Coastal Carolina Riverwatch is excited to welcome Christina Boxberger as our new White Oak Waterkeeper.
Christina joins CCRW at an important time for coastal North Carolina. Our communities are facing growing concerns tied to wastewater and septic systems, stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, emerging contaminants, plastic pollution, Harmful Algal Blooms, fish kills, flooding, and the long-term health of the waters that support our families, fishermen, wildlife, local economies, and quality of life.
As White Oak Waterkeeper, Christina will help CCRW continue our mission to protect the quality of water and quality of life in coastal North Carolina.
Christina brings a strong combination of coastal science, environmental health research, environmental education, community engagement, field experience, and technical skills. She studied Environmental Science at Duke University, with a minor in Psychology, and spent time learning at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort. In a public reflection written for the Rachel Carson Council, Christina described kayaking across Taylor’s Creek toward Carrot Island and reflecting on the salt marshes, oyster-studded shorelines, shorebirds, and coastal ecosystems that shaped Rachel Carson’s writing and continue to inspire coastal conservation today.
Christina’s background also includes work at the intersection of environmental science and community stories. Through the Environmental Justice Oral History Project, she contributed to journalism and oral history work focused on communities experiencing environmental harm. That experience connects directly to CCRW’s belief that strong water quality work must include both sound science and the lived experiences of the people most connected to local waters.
Her research experience includes work connected to environmental toxicology, data collection, validation, methodology, and technical writing. A recent publication through work supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development lists Christina’s contributions in writing, validation, methodology, investigation, and data curation.
That mix of science, communication, and community connection is exactly what the Waterkeeper role requires. Waterkeeper organizations serve as on-the-ground advocates who patrol local waterways, educate the public, organize community action, and help address pollution concerns.
Christina’s first weeks with CCRW will focus on learning the watershed, meeting partners, reviewing active projects, and working with our team to support a thoughtful transition. Riley’s leadership as White Oak Waterkeeper has strengthened CCRW’s water quality monitoring, field response, community engagement, watershed planning, and fisheries-focused work. We are grateful for Riley’s service and for the care she is putting into this transition.
As Christina onboards this summer, she will begin supporting several active CCRW projects and priorities, including:
Water quality monitoring and pollution response. Christina will learn CCRW’s field protocols, reporting systems, safety procedures, partner contacts, and response process for community concerns such as discolored water, suspected pollution, fish kills, Harmful Algal Blooms, sewage spills, stormwater issues, and other water quality concerns.
Lower and Upper New River Watershed Restoration Plans. Christina will help support ongoing watershed planning work connected to the New River, including coordination with interns, agency partners, local governments, and community stakeholders. This work includes identifying restoration opportunities, organizing watershed data, supporting field verification where needed, and helping translate technical planning into practical next steps for cleaner water.
Water Quality for Fisheries. Christina will be introduced to CCRW’s Water Quality for Fisheries program, which focuses on water quality issues affecting North Carolina’s coastal fisheries. This work includes collaboration with commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishermen, aquaculture professionals, researchers, local governments, and state agencies. CCRW’s Water Quality for Fisheries work has focused on priority concerns such as wastewater and septic systems, stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, industrial pollutants, plastic pollution, PFAS, heavy metals, Harmful Algal Blooms, and fish kills. Christina will also begin learning about planning for the 2026 Water Quality for Fisheries Symposium, which CCRW will host on October 19 and 20 at Sturgeon City in Jacksonville. The symposium is an important space for connecting science, policy, local knowledge, and community priorities around the future of water quality and fisheries in coastal North Carolina.
Pure Farms, Pure Waters, and agricultural runoff work. Christina will learn the ongoing Pure Farms, Pure Waters project, including field documentation, partner coordination, lab-related updates, public-facing outreach, and the connection between land use, runoff, bacteria, nutrients, and downstream water quality.
Community outreach and relationship building. Christina will spend time meeting CCRW partners, volunteers, board members, local government contacts, university researchers, fishermen, educators, and community members. A major part of her onboarding will be listening, learning local concerns, and understanding how CCRW can continue to be a trusted clean water resource for the White Oak River Basin.
“We are thrilled to welcome Christina to Coastal Carolina Riverwatch,” said Lisa Rider, Executive Director of CCRW. “She brings the right combination of coastal science, research experience, communication skills, and commitment to community-centered environmental work. Christina understands that protecting water quality is not just about data. It is about people, places, partnerships, and the waters that sustain our coastal way of life.”
Christina’s role will help CCRW continue to build strong connections among science, public education, local action, and practical solutions. As she begins this summer, we are excited for our members, partners, and community to get to know her.
Please join us in welcoming Christina Boxberger to Coastal Carolina Riverwatch.
Christina can be reached at ChristinaB@
or Waterkeeper@