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Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop represented Sound Rivers this week at an event for recipients of grant awards from N.C. State University’s Center for Human Health and Environment.

“We received a mini-grant from CHHE, which we used to mirror the work we’ve done on Walnut Creek, but with Kinston Clean Creeks on Adkin Branch in Kinston,” Samantha said. “We were able to partner with a local university — in this case, Lenoir Community College — and community members to do physical, chemical and biological water sampling in Adkin Branch, which is a historically flood-prone waterway in an underserved community, with a history of water-quality issues.”

On Wednesday, Samantha spoke about the effort at CHHE’s annual end-of-year event for grantees and partners, held at the Transfer Co. Food Hall in Raleigh.

She particularly highlighted why Sound Rivers chose to study Adkin Branch, a stream that drains Kinston’s entire downtown, which makes it a significant Neuse River tributary.
“In recent decades, it’s suffered from terrible flooding due to hurricanes Floyd and Matthew,” Samantha said. “Now it suffers from litter pollution and elevated bacteria, which has resulted in a change in perception of the creek for young folks who don’t want to go near it or interact with — unlike previous generations that have wonderful stories about swimming or fishing the creek.”

With the assistance of the CHHE mini-grant, Sound Rivers has partnered with Lenoir Community College’s Bio110 class and Science club to do trash-trap cleanouts and water-quality sampling trainings and participated in a community youth camp.

“We really wanted to highlight the value of getting community members involved in research on the creek,” Samantha said.

Now that’s been accomplished, she intends to keep the spotlight on Adkin Branch.

“Data shows an ongoing bacteria contamination in Adkin Branch,” she said. “So, the next step is to pursue funding to identify the source and work with the City of Kinston to address it.”

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