Dean Naujoks; Upper Neuse Riverkeeper; 919-856-1180; dean.nrf@att.net
RALEIGH and NEW BERN, N.C. – Dean Naujoks the Upper Neuse Riverkeeper and full-time advocate working on behalf of the Neuse River Foundation is announcing the Muddy Water Watch program, a statewide initiative of citizen involvement to reduce stormwater runoff from construction sites. On November 13, the Neuse River Foundation will conduct a public orientation to introduce the Muddy Water Watch program. Naujoks will moderate the meeting for the Neuse River Foundation, regarded as one of North Carolina’s top environmental advocacy groups.
“The leading source of pollution to North Carolina’s rivers and lakes is sediment carried by stormwater runoff from construction sites. The fact is that state and local agencies lack the manpower and money to effectively monitor over 9,000 active construction sites statewide. On-site inspections are primarily driven by citizen complaints. The Neuse River Foundation recognizes that we can no longer wait while understaffed regulatory agencies struggle to address the problem,” said Naujoks, Upper Neuse Riverkeeper of the nonprofit Neuse River Foundation.
Naujoks further states, “With the unprecedented growth and development in our area, the issue of stormwater runoff is increasingly pressing. To that end, the Neuse River Foundation is launching our most aggressive initiative ever: Muddy Water Watch Citizens Patrol — the North Carolina Construction Stormwater Project. The project was created in response to the demands and desires of North Carolina citizens to protect and preserve our waterways.”
Neuse River Foundation President Dave McCracken said, “Our goal is to train more than 150 citizen volunteers to enable them to properly identify and report sedimentation and erosion control violations from construction sites.”
Naujoks added, “In addition to our citizen patrols, the foundation will begin to conduct an evaluation of current best practices and the overall effectiveness of local government sediment programs on controlling stormwater runoff. The results of this study, including specific recommendations, will be submitted to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC-DENR) and local governments to deter further degradation of water quality as a result of stormwater runoff.”
According to McCracken, the Neuse River Foundation’s goals are focused on preserving a high level of water quality, not only for the Neuse River Basin, but for rivers and lakes throughout all of North Carolina.
The information orientation is open to all interested citizens and will be held on Tuesday, November 13 from 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Brier Creek Community Center off Aviation Parkway, 10810 Globe Road, Raleigh, N.C. Location information is available by calling: 919-420-2340.
The role of the Neuse River Foundation and its supporters is to bring back the health of the Neuse River Basin through actions that include Advocacy for its health and preservation, Education and public outreach that stimulates volunteer and community participation, and Enforcement of existing laws. The organization employs a full-time Upper Neuse Riverkeeper in Raleigh and Lower Neuse Riverkeeper in New Bern with responsibilities to advocate for and protect the river as well as educate the public.
The Neuse River Foundation believes that protecting, preserving and restoring the Neuse River Basin will provide clean water to the communities it serves for recreation, consumption, agricultural, and natural uses. Visit our web site: www.neuseriver.org
