to blame for drought and water contamination. “We all have needs for water, needs that become acute in a drought,” Williams said. “I consider myself an environmentalist, but it’s frustrating that people see the city as the enemy because we’re using or discharging water. I think we’re seeing a change in that thinking because of conferences like this.”
The Center for Environmental Studies hosted a similar conference last year. Co-sponsors for this year’s event include:
- N.C. Section-American Water Works Association
- N.C. Water Environment Association
- Alamance Community College
- Duke Energy
- Piedmont Land Conservancy
- Haw River Lands and Trails Association.
Learn more about Elon’s Environmental Studies Programs, as well as “A River Runs Through Us,” by visiting the Web site below: