Colonial Pipeline Employees Remove 400Lbs. Of Debris From Catawba River

(L‑R): Lauren Kim (Catawba Riverkeeper), Josh Black, Bob Davis, Lisa Barker, Andy White, Mike Cutting, Kathy Graham, James Lowie, Jesse McGee, Jose Castellones, Martie Teller, Mike Johnson.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Colonial Pipeline employees from Belton, S.C., Spartanburg, S.C. and Charlotte, N.C. participated in a river cleanup with the Catawba Riverkeeper on Wednesday, April 27 near Lake Wylie on the Catawba River. The group of Colonial volunteers successfully removed 400lbs. of trash from the river. 

Working with the Catawba Riverkeeper, employees used kayaks to navigate and pull debris from the river and riverbanks from the Tailrace Marina, located just a few hundred yards from where Colonial’s mainlines cross the Catawba River. The volunteers worked hard to paddle and traverse the muddy riverbanks on foot to collect the trash. 

The successful removal of this debris will help make the Catawba River and Lake Wylie a cleaner, more enjoyable area for everyone. The area is a popular spot for kayakers, anglers and swimmers. 

The engagement served as a reminder of how important it is for all of us to dispose of our waste responsibly. It also gave us an opportunity to enjoy the Catawba River, one of many water crossings Colonial diligently works to protect through our safe operations every day. 

This activity marked the latest engagement between Colonial Pipeline and conservation groups that operate on our Right-of-Way (ROW). Colonial works with conservation groups in all 13 states it operates in. In 2015, Colonial made a $10,000 donation to the Catawba Riverkeeper, and hosted their staff at our Charlotte facility for a day of learning about our operations, our commitment to safe operations and the important role Colonial plays in America’s infrastructure. The Riverkeeper also shared their mission and initiatives to protect the Catawba River Basin. 

The Catawba Riverkeeper’s mission is to educate and advocate to protect the Catawba-Wateree River Basin’s lakes, rivers and streams for everyone who depends on and enjoys them. Colonial Pipeline supports this mission and is committed to protecting the environment we share our pipeline with.