Yadkin Riverkeeper Launches "Tour De Yadkin" with April 6-7 Events at River Headwaters
Winston Salem, NC, April 07, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Yadkin Riverkeeper® will commence the “Tour de Yadkin,” a 23-day journey down the Yadkin River, with kick-off events on April 6 and April 7 to celebrate the start of the trip. Dean Naujoks, the Yadkin Riverkeeper, will embark on plans to paddle the Yadkin River—an effort to engage with communities along the way about the region’s most valuable natural resource.
The “Tour de Yadkin” hopes to raise awareness of threats to the Yadkin River as both a precious natural resource and longtime victim of exploitation by Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. The Yadkin Riverkeeper is working to prevent Alcoa from renewing a 50-year federal license for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, which consists of four reservoirs, dams and hydropower stations along a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River. The statewide opposition to Alcoa believes that the multinational firm exploits the Yadkin River for tens of millions in profits of hydroelectricity sold outside the state while refusing to correct multiple contamination issues caused by Alcoa in the water and land around the dams.
Naujoks will discuss what can be done to address the situation as well as to reduce problems caused by excessive development, habitat degradation and sedimentation on the river.
The inaugural event will take place on Tuesday, April 6 at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock, N.C., at the historical headwaters of the Yadkin River. From 2p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Naujoks will discuss threats facing the river. On Wednesday, April 7, the public may join the Riverkeeper at Warrior Creek Campground on Kerr Scott Reservoir at 11 a.m. as he paddles across the reservoir to Bandit’s Roost. From the amphitheater at Bandit’s Roost at 7 p.m., Naujoks will share his knowledge about the river and goals for the Tour.
The 23-day, 230-mile journey, titled “Tour de Yadkin,” is modeled after the “Tour de Neuse” trip that the Yadkin Riverkeeper took along the Neuse River in 2006. The tour and activities will be ongoing from the beginning of Naujoks’ month-long voyage on April 6 and continue through May 1.
Quotes:
“This is part documentary and part activist in its efforts,” Naujoks said, “It is designed to capture people’s interest and raise awareness about the river among people in North Carolina who depend on it for drinking water – including more than 200,000 people in Winston-Salem alone. We will have updates posted on my Web site, www.yadkinriverkeeper.org that will be made available to traditional media as well.”
Details:
- Some weekend trips will be open to the public and outfitters will be on hand to rent equipment. Reservations can be made through the Yadkin Riverkeeper website. Click here for details.
- During the trip, Yadkin Riverkeeper will be offering a sponsorship program. River enthusiast can "purchase a mile" of the Tour de Yadkin in honor of a loved one or fishing/boating buddy. Sponsors will receive a membership to Yadkin Riverkeeper with their donation. Buying a mile long section of the tour costs $10. Yadkin Riverkeeper hopes to draw new members and raise funds to help protect the river.
- The “Tour de Yadkin” full daily schedule can be found here: http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/tour2010schedule
About the Yadkin Riverkeeper:
The Yadkin Riverkeeper’s mission is to respect, protect and improve the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through education, advocacy and action. It is aimed at creating a clean and healthy river that sustains life and is cherished by its people. To achieve this vision, it seeks to accomplish the following objectives: sustain a RIVERKEEPER® program, measurably improve water quality, reestablish native bio-diversity, preserve and enhance the forest canopy, bring legal action to enforce state and federal environmental laws, and teach and practice a “river ethic” of ecological respect to all ages. For more information, visit http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org or call 336-293-8105.
About Dean Naujoks:
Dean Naujoks is the Yadkin Riverkeeper, employed by Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc. since the fall of 2008 to manage and implement a river advocacy program for the Yadkin Pee Dee River watershed in North Carolina that will keep it a healthy and vibrant river for residents and businesses in the long term. Yadkin Riverkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which connects and supports local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice and champion clean water for waterways and their communities worldwide. A longtime water quality advocate, Naujoks became the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper in 2001 at the nonprofit Neuse River Foundation. His job there was to monitor conditions and advocate for protection of the Neuse River from Falls Lake to Goldsboro. He was appointed by Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker to serve on the joint government PCB Task Force to address PCB contamination in Crabtree Creek from Ward Transformer. A graduate of N.C. State, Naujoks created his own major in environmental policy and sustainable development. He also worked for the NC Wildlife Federation from 1991-1999. Naujoks has received River Network’s 2009 National “River Hero” Award on behalf of his efforts.
Media Contact:
Dean Naujoks
Yadkin Riverkeeper®
308 Patterson Ave.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
dean@yadkinriverkeeper.org
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org
###
The “Tour de Yadkin” hopes to raise awareness of threats to the Yadkin River as both a precious natural resource and longtime victim of exploitation by Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. The Yadkin Riverkeeper is working to prevent Alcoa from renewing a 50-year federal license for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, which consists of four reservoirs, dams and hydropower stations along a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River. The statewide opposition to Alcoa believes that the multinational firm exploits the Yadkin River for tens of millions in profits of hydroelectricity sold outside the state while refusing to correct multiple contamination issues caused by Alcoa in the water and land around the dams.
Naujoks will discuss what can be done to address the situation as well as to reduce problems caused by excessive development, habitat degradation and sedimentation on the river.
The inaugural event will take place on Tuesday, April 6 at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock, N.C., at the historical headwaters of the Yadkin River. From 2p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Naujoks will discuss threats facing the river. On Wednesday, April 7, the public may join the Riverkeeper at Warrior Creek Campground on Kerr Scott Reservoir at 11 a.m. as he paddles across the reservoir to Bandit’s Roost. From the amphitheater at Bandit’s Roost at 7 p.m., Naujoks will share his knowledge about the river and goals for the Tour.
The 23-day, 230-mile journey, titled “Tour de Yadkin,” is modeled after the “Tour de Neuse” trip that the Yadkin Riverkeeper took along the Neuse River in 2006. The tour and activities will be ongoing from the beginning of Naujoks’ month-long voyage on April 6 and continue through May 1.
Quotes:
“This is part documentary and part activist in its efforts,” Naujoks said, “It is designed to capture people’s interest and raise awareness about the river among people in North Carolina who depend on it for drinking water – including more than 200,000 people in Winston-Salem alone. We will have updates posted on my Web site, www.yadkinriverkeeper.org that will be made available to traditional media as well.”
Details:
- Some weekend trips will be open to the public and outfitters will be on hand to rent equipment. Reservations can be made through the Yadkin Riverkeeper website. Click here for details.
- During the trip, Yadkin Riverkeeper will be offering a sponsorship program. River enthusiast can "purchase a mile" of the Tour de Yadkin in honor of a loved one or fishing/boating buddy. Sponsors will receive a membership to Yadkin Riverkeeper with their donation. Buying a mile long section of the tour costs $10. Yadkin Riverkeeper hopes to draw new members and raise funds to help protect the river.
- The “Tour de Yadkin” full daily schedule can be found here: http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org/tour2010schedule
About the Yadkin Riverkeeper:
The Yadkin Riverkeeper’s mission is to respect, protect and improve the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin through education, advocacy and action. It is aimed at creating a clean and healthy river that sustains life and is cherished by its people. To achieve this vision, it seeks to accomplish the following objectives: sustain a RIVERKEEPER® program, measurably improve water quality, reestablish native bio-diversity, preserve and enhance the forest canopy, bring legal action to enforce state and federal environmental laws, and teach and practice a “river ethic” of ecological respect to all ages. For more information, visit http://www.yadkinriverkeeper.org or call 336-293-8105.
About Dean Naujoks:
Dean Naujoks is the Yadkin Riverkeeper, employed by Yadkin Riverkeeper Inc. since the fall of 2008 to manage and implement a river advocacy program for the Yadkin Pee Dee River watershed in North Carolina that will keep it a healthy and vibrant river for residents and businesses in the long term. Yadkin Riverkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which connects and supports local Waterkeeper programs to provide a voice and champion clean water for waterways and their communities worldwide. A longtime water quality advocate, Naujoks became the first Upper Neuse Riverkeeper in 2001 at the nonprofit Neuse River Foundation. His job there was to monitor conditions and advocate for protection of the Neuse River from Falls Lake to Goldsboro. He was appointed by Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker to serve on the joint government PCB Task Force to address PCB contamination in Crabtree Creek from Ward Transformer. A graduate of N.C. State, Naujoks created his own major in environmental policy and sustainable development. He also worked for the NC Wildlife Federation from 1991-1999. Naujoks has received River Network’s 2009 National “River Hero” Award on behalf of his efforts.
Media Contact:
Dean Naujoks
Yadkin Riverkeeper®
308 Patterson Ave.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
dean@yadkinriverkeeper.org
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org
###
Contact
Yadkin Riverkeeper
Dean Naujoks
919-233-6600
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org
Dean Naujoks
919-233-6600
www.yadkinriverkeeper.org
Contact
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