Yadkin Riverkeeper Hosts Know Your Watershed and High Rock Lake Rules Regional Forums in 2026

By Stephanie Stephens, Water Quality Advocate

Over the last several months, Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK) staff has been collaborating with watershed partners to plan regional watershed educational forums in early 2026. The purpose of these forums is to educate and inform stakeholders and the general public on water quality issues and potential solutions within the subbasins of the High Rock Lake Watershed, including the Yadkin and South Yadkin Rivers. These forums are designed to showcase local and regional challenges that have led to High Rock Lake (HRL) status as an “impaired” body of water and the designation of the Yadkin River above HRL as “nutrient sensitive.” Regions have been separated into the Upper, Middle and Lower Yadkin, with six total forums planned, the first beginning in January 2026 and finishing in early March 2026.

Our intent in hosting these forums is: to increase public awareness of water quality issues contributing to High Rock Lake’s impairment, clarify the purpose and need for the High Rock Lake Nutrient Management Rules currently under development by the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division on Water Resources, educate the public and local officials on impacts of the proposed rules and identify potential solutions to nutrient pollution.

Forum Content

  • Know Your Watershed presentation designed to focus on regional water quality issues and how those issues could be addressed locally by the HRL Rules implementation to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus load to the Yadkin and South Yadkin Rivers and HRL.

  • Presentation on the HRL Rules introducing the Nutrient Sensitive Watershed and the contributing N and P sectors

  • Explaining the rules and timeframe of implementation per sector

  • Focus on the AG rules (non-point source) and myth busting

  • Expert sector (DWR, wastewater, agriculture and stormwater) presenters in addition to YRK staff

  • Q&A

In holiday spirit, we are grateful to staff from NCDEQ, local utilities, town and city planning, Soil and Water Conservation and members of numerous organizations like Sierra Club, Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin Association, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Friends of Kerr-Scott Reservoir, High Rock Lake Association, Explore Elkin and Watershed Now/Friends of Big Elkin Creek, for their collaboration and insight in planning the structure, timing and locations for each forum. YRK is looking forward to putting together memorable and meaningful forums on this very important topic! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin Community!

For more information on participating in the forum planning please contact Stephanie Stephens at stephanie@yadkinriverkeeper.org.