Haw River Assembly

Water Quality Monitoring Program: The Haw River Watch program trains and equips volunteers to evaluate water quality in creeks and river sites in the Haw River watershed. We teach volunteers to monitor and identify sources for sediment in our streams through the Muddy Water Watch program. About 80 volunteers take part in these pollution monitoring programs. In addition, we collect water samples for analysis of industrial contaminants, CAFO nutrients, and micro-plastics. We test popular swimming sites on the Haw River and Jordan Lake for E-coli levels each week during the summer and publish the results in our online Swim Guide. Volunteers also assist us in installing and maintaining trash traps on urban streams to remove single use plastics and other trash.

Haw Riverkeeper program: Haw Riverkeeper program focuses on advocacy for clean water in the public arena. We conduct programs and presentations for the community, agencies, and elected officials about threats to clean water, and promoting the conservation of natural resources. We work to find solutions to stop industries from contaminating the Haw River with PFAS and other unregulated chemicals, and to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution into the Haw River.

Haw River Watershed Education and Outreach Program: The Haw River Watershed Education and Outreach Program for schools and the public includes the annual Haw River Learning Celebration outdoor program for schools, where students learn about the river ecosystem and cultural history. We hold an annual free river festival for the public each May, and an annual river clean-up of our waterways with hundreds of volunteers. Other educational programs include film streamings and guided hikes and paddles throughout the year.