• Message from the Director

A message from the Executive Director Dr. David Emmerling

As our fiscal year closes and the implementation of the strategic plan for 2008 and 2009 begins, we face many challenges.  These challenges include but are not limited to the drought, water capacity limits in meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population, sedimentation, dramatic increases in fuel and maintenance costs, maintaining a flow of research data that supports our conservation case, and an exponentially increasing need to educate and motivate the 425,000 people that live in our watershed about the importance of conservation and protection of our most precious resource.  At the same time the cost for fuel and other basic requirements of our operation are experiencing dramatic increases.  In an effort to strategically stem the tide of the on going assaults on our river and estuaries the Board of Directors developed and is supporting a strategic plan that will move us forward on many fronts. 

 

Advocacy is an on-going and demanding challenge for us.  Our efforts include the following:

  • Individual meetings with Reps McLawhorn, Williams and Warren;
  • Fifteen representatives of PTRF participated in Clean Water Lobby Day;
  • Lobbying and public relations activities supported the new storm water regulations and opposed the tidal wave of misinformation provided by paid lobbyists and others;
  • Hogs, hog lagoons and spray fields continue to be a priority on our agenda. Heather Jacobs is serving on the Lagoon Conversion Program Committee, which oversees the management and implementation of the hog lagoon conversions statewide;
  • PTRF was represented at the Hog vigil and protest which generated positive media.
  • PTRF is a primary stakeholder in the development of the Harbor Management Plan for the City of Washington.  The associated ordinance and plan will enable Washington to monitor, protect and control diverse variables for the best interests of the water and boaters utilizing the harbor area;
  • Last but certainly not least countless hours are invested in the review, and clarification, and opposition of the PCS proposed mine expansion.

Education programs are being re-energized.  A small grant enabled us to acquire some additional help, but regrettably that funding has been depleted.  Education goals accomplished and planned for the new fiscal year follow.

  • Preliminary drafts of educational programs have been compiled for middle school and high school age populations.  These will be adapted for use in secular and faith based settings.
  • A PowerPoint program is available for staff and volunteers to make presentations regarding the state of the river.  It is updated regularly.
  • The future holds the development of a summer camp type experience for use by organizations across the watershed.  Potential target organizations include recreation departments, vacation bible schools, and civic groups that provide summer programs for children.
  • The fall of 2008 will see the establishment of a paddling group tentatively called the Pam-Tar Paddlers.  This group will continue our cooperative outings with the Cypress Group of Sierra Club as well as offer educational opportunities to attract more paddlers who hope to develop or improve their skills and learn more about the river we love to paddle.
  • The initial phase of a feasibility study for the establishment of a Tar-Pamlico Paddling and Camping Trail is complete.  The future hopefully holds construction of campsites and development of the infrastructure to support the use of the camp sites.  The proposed Phase One will include 6 or 7 sites in Pitt and Beaufort County.
  • A Spanish language PTRF brochure is being used and is available for distribution.

Research and monitoring activities continue and are more diverse.  The following will provide a concise update.

  • The Citizens Watershed Monitoring Program will lose it grant support in August.  The directors are supporting within the budget a continuation of this research and monitoring project for fiscal year 2009.  Limited funding necessitates a reduction in the number of sites.  The sites will be reduced from 30 to 15.  Our ability to achieve this is directly linked to the support we receive from members and donors.
  • Throughout this year volunteers have been trained to do aerial monitoring of hog farms and spray field operations.  When potential violations and pollution are discovered, the affected Tar-Pamlico waters are sampled and tested.  Results are reported to enforcement agencies. 
  • The Diversity Initiative for Inclusive Watershed Protection (DIIWP) outreach coordinator, Tim McCaffrey, completed a review of the literature that relates to our watershed.  The review highlights the opportunities and challenges of developing inclusive educational and recruitment materials.  With the development of culturally sensitive materials we hope to reach traditionally underserved populations.
  • Within the next year we will be using the research data from the DIIWP survey and focus groups to expand our educational and recruitment materials and efforts.
  • The DIIWP materials and data will be made available for use by other conservation and watershed groups across the state and possibly the nation.
  • Muddy Water Watch, a statewide initiative to reduce polluted stormwater runoff by training volunteers to monitor construction sites, will roll out in the fall or winter.

These highlights represent only a small portion of our activities in monitoring and protecting the river.  While we are barely able to meet our financial obligations for this year our costs are increasing dramatically.  If we are gong to be successful in serving the education, advocacy, and research needs of the whole watershed we need increased financial support from our current members and donors as well as a commitment on your part to recruit new donors and members.  Your active support of our plans by volunteering your time, treasure, and talent will insure our ultimate success.

 

Please take a moment now to offer your time and talent by calling the office and letting us know how you would like to be involved and then either by phone or with the donation form below share your treasure.  Your financial support will speak volumes and let us know that you are with us in meeting the highlighted and future challenges.