Environmental advocates are racing against the clock to protect a vital local waterway before a nearby mining operation begins pumping millions of gallons of water into it.
Sound Rivers' Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman recently launched a monitoring expedition on Blounts Creek to gather critical baseline data. Armed with specialized sampling gear, Zimmerman navigated as far upstream as possible, tracking vital water quality indicators like dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and water clarity.
The goal is to document the creek's current health before the Martin Marietta Materials Vanceboro quarry begins operations. The mining company plans to discharge up to 12 million gallons of freshwater per day into the creek. Experts warn this massive influx could drastically alter the ecosystem of Blounts Creek, which serves as a crucial nursery for saltwater species and a habitat for local wildlife like bald eagles.
By collecting this data now, environmental advocates can track the real-time impacts of the mine's wastewater.
State environmental officials say Martin Marietta must notify regulators thirty days before mining begins, a step the company has not yet taken.
