News

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop and Executive Director Heather Deck were in Kinston this week, leading of tour of Adkin Branch watershed.

The two met up with Jill Fusco, eastern field representative with the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, for an introduction to the site that could be next on the list for a watershed makeover — should a NC Land and Water Fund grant be awarded.

“We applied for the grant to do a 9-Element Watershed Restoration Plan for Adkin Branch,” Samantha said. “We’ve got a lot of partners involved in this: East Carolina University is set to do the sampling; Kris Bass Engineering to do pollution/nutrient-loading modeling; Lincoln City Rising for history and making sure projects are consistent with community wants.”

Heather, Samantha, Lee Atkinson with Lincoln City Rising, ECU biology Professor Maria Messner and Ecological Engineer Connor Brown with Kris Bass Engineering walked the Adkin Branch watershed with the NC Land and Water Fund representative, from the trash trap to the Neuse River.

“It’s great that grantors are willing to visit a site and see the place where we’re working,” Samantha said. “A 9-Element Watershed Restoration Plan would be building off all the work we’ve been doing in the Adkin Branch watershed that’s been possible because of a Center for Human Health and the Environment mini-grant we were awarded. This is really the first time that water-quality sampling studies have been done on Adkin Branch. Flooding has been addressed, but no one has been investing in pollution sourcing, research, so it’s pretty awesome.”

The NC Land and Water Fund grant will be awarded in the fall of 2025. If awarded, the 9-Element Watershed Plan will be a two-year project.

Like the work Sound Rivers is doing to engage community partners to improve water quality? We certainly do! Donate today to support clean water!