The NC Senate approved House Bill 239 on Wednesday, June 15!
This legislation to clean up pollution from existing stormwater is precedent setting in NC, despite compromises that allow local governments more time for work to begin. The rule now goes back to the House for a final vote to reconcile language differences before being signed into law. Unfortunately, we are not at the end yet, as DOT has made it clear they want to see their obligations lessened for reducing stormwater pollution from already built roads and may try to put that language in another bill before session ends. The homebuilders lobby may try to do the same for the "new development" stormwater rule. We'll be watching....
Donations needed to pay for our Durham Jordan Lake Boundary Survey!
We need your help to get to the finish line! Please make a donation to help pay for the new survey of the Jordan Lake boundary on New Hope Creek in Durham. (See Survey Report and Jordan Lake boundary map). Our new survey of the Jordan Lake boundary cost much more than originally estimated because the point we were seeking is much further up New Hope Creek. This new survey supports greater protection for lands in Durham near Jordan Lake. Concerned citizens from Durham and nearby areas donated money to pay for the original estimated cost of the survey. We now need to raise money to pay for the rest. Read more...
Posted on: Tuesday June 16, 2009 EST
Donations Needed to Protect the Headwater Springs of the Haw River
The remainder of the forest that protects the headwaters, about 2 acres, is now up for sale. It is vital that we purchase it for permanent protection to save the rest of this forest that guards the springs. Click here to make a donation towards the purchase of the Haw headwaters springs. Read more...
The Haw River Assembly seeks a Safety and Logistics Coordinator for its outdoor environmental education program. This unique grassroots program guides schoolchildren through various learning stations and activities at three sites on the Haw River. The position is full time for eight weeks, from August 24 through October 16, 2009. Click here for more information.
Posted on: Friday May 29, 2009 EST
About the Haw River Assembly
The Haw River Assembly is a non-profit citizens' group founded in 1982 to restore and protect the Haw River and Jordan Lake, and to build a watershed community that shares this vision The scenic 110 mile Haw River is at the headwaters of the Cape Fear River Basin, and includes the Jordan Lake reservoir, providing drinking water and recreation to NC. Tributaries of the Haw River and
Jordan Lake flow through Guilford, Rockingham, Caswell, Alamance, Orange, Chatham, Wake and Durham counties. Almost one million people are part of this watershed--sedimentation, wastewater, and runoff impair its waters.
Our goals are to promote environmental education, conservation and pollution prevention; to speak as a voice for the river in the public arena; and to put into peoples' hands the tools and the knowledge they need to be effective guardians of the river.
Our work is made possible by the efforts and support of our members and volunteers! Please join us today.
Gearing Up for the 20th Anniversary of the Haw River Learning Celebration
2009 marks the 20th year of the Haw River Learning Celebration. The Learning Celebration is an Environmental Education Program for fourth graders that travels the length of the Haw River. In the 19 year history the Learning Celebration has reached over 33,000 fourth graders. We are looking for volunteers both old and new to usher in the 20th year of the Learning Celebration. Teachers, Environmental Educators, Artists, Performers and River Lovers please help us bring the Learning Celebration into its second decade by signing up to volunteer, donate a meal or help with a site move. For more information please email jenna.schreiber@gmail.com
2009 Learning Celebration Dates: Week one (Bynum): September 19 - September 25
Week two (Saxapahaw): September 26 - October 2
Week three (Guilrock): October 3 - October 9
Coming Soon: Learning Celebration Station Materials and Sign Up Sheets will soon be available on our website!
Posted on: Wednesday February 25, 2009 EST
Give the Gift of a Clyde Jones 2009 Bald Eagle T-shirt!
Haw River Festival 2009 T-Shirts-- "Bald Eagle" by Clyde Jones The new 2009 Haw River Festival T-shirt makes a great gift. The design by Clyde Jones shows a bald eagle on an adult gray or ladies butter yellow shirt, with bright turquoise in kids' sizes. Haw River map is on back of shirt. The adult and ladies sizes are $20 each and come in Small, Medium, Large, X-large and XX-large. The youth shirt comes in youth size Small, Medium and Large for $16 each. Add $3 per shirt for shipping.
(Send checks made out to Haw River Assembly at PO Box 187 Bynum NC 27228. Include total #, sizes and colors of shirts ordered and who to ship them to. Or call us at (919) 542-5790 to arrange a time to come by our office in Bynum to shop. Shirt designs from previous years are also available.)
Posted on: Wednesday December 13, 2006 EST
HRA Joins Waterkeeper Alliance with Haw Riverkeeper
The Haw River Assembly has been licensed by the Waterkeeper Alliance as the Haw Riverkeeper program. We are proud to be part of this strong organization that champions and empowers the 177 Waterkeeper programs who protect and preserve waters in the United States and throughout the world. The Haw Riverkeeper joins 13 other NC river and coastal Waterkeepers--the most of any state--who work to protect the Neuse, Catawba, Tar-Pamlico, Cape Fear, French Broad, Watauga, New, Yadkin, Waccamaw, and three NC Coastal Federation Coastkeepers.
The Waterkeeper Alliance has its roots in the battle by New York fishermen and environmentalists in the 1960's to stop a giant utility project on the Hudson River. With the passage of the 1972 federal Clean Water Act this first Riverkeeper group was determined to use the law's powerful citizen enforcement tools to work for clean water. This remarkable story is told in the The Riverkeepers: Two Activists Fight to Reclaim our Environment as a Basic Human Right, by John Cronin and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (New York: Scribner 1997).
The Haw River Assembly has worked for 26 years to protect and preserve the Haw River, and we believe our efforts will be greatly strengthened by joining the Waterkeeper Alliance. Elaine Chiosso, longtime lead advocacy voice and Executive Director for HRA, will be the new Haw Riverkeeper.
Posted on: Friday August 01, 2008 EST
About the Haw River Assembly
CAUTION to PADDLERS: The Haw River is very dangerous at high flow. Go to the USGS gauge at Bynum on this website ("Recreational info" button) to check the current river level and safety information.
The Haw River Assembly is a non-profit citizens' group founded in 1982 to restore and protect the Haw River and Jordan Lake. The Haw River is a valuable natural resource; the headwaters of the Cape Fear River Basin. The Haw River provides drinking water to many communities, important habitat for wildlife, including endangered species, and recreational and scenic areas.
Our goals are to promote environmental education, conservation and pollution prevention; to speak as a voice for the river in the public arena; and to put into peoples' hands the tools and the knowledge they need to be effective guardians of the river. We are strong coalition builders and have over 1500 members and active volunteers. We believe that to be successful we must reach out to all people in our watershed. We have strengthened our voice by working effectively with other organizations, and are members of River Network, NC Conservation Network and the NC Watershed Coalition. We work with other organizations in the Cape Fear River Basin on issues of mutual concern, including Cape Fear River Watch , the Deep River project of the Greensboro Audubon Society, and the Cape Fear River Assembly.
As it flows through urban and rural areas in Guilford, Rockingham, Alamance, Orange and Chatham counties, sedimentation, wastewater, and runoff pollute its waters. Our mission is to protect this natural resource and to build a watershed community that shares this vision.
Our major projects are the Haw River Festival, a traveling environmental education program, and the Haw River Watch Project, grassroots water monitoring of the Haw and its tributaries. In 2000 we initiated our new Stream Steward Project, involving communities and individuals in how to protect their local streams - saving the river one backyard at a time!
The Haw River Assembly activities take place every season of the year. Hikes and canoe trips, potlucks, volunteer opportunities, streamwatch outings, workshops, and a quarterly newsletter are a few of the benefits of membership. Members also provide a vital base of support for the Festival and all the Assembly's work.
All of our work is made possible by the tremendous efforts of volunteers like you! Our work is funded by member dues, individual donations, fundraising events, and by grants from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Triangle Community Foundation, the REI Gives program of REI, and the NC DENR 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Prevention program.
Posted on: Thursday March 18, 2004 EST
Seeking Volunteers for New Watchdog Initiatives
The Haw River Assembly is beginning two new watchdog initiatives, to put more concerned eyes on the river and on Jordan Lake. Bridge Watch is recruiting folks who frequently cross a bridge over the Haw or Jordan Lake, to "adopt-a-Haw-River-bridge". We'll ask you to notice, as you cross the bridge, if the river has excessive sediment, algae growth, and/or bad odors; and to call or email HRA to report the problem. We will contact other bridge-watchers to ask how the river looks where they are, to better track sources of problems and get State environmental agencies involved when necessary. See the list of river and lake bridge crossings.
Do you enjoy boating, fishing, paddling, hiking at Jordan Lake? If you are a frequent user of the lake, please consider joining our Lake Watch network that can notify HRA of pollution sightings. With high algae growth in the lake due to nutrient "enrichment", there is potential for algae blooms and fish kills that we want to know about quickly. We are also interested in observations of where trash is piling up, as well as nature sightings.
To sign up, please email us at info@hawriver.org, with "Bridge Watch" or "Lake Watch" in the subject line, or call us at (919) 542-5790. Thanks!
To report a problem on Jordan Lake, print out this Lake Watch Problem Report Form, fill it out, and mail it to us at HRA, P.O. Box 187, Bynum, 27228. Thanks for your help!
Posted on: Monday November 28, 2005 EST
Do You Have A Pollution Problem to Report?
Your voice counts! If you have a stream, Haw River, or Jordan Lake pollution problem to report, go to our new Report A Pollution Problem page to let local and state authorities know. Go to Pollution Reports to see problems that have been reported.
The remainder of the forest that protects the headwaters, about 2 acres, is now up for sale. It is vital that we purchase it for permanent protection to save the rest of this forest that guards the springs. Click 
The 
2009 marks the 20th year of the Haw River Learning Celebration. The Learning Celebration is an Environmental Education Program for fourth graders that travels the length of the Haw River. In the 19 year history the Learning Celebration has reached over 33,000 fourth graders. We are looking for volunteers both old and new to usher in the 20th year of the Learning Celebration. Teachers, Environmental Educators, Artists, Performers and River Lovers please help us bring the Learning Celebration into its second decade by signing up to volunteer, donate a meal or help with a site move. For more information please email 
Haw River Festival 2009 T-Shirts-- "Bald Eagle" by Clyde Jones
CAUTION to PADDLERS: The Haw River is very dangerous at high flow. Go to the USGS gauge at Bynum on this website ("Recreational info" button) to check the current river level and safety information.