Haywood Waterways Association

Haywood Waterways Association
Volunteer Water Information Network (V.W.I.N.)

VOLUNTEERS HELPING OUT
Haywood Waterways is always looking for volunteers. If you’re interested in helping with this program, contact Dave Dudek at 828-926-1308

Robin Minick taking water
samples on Allen's Creek

Water quality data is critical for understanding the watersheds we live in. The chemical and physical information about the water in our streams is essential for maintaining and improving water quality. To be useful, this information must be gathered over a long period of time and in a very consistent manner. It was this basic need that led to the formation of the Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN). This network is a partnership of groups and individuals dedicated to preserving water quality in western North Carolina.

In 1990, volunteers began gathering water quality samples at 27 stream sites in Buncombe County. In August of 1996, with funding from the Pigeon River Fund, Haywood County began monitoring twelve stream sites in the Pigeon River watershed. More sites have been added since that time. Volunteers collect samples at the same time and day each month. These samples are then delivered to the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) at the University of North Carolina – Asheville. EQI analyzes the water samples for the following information: pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total suspended solids, conductivity, metals (copper, lead, zinc), and nutrients (orthophosphate, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen). At the end of each year, EQI prepares a report summarizing the water quality conditions at each site. This information gives a snap shot of existing conditions, as well as changes over time.

Through the VWIN Program, Haywood Waterways and our partners have found streams in the Pigeon River watershed vary greatly. We have some of the best water in North Carolina; we also have some of the worst! We also know that the primary culprit is sediment – that dirt that washes off the land when it rains.

Haywood Waterways uses the information to identify problem streams and obtain grant funding. We are not a regulatory agency, nor do we report violators. We work with willing landowners and our partners to find the financial and technical resources to implement projects that support the landowners and their livelihood, as well as protect water quality. We believe that is the best long-term solution, and most of the time the regulatory agencies agree!

If you would like to learn more about the sampling results, please look at the VWIN Summaries:

	Overall Summary
2007 Summary	2006 Summary
2005 Summary	2004 Summary	2003 Summary
2002 Summary	2001 Summary	2000 Summary
1999 Summary	1998 Summary	1997 Summary

Click here to learn more about the V.W.I.N. parameters
and what the grades indicate

Haywood Waterways Association Volunteer Water Information Network (V.W.I.N.)

Haywood Waterways Association
Volunteer Water Information Network (V.W.I.N.)