Caila Cater-Edwards, Clean Energy Intern at Piedmont Environmental Alliance, interviewing Nicole Eastman, the Watershed Protection Specialist at Yadkin Riverkeeper (pictured right). Nicole’s work is centered on improving and protecting the water quality of the Yadkin River watershed through programs like the seasonal Swim Guide and long-term watershed restoration planning. Her dedication also extends to fighting for environmental justice initiatives and education in local communities.
CCE: Hello Nicole! I am so glad to have this opportunity to speak with you. As the Watershed Protection Specialist for Yadkin Riverkeeper, you must be involved in a wide range of projects, some of which I know are in partnership with PEA. I would love to start off by getting a glimpse of the work you are doing. Can you share some of the successful projects or programs you've contributed to and how that work aligns with the overall mission of the organization.
NE: Hi Caila, thank you for highlighting my work with Yadkin Riverkeeper! YRK works on a variety of projects and programs that focus on improving water quality in the Yadkin River watershed to support drinking water and recreational use. One of our most public-facing programs is Swim Guide, a water quality monitoring initiative that involves volunteers and staff collecting water samples to test for E. coli bacteria at swimming areas and public canoe and boating accesses along the river and lakes. I lead this program from Memorial Day to Labor Day to provide the public with the information to determine if it is safe to enjoy our local water bodies like the Yadkin River, High Rock Lake, and Kerr Scott Lake.
Another big part of my job is the development of a watershed restoration plan for the South Yadkin River, one of the major tributaries to the Yadkin River. The goal of this project is to collect water quality data to assess nutrient, turbidity, and bacteria levels in the river, meet with stakeholders to identify their main water quality concerns, and recommend specific restoration and conservation projects that could improve water quality. I’ve begun to identify sites in need of Best Management Practices such as exclusion fencing for cattle, streambank stabilization, and the establishment of buffers along the river and its tributaries.
I support YRK staff with work in the community of West Badin too. Along with other organizations, we support the Concerned Citizens of West Badin in their efforts to advocate for environmental justice in their community which has been disproportionately impacted by the operations and legacy pollution of an aluminum smelting plant owned by Alcoa. Although there is much more work to be done to achieve this goal, DEQ has incorporated many of ours and our partners like the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Clinic’s recommendations in Alcoa’s most recent stormwater permit draft.
Finally, I assist with other outreach, education, advocacy, and pollution investigation work when needed. For example, I support paddles and cleanups we have throughout the year or I will attend partner organization's events like PEA’s field trip to Winston Lake for high schoolers last year. I provide public comment on permits for projects that may degrade water quality such as the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project and investigate reports of pollution in the watershed.
CCE: I'm so impressed by the work you're doing—the Swim Guide must be a huge hit in the community! It's great to hear that you also have a focus on how to ensure water quality and restoration. For someone who wants to help in the work you all do, what is the best way to get involved? Are there specific programs for different age groups?
NE: There are a few different ways people can get involved with YRK’s work. We have over a dozen volunteers supporting Swim Guide by collecting samples at one or more sites each Wednesday morning. We rely on these volunteers to be able to cover such a large geographic area from the mountains in Happy Valley to High Rock Lake. We are always looking for more Swim Guide volunteers.
We also ask for volunteers who are experienced paddlers to help as safety paddlers during our on-the-water events. A safety paddler assists our Yadkin River State Coordinator, Ward Swann with getting boats prepped for the water, leading the group down the river, and assisting people with navigating riffles. Anyone interested in paddling with Yadkin Riverkeeper can attend these events too! Some of these paddles are also clean-ups, and we love to have volunteers help with picking up trash and removing tires from the river.
Yadkin Riverkeeper will also help with events for school-aged children when requested by the school or a partner organization. For example, if a teacher wants YRK to speak to their class about Riverkeepers and working in the field of water protection, I am happy to talk to the group of students or bring an educational activity.
As we plan other events, people can follow our social media accounts and subscribe to our E-newsletter to find ways to get involved!
CCE: Thanks for sharing this information. I'll be sure to give your page a follow! We know our community members and students are always looking for ways to get involved and discover potential career paths like this one.
On that note, I'd love to hear your advice. For someone who wants to explore a career in conservation, what key steps or insights would you offer? Is there anything you wish you had known earlier in your journey that could be helpful to others starting out?
NE: I think the most important step for someone who is interested in a career in conservation would be to get involved in local initiatives whether that is through an internship or volunteering. During college I was lucky to have interned and volunteered with several different environmental organizations. These experiences exposed me to career paths, allowed me to build relationships with mentors, and helped me identify what type of jobs I do like and which I do not. I found my passion for water resources protection and environmental justice while interning with Riverkeepers in North Carolina. So, I recommend students or people interested in starting a career in conservation look for opportunities outside of the classroom to gain diverse experiences.
I wish I knew sooner that informational interviews would be super helpful in learning about potential academic and career paths. One of my internship supervisors had recommended I reach out to a few people during my last year of undergrad which led me to AmeriCorps and really helped me to determine which graduate programs may be a good fit for me. I recommend finding jobs that seem very interesting to you and reaching out to professionals in those positions to ask questions and learn more about their career path. Passionate individuals are excited to share their experiences with people new to the field, and you can learn about different opportunities to explore in the future.
CCE: That's fantastic advice! Pursuing an internship or even simple volunteering is a great way to explore new professional avenues, regardless of the industry. Nicole, I truly appreciate you sharing your journey with me and all our readers. It’s so necessary to highlight diverse perspectives to prove that there isn't just one look for a green career path; we’re all just striving to protect our Earth. Thank you!