Tag: COVID-19
In-Kind Support
March 21, 2023
Support Clean Water With Your Equipment or Silent Auction Gift
Sound Rivers accepts a variety of in-kind donations!
Our current organization-wide needs include:
- Boats of all types
- PFDs, paddles, other paddling supplies
Sound Rivers is also collecting items for our Oyster Roast Silent Auction in November 2020!
Some examples of popular donated items include:
- Visual art (paintings, framed nature photographs, etc.)
- Services (spa packages, etc.)
- Vacation Packages (from a one-night stay to a week-long rental!)
- River Related Activities and Entertainment (river cruises, fishing trips, etc.)
- And more!
Have something to contribute? Contact us with this form – please describe your item in the comments – and we’ll get back to you asap! Any donated items are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Oyster Roast Attendee FAQs
March 21, 2023
We’ve gathered some FAQs from the three decades of Oyster Roasts! If you have a question, check below, we may have an answer! Don’t see your question answered here? Email info@soundrivers.org or call 252-946-7211!
Entry (General Admission Tickets) FAQ’s and Info
- Doors open at 6pm, not before
- Check-in is located in the Civic Center, south entrance (signs will be posted)
- Reservation list with names, no tickets are required. If your name isn’t on the list, check in under the name of the person who purchased your tickets.
- A wrist band and beer cup will be provided
- We will be checking IDs so please have yours out and ready
General FAQs
- There are plenty of oysters- no one will leave hungry- we promise! If you’re having trouble finding space for your group, just enjoy a beer, eat some chili or chowder (located in the dance hall) and return to the tables in a little while.
- Oyster knives are made available to everyone; located outside on the oyster tables. You can bring your own if you’d like.
- Melted butter and sauce are located near the oyster tables; served by our amazing volunteers. Please know that, due to the cold night, the butter will be provided in smaller amounts to avoid waste. You can certainly return for seconds if needed.
- Three breweries are located outside near the oyster tables. All the beer has been donated- we are grateful for our partnership with these great local breweries!
- Sodas and water are available inside; large coolers in the dance hall
- Chili and Chowder are provided inside, in the dance hall.
- Oyster Tables, except for sponsors, are first-come, first-serve.
- This event is a “come as you are” event. Casual, dressed up– whatever you feel like, we just want you to stay warm, have fun, and enjoy the evening.
- If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask a staff member or volunteer. We want you to have a great time.
Silent Auction
- Silent Auction bidding happens throughout the night – if you have questions about an item, a volunteer or staff member is available to help
- Bidding closes at 9pm – please give us several moments to organize before coming to claim your item
- It helps Sound Rivers’ staff immensely if you’re able to take your item home that night!
- All Silent Auction proceeds benefit your Riverkeepers, so please bid generously, and have fun!
Sponsor FAQs and Info
- Doors open at 6pm
- We have a separate check-in table for our sponsors and guests located inside the Civic Center (south entrance)
- No tickets required
- For sponsorships with reserved oyster and inside tables, look for the “Reserved” signs printed with your logos.
- Wine will be provided this year for our sponsors at reserved tables
VIP FAQs and Info
- Doors open for our VIPs at 5pm
- Check-in is outdoors at the oyster tables where you will receive your VIP gift bag
- Access to VIP lounge during the evening, located in a classroom along the civic center hallway. Wine and sweets will be available throughout the evening for our VIPs. (Keep your VIP lanyard on so you can easily enter the lounge.)
Ask NC DEQ To Protect Waterways From Swine Industry Waste
March 21, 2023
On Tuesday, November 27th, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held a meeting to discuss the permit intended to protect our communities and waterways from industrial swine waste. The permit determines how the 9.5 billion gallons of waste per year from these facilities is managed, and is opened up for improvements only once every 5 years. Our staff were present to urge DEQ to implement measures to better strengthen existing regulations and protect our waters from pollution, but they need to hear from you as well!
The current method of waste management on these industrial hog facilities is to store hog feces in unlined, open air cesspools that are at risk of being flooded or damaged by heavy rainfall. The waste is sprayed onto fields, often causing waste to runoff into nearby creeks and streams. Unfortunately, this method not only contributes to surface and ground water pollution, but to air pollution and decreases quality of life for the neighbors of these facilities as well.
What we’re asking for:
- Smithfield Foods, the multinational company that makes hundreds of millions of profits annually, and other corporations that contract with North Carolina operations for swine production, should share responsibility for managing the waste produced by the animals they own.
- DEQ needs to collect sufficient data to assess hog waste pollution and make it publicly available.
- DEQ should require mandatory groundwater monitoring where there is evidence of off-site impacts (or could simply say pollution of) to our water table.
- DEQ should require swine facilities to evaluate the risk of phosphorus pollution from land applied animal waste, using an established formula that was created at great taxpayer expense.
- Operators must be required to submit records to DEQ for public review of land application of waste, cropping, stocking, and soil or lagoon sampling to better inform DEQ of pollution risks and improve transparency.
Please help protect water quality from industrial hog pollution, send a letter by December 21st to have your input considered during this initial process of drafting the permit. Your voice is important, and now is the time.
Thank you for taking action for the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico!
Sewage
March 21, 2023
Sewage Spills in North Carolina
Some text here about stuff.
Map of Sewage Spills by County 2002-2017
Atlantic Coast Pipeline
March 21, 2023
Background
Sound Rivers and our allies are working to protect our waterways from the impacts of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), that would carry fracked gas through West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. If permitted and completed, the ACP would impact hundred of waterways, many in the Tar-Pamlico and Neuse Watersheds. While we are working to stop this pipeline, we’re also preparing for the worst and looking at how we can best protect our watersheds during construction if it is built.
Compliance Monitoring – You Can Help!
This year we will be organizing workshops along the proposed pipeline route to train volunteers in how to monitor construction activities for compliance with water quality regulations. We will provide participants with tools to collect valuable information about construction activities, and how to effectively get that information addressed by state and federal agencies tasked with protection of our water resources.
Interested in helping out by getting trained, or helping organize a training? Please fill out this volunteer form and we’ll be in touch as we get details worked out!
Landscaping for Clean Water
March 21, 2023
Polluted Stormwater Runoff- NC’s #1 Pollution Problem
When rain falls in a natural setting, almost all stormwater infiltrates the soils and groundwater or is 
taken up by vegetation. But when land is developed, the impervious cover (roads, rooftops, driveways, parking lots) increases the volume of stormwater that is not absorbed by the land and accelerates the transport of stormwater across the surface of the land. As impervious cover increases, so does the volume and velocity of contaminated surface runoff into streams, lakes and sounds.
Polluted stormwater runoff, including sediment from poorly maintained construction sites, is the number one reason for poor water quality in North Carolina. Sediment can cause severe problems for creeks, rivers and estuaries on which we depend for our drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitat and fishing. Stormwater is one of the main causes of pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Rivers.
Stormwater pollution results in a multitude of economic losses. Sediment, toxic pollutants and pathogens in stormwater leads to poor quality fish catch and financial losses for the commercial and recreational fishing industries. Contaminated beaches result in medical expenses to treating water related illness and the beach community suffers from losses in sales and services. Stormwater pollution leads to increased water treatment costs. Increased stormwater runoff creates significant flood damage repair costs and dredging costs. Measures to decrease stormwater impacts can significantly increase property values.
Landscaping for Water Quality
In order to deal with the increased problems from polluted stormwater runoff, Sound Rivers began a restoration program in 2010 to implement on-the-ground projects to restore water quality.
The photo on the left is a created stormwater wetland constructed in 2015 at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro via funds from the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program. Since 2015, SRI has constructed three created wetlands, along with a rain garden and bioretention cell. The wetland treats stormwater from the campus main parking areas. Click to view image of educational sign.
A similar project has been completed on East Carolina University’s campus in Greenville, NC. Sound Rivers in cooperation with ECU built one created wetland, three bioretention cells (engineered rain gardens) and installed permeable pavement on the campus to improve Green Mill Run, a stream that runs through the heart of the city and the campus.
What Can You Do?
Everyone can do their part to reducing polluted stormwater runoff. Limit your impact by:
- Applying fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and do not apply before rain events.
- Test soil first to determine fertilization needs. Tips.
- Reduce bacteria by picking up after your pets and dispose of the waste properly.
- Wash your car on your lawn where the chemicals and soap can be absorbed and filtered by the soil instead of washing directly into a stream.
- Dispose of lawn clippings in a compost pile.
- Harvest and reuse rain water via rain gardens, rain barrels and cisterns.
- Preserve and plant trees.
- Maintain your septic tank! Tips.
Stormwater and Your Rain Garden
More Information
Kayak-Canoe Raffle Rules and Conditions
March 21, 2023
Kayak-Canoe Raffle Rules and Conditions
Sound Rivers, Inc
Official Kayak/Canoe Raffle Rules
September – October 2016
Raffle Item: Wood kayak/canoe handcrafted by Ed Rhine
Benefitting: Sound Rivers
Price of raffle ticket: $20.00
Odds of winning: Odds of winning depends upon the number of raffle tickets sold. No more than 500 raffle tickets will be sold.
Expected Drawing Date: October 22, 2016
Method by which the winners will be determined and the raffle will be conducted:
The drawing for the kayak-canoe is planned to occur at the Washington NC Dragon Boat event on October 22 following conclusion of the races, unless insufficient number of tickets have been sold. Winners need not be present to win. The winner will be determined by a random drawing of stubs from purchased tickets. If not present at the time of the drawing, the winner will be notified via contact information supplied during ticket purchase. The kayak/canoe is provided without warranty and will be available for pick-up in Washington, NC or Chocowinity, NC. Prize winner will be responsible for all applicable shipping costs if shipment is desired.
Must be 18 years or older to purchase raffle tickets or claim raffle prize.
Contingency plan for the raffle if drawing is not conducted as planned:
If the Dragon Boat event on October 22, 2016 is cancelled for any reason, or the raffle cannot be conducted on that date as planned, the raffle will be completed on the next available business day at noon in Sound Rivers’ offices. If the Sound Rivers offices are not available due to some misfortune, another location in Washington, NC will be selected and the drawing held their on the first available business day following October 22, 2016.
If fewer than 250 tickets have been sold by October 22, 2016, drawing may be postponed for up to one month. If the drawing is delayed, drawing will be held in the Sound Rivers’ offices or other suitable location in Washington, NC or Chocowinity, NC at a time and date to be communicated at least 48 hours in advance on the Sound Rivers website and Facebook page.
No cash equivalent available:
No cash equivalent is available in lieu of the kayak/canoe. If the kayak/canoe has been damaged or destroyed before the drawing or prior to pick-up by or shipment to the winner, the winner will be entitled to a cash settlement of $1,500.
Redemption Claim period:
Winner will have thirty (30) days from the notification of winning to confirm his/her address and his/her acceptance of the prize. If we are unable to contact winner within thirty (30) days from the drawing date of the raffle, or if the selected winner declines acceptance of the prize, an alternate winner will be chosen from the remaining entries.
If arrangements to pick up the prize or to have it shipped at the prizewinner’s expense cannot be made with the winner within sixty (60) days of the drawing, Sound Rivers shall conduct another drawing using the original pool of ticket entries. This process will be repeated until a winner is located and the prize accepted.
Statement of eligibility, release of liability and publicity release required:
As a condition of being awarded the prize, winner will be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility, liability waiver and sign a publicity release. If the winner is unwilling to sign the affidavit, the winner will forfeit the prize and a new winner will be drawn from remaining entries.
Refund Policy:
No ticket refunds will be given.
Effective date of these rules: August 31, 2016
Ticket purchase locations:
Tickets are available at Cotton Patch Landing, 2018 Cotton Patch Rd, Chocowinity, NC 27817 and in the Sound Rivers, Inc. office at 108 Gladden St., Washington, NC 27889. Additional raffle ticket outlets may be added.
Tickets are also being sold by various individuals working to SAVE BLOUNTS CREEK.
More pictures showing construction of the kayak/canoe and information about the threat to Blounts Creek are available at www.facebook.com/saveblountscreeknc and at www.soundrivers.org.
Volunteer
March 21, 2023
Volunteer
Interested in volunteering for Clean Water? Great!
Below are descriptions of some of our volunteer opportunities; fill out the form and let us know what you’re interested in!
Trash Trap Volunteer
Trash Traps are passive litter traps that will float on the surface of the creeks, are attached to the banks, and capture all the floating trash before it ends up making its way down to the Pamlico and Neuse rivers. Once the trash is captured in the trap, it needs to be manually removed and sorted. We are looking for volunteers in Washington and New Bern:
Trash Trap Scouter
We’ve never done this before and don’t know how quickly the trap will fill up with trash. It would be great to have a few folks who can be our eyes on the trout, to swing by once a week and after a rain storm to snap a few photos and see how full the trap is, and if it’s in need of a clean out.
Event Volunteer
Throughout the year Sound Rivers has events all over Eastern NC – from our large fundraiser, the Oyster Roast a, to the educational Kids River Fest, to small screenings and fun get-togethers. Let us know if you want to volunteer for a specific event (mention it in the “comments” section on the form below.)
Clean-Up Crew
Willing to wade into the creek and pull trash out of the trap (we can provide waders and gloves).
Trash Auditors
For those who don’t want to get in the creek, we need help tallying up the trash.
Office/Mailing Volunteer
We have some opportunities in our Washington, NC or New Bern, NC offices for stuffing envelopes, data entry, office organization, and more! For this volunteer opportunity, we are looking for volunteers available on weekdays.
Water Cleanups – Organizer
We do cleanups throughout the year, typically organized by our Riverkeepers, but the more we can do, the better the waters will be! Are you interested in taking a leadership role and helping to organize and run your own cleanup, with support from Sound Rivers’ staff? This is the opportunity for you! (Ages 18+ please.)
Water Quality Monitoring
Our greatest need for volunteers is in the summer months during our Swim Guide program. Swim Guide is weekly samples collected by volunteers from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Throughout the year we need volunteers less frequently, but on weekdays. If you have daytime availability Monday through Thursday, please let us know in the comments of the form below so we can contact you when we need volunteers. Training and materials provided!
Water Trail Steward
Interested in making a significant impact on public access to waterways, by taking on a leadership role at Sound Rivers? Water Trail Stewards will help manage our Tar-Pamlico Water Trail, regularly inspecting the camping platforms for needed repairs, and helping to keep them in good working order.
Don’t see what you’re looking for but still want to volunteer?
Go ahead and fill out the form below and let us know what your thoughts are!
Landscaping for Clean Water
March 21, 2023
Polluted Stormwater Runoff
When rain falls in a natural setting, almost all stormwater infiltrates the soils and groundwater or is taken up by vegetation. But when land is developed, the impervious cover (roads, rooftops, driveways, parking lots) increases the volume of stormwater that is not absorbed by the land and accelerates the transport of stormwater across the surface of the land. As impervious cover increases, so does the volume and velocity of contaminated surface runoff into streams, lakes and sounds.
Polluted stormwater runoff, including sediment from poorly maintained construction sites, is the number one reason for poor water quality in North Carolina. Sediment can cause severe problems for creeks, rivers and estuaries on which we depend for our drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitat and fishing. Stormwater is one of the main causes of pollution in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico Rivers.
Stormwater pollution results in a multitude of economic losses. Sediment, toxic pollutants and pathogens in stormwater leads to poor quality fish catch and financial losses for the commercial and recreational fishing industries. Contaminated beaches result in medical expenses to treating water related illness and the beach community suffers from losses in sales and services. Stormwater pollution leads to increased water treatment costs. Increased stormwater runoff creates significant flood damage repair costs and dredging costs. Measures to decrease stormwater impacts can significantly increase property values.
Landscaping for Water Quality
In order to deal with the increased problems from polluted stormwater runoff, Sound Rivers began a restoration program in 2010 to implement on-the-ground projects to restore water quality.
The photo on the left is a created stormwater wetland constructed in 2015 at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro. The wetland treats stormwater from the campus main parking areas. Two more created wetlands along with a rain garden and bioretention cell have also been built, treating more than 90% of the campus. Click to view image of educational sign.
A similar project has begun on East Carolina University’s campus in Greenville, NC. One created wetland and three rain gardens have been constructed to improve Green Mill Run that runs through the heart of the city and the campus.
What Can You Do? Everyone can do their part to reducing polluted stormwater runoff. Limit your impact by:
- Applying fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and do not apply before rain events.
- Test soil first to determine fertilization needs. Tips.
- Reduce bacteria by picking up after your pets and dispose of the waste properly.
- Wash your car on your lawn where the chemicals and soap can be absorbed and filtered by the soil instead of washing directly into a stream.
- Dispose of lawn clippings in a compost pile.
- Harvest and reuse rain water via rain gardens, rain barrels and cisterns.
- Preserve and plant trees.
- Maintain your septic tank! Tips.