News

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop, Water Quality Specialist Taylor Register and intern Avalon Rosenberger were in Havelock this week to launch a new water-quality sampling partnership with University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine Sciences.

“This partnership with UNC is really exciting for us because it’s allowing us to get so much more data from the west prong of Slocum Creek, and we’re now able to test for significantly more parameters than what we’re usually able to do with just our staff and resources,” Taylor said.

Sound Rivers has been investigating the source of Slocum Creek’s pollution since 2023, when weekly Swim Guide sampling at the creek’s boating access consistently returned very high levels of bacteria in the water. The Riverkeeping team narrowed down the source to a small tributary of Slocum Creek, Wolf Pit Branch, and possible septic tank system failures at homes located on Wolf Pit Branch, and has been working with both the Town of Havelock and Craven County and community residents to resolve the issue for the past year.

Moving forward with sampling assistance meant getting out on Slocum Creek with Institute of Marine Sciences to introduce them to Sound Rivers’ sampling locations and protocol.

“This was the first of our quarterly sampling events,” Taylor said. “Sound Rivers is providing the fecal bacteria component of this sampling, while UNC is handling all of the nutrient analyses and looking for human fecal DNA markers.”

UNC staff will be doing monthly sampling in both dry and post-rain conditions, while the Riverkeeping team will continue with source-tracking work in the Wolf Pit area of the creek.

“So by the time all this sampling is done we are gonna end up with a ton of really solid data sets, and we’ll really be able to get a comprehensive look at what exactly is going on pollution-wise in the creek, and if there’s any sort of environmental triggers that are playing a part in the numbers we’re seeing,” Taylor said.

The goal, she said, was to determine the best remediation strategies to get the section of the creek safe and healthy again, then move on to the other prongs of the creek to see what can be done there.

“Our work in Slocum Creek always feels like baby steps in working towards this beast of an issue, but having more partners in this area has got me really excited about the progress to come,” Taylor said.

The first sampling outing was a success, according to Taylor: “Sam, Avalon and myself had a blast with the team from UNC, everyone was in good spirits despite the muggy weather and having to bushwhack through the swamp to get to some of our sample sites. I’d say a highlight from the field day was our two separate alligator sightings!”

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