News Flash

For Immediate Release 

FOURTH ANNUAL CREEK WEEK BEGINS SEPTEMBER 17

ROWAN COUNTY, NC (September 14, 2021) – The fourth annual Rowan Creek Week will take place September 17-24, 2022.  Creek Week is a time to celebrate the importance, impact, and influence of the creeks and waterways of Rowan County and the municipalities within. This campaign is aimed to raise awareness about the vital role of local waters and how the health of that water can have a direct impact on communities.

Rowan Creek Week will kick off with the High Rock CleanSweep on Saturday, September 17, at 9:00 a.m. at the NC Wildlife ramp at 2^nd Dutch Creek, Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury.  For anyone looking for an opportunity to help on-foot or by kayak or canoe, there will be a clean-up at Eagle Point Nature Preserve from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

“There have been several events that make me proud to be involved with Rowan Creek Week, but the clean-up events are close to the top,” shared Kelli Isenhour, Rowan County Soil and Water Educator and Rowan Creek Week Steering Committee Chair.  “It is wonderful to see families and neighbors come together to do something positive for the community by cleaning up our waterways. Having clean, accessible water benefits everyone, and helping others is good for the soul.” 

Also happening Saturday, September 17, is a family fishing day at Dan Nicholas Park (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), storyhour at South Main Book Company (2:00 p.m.), and a kickoff at Horizons Unlimited (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

“Horizons Unlimited is committed to bringing hands-on science education to our community, and hosting the Rowan Creek Week kickoff is a great way to celebrate local waters and get families excited about the biodiversity of our local waters,” said Elise Tellez, Director of Horizons Unlimited, a Creek Week sponsor. The kickoff at Horizons will feature touch tank exploration, crafts, planetarium shows, wetlands exploration, and more.

There is something for everyone – and every age – during Rowan Creek Week. There are more than 20 events scheduled throughout the week including fishing, storytimes, nature hikes, tours, workshops, and a water-themed trivia night. 

The Creek Week finale will be held on Saturday, September 24, and includes a storyhour at South Main Book Company (2 p.m.), medication take-back event (3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), a bike ride to the Yadkin River led by The Pedal Factory (7- and 14-mile round trip options) and the First Annual Race to the River 5K and Fun Run (5:00 p.m.; sign up at runsignup.com or day-of). 

“It’s an opportunity to be a triathlete if you’re up for the challenge,” quipped Spencer Mayor Jonathan Williams. Williams will be presenting “Spencer’s Big Green Deal” prior to the athletic events, highlighting the town’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and grand vision for recreational and green spaces to connect the Yadkin River to Spencer and surrounding communities.

Row Co River Adventures will lead the final Creek Week event with a sunset paddle on the Yadkin River starting at 7 p.m. “We are dedicated to giving back to the waterways we love,” said Nicky Black, owner of Row Co River Adventures, a Creek Week sponsor. “We are so proud to live in an area that values our local waterways. I was extremely proud last year - we had 63 paddlers on the water,” Black said, “but my favorite Creek Week memory has to be participating in a clean-up event where a 200 year-old wagon wheel was discovered in Town Creek!” 

Davidson County Creek Week will also be hosting events throughout the week including a clean-up at Yadkin River Park on Saturday, September 24, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; live music from the Road Band from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Rowan Creek Week is truly a group effort made possible by the generous support of 27 community partners and 9 generous sponsors.  Please visit www.rowancreekweek.org for a complete list of events, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@rowancreekweek).

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Press Contact:

Kelli Isenhour
Rowan County Soil & Water
704-216-8998
Kelli.isenhour@rowancountync.gov