CAFOS IN THE

CAFOs in the Catawba River Basin

by Brandon Jones, Catawba Riverkeeper

Unlike North Waste Utilization Plan, Carolina’s eastbut not required to file ern rivers, the it with the state. There Catawba is not threatare no initial or regular ened by large lagoons of inspections. Because animal waste. The state’s the waste is combined portion of the river basin with sawdust and spread contains only 19 permitonto nearby fields, they ted facilities; one swine are not considered to operation and 18 cattle. discharge. Our DepartHurricanes are unlikely ment of Environmental to cause major breaches Quality does not have a and flood barns because map of dry litter CAFO of the topography. Instead, the Catawba River Brandon Jones locations. We rely on satellite imagery and has a chicken problem. monthly flyovers to locate new facilities

At any given moment, there are apand report violations. proximately 32 million chickens on CAFOs However, when it rains, that waste is upstream of the Charlotte area lakes (Lake mobilized and can wash into our streams Norman, Mountain Island Lake and Lake and, ultimately, the lakes. We consistently Wylie). They reside in about 750 operafind elevated levels of fecal bacteria in tions in approximately 1,050 barns. Each creeks downstream of spreading fields. Adbarn holds 20 to 35 thousand of them. ditionally, poultry litter contains high levels These facilities are most concentrated in of nitrogen and phosphorus which can lead Alexander and Caldwell counties. We to algal blooms and fish kills. use round numbers and approximaAs part of a statewide campaign tions because these facilities are “deemed with the Waterkeeper Alliance and other permitted.” They are expected to have a state Keepers, we have been collecting water samples, documenting locations and reporting violations. Last year, State Senator Harper Peterson, of Wilmington, introduced a Poultry Study Bill to begin the process of increasing accountability and transparency. Unfortunately, it did not leave committee. For now, individuals can best help by eating less factory-farmed meat and supporting environmental nonprofits such as the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. Come November, we need citizens to ask candidates about water quality and support those who will help protect one of our most precious resources.

Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Charlotte that advocates to protect the Catawba-Wateree River Basin’s lakes, rivers and streams. Location: 715 N. Church St., Ste. 120. For more information, visit CatawbaRiverkeeper.org, email CRF@CatawbaRiverkeeper.org or call 704-679-9494.

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