An unprecedented, voluntary effort by Crescent Resources, LLC will protect nearly 200 miles of stream banks in North Carolina and South Carolina . Crescent is establishing permanent conservation easements on all property it owns along the perennial stream channels that flow into the Catawba River . This initiative applies to property without mandated buffers supervised by government entities, and extends beyond Crescent’s existing voluntary buffers on the lakes along the Catawba. Crescent currently imposes buffers on the property it develops and restricts tree removal from the shoreline. The consevation easements are donated to local conservation groups and land trusts.

Crescent Resources, LLC, a business unit of Duke Energy

The Open Space Institute of the Carolinas at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson University

Local land trusts and conservations groups

Experts have praised the program, saying that establishing buffers on the streams flowing into the river is the leading priority for enhancing overall water quality for the river and its lakes. Buffers are very effective in absorbing sediment and other pollutants say authorities. Capturing impurities – long before they reach the lakes – has a significant impact on the ultimate quality of the water.

What Others Have Said About The Program

“This represents bold leadership in the area of natural resources conservation. Protection of riparian buffers is certainly aesthetically pleasing, but this offers so much more in terms of improving the water quality and protecting wildlife habitat on one of our major Piedmont rivers. All of our citizens, homeowners and industries will benefit. I would like to thank Crescent Resources for their leadership in making this donation. It significantly enhances the quality of life in upper South Carolina .”

Former Governor Jim Hodges, South Carolina

“This initiative will provide permanent protection for important river resources  … It includes riparian forests, riparian wetlands, zones of emergent vegetation, and therefore important wildlife habitats of songbirds, amphibians, reptiles, wood ducks, wading birds and fish nursery areas. It also helps protect soils, water quality and natural shoreline vegetation.”

South Carolina Wildlife Federation, 2001 Industrial Award presented to Crescent Resources, LLC

“The primary way you can have a positive impact on the quality of water in lakes and rivers is protecting the streams flowing into them. By protecting headwater creeks and streams with buffers, you eliminate and greatly reduce many non-point sources of pollutants from our surface waters, thereby greatly enhancing the quality of our rivers and lakes downstream. The effort by Crescent to place permanent buffers on close to 200 miles of stream banks will help ensure the water quality of the Catawba River and its lakes for generations to come.

Duncan Newkirk, President, Newkirk Environmental Inc.