Water Resource Committee is the key interface used by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) to interact with local governments on the issue of water resources. Formed in 1986, this Committee is staffed by the WPCOG and serves in an advisory role for 30 local governments within the Greater Hickory Metro on issues including water quality, water supply, water safety and recreation, and watershed issues within the Upper Catawba River Basin. The Water Resources Committee consists of individuals representing local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and businesses from Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties in Western North Carolina.

 

The WRC was originally named the Catawba River Study Committee. In 2010, the committee updated the name and mission statement to better reflect the broader nature of the committee and to recognize that water management issues in the Yadkin River Basin also affect our regions local governments. The mission of the group is to serves in an advisory role for local governments and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board on water resources and watershed issues: including water quality, water supply, water safety and recreation, and land-use within the regions river basins. The committee is staffed by the WPCOG’s Natural Resources Administrator whose position is supported in part by local governments within the region.