News

Support for the Rivers

by Harrison Marks, Executive Director

A generous bequest from the estate of John R. Ackerman earlier this year provided a nice boost in financial support that was sorely needed.  Mr. Ackerman was a committed environmentalist, and the president emeritus of Friends of River Bend, a town located near New Bern.  As a long standing volunteer for the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation, he was deeply concerned about the Trent River.  Sound Rivers is fortunate to have many members whose interest in protecting our rivers is perpetual.  Including Sound Rivers in your estate is a good way to help protect the rivers you love for future generations.

The importance of all types of support was made evident this year as multiple efforts were made to eliminate buffer rules and other protections that have stabilized our rivers over the past few years.  Fortunately the NC General Assembly wrapped up their short session abruptly last week, thankfully ending a legislative session that threatened much that had been accomplished over the last 20 year.  Many Sound Rivers’ members and social media followers responded to call for action by contacting their legislators, and that outcry helped remove a large portion of the worst anti-environmental provisions that were proposed in the budget bill.  Thank You!

Please read the lead article “The Train Keeps on a Rollin” and the Legislative Update for more information.

Quarterly newsletters just scratch the surface of the work going on to protect the rivers and promote clean water.  Since you are reading this, you be receiving our monthly mini-newsletter, as well as emails when there are events or calls to action.  In addition to emails, social media has the most current information about issues, events and other activities, and we also update our website routinely.  If you are on social media, in addition to an overall Sound Rivers’ presence, each of our three RIVERKEEPERS® maintain their own Facebook page and Twitter feed.  The Tar-Pamlico Water Trail also has a facebook page.

Social media links are provided below for your convenience:

Heather Deck – Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper
Facebook – facebook.com/pamlicotar
Twitter – twitter.com/PTRiverkeeper

Matthew Starr – Upper Neuse Riverkeeper
Facebook – facebook.com/upperneuserk/
Twitter – twitter.com/UpperNeuseRK
Instagram – instagram.com/upperneuserk/

Travis Graves – Lower Neuse Riverkeeper
Facebook – facebook.com/neuseriverkeeper/
Twitter – twitter.com/LowerNeuseRK

Sound Rivers
Facebook – facebook.com/soundriversnc
Twitter – twitter.com/soundriversnc
Instagram – instagram.com/soundriversnc

Tar-Pamlico Water Trail
Facebook – facebook.com/TarPamRiverCamping