Some people believe that the riparian buffer around the Catawba River should be removed. The riparian buffer keeps the river clean and safe so we can use it for drinking and water in our home. You know, just NECESSARY uses. And yet property owners are all of a dither because they have to "give up" 50 feet of their land to protect this natural beauty. The land is not "given up" it's still there, quite beautiful, and protecting our water. The Catawba River is so important to the lives of people in North Carolina and by removing the riparian buffer it could render the river useless and damaged. It would be exposed to trash, pollutants and elements that would degrade the water quality and degrade life for those who depend on the river. Not only that, but we have to consider the fish and insect population that make their home in the river and how much they depend on clean and fresh water. By signing this petition we could all work together to spread the word about protecting the great and natural beauty of the Catawba River.