Sustainable Sandhills

06/10/2026

📢 ACTION ALERT 📢
Time is running out to comment on NC's proposed PFAS and 1,4 dioxane monitoring and minimization "rules." This weak attempt at forever chemical regulation essentially gives dischargers carte blanche to continue contaminating our state waterways. Tell the Environment Management Commission by June 15: don't let our lifelines flatline. Learn how you can join the fight to protect our Cape Fear River at sustainablesandhills.org/PFAS.

06/06/2026

How are you? Did you notice some smokiness or haziness in the air last week? If so, congratulations! Your senses were in action noticing particle pollution in your local air quality.

Likely due to prescribed fire (which is an important practice for conservation in our sandhills pine savannah), Hoke County experienced multiple hours of Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy air quality on June 3rd, 4th, and 5th. In the event of air quality this poor, please remember to stay indoors as much as possible until the particulate matter settles to a safe level.

Remember, the regulatory sensor for the sandhills region does not pick up regional data, but our regionally-placed sensors do. Follow Sustainable Sandhills & Omega Air NC on Facebook and Instagram, and find our sensors closest to you on maps.purpleair.com.

If you are interested in hosting a sensor or becoming an Air Quality Ambassador, please reach out to [email protected].

05/31/2026

Yesterday was a glorious day on the Cape Fear River! THANK YOU to everyone who came to our first A Paddle and A Picnic event. We'll definitely host another paddling event in the fall as part of our National Public Lands Day celebration.

And a special shout out to ...
• Beehive Yourself for the delicious lunch!
• Cape Fear River Adventures, LLC for giving us an amazing day!
• The Royal Soleil Marketing and Photography and Up & Coming Weekly for the media coverage!
and
• Organic Life Amendments for your sponsorship!

Visit sustainablesandhills.org/paddle for more information on future paddles!

05/30/2026

Air quality update! We saw a “Moderate” air quality index score for both supplementary sensors on Wednesday, May 27th. The most common pollutant in the air on Wednesday was PM 2.5.

Particle pollution that small are capable of entering your bloodstream through the bronchial in your lungs. Protect your health by becoming more air aware with Sustainable Sandhills and Omega Air NC!

If you are interested in hosting a sensor or becoming an Air Quality Ambassador, please reach out to [email protected].

05/23/2026

Become more Air Aware with Sustainable Sandhills and Omega Air NC! We placed supplementary sensors in the region so you have more personalized air quality information.

On Tuesday, Hoke County experienced a spike in particle pollution, and overall, we are noticing air quality index scores trending higher, with particulate matter as the primary pollutant. We can prevent poor air quality index scores by taking cleaner commutes and advocating for cleaner industry standards in our region.

If you are interested in hosting a sensor or becoming an Air Quality Ambassador, please reach out to [email protected].

05/22/2026

LAST HOURS TO BUY TICKETS! Ticket sales end at midnight tonight and there are only a handful left, so scoop yours up now at sustainablesandhills.org/paddle.

05/21/2026

Thank you to Amanda Ransom at Up & Coming Weekly for the great article on A Paddle and A Picnic!

Up and Coming Weekly, News, Views, Arts, Entertainment,Local Paper, Fayetteville, North Carolina

05/21/2026

TWO DAYS LEFT FOR TICKETS!
Only a few tickets remain for our spring fundraiser! Purchase yours by Friday, May 22. Proceeds benefit Sustainable Sandhills' water quality programs.

Thank you to Beehive Yourself for catering this event and Cape Fear River Adventures, LLC for hosting us!

05/17/2026

It was a beautiful day at Raven Rock State Park! Thank you to all the hikers who joined us this morning! We enjoyed some very gneiss views. Sorry ... geologist humor!

The adventures continue on May 30. You can get up close and personal with the Cape Fear River at A Paddle and A Picnic on May 30. Visit sustainablesandhills.org/paddle for details.

More hikes are coming this fall!

05/17/2026

Welcome to your supplementary air sensor information.

These Air Quality Index (AQI) scores will be more accurate for your locale because we have installed a supplementary sensor in YOUR county! Scroll through to find the county you live in or the one closest to you. Comment below what county you’d like to see next.

This week, we noticed the daily average AQI in Hoke and Bladen Counties trended in the ‘Good’ range. More insights and information to come.

Thank you to Omega Air NC for partnering with us for a more ‘air-aware’ NC Sandhills.