ROBESON CREEK WATER QUALITY OUTREACH INITIATIVE

The Robeson Creek watershed, located in central North Carolina, is one of the most impaired watersheds in the state. As a major water supplier to the also impaired Jordan Lake, this watershed has been the focus of numerous water quality projects over the past eight years and is an EPA and NC Division of Water Quality (DWQ) Restoration Watershed. North Carolina State University (NCSU) has been a leader in initiating water quality improvement projects and garnering stakeholder support through these years in the watershed. The Robson Creek Watershed Council (RCWC) has been an active stakeholder group and with the help of NCSU is actively addressing water impairment issues in the community. These partnerships have developed long term goals for the protection and improvement of the watershed water quality. To meet these long term goals, NCSU proposes under this USDA NIWQP grant to implement several programs to enhance the path to the Robeson Creek watershed community's self-sustainability of water quality. The following objectives are proposed: 1. Strengthen the Town of Pittsboro's stormwater ordinances. 2. Work with youth in local school system and other programs including 4-H, boy scouts and girl scouts to implement a rain garden and use it as an ongoing outdoor laboratory for educational programs on water quality. 3. Work with businesses in the watershed to develop a water quality leadership challenge program. 4. Increase water quality awareness through educational signs and programs developed around existing water quality projects throughout the watershed. 5. Evaluate changes in stakeholder attitudes about improving and protecting water quality as a result of Extension programs funded under this USDA NIWQP project and other projects throughout the watershed. The evaluation will involve a series of surveys and focus group meetings of local stakeholders. These initiatives will serve as a model for other communities in the Jordan Lake watershed as well as other municipalities around the country. Engaging stakeholders like youth and businesses as well as surveying these and other stakeholders to determine outreach impacts will help Extension personnel hone their efforts to help people understand and improve water quality.