Press Release

“We are very concerned about the contamination of the Yadkin River basin that has come to light over the past several months.  The fact that the state of North Carolina posted a fish consumption advisory in February for Badin Lake, which serves as Albemarle’s drinking water supply and is a major recreation hotspot, is extremely troubling.

"We anxiously await the results from the State Department of Water Quality’s ongoing tests.  It is critical that we know the full scope of the contamination in the river system and that a plan is implemented quickly to clean up pollution and protect human health.  Those parties responsible for any contamination should be identified, and they should be held accountable for the cleanup.

“The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in North Carolina and supports many communities and economies with recreation and drinking water supplies. Tens of thousands of people depend on the Yadkin River, and its health must be a priority.”

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American Rivers is the leading organization working to protect and restore the nation’s rivers and streams. Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Since 1973, American Rivers has fought to preserve these connections, helping protect and restore more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects, and the annual release of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 100,000 supporters, members, and volunteers nationwide. Visit www.americanrivers.org, www.facebook.com/americanrivers and www.twitter.com/americanrivers.