Our Mission

To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity; to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

Conservation

Notes from Henry Fansler, Summer '08

It’s summer, and time to discover and enjoy the canoeing, kayaking, tubing and fishing opportunities on our Yadkin River. It’s also a good time to consider what you can do to protect our river. There is still time to become a charter member of the YADKIN RIVERKEEPER®. For more details and a current newsletter, go to http://www.fypdr.org/.

Pilot Mountain State Park has closed the Yadkin River Islands campsites for hygienic and safety reasons. The primitive campsites have no restroom facilities. Also, the risk of campers being trapped if the river level rose unexpectedly was a safety concern, and rescue operations have been required in recent years. Another canoe campsite is planned for the riverbank. Anyone wishing to comment on the closing can do so by contacting the park at (336) 325-2355 or by email at denr.dpr.pilot.mountain@lists.ncmail.net

The town of Lewisville has requested Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) to have a voice in the development of areas adjacent to its corporate limits. The Foothills Group of the Sierra Club supports this request. While not participating in Lewisville elections, residents outside the corporate limits might find that they are better represented by Lewisville than by other elected or appointed zoning authorities if they wish to maintain the small town/rural atmosphere that they now enjoy. More information and how you can support the request can be found in Questions And Answers About Lewisville’s Request To Gain Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) can be found at www.lewisvillenc.net/.

Why You Should Support a Tree Ordinance

In two recent informational meetings Glenn Simmons and Kirk Ericson of the City-County Planning Department presented the first draft of a proposed Tree Ordinance. It is written to amend Chapters A and B of the Unified Development Ordinances concerning landscape, streetyard and bufferyard standards, and tree preservation standards.

Click here to learn about the proposed Tree Ordinance and why trees are important to our community.

Stormwater: Post-Construction Ordinance Update

Tell your County Commissioners what you think about the proposals.

Click here to learn more about proposed changes in the W-S Ordinance.

Click here to read the first letter sent to the City in March, 2008.

Click here to check out the City's Stormwater website. Look for ideas about stormwater management, official reports, and educational activities.

Click here to see videos about basic stormwater management techniques.

Click here to learn more about reducing stormwater costs through Low Impact Development.

Click here for download links to NCSU stormwater publications.

Click here to learn how you and/or your family can get involved in monitoring stream quality on your property. ment, an EPA website.

Click here to learn about constructing a rain garden, an NC Cooperative Extension website.