News

Sound Rivers Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz was in Hillsborough, introducing volunteers with the Eno River Association to Swim Guide.

Emily and Eno River Association’s Director of Education and Engagement Hillary Harrison have working on combining volunteer efforts to bring Swim Guide to the Eno River, which joins Flat River to flow into Falls Lake, upstream of the Neuse River.

“Last night we had the training at the Eno River Association office, which is so great. It’s a house that’s been turned into an office right next to the river,” Emily said. “It was a great turnout, 13 or 14 people, and everyone is super excited. It just warms my heart that this is going to work — it’s going to happen!”

The Eno River sites are located at Eno River Brewing in Hillsborough, Fews Ford at Eno River State Park, Eno River Association office and Penny’s Bend.

Based on Wednesday night’s turnout, there will be plenty of volunteers to cover the four sites, and a virtual training will be held at the end of the month for volunteers who couldn’t make it to the in-person training.

“I always want to highlight how much of impact this has: even though you’re taking a small sample of water, the results reach so many people every week,” Emily said. “And by having so many people out on the watersheds every week, it helps us — the more eyes on the waterways, the better.”

Sound Rivers’ ninth season of Swim Guide begins Friday before Memorial Day and provides weekly water-quality results from more than 50 popular recreational sites across the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds. Results are shared every Friday afternoon via text alert, through media outlets, Public Radio East, on soundrivers.org and social media.

You can sign up for Swim Guide text alerts! Text RIVERS to 50155.

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