Haywood Waterways Association

About the Haywood Waterways Association

Mission Statement

To educate the residents of Haywood County on the importance of protecting the waterways and Pigeon Watershed in Haywood County, North Carolina.
To focus attention on the Pigeon River Basin as a natural, economic and recreational resource to be conserved and enhanced for this and future generations.
To work with public agencies, conservation interests, businesses, community groups, and public and private land owners, to develop and implement a strategy for the conservation and improvement of the water quality and habitat of the Pigeon River and its tributaries in Haywood County.

Objectives

Promote the value of clean waterways as natural, economic and recreational resources; and their beneficial effect on Haywood County tourism and economic development.
Identify, collect and share information necessary to make sound management decisions within the Pigeon River Basin.
Provide a forum for public involvement in watershed management, and for the initiation of ideas and projects that improver water quality.
Initiate, assist and support activities that protect and improve water quality, habitat, and other natural resources in the Pigeon River Basin.

Haywood Waterways Association (HWA) became a non-profit, member corporation on September 23, 1998, and received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service on January 29, 1999. HWA continues to grow and enhance its local impact. We have also formed partnerships that have resulted in very effective conservation projects and programs. With grant assistance, membership dues and donations, we have hired a Director, Project Manager and a Sediment Monitoring Technician. They assist HWA and other organizations in developing water quality projects, writing grant proposals to fund them and fulfilling grant requirements. They also provide support for the HWA committees. These committees provide opportunities for direct citizen involvement. Together we provide opportunities for everyone to get involved in work worth doing.