Ivy River Partners
This project aims to improve water quality in the Ivy River Watershed, a water supply source, through partnership development, stakeholder engagement, education and outreach, and on the ground projects.
Counties Impacted:
- Madison
- Buncombe
The Ivy River is a drinking water supply source and a major tributary to the French Broad which is at the heart of our recreational economy here in Madison County. Sections of the river are on the EPA's list of impaired and impacted water bodies. With help from the Duke Energy Water Resource Fund, Ivy River Partners has been able to recycle 562 TVs and other electronics to reduce illegal dumping after a charge was initiated at the landfill, remove 11,160 lbs of litter from the waterways, provide hands-on water quality education for every 8th grader in Madison County, and continue a water quality monitoring program that has helped leverage over $730,000 for on the ground projects over the past 4 years. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world with some of the richest natural resources, but we have a rural economy. Duke Energy Foundation is helping us improve these natural resources with an education component that will elicit stewardship for years to come.
- Mariah Hughes, Project Coordinator
