Yadkin Hydroelectric Project

New Poll on Drought Reflects North Carolina Concerns on Yadkin River Licensing Renewal

by Patty

Elaborating on our recent blog on the Yadkin River as a Water Resource, a poll of North Carolina residents taken by Elon University found that most North Carolinians are concerned about the state’s water supplies. The poll also found that most people consider water conservation to be a long-term issue that will last more than five years.

Public Concerns

According to the poll, 63 percent of respondents said they are “very concerned” about the drought, and 62 percent said they were very concerned about water supply levels in the state.
Also, respondents identified the following water users as being “very responsible” for reducing statewide water use:

Local government: 62 percent
State government: 62 percent
Residents: 61 percent
Manufacturing industry: 57 percent
Business: 56 percent
Environmental groups: 56 percent
Builders and developers: 54 percent
Power companies: 53 percent

One of the longest rivers in North Carolina

These identified majorities are quite interesting in light of the situation North Carolina faces with one of its major water resources, the Yadkin River – a resource for all of North Carolina. Alcoa (a business as well as a power company that has been involved in manufacturing) wants to renew its 50-year license for use of the public waters of the Yadkin over the objection of our local government and many of our residents, as well as environmental groups and state representatives across North Carolina. Federal law clearly says that such licensing should occur for the best adapted use of the water, and it is up to the state of North Carolina to determine who will be responsible for the use of the Yadkin’s water now and in the future.

Hunter Bacot, director of the Elon University Poll, said that “These results suggest that government strategies aimed at fighting the drought and conserving water should enjoy widespread support among citizens across the state as many are already taking action to reduce water use in their own homes.” Keeping that assessment in mind, the state should consider all the facts at hand as is attempts to be “very responsible” in reducing water, as most North Carolinians believe it should.

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