Peter Raabe
North Carolina Conservation Director
Department: Conservation
Area of Focus: Peter leads American Rivers' work in North Carolina focusing on state level policy. Some of the biggest natural challenges facing the state in the coming decades will be in the areas of water quality and quantity. His work advocates for more natural solutions to manage polluted stormwater run-off and using the limited clean water available in the state in the most efficient way practicable. Additionally, he leads American River's federal budget work in Washington D.C., advocating for adequate federal investment in our river resources.
Background: Peter joined American Rivers in September 2001. He started as the River Restoration Finance Associate, developing and coordinating American River's river restoration granting program. In 2002, he took on responsibilities for coordinating and advocating for American Rivers federal appropriations priorities. In 2004, he was chosen as one of the chairs of the environmental community's Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Previously, he worked for River Network in Washington, D.C. focusing on organizational development and policy coordination of watershed groups throughout the country. Peter also brings with him experience as a staffer in the U.S. Senate, organizing experience with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and experience as a Democratic Committeeman for the Democratic Party of the City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Education: B.A. in American Government and Environmental Studies specializing in watershed protection from Franklin and Marshall College
Favorite River: The Mississippi River, near the mouth of the river
Blog Posts By This Author
Little River Reservoir Stopped!
November 26, 2012 | Most Endangered Rivers, Water Supply
The Little River (just north of Raleigh, NC) will continue to be a free flowing river for the foreseeable future. The City of Raleigh will look to its current drinking water source- Falls Lake - and determine if additional water supply can be provided from that reservoir.
Read more »North Carolina Fracking Law Vetoed, Veto Overturned
July 3, 2012 | Fracking, Water Pollution, Water Supply
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed S820, the North Carolina law that would allow fracking to happen in the state. The bill would have rushed to open the state up to fracking without the appropriate studies to assure that the clean waters of the state were protected from polluted fracking waste water.
Read more »North Carolina Fracking Fracas
June 6, 2012 | Fracking, Water Pollution
North Carolina is the latest state to look at allowing development of its shale gas deposits using hydrologic fracturing (or fracking). On the American Rivers blog, we have previously discussed the hazards to our rivers and clean water supplies that fracking poses. Most recently, we highlighted the concerns surrounding natural gas development with the inclusion of the Grand River in Ohio on our annual list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®.
Read more »A Vision Of Green Roofs In Durham, NC
April 5, 2012 | Water Pollution, Stormwater & Sewage
North Carolina has a stormwater problem. It is a great place to live and because of that a lot of people have moved here creating a lot of development. That development happened with very little regard for water quality. Many of the rivers are polluted due to pollution carried in stormwater that runs off the developed lands.
Read more »