News

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Last week the House Regulatory Reform Committee passed Senate Bill 131 (SB131). The bill does two things that, if passed, will have very negative outcomes for our rivers and streams.
First, this bill will allow for twice the amount of river length to be destroyed. Currently a developer can destroy 150 feet of stream or river before having any consequences however, SB131 would change that to 300 feet. This means a developer can destroy the length of a football field of stream or the Neuse River without any consequences. What’s even more astonishing is that Representative Millis, when defending this section of the bill, said this will actually be good for water quality. So either Rep. Millis does not understand what this section of the bill does or he is deliberately misleading the other committee members and public.
Second, the bill will allow for any length of intermittent (headwater) streams to be destroyed with zero consequences. Below are just a few facts that outline the importance of intermittent streams.
- Of the streams that supply public drinking water systems, 56% are intermittent, ephemeral, or headwater streams. That’s over 7K miles out of 13K miles of streams in the state.
- As small headwater channels are lost, flooding increases downstream.
- Small streams are important in controlling the flow of water to larger streams. By controlling the flow of water to larger streams, an intact network of healthy headwater streams can reduce downstream flooding.
- NC’s small streams drain between 55% and 85% of the land area and are critical at protecting downstream water quality. This is where our drinking water sources begin!
It boggles the mind that both Representative Millis and Representative Bell from Eastern North Carolina would support a bill that will without question ensure that flooding is worse for their constituents just a few months after Hurricane Matthew.
Related News

Public hearing will determine the fate of many NC wetlands
June 26th 2025

Clayton gets first official trash-trap cleanout
June 25th 2025

Bill passed by NC House threatens public health, environment
June 25th 2025

Riverkeeper talks programs with Oriental Rotary Club
June 25th 2025

Riverkeeper, intern scout Smithfield trash trap locations
June 25th 2025

Fish kill reported on the Neuse
June 19th 2025

Riverkeeper meets with ATV park attorney
June 19th 2025

Riverkeeper samples scene of Rocky Mount sewer spills
June 19th 2025
