The Waters of Mecklenburg County
By Jim Kelley
                 
Doug Bean introduced Rusty Rozzelle, Program Manager for the Mecklenburg County Water Quality program. That program's focus is maintaining and restoring the quality and usability of Mecklenburg County's surface water. Rusty and his staff protect more than 190 miles of shoreline on three lakes and 3,000 miles of streams. His staff works to identify and eliminate pollution sources, enforce environmental regulations and develop and implement watershed management plans.
 
Doug mentioned that Rusty has been working with the city for 28 years and has been program manager of the water quality program for 25 of those years. Rusty is a native of Mecklenburg County and his family has lived here since 1790.
 
Rusty named his talk "The Waters of Mecklenburg County - An Historical Perspective". He claims that water is our most precious natural resource and that the Catawba River is one of the most important ingredients of the success that Charlotte has had over the years. The river is the source of our clean affordable drinking water. In a county of 827,000 people with seven different jurisdictions including Charlotte, the Catawba River forms the western border of Mecklenburg County. The river is dammed at three locations to form Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie. Those three lakes through six drinking water intakes provide 137 million gallons of water a day to over 1 million people in the area. Over 3,000 miles of streams in the county empty into the Catawba River and the lakes that is part of the river.
 
Rusty went on to say that while the Catawba River is important as our source of drinking water, it also important for other uses as well. Recreationally over 10 million people visited the river and its lakes last year for boating, fishing and swimming among other activities. It is projected that the recreational visits to the river and its lakes will increase 11% each decade between now and 2050. Our developing greenway system throughout the county, another source of recreation, also helps keep the river clean. Currently 33 miles of the greenway are developed with 147 miles still to be developed.
 
In addition to providing our drinking water and being an important source for recreation, the Catawba River also plays a central role in the generation of the area's electricity and supports one of the area's largest nature preserves. A full 50% of Duke Power's capacity for electric generation comes from the Catawba River while Latta Plantation's 1,400 acres border on the river in an area that is home to 137 different species of animals and birds.
 
Rusty shared some historical information about the Catawba River and told some wonderful family stories connected to the river. In 1700, John Lawson was sent by England to explore our region and write about it. Lawson found many creeks and the Catawba River and wrote wonderful things about the area. Once he published his book in England, millwrights and others began moving here. In the late 1800's, settlers began using cisterns for water and soon after developed the first water intake at Briar Creek.
 
In the early 1900's, 13 ferries were formed with the most important one being of course the Rozzelle's Ferry operated by Rusty's ancestors. The millworkers and others developed the first water intake on the Catawba River with a pumping station. The river became a great source of commerce as locally grown cotton and corn was delivered down the river to Charleston for market. Also in 194l, the first dam was built. Since then, the Mountain Island dam was finished in 1928 forming Mountain Island Lake and our last dam, the Cowans Ford Dam was finished in 1963 forming Lake Norman.
 
Rusty closed by saying that over the last 20 years, our population has doubled, the amount of developed land has tripled, our available groundcover has decreased 70%, the water pollution has gone up 55% and currently 73% of our streams are impaired. So in other words, increased threat is meeting increased demand which is concerning. Rusty challenged us to help sustain our water quality by both appreciating it and protecting it.
     
  
Head Table: John Nicolay, Lee Tabor, Mac McCarley, Doug Bean, Joni Davis, Bill Nichols;
Invocation: Catherine Browning;
Visitors & Guests: Bob Knight; Song: Pam Jefsen and company; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Martin Waters' wife, Dot, is in the hospital. Wishes for a full recovery are extended to Dot!
       
• Those interested in purchasing a copy of The Wit & Wisdom of John Montgomery Belk should contact Tony Zeiss, 704-330-6566.
      
• Jim Adams reported that this year's collection of warm clothing for Crisis Assistance Ministry is the best ever. Shay Merritt says the food donated for Second Harvest Bank came in at 402 pounds, which will enable the Food Bank to provide 268 meals to feed a family of four for three weeks. Thanks to everyone for your generous donations.
       
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Bell Ringers are encouraged to check the schedule on the website. Questions or changes in your schedule should be communicated to Mark Norman.
 
• Tickets are still available for Christmas with Amy & Vince, December 16th, 8:00 PM at Ovens Auditorium. Check with Cricket Arena box office or Ticketmaster. Proceeds will benefit Charlotte Rescue Mission.

• Officers and Board of Directors have been approved. Congratulations to all. 2010-2011Officers: President, Pender McElroy; Secretary, Steve Meckler; Treasurer, Ron Kimble; 2010-2012 Board: Bryan Adams, Kemp Dunaway, Warren Kean, Dale LeCount, Cynthia Marshall, Bob Webb and Tom Wright.

• Host Dinners on deck: 12/06/08 Patrick Gray; 1/24/09 Mary Ciminelli. Click here for the schedule.
          
• December 16, 2008:  Excellence in Leadership Award.  Rotary Club of Charlotte, Charlotte Business Journal and the Charlotte Chamber will present the 21st winner of the Excellence in Leadership Award on December 16th. Nominations should be emailed to Phil Van Hoy by 11/17/08.  Criteria for the award is available by clicking here.

Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, contact the Rotary office by 12/08/2008.

LOVE GOD, SERVE NEIGHBOR/SERVING ALTO CAYMA
  
Jim and Gloria Hintz spend at least half a year in Alto Cayma, Peru. A good portion of their time back in the USA is spent marketing/selling the cards made by the Creaciones Angel Cardmaking Group. Jim is also quite the newsletter writer. A sampling of his weekly reports from Peru, plus detailed explanations of available programs/projects, can be found on our club's website and he has just released his first interim report from NC. Below is a very brief update for your consideration:
 
- Jim and Gloria returned to NC with almost 6,000 cards made by the girls in the cardmaking group. Cards have been sold in every possible way and so far they have been set up at 24 Rotary clubs (often 2 a day). Think of the effort to load the car with 3 handcart loads of plastic tubs and cardboard boxes, drive to a venue, take everything inside and set up, make a presentation, sell the cards, pack everything up, reload the car, and drive on to the next venue. Whew! Jim and Gloria will be set up at Charlotte Rotary next week (12/09/08). Thank them for their efforts by PURCHASING cards. You can also place an order through their website: www.serving-alto-cayma.info.
 
- Several from Charlotte Rotary sponsor the Acercandonos program, which is a lifeline for children and the elderly who are in the greatest need. The commitment to sponsor a child or elderly person is $20 per month (start off a new sponsorship with $40 - $20 for that month plus $20 to be held in reserve for emergencies). All 198 sponsored individuals write letters to their sponsor. Jim is asking the sponsor to reciprocate. Your letters (in English) can be mailed to Jim, 14618 South Brent Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078. He will deliver them to Peru at the end of the year.
 
- Aldea "Sagrada Familia" (The Orphanage) has 50 children, averaging 4 birthdays every month. You can sponsor a child's party for $50. If you are so inclined - make your check payable to Advent Peru Mission Support Fund, with "Aldea Birthday" on the memo line and mail to Susan Hartsell, 1025 Autumnwood Ln, Charlotte, NC 28213. Donations are tax deductible.