Catawba Nation Division of Environmental Protections

06/11/2026

Catawba Nation childcare programs have been busy harvesting produce over at our Catawba Nation Black Snake Farm and Market! They harvested:
🥔 425.25 lbs. of potatoes
🥒36 lbs. of cucumbers
🥕118.5 lbs. of carrots

That's nearly 580 pounds of fresh produce!

By getting hands-on experience in the garden and on the farm, these young people are strengthening their connection to the land, our community, and the traditions that have sustained Indigenous peoples for generations. Through growing food and learning agricultural practices, they are helping preserve and celebrate our cultural heritage while inspiring the future of Native agriculture.

All of these items will be available at the market this weekend! 🛒 We are SO proud of our Catawba youth!

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the heroes who gave everything for our nation. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. ❤️🤍💙

05/22/2026

Please be aware of this change! 🗑

05/21/2026

🎉 Please join us in congratulating our Natural Resources Dept on the publication of their very first scientific study! Click the link below to read it in its entirety.⛓️

It is a herpetological study that began in 2022 through the BIA Endangered Species Grant. 🐍 The study consisted of coverboard surveys to create digital vouchers of reptiles and amphibians that call the reservation home. It has been a long process, but we were recently able to get the work scientifically published, marking the department's first-ever publication!

This remarkable achievement reflects their dedication to conservation, research, and science-based stewardship, and marks an exciting milestone for our department as our first-ever scientifically published study. 📚🌿

We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and grateful for their leadership, passion, and hard work. Congratulations! 👏

05/20/2026

Wildlife lives here too 🦌🐢🐈‍⬛

Animals often cross roads for food, water, or safety. Stay alert and drive carefully to help keep our wildlife safe! Brake and let animals cross safely! ❤️‍🩹 This Eastern Box Turtle was spotted on Avenue of the Nations, and they have officially been classified as a vulnerable species and are rapidly declining throughout the Eastern United States.

✅Get off your phone—watch the road
✅ Slow down near wildlife signs
✅ Watch for animals at dawn and dusk
✅ Brake safely
✅ If one animal crosses, more may follow

Let’s care for our wildlife and pets on the road responsibly. ❤️🌎

05/13/2026

Rate Notice: A 3% rate increase took effect May 1 and will also apply over the next two years. A message about this increase will appear on your next bill.
If you have questions, please contact the Division of Environmental Protections.

05/13/2026

Sharing for any who may be interested! 🌼🛶

THIS WEEKEND!
Landsford Canal State Park
May 16-17
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Join us as we celebrate the blooming of the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies!

05/13/2026

Please help us congratulate our Wildlife Biologist, Paiton Funderburk, on being the first Catawba citizen to present at NAFWS (Native American Fish & Wildlife Society)! Paiton presented on her graduate thesis of the urbanization effects on eastern box turtle movement at Green Earth. 🐢 Great work, Paiton!

05/11/2026

📢

💦Due to extended dry weather and below-average rainfall, York County Utilities has entered Stage 2 of its water conservation plan and is implementing mandatory water use restrictions. York County received about half of the average rain total so far in 2026.

On May 01, 2026, the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CW-DMAG) announced that the Catawba-Wateree River Basin has entered Stage 2 of the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP) due to extremely dry conditions that have persisted for months.

💦Water restrictions are necessary as drought conditions continue, to protect our water system and ensure reliable service for essential needs. The Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group uses data, including river and lake levels, stream levels feeding the river, and the U.S. Drought Monitor to determine drought stages.

Stage 2 triggers mandatory conservation measures for public water utilities and major water users. York County is asking both residential AND commercial customers to reduce non-essential water use. The County’s goal is a reduction of water by 5 -10 percent.

💦For a full list of water use restrictions and conservation recommendations, visit: https://www.yorkcountygov.com/1336/Drought-Information

05/07/2026

❔Ever wonder how the EPA's air quality work has trended over time? View the annual Air Trends Report (Our Nation's Air), which summarizes our nation's air quality status and trends through 2024: https://www.epa.gov/air-trends
📝🔍Daily, our Env. Monitoring staff contribute to protecting public health by ensuring the smooth operation of our air monitoring station, which shows live values here: https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-9065798.452357674&ymin=4068343.315207802&xmax=-8917082.570126034&ymax=4162401.8413866153&clayer=none&mlayer=ozonepm