WHAT WE DO:

Research and citizen education efforts are jointly funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Chatham County, the N.C. Conservation Trust and the N.C. Division of Water Quality 319 Grant Program. Research efforts seek to locate and compile the best available information concerning the environmental, natural and cultural features of the Rocky River. Citizen education education efforts use this information to build citizen support for improved local, state and federal water quality, sedimentation control, land use planning and natural area preservation programs. Citizen education emphasizes the need to protect the entire Rocky River including especially three nationally significant aquatic habitats and eight natural heritage areas - all of which have been identified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Education efforts include presentations before community and student groups and elected officials.

Water quality monitoring is jointly funded by Chatham County and third parties including the N. C. State University Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. This program involves advanced placement science students & their instructors at three Chatham County high schools as well as riverside property owners. Its purpose is to supplement governmental water quality monitoring efforts with monitoring efforts focusing on development activities.

River corridor planning is funded by the N.C. Conservation Trust. Its purpose is to identify and prioritize areas that require protection. This program is being undertaken in partnership with the Triangle Land Conservancy.