CATAWBA RIVERKEEPER FOUNDATION INC
Education | Advocacy | Protection
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We all need clean water. The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (CRF) is the only independent watchdog for our region's water quality. The Catawba River is one of the most stressed rivers in the country from power generation. It's been named one of America's Top Ten Most Endangered Rivers (by advocacy group American Rivers) multiple times since 2000. Sedimentation/stormwater runoff, coal ash contamination, industrial poultry waste, sewage spills, sewage sludge spreading, contaminants of emerging concern, and drought threaten its health.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Riverkeeper Program
The purpose of the Riverkeeper program is to protect the health of the waterways in the Catawba River basin for everyone who depends on and enjoys them. Examples of Riverkeeper program activities include: responding to pollution reports, patrolling waterways, water/sediment/fish sampling, commenting on proposed projects/permits, meeting with elected officials and community groups, giving interviews with media, training Water Watchers and Covekeepers, and leading eco-tours.
Where we work
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Clean, plentiful, and affordable water for all
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CRF works to sustain and enhance the Catawba-Wateree River, its lakes and streams through education, advocacy, and on-the-ground monitoring.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
CRF employees a team of experts and relies on a network of volunteers to act as the eyes, ears, and voice of the River.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In the last few years, the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation:
• Secured the cleanup of coal ash ponds on Lake Wateree, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Norman, and Lake Wylie;
• Advocated for better stormwater runoff and sediment and erosion controls;
• Created an app to help citizens more easily report trash and pollution;
• Hosted dozens of lake/stream cleanups to remove tons of trash from our waterways;
• Taught more than a thousand kids and teens about various water science topics through classroom presentations, field trips, and the CREEK program;
• Trained hundreds of volunteer Water Watchers to identify, document and report pollution; and
• Investigate countless reports of pollution or potential sources of pollution.
In 2019, CRF launched a new Water Quality Monitoring Program to get a better picture of our waterways health. The data collected by the state and local agencies is often limited and out of date. CRF is filling in the gaps.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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CATAWBA RIVERKEEPER FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 06/01/2022
Tyler Richardson
Barings
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
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Gender identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
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