Yadkin gets a watchdog

October 23, 2008

Dean Naujoks plans to spend lots of time this winter traveling up and down the Yadkin River. But it won't be for pleasure.

In his new position as Riverkeeper of the Yadkin, Naujoks will be monitoring the health of the river, which provides drinking water for more than 1 million people.

Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc. recently hired Naujoks to serve as an advocate for the river. He will begin his job Nov. 14.

The local Riverkeeper group was formed in 2007 after a series of organizational meetings was held throughout the Yadkin River basin.

Yadkin Riverkeeper is affiliated with Waterkeeper Alliance, an international organization that helps local groups set up water-protection programs. Local groups are allowed to use the Riverkeeper name if they meet certain criteria, including hiring a full-time person to serve as an advocate or Riverkeeper.

There are 12 Riverkeeper and Coastkeeper groups in North Carolina and more than 170 worldwide.

Naujoks, 39, served as Riverkeeper for the Upper Neuse River from 2001 to 2008. Before that, he worked for the N.C. Wildlife Federation for eight years.

Zoe Hanes, the president of the local Riverkeeper group, said that Naujoks' experience impressed the board of directors.

"Being a Riverkeeper is a pretty special job, and you need a unique set of qualifications," Hanes said.

"Being a new organization, we needed someone who could hit the ground running. He's going to have a lot on his plate the first few years."

Even though Naujoks will be spending time on the river, a lot of his work will take place on land. One of his biggest challenges will be stirring up community support for the river.

As Riverkeeper for the Upper Neuse, he started a program called Muddy Water Watch, which trained residents to look for sediment runoff from construction sites. "Very little attention is being paid to this, and there's very little accountability when we know the law is being broken," Naujoks said.

In addition, he said he will also be reviewing sewage-discharge permits and making sure that business and municipalities are complying with local and state laws.

"We will hold those who are out of compliance accountable," Naujoks said.

He said he is not sure yet whether his office will be in Winston-Salem or Salisbury.

The local Riverkeeper group will pay his salary from a mix of private donations and grants.

"Having someone working full time to look out for the Yadkin is critical now," Hanes said. "And in the next 10 to 15 years, it's going to be even more critical with continued growth and development and global climate change and drought. All of that makes it important to have someone look out for this resource."

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