Yadkin Riverkeeper

08/21/2026

Our Swim Guide results are in for the week! 4 sites failed this week: Crater Park, Burch Station, Shoals, and HWY 64. Rain moving through the watershed earlier this week from Elkin to Pilot Mountain most likely caused an increase of runoff and higher bacteria levels at these sites.

¡Tenemos los resultados de la Guía de Natación esta semana! 4 de 26 sitios no pasaron la guía de seguridad: Crater Park, Burch Station, Shoals, y HWY 64.

08/21/2026

In addition to the end of the Long Paddle today, YRK completed another historic milestone of connecting w/ the P*e Dee Lynches Riverkeeper, Dylan Coleman, and Debra Buffkin, the executive director of the Winyah Rivers Alliance. Ron and Nancy Bryant at the Three Eagles Nature Sanctuary on the P*e Dee River, hosted the meeting. Ron is a founding member of both the Catawba Riverkeeper and YRK, having been part of the Friends of the Yadkin P*e Dee. We visited the River alongside their 170-acres conservation property being managed for wildlife and floodplain protection. It was so great to see them again and make these connections. Ron "floated" down the P*e Dee from the property to Georgetown, SC in 2007 on a raft lashed together over two canoes w/ a tent on top.

08/21/2026

The Long Paddlers have completed their journey along the Yadkin River State Trail. The final grueling leg of 37 miles of lake paddling ov e four days in 90 degree plus heat, including four portages around major hydropower dams, ended safely at Mile Marker Zero at Morrow Mountain State Park on Lake Tillery. A significant personal achievement for the paddlers and an historic day for YRK and the YRST.

08/20/2026

Today's the day! The Long Paddlers should be getting off the water between 12:30-1pm at Morrow Mountain State Park. Join us there to welcome them home!

08/20/2026

Yadkin Riverkeeper Nicole Eastman is now a member of a very exclusive club.

Mile Marker 4 club.
Only people who walk the Narrows Dam Portage will have this shot. Yadkin Riverkeeper, Nicole Eastman is one of the newest members

08/19/2026

As the Long Paddlers near the end of their journey, it's not too late to support their efforts!

The purpose of the Long Paddle is more than highlighting the fun of paddling the Yadkin River State Trail. It is also to draw attention to the beauty and value of the Yadkin River and to identify potential threats to our watershed.

Please consider sponsoring their trip through the link below!
https://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/sponsor-the-long-paddle

08/18/2026

Day 11 of the Long Paddle: Tuckertown!

After a tough portage over the dam at High Rock Lake, we paddled Tuckertown Reservoir, the drinking water supply for Albemarle. We had an amazing breeze at our backs that kept us cool and moving to our campsite! Unfortunately, there is a lot of black mat algae as a result of nutrient pollution, but the lake is still one of the most beautiful in our state with limited development.

08/18/2026

Day 10 of the Long Paddle:

The paddlers took off from Yadkin River Park this morning and paddled across High Rock Lake. It was a hot day, but we took swim breaks in the lake and had a nice visit from Edgar and Bo Wagner. At the dam, one of YRK’s members, Bob Smith greeted us with cold watermelon and grapes and a key lime pie!