Press releases

Yadkin Riverkeeper Calls for State to Post PCB Fish Consumption Advisories. State Must Address PCB Contamination in Alcoa’s 401 Water Quality Certification

Two Public Hearings Next Week to Water Quality and Public Health Issues  

Monday, May 13 at Morrow Mountain State Park Lodge, Albemarle, NC

Tuesday, May 14 at 7 PM at Stanly County Commissioners Meeting Room in Albemarle

The 50 Year Fight For the yadkin River (e.g. Bringing Dead Waters Back to Life)

Winston Salem, NC, April 22, 2013 – As we celebrate Earth Day 2013, River Network, a national support center for grassroots river conservation, celebrates its silver anniversary by highlighting twenty-five success stories and lessons learned from water advocates across the U.S. River Network; and applauds Yadkin Riverkeeper and citizens throughout the Yadkin River basin for opposing Alcoa’s bid for a 50-year license.

Yadkin Riverkeeper received a $25,000 grant from Wells Fargo-National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in order to hold seven public education forums.

The meetings, entitled “Think Outside The Sink,” will focus on increasing the amount of direct citizen input received by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. The first in a series of seven forums will be held on World Water Day, Mar. 22, at Wake Forest University.

Winston-Salem, NC, February 5, 2013 – Looking for things to do, places to stay and great food along the Yadkin River? Yadkin Riverkeeper today launches a new online tool that is designed to showcase unique experiences and river access points to encourage greater use of North Carolina’s second largest river basin.

Yadkin Project Still Failing To Meeting Water Quality Standards for Dissolved Oxygen

Winston-Salem, NC, September 6, 2012 – On September 4, the Attorney General of North Carolina on behalf of the Department of Water Quality (DWQ) requested that the North Carolina Courts deny Alcoa’s request filed on August 28^th for a motion to dismiss its appeal “without prejudice” concerning the 2009 401 water quality certificate for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project.

State of North Carolina may have the right to collect additional payments from Alcoa

Winston-Salem, NC, December 13, 2011 –Yadkin Riverkeeper today submitted a request for a Declaratory Ruling by the North Carolina Secretary of Administration to determine the true ownership of the Yadkin River bed in Stanly County in order to protect the State’s interests from Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. (Alcoa). 

Majority Of Voters Believe Alcoa Should Not Be Granted a New Federal License To Control Part Of The Yadkin River for the Next 50 Years

Star, N.C. – A new poll commissioned by Central Park, NC has gauged public opinion regarding Alcoa Corporation’s application for a new 50-year license to control part of the Yadkin River to produce hydroelectricity for the benefit of its shareholders. A survey of 500 registered voters across North Carolina indicated that most North Carolinians overwhelmingly oppose such an agreement.

New Studies Indicate PCBs from Alcoa Continue To Contaminate Badin Lake, NC

Winston-Salem, NC, November 8, 2011 – Yadkin Riverkeeper today announced that the group has issued a letter of intent to bring a lawsuit under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) to sue the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) for the company’s unlawful discharge of lethal contaminants at the Badin Works facility in Badin, NC.

Winston-Salem, NC, October 25, 2011 – Yadkin Riverkeeper today announced that Wells Fargo will be the Gold Sponsor for the upcoming presentation by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. when he makes his visit to Winston-Salem for a presentation on November 3 at Wake Forest University.