Water is the most valuable resource on Earth, but it is constantly under threat and we can't protect it without your help. We
need dedicated, informed volunteers who can watch for, report on and help us correct many of the different problems we experience throughout the basin and we hope you will join us by becoming a RiverWatch volunteer!
RiverWatch is a basin-wide, environmental "neighborhood watch" program designed
to help citizens understand the importance of watching over their local
waterways and to teach them how to take action to protect them. "Watching" can be as simple as keeping your eyes open while you walk on a greenway or as focused as taking a boat out to investigate a known problem. Regardless of what activity you prefer, RiverWatch will provide you with a toolbox of knowledge and skills for protecting your local waters in the way that best fits your set of skills and resources.
Who Should Be Trained?
Anyone who spends time outside and wants to learn how they can decrease their “footprint” on local rivers and streams, as well as learn how to recognize and correct pollution and other threats to water quality is a potential RiverWatch volunteer. We suggest an existing understanding of basic earth science but young students are welcome too.
What Do Trained Volunteers Do? The work of RiverWatch volunteers increases the total number of hours spent protecting and correcting water quality in the Neuse River basin without requiring the addition of new NRF staff, allowing us to provide the greatest benefit to the watershed with the fewest resources possible.
Note: The hours spent learning and "watching" for RiverWatch can be counted as community service and volunteer hours through many school and service recognition programs; pleasecontact usto find out more.
After completing the RiverWatch training session, volunteers will be encouraged to:
Sign a pledge to protect their waterways by making small changes at home;
Commit at least four (4) hours per month on monitoring their local waterways;
Complete reports for both negative and positive sightings;
Address as many threats and rectify as many problems as possible through their own efforts, with the assistance of NRF staff;
Attend additional training and support sessions as volunteers
express interest in emerging topics or a desire for more in-depth
knowledge on a topic that has already been addressed;
Have fun and make a difference!
Interested in Becoming a RiverWatch Volunteer?
Training sessions are scheduled frequently in both the Upper and Lower Neuse. Please contact your local Riverkeeper for more information.
