Catawba River District Voices: Clear And Clean Catawba

Showing posts with label Clear And Clean Catawba. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Thread Trail Forum on Dec. 6 is for outdoor enthusiasts

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle - On December 6, the 5^th Annual Carolina Thread Trail Forum will be held at the Charles Mack Center in Mooresville. This is a wonderful forum for those who would like an outdoor volunteer program that will enhance the region. The Carolina Thread Trail, when it is completed, will go through 15 counties and cover 150 miles. A good portion of it will go through the Catawba River District.

Carolina Thread Trail segment now open on Long Creek

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – A new trail that is part of the Carolina Thread Trail opened last summer in the River District in Mecklenburg County. The trail runs through a Catawba Lands Conservancy conserved area and connects with existing trails at the U.S. Whitewater Center. Recreation on the trail includes walking, hiking, running and mountain biking.

An Annual Event

Join Big Sweep and help rid our shores of trash like this.

Clear And Clean Catawba, by Alice Battle – Sept. 21, 2012

The summer is over and all that remains is the remnants and memories of fun days on the lake. Unfortunately, some of the memories return when the items left behind mar the landscape. Glass bottles, dirty diapers, plastic bags, drink can holders, etc. not only are an eyesore, but they are environmental hazards.

Once a year the volunteers from the community meet on a Saturday to remove the trash from the area. This year there are two dates, so if you are busy one day, there is another opportunity to pitch in.

Mecklenburg County has elected to sponsor Big Sweep for both Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Mountain Island Lake, volunteers will meet at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve (CLICK for map and directions).
For sites on Lake Wylie, visit lakewylieriversweep.com. There is a list of 13 meeting sites plus other important information. The Mecklenburg locations meet on Saturday, September 29^th.

The other counties are conducting Big Sweep on Saturday, October 6^th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Mountain Island Lake, the Gaston County site for meeting is the Riverbend Access area off Highway 16 (CLICK for map and directions). The sites for other counties on Lake Wylie are listed at the above website.

Appropriate clothing should be worn, as you may be exposed to hazards such as broken glass, sharp metal, insects, mud and water. Gloves and trash bags along with drinks and snacks will be provided.

For the Riverbend site, contact Roger.caldwell@duke-energy.com, cell: 704-400-3857.

About Alice Battle – Alice lives on Mountain Island Lake has served on numerous groups devoted to protecting the lake, including the Duke Energy Relicensing stakeholders group. She currently is Lakekeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Muddy Water Watch Training

Construction runoff is among the many threats to a clean Catawba. (Photo from Catawba Riverkeeper)

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – Sept. 14, 2012

(The Catawba Riverkeeper provides this important news and course)

This notice is a little late for some, but if anyone is interested in learning more about water quality and water-related issues, the Water Watch training workshop is for you. It's OK that you did not make the first session.

The course by the Catawba Riverkeeper will teach you about water-related issues in the basin from the history and science to the legal and regulatory. At the end of the course, you will know what action to take when you see something that concerns you, whether it is general pollution, a spill, a violation or any other issue plaguing the water of the Catawba River, upon which millions of Carolina residents and businesses depend.

There is NO FEE FOR THIS COURSE but the Catawba Riverkeeper encourages all participants to join Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation! Whether or not you are a member, sign up and participate (see below).

There are four sessions in the course, each 6:30-8:30 PM, at the Steele Creek Fire Station #38 at 12100 Shopton Road West, Charlotte. This is a new, beautiful station located on Lake Wylie accessible to you if you're in Mecklenburg, Gaston, York or any other county, really. The course will take place on:

Tuesday, September 11
Wednesday, September 19
Wednesday, September 26
Wednesday, October 3

How to register

Contact the Catawba Riverkeeper (sam@catawbariverkeeper.org or 704-679-9494) to sign up or if you have any questions! Learn about the Riverkeeper's important work at Catawbariverkeeper.org

Friday, August 31, 2012

Fall Is In The Air – A Great Time For Hikes

Clear And Clean Catawba, by Alice Battle – Aug. 31, 2012

The heat of summer is waning. There is a new coolness in the air. What a great time of year to get into the outdoors.

Once again Latta Plantation Nature Preserve on Mountain Island Lake is beginning a new season of hikes with a naturalist. Experience the wonders of the forest as we hike two to four miles through the fall colors. Learn about the forest, discover different species and become submerged in the environment around you. Get some exercise while you enjoy the tranquility!

The hikes are free and are geared to the 18 and older crowd. In September, the hikes will be on September 5 and 19. They start at 9 a.m. and end about 11 a.m. Meet at the Nature Center at the entrance to Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. (CLICK HERE for a map and directions.) Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, bring water and enjoy the camaraderie of people with similar interests.

In October the hikes switch to the second and fourth Wednesday, the 10^th and the 24^th. November’s hikes will also be on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Wednesday is a new day of the week for the hikes. If you participated last season, the hikes were on Tuesday.

I look forward to seeing you on the trail!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Get the Dish on Fishing Advisories

Fishing at the Mountain Island Lake Dam access

Clear And Clean Catawba, by Alice Battle – Aug. 17, 2012

Fish advisories are out for all the rivers in North Carolina. Why are there fish advisories? People have eaten fish out of the rivers for generations.

Unfortunately, the rivers have been abused for many years. Chemicals were dumped in the water as a way of disposing of them. Their flow has been interrupted by dams. New rules and regulations have not erased the results of this abuse, because some of these substances will linger for a long time.

The wildlife, especially the fish, that depends on the water has been impacted, hence the fish advisories.

The NC Lake Management Society’s theme for its fall workshop is “Get the Dish on Fish.” This all-day workshop will include presentations and discussions on pathways for contamination of fish tissue, mercury and PCBs in particular, as well as covering all aspects of state fish-consumption advisory programs.

The workshop will be held October 4, 2012, at the US national Whitewater Center from 8:30 AM-4:00 PM. Advance registration is $65, which includes refreshment in the morning and for breaks, lunch and parking fee. Registration material will be posted on the web site, www.nclakemangement.org. Or you can email the group at nclakemanagement@gmail.com.

You also can learn about lake and fishing issues at the website of the event's co-sponsor, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services.

The NCLMS annual meeting is a wonderful opportunity to learn and ask questions about the conditions affecting fishing in our rivers.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Before You Jump In!

Urban runoff muddies a Charlotte stream after a storm

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle

This summer has been marked thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evenings. Some of the storms have been quite severe with heavy runoff, lightening strikes and downed trees.

The temperature of the lakes has been high because of the heat during the day, but the storms at night have cooled the water down. This makes swimming more refreshing and enjoyable.

Other effects of the storms are not readily noticeable. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Department tests the water in Mountain Island Lake to protect the drinking water supply. The July testing was done after a rain event the night before.

The results of the testing show that two sites on the lake had high rates of fecal coliform bacteria, also known as E. Coli. The sites were the Latta Park Canoe Launch and Nance Cove. Another site with measureable amounts of the bacteria was McDowell Creek Cove.

Fecal coliform lives in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The bacteria may cause gastroenteritis, dysentery and ear infections and may indicate the potential presence of disease carrying organisms, which live in the same environment.

Streams and creeks which start in the city and rural areas carry the runoff from the land they pass through. They all find their way into the coves and eventually the lakes.

None of the numbers reported were high enough to call for “No Swimming,” Caution dictates that it is best to wait for the water to clear before swimming in the lakes. Don’t jump in right after a storm.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Attractors - Simple Devices For Nurturing Lake Fish

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – Aug. 3, 2012

The Catawba River is a major source of recreation from the mountains all the way to Lake Wateree. Boating is the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning going to the lake. Boating encompasses a lot of different types of activities.

One activity that is prevalent the year round is fishing. Even in the month of January, some hardy fishermen are out casting lines. They are usually early risers.

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation enhances the sport of fishing by placing fish attractors in the lakes. They are generally placed in areas where small fish migrate from spawning sites to the main part of the lake. Their purpose is to protect the smaller fish from predators. The predators gather outside the attractors, waiting for an opportunity to get a meal.

The attached picture shows porcupine attractors. The tubes are hollow, so the small fish can hide in them. The attractors are placed in at least 20 feet of water near an underground wall. These walls are the guides where the smaller fish migrate.

This example is not the only type of attractors. Another type has also been placed in Lake Norman and Mountain Island Lake. The alternate type is called a honey hole tree. It looks like a traffic cone with branches. The bottom is weighted, and the branches are hollow. They serve the same purpose as the spokes on the porcupine attractors.

No harm in giving the smaller fish a chance at survival.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Overestimating Capacity

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – July 20, 2012

When navigating on the water, its pays to keep your eyes open to unusual circumstances. This happened to a group of volunteers on an annual Big Sweep trash pickup on the lake.

A dead fish was observed floating on the water. The occupants of the boat decided to investigate since the object looked like a pretty good size fish.

As the boat came along side the fish, a smaller fish could be seen sticking out of the mouth of a bass. The bass was definitely dead. He was netted out of the water, and the smaller fish was removed.

Much to everyone’s amazement the smaller fish was alive. It was tossed back in the water and swam away. This was obviously a case of the eyes being bigger than the stomach on the part of the bass.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Unexpected Surprise!

Yes, those are all mayflies!

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – July 5, 2012

July 3^rd was the night of the full moon. The moon rose just after sunset that night. A group of kayaks gathered at the Neck Road Access on Mountain Island Lake at 8 o’clock that evening to witness nature’s spectacle. They were not disappointed.

The sunset on the water was magnificent. The reflection in the water enhanced the colors of the sky. What a treat!

The kayakers headed into McDowell Creek. As daylight faded, the skies filled with mayflies. Mayflies are very sensitive to pollution, so the number testifies to the quality of the water. The surface of the water was covered with them. A catfish with its mouth opened skimmed along the surface scooping them up.

Adult mayflies live for a short period of time, hours or days. In this area, they hatch about the same time and last for a couple of weeks. The adults do not eat or sting. Their only function is reproduction. Their eggs are laid on the surface of lakes and streams and sink to the bottom.

The next stage is the naiad stage. Naiads molt 20-30 times in their life cycle. The final stage is the winged molt, which the kayakers witnessed that night. The naiads live under rocks, decaying vegetation or in the sediment. Algae are their main source of food.

One party parked a truck under the lights at the boat access. The attached picture shows how plentiful the mayflies were. Some of them blew off the truck when it was moved to load the kayaks.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Nature’s Scavengers

Clear and Clean Catawba, By Alice Battle – June 30, 2012

A familiar sight in the sky is a large black bird soaring high above the trees. Often there is more than one. They are vultures, and they are hunting for carrion.

When a meal is sighted, several vultures gather for dinner. A deer carcass will attract as many as 50 to 75 vultures. They take turns eating. It does not take them long to eat the flesh. When they leave all that is left is the bones.

Several years ago a large group was hanging around the power lines near our house. That many do not stay unless there is food. What attracted them were fish parts left by fishermen who were net fishing. The people cleaned the fish on the beach. The remains provided a feast for the vultures. They resembled sentries sitting on the power lines, looking down.

I have watched a group of vultures tear apart a fish carcass on the beach in a matter of minutes. All that is left are the bones.

My son was sitting on the back porch when a vulture swooped down and picked up a dead bird that was lying in the yard. Our backyard has a lot of trees. How did that vulture spot such a small object from the sky? Their eyesight must be far sharper than the human eye.

The excrement from these birds is strong enough to corrode a metal roof. Luckily they do not stick around unless there is a meal nearby. No carrion is left for long when a vulture is around.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Some Do and Some Don’t (Take Home Their Trash)

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – June 22, 2012

The area lakes are very popular recreational resources. People relate that they love the outdoors, the clean water and the pristine feeling when they are out in the boat. Boats are pulled ashore on vacant land to provide a beach experience.

Unfortunately, there are too many who do not consider the next party that occupies the area they leave behind. What they also leave behind are bottles, cans, paper plates, dirty diapers, plastic utensils and even barbecues. These items were carried in. Is it too much to ask that they be carried out by the same group?

None of the lakes maintain a crew to pick up garbage left behind. The cleanup crews on the lakes are volunteers who care about the environment. Last week a couple of jet skiers came across a littered beach. They cleaned up the area, but could not carry out the trash they collected. Other volunteers had to go out by boat to haul the debris.

There is no place to deposit that much trash for pick-up. The volunteers must make a run to the dump on their own.

If everyone did their part to maintain the vacant land, the lakes would always be pristine and clean. The burden of maintenance would be spread over more than just a few volunteers.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Getting Out

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – June 12, 2012
The outdoors offers so much to those who venture out. Earlier blogs have highlighted the generosity of people who put their lands in conservancy. Their love of the land does not stop there. Sharing the land with others continues to educate the public as to the value of the gift.

Each year Kay Killian offers to the Mountain Island Covekeepers and the Mountain Island Marine Commission a chance to walk the conserved land. This year the hike took place on April 14^th.

It was an ideal day. The weather was sunny, the air was cool and the leaves were not completely out plus the insects were not out in full force. This allowed a view of the landscape. Wild azaleas were blooming.

The hikers were treated to the sight of a beaver dam and the pond it created. Along the edge of the pond were examples of the power of the beaver’s teeth. The children took home log samples of downed trees.

Sharp eyes picked out an Eastern ribbon snake in the leafy floor of the woods. Hikers were able to examine the snake closely while it was being held.

And then there is the Catawba River. In this area it runs through an uninhabited landscape. The water is so clear and free flowing. It is hard not to admire the beauty of the River. Everyone should spend time out in nature.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Aldo Leopold - A Man For Our Time

Aldo Leopold - Learn more at aldoleopold.org

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – June 1, 2012

Aldo Leopold was a man before his time. He was born in 1887 in Iowa and died in 1948. Yet his earth ethic is as relevant today as it was during his lifetime. Early in his life he realized when man viewed the land as a commodity, the land was abused. When the land was viewed as a community of which man belonged, the land was valued and conservation of it was important.

His mother encouraged him as a young boy to keep phenological records monitoring nature in his backyard. Phrenology is the study of natural phenomena that recur periodically, as migration or blossoming, and of their relation to climate and changes in season. This habit of recording he did his whole life.

Aldo graduated from Yale at an opportune time. Teddy Roosevelt, the conservation president, came into office and led the country in the purchase of wilderness land. The Forestry Service was established. Aldo became a member of the first generation of the Forest Service. His first assignment was in the Apache National Forest.

His journey to the West and his observation in the wilderness made him aware of the problems of soil erosion due to abuse of the land and the importance of fire in restoring the wilderness.

One of his observations was the eradicating of wolves. It was thought that killing predators would increase big game. Bounties were placed on the hides of wolves. Over time they disappeared from the scene. The result was the area was overrun with deer and elk, which destroyed vegetation, which in turn caused soil erosion. Once the wolves were reintroduced the forests began to revive.

The Southwest Gila National Forest was dedicated to him. He requested it be kept as a wilderness area with very few roads. His request was honored.

In 1924 he and his family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was in charge of wildlife research at the University of Wisconsin. Watershed restoration in the West could be done because whole watersheds were in the wilderness. In Wisconsin there were many private landowners. Abuse of the land had destroyed its value. An integrated approach was necessary involving the cooperation of 100s of individual private land owners. Coon Valley, Wisconsin, stands as a testimony to Aldo Leopold’s land ethic approach.

Aldo himself bought worn out land to see what could be done. He felt wilderness was to serve as a land laboratory. Through restoring the wetlands he brought back the migrating crane population that numbered less than 100 when he started.

Aldo felt that land ethics were part of a social evolution that saw man as part of the community of soil, wildlife and integration with nature – an ethic that is as viable today as when he lived.

"Green Fire," a film for the 21st Century about Aldo Leopold

Aldo Leopold's message lives on in many forms, including the film, "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time." A production of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Center for Humans and Nature, the film shares how Aldo shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires people today. CLICK to learn more, see the film trailer and learn about planned movie viewings.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Cowan's Ford Dam - Designed for a healthier river

Cowan's Ford hydro station. From Duke Energy website

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – May 25, 2012

Cowan’s Ford Dam, which forms Lake Norman, has a unique design. The main dam is 190 feet tall where it forms the lake. Another dam was built 100 yards upstream, just below the surface of the water.

This construction assures that the warm, oxygen-rich water at the top of the lake will pour through the spillways. This water guarantees that the fish downstream will be able to breathe.

The dam also maintains a permanent cold pool near the bottom of the lake. That layer is pumped backwards in a slow, gentle manner to avoid whirlpools and is used to cool the Marshall Steam Plant on one of the lake’s upper fingers.

The coldest, deadest and closest to the bottom layer of water is pumped up past the surface, where it supplements the condenser-cooling water for the McGuire Nuclear Station.

The design of the Cowan’s Ford Dam also assures that clean water enters Mountain Island Lake. The mud that once came down the river, before construction of Cowan's Ford Dam in the early 1960s, now is settled out in Lake Norman. Mountain Island Lake provides drinking water for 80% of Charlotte’s population. In addition, Gastonia and Mt. Holly have water intakes on Mountain Island lake. Mt. Holly provides water to the town of Stanley. Gastonia sells water to Ranlo, McAdenville, Cramerton, Lowell and the South Carolina City of Clover.

The EPA has a lean staff to monitor pollution in the river. To monitor the river,

Duke Energy has a cadre of scientists commissioned to keep tabs on the company’s performance. They are environmentally conscious.