By Stephanie Stephens, Water Quality Advocate
Forsyth County Creek Week is a county-wide celebration of fresh water, one of the world’s most important and limited resources. The week-long extravaganza is sponsored by many local businesses and organizations, including Yadkin Riverkeeper. Events are organized and hosted by non-profit organizations, townships, local churches and community programs, Forsyth County utilities, Stormwater Smart and conservation groups, like YRK.
Yadkin Riverkeeper has hosted several events this week that started with a stream cleanup on Salem Creek in Winston-Salem, Saturday, March 22nd. The cleanup was a success with over 45 attendees who collected 1,000 lbs of trash! On Sunday, Assistant Riverkeeper Nicole Eastman and Water Quality Advocate Stephanie Stephens tabled the Creek Week Jamboree, a special event held by all Creek Week Partners at Winston Lake Park. Highlights of this event included waterway trolly tours, free fishing, bird feeder building, and fun educational activities at presenter stations all throughout the park.
On Monday evening, the highly anticipated “State of Our Water” panel-style discussion featured Yadkin Riverkeeper Edgar Miller, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Water Treatment Superintendent, Alan Fowler, Town of Kernersville Stormwater Manager Wendi Hartup and and John Calhoun, the conservation chair of the local Foothills Chapter Sierra Club. This panel was recorded and can be watched online at Forsyth Creek Week’s Facebook Page.
Yadkin Riverkeeper also hosted a special guest of honor, filmmaker Scott Morris, for their joint live screening event with Temple Emanuel, Parkway United Church of Christ, and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, of American River, a documentary about the Passaic River adventure of Mary Bruno and her guide Carl Alderson as they kayak 80 miles from the pristine source to the polluted mouth in Newark Bay. Scott Morris filmed and directed this fantastic documentary, which has an IMDB rating of 9.2/10, and was in town for Forsyth Creek Week to do a special Q&A after the showing.
American River Director Scott Morris
To wrap up 2025 Creek Week, Yadkin Riverkeeper and the Town of Lewisville will host a paddle on Saturday March 29th on the Yadkin River beginning at Old 421 Access to Huntsville Access. YRST Coordinator Ward Swann, YRK Staff members and registered paddlers will set out to experience early spring on the river and celebrate the new leaves and emerging wildlife. If you haven’t paddled on the Yadkin River, we highly recommend signing up as a member through our website at www.yadkinriverkeeper.org and join us this summer or fall!
For more information on Forsyth County Creek Week events this weekend, March 28-30th, go to forsythcreekweek.org and select “Events by Date” for a calendar with dates, times and addresses! There are still many more fun workshops, paddles and educational opportunities to attend before it is over until next year!