43. Charleston’s Waterways: Threats, Trends & Solutions

43. Charleston’s Waterways: Threats, Trends & Solutions

Author: Jenn Galler September 18, 2026 Duration: 21:40

Today, we’re diving into the health of Charleston’s waterways and the work being done to protect them.

I talked with Riley Egger, the Advocacy and Policy Director at Charleston Waterkeeper. Charleston is a community deeply connected to its rivers, creeks, marshes, and harbor, but those waterways face a growing number of challenges,  from pollution and development to flooding, population growth, and the impacts of a changing climate.

In this episode, Riley helps us better understand what makes Charleston’s waterways so unique, the threats they face, and the work Charleston Waterkeeper is doing on the ground through water quality monitoring, habitat restoration, and advocacy.

We’ll also talk about how scientific data can shape policy, how monitoring can lead to real-world change, and what the latest water quality trends are telling us about the future of Charleston’s waterways.

Contact and connect: https://charlestonwaterkeeper.org/



Hosted by Jenn Galler, In Our Backyard Podcast is the voice of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, bringing urgent local stories to the forefront. This isn't about abstract global debates; it's a grounded conversation focused on the very real industrial pressures facing specific towns and neighborhoods. Each episode examines a particular threat, from active coal plants and fracking operations to the routing of new pipelines, unpacking the complex realities behind the headlines. You'll hear directly from the residents and organizers who are living these fights, sharing their personal struggles and strategies for safeguarding both community health and the local environment. The discussions are detailed and thoughtful, prioritizing the experiences of those on the ground. Tuning into this podcast means connecting with the persistent, often overlooked work of environmental justice, understanding that the most critical battles for planetary protection frequently begin just outside our own doors.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

In Our Backyard Podcast
Podcast Episodes
32. The Data Center Capital: Growth, Land, and Local Consequences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
Today, we’re joined by Julie Bolthouse, Director of Land Use at the Piedmont Environmental Council. With Julie, we talk about the rapid expansion of data centers on the ground and how communities are responding.Virginia…
31. Sustaining East Tennessee: Farms, Food, and the Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:49
Today we’re diving into the work happening on the ground in East Tennessee to support farmers, strengthen local food systems, and build healthier, more resilient communities.I’m joined by Andy Brown and Jillian Gorell fr…
30. Ecology Beyond Data: Emotion, Storytelling, and Systems Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
I’m joined by Bill Powers from Living Well Collaborative with Earth Island Institute, an organization based in Bolivia. Bill is an author, ecologist, and storyteller whose work bridges the personal and the environment in…
29. Building Environmental Literacy for a Changing World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
Today’s guest is Judy Braus, Executive Director of the North American Association for Environmental Education or NAAEE for short.NAAEE’s mission is to use the power of education to advance environmental literacy and civi…
27. Why Oysters Matter More Than You Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:47
I’m joined by Giulio Salerno from the Wild Oyster Project, an organization working to bring native oyster reefs back to San Francisco Bay and other West Coast estuaries. It’s about repairing ecosystems, building climate…
25. The Cost of Wasted Food: Climate, Justice, and Systemic Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:57
In this episode, I speak with Yuka Nagashima, the Executive Director of Food Shift, she has spent her career working at the intersection of food, equity, and environmental impact. Food Shift is an organization dedicated…
24. Under Threat: Sharks, Seas, and the Laws That Protect Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:05
Today, we’re joined by David McGuire, Executive Director of Shark Stewards, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered marine species and the critical ocean habitats they depend on.For more than fifty years, foun…
23. Fish On: Protecting Fisheries, Communities, and Coastlines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:34
My guest is Anupa Asokan, executive director of Fish On, an organization working to ensure that coastal communities and the ecosystems they rely on can thrive for generations to come. Fish On is all about empowering the…