News

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop and Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman braved the cold this week to further their environmental education.

Sound Rivers’ Riverkeepers joined North Carolina State University Senior Environmental Scientist John Dorney and waterkeepers from across the state for two-day training on stream delineation.

“There are a lot of reasons for the workshop, but one of the main purposes is learning to differentiate between perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams because each has different requirements for buffers and mitigation around those streams,” Katey said. “It’s important to know what kind it is and what uses you can have on the land around them.”

The workshop was broken up into two parts: Wednesday was a day of classroom presentations about stream delineation; Thursday was a day in the field to put their knowledge to test at Crabtree Creek Nature Park in Morrisville.

“We took everything we learned Wednesday, then went out on Thursday and used our stream delineation manual to actually do it — wandering off the trails and following streams,” Katey said.

The training comes courtesy of Waterkeepers Carolina’s education budget, for which, each year, waterkeepers across the state determine what continuing education opportunities would most benefit their work. Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop suggested this opportunity to learn about the three keys to determining stream types: geomorphology, hydrology and biology.

“I’ve actually learned a lot, but the most interesting part — that I personally haven’t thought about much — is the structure of a stream: the head cuts and what kinds of rocks you find,” Katey said. “But my favorite part is biology and looking for the bugs, for sure.”

Though it was a windy day with a “feels like” temperature of 33 degrees, the weather did not have a chilling effect on the field work.

“It was very chilly — lots of layers were required — and definitely more chilly when you’re putting your hands in the water, but the knowledge we gained was worth it,” Katey said.

Like the work your Riverkeepers are doing? We do, too! Donate today to support their fieldwork!