By Nicole Eastman, Riverkeeper Assistant
Nicole Eastman, Riverkeeper Assistant presenting to a group of High School students at Winston Lake
On Wednesday, March 19th five local groups including Yadkin Riverkeeper (YRK) volunteered to lead an activity for Winston-Salem high school students. Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) coordinated this event for almost 100 high school students from Carver High School, Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy, and Kennedy High School. We set up stations at Winston Lake focused on a variety of environmental topics. For example, the Audubon Society led a birding activity, other groups conducted water and macroinvertebrate sampling, and Yadkin Riverkeeper led a discussion on environmental justice and watershed protection.
Edgar and Nicole described the role of Riverkeepers, the function of watersheds, and the erosion problems on Brushy Fork Creek. Winston Lake and Brushy Fork Creek are located in the Upper Salem Creek watershed, so we thought it was a chance to describe the local environmental issues and encourage students to think about these problems through an environmental justice lens.
Photo Credit: Sarah Hahne, Ardmore Photography | Riverkeeper Edgar Miller presenting at High School Field Trip Day
Brushy Fork Creek located in Northeast Winston-Salem has severe erosion issues along Barkwood Drive in the Northwood Estates neighborhood. The Smith-Reynolds Airport had clear-cut land just upstream which caused increased runoff entering the stream and ultimately bank erosion. Northwood Estates is a majority black neighborhood, and the residents on Barkwood Drive experienced loss of backyard property, sinkholes, fallen fences and trees, and even one resident had damage to their outdoor porch due to the streambank erosion. The Brushy Fork Greenway was also washed away with the loss of the streambank. This particular issue is an environmental injustice for the community impacted by the degradation of Brushy Fork Creek. YRK advocated for local funding to restore the section of Brushy Fork Creek along Barkwood Drive. $1 million was acquired to complete this restoration project a year ago, but the airport is still in the planning stage.
Brushy Fork Creek and Winston Lake are part of the Upper Salem Creek Watershed shown above.
YRK described the issues along Brushy Fork Creek to the high school students and asked them to consider several questions. They discussed what they value in a safe environment, examples of environmental injustice in their communities, and how to promote environmental protection as advocates. Many examples students provided included litter in their neighborhoods, water pollution from industries, and a lack of forest cover in urban areas which causes higher temperatures in the summer.
Then, YRK staff and students picked up trash around the park. The park had plenty of trash for the five student groups to pick-up over the course of the day. It was great to be a part of an event focused on engaging students in the outdoors and bringing local partners together to provide environmental education opportunities. We look forward to collaborating with PEA on future events!
