This summer, on one of the hottest days of July, I stood on the banks of the Yadkin River watching families wade into the water with children laughing, dogs splashing, parents relaxing nearby. It was a perfect day to be outside, and it was also a powerful reminder of why our work matters so much.
For the past five years, our Swim Guide program has helped keep our communities safe by testing water quality across the watershed each week from May through September. We sampled 26 sites and collected more than 340 samples for E. coli this year; sharing that information publicly so families can make informed, real-time decisions about where to swim, paddle, or fish.
That’s the kind of real, local impact our donors make possible.
But as you know, our River faces growing threats. Rapid development, agricultural runoff, and industrial pollution continue to challenge the health of the Yadkin. In today’s political climate, protecting our water isn’t getting easier, it’s getting harder. Environmental safeguards are under constant pressure, and small nonprofits like ours are often the first and only line of defense for clean water in our communities.
Your tax-deductible donation will help us:
Expand water quality monitoring to more sites throughout the basin and continue our monitoring on High Rock Lake for bacteria, nutrients and chlorophyll-a.
Educate and engage local residents through programs like Adopt-a-Watershed and Know Your Watershed workshops.
Advocate for stronger protections to safeguard our drinking water and natural resources.
Improve access to the Yadkin River State Trail blueway.
Every dollar you give directly powers our work by helping us collect essential water quality data, hold polluters accountable, and protect the River that provides clean drinking water and recreation for our communities.
As we close out the year, we hope you’ll consider making a donation here to help us continue this vital work and start the new year strong.
With gratitude and warm holiday wishes, we thank you for standing with us and for standing up for the Yadkin.
For the River,
Edgar Miller
Riverkeeper and Executive Director
Yadkin Riverkeeper
PS- Our Communities of the River Online Holiday Auction is happening now through December 14th. Please click the button below to start bidding for clean water!
