In light of the devastation caused by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, environmentalism is a topic of worldwide conversation. On the home front, Dave Merryman, a 2005 Gardner-Webb University alumnus, is doing his part to maintain the safety of the most threatened river in the United States. As the Catawba Riverkeeper, he educates local groups on the effects of polluted water and warns them about agents that can harm rivers. He protects the river through patrol efforts and advocates continued protection by supporting legislation designed to safeguard the river from contamination by corporations and individuals. Merryman’s zeal for environmentalism skyrocketed while at Gardner-Webb and during a summer internship with the Student Conservation Association at Yellowstone National Park. “My whole childhood, I played in something I thought was a creek.” He learned during his studies in Biology that his playground was actually a toxic tributary for local urban runoff consisting of oil, rainwater, dirt, debris, and paint. These experiences empowered Merryman to be the voice local water sources like the Catawba River and for its protection.
While at Gardner-Webb, Merryman served as President of Beta Beta Beta, an academic club which recognizes and encourages scholarship in Biology. In 2005, he received the Paul J. Stacy Biology Award. Merryman graduated from Frostburg State University with a Master of Science degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology in 2008. Today, he is a board member for the Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition and the River District. He also serves on the York County Culture and Heritage Museum’s River Advisory Committee. He has presented papers and has spoken at Regional and National conventions on environmental and social topics. On behalf of the Catawba River, Merryman, asserts, “I mean, this river is our everything: our drinking water, recreation, comfort, jobs. If we don’t have this river, we don’t have Charlotte.”
