September Waccamaw Riverkeeper Paddle Patrol

I had been to Pireway countless times for water monitoring, cleanups, and a bass fishing tournament, but I had never ventured onto the water. Our September Paddle Patrol was my opportunity to remedy this tragedy.

We met early with kayaks and trash pickers. Only three of us went out that morning. Y’all missed out! It was the perfect morning for a paddle – cool and slightly overcast with smooth quiet waters.

We passed fishermen as we paddled upstream. Pireway is a popular landing for fishing both from the quiet banks and from the water. And the fish were jumping that morning. No doubt there would be some fish dinners that evening.

Fish in the Waccamaw have fed families for generations. But with increasing concerns over contamination, it is harder to support a family through fishing. In North Carolina there is a statewide fish consumption advisory from the Division of Public Health for mercury. For fish high in mercury, like largemouth bass, no more than one meal per week is advised. For sigh low in mercury, like bluegill, up to 4 meals a week is advised.

Mercury bioaccumulates in fish. Released into the air by burning fossil fuels, mercury then deposits in our waterways and is absorbed by aquatic organisms. As those organisms are consumed, the mercury travels up the food chain and is stored in the tissues of larger fish at higher and higher levels.

Mercury poisoning is most dangerous for developing children. It affects nerve cells in the brain and can lead to abnormal development. This is why pregnant women are advised to not eat fish high in mercury during pregnancy.

Contamination by mercury is prevalent in fish throughout the country – in both freshwater and saltwater. While water quality data collected by volunteers at Pireway over the past 10 years shows relatively healthy water, there have been some observation of potential pollution issues at the site. Erratic and high conductivity measurements over the past several years indicate a source of pollution upstream. For your average recreator, though, the water seems fine. High bacteria is seldom identified and typically is the results of a major rain event.

Our paddle was quiet and uneventful. We only collected a single bag of trash and saw more beauty than anything else. The river was quiet that Friday morning – apart from the frustrated chatter of a congregation of White Ibis we encountered in the swamp.