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WFAE features this series of stories about the Yadkin River and Alcoa's fight to keep control.

Public v Private: Power Struggle on the Yadkin
Part 1: Alcoa's Company Town
Drought has forced North Carolina to take a closer look at its dependence on rivers for drinking water and economic development. The focus centers right now on the tiny town of Badin about an hour northeast of Charlotte on the Yadkin River. Over the next three days, WFAE will feature a series of stories about the river and Alcoa's fight to keep control. In Part One of "Public versus Private: Power Struggle on the Yadkin," Julie Rose tells the story of Badin.

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Public v. Private: Power Struggle on the Yadkin
Part 2: Alcoa Fights to retain control of the Yadkin
North Carolina officials last week issued a water quality permit that puts Alcoa one step closer to another 50 year license for hydropower operation on the Yadkin River. Governor Bev Perdue and several counties on the Yadkin are contesting Alcoa's application. In the second story of our series "Public versus Private: Power Struggle on the Yadkin," WFAE's Julie Rose takes a closer look this dispute.

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Public v. Private: Power Struggle for the Yadkin
Part 3: Who should control our rivers?
Today we have the last story in our three part series "Public versus Private: Power Struggle on the Yadkin." As it flows from the Appalachian Mountains, the Yadkin River turns into the Pee-Dee and continues to the Atlantic. Along the way it supplies water to millions of people. Alcoa's effort to secure another 50-year hydropower license on the river has brought it into the spotlight. So has the state's recent drought. WFAE's Julie Rose considers the broader impacts of the Yadkin dispute on North Carolina's rivers.

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Related reports from WFAE

Perdue argues case for yanking Alcoa's Yadkin permit
Governor Bev Perdue is pushing ahead with an effort to stop aluminum company Alcoa from getting another federal license to control the Yadkin River.

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Dispute over Badin Lake contamination leaves fishers in dark
The aluminum company Alcoa is still fighting for a new 50-year license to control dams on the Yadkin River. It's mounted an aggressive lobbying and public relations campaign to counter opponents like Governor Perdue and Stanly County commissioners. Part of the debate focuses on contamination of fish at Badin Lake. WFAE's Julie Rose reports.

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Alcoa cheers legislative victory, still faces hurdles on Yadkin River
To read the headlines last week - and the company's own press release - Alcoa scored a major victory in its quest for another 50 year license to operate dams on the Yadkin River. But the company is technically no closer to getting that license. WFAE's Julie Rose explains.

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Judge halts Alcoa permit for Yadkin River

An administrative law judge has put a temporary halt to Alcoa's quest for another 50-year license on the Yadkin River. The decision comes at the request of Gov. Bev Perdue, Stanly County and the Yadkin Riverkeeper.
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Yadkin Riverkeeper files for stay on Alcoa permit
An environmental watchdog has filed a lawsuit hoping to stop Alcoa from moving forward with its 50-year license on the Yadkin River. WFAE's Julie Rose reports.

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Alcoa draws closer to Yadkin River license
Alcoa has received a key certificate from the state of North Carolina in its quest to keep control of part of the Yadkin River northeast of Charlotte. WFAE’s Julie Rose reports.

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Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins Public vs. Private: Yadkin River Rights
We'll take a closer look at the quest for Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. to retain its control over part of the Yadkin River northeast of Charlotte. There are several opponents to their effort, including Stanly County officials who think that the Yadkin River should be in the public's control, and not a private company's. We'll discuss the details behind the dispute- including environmental issues, hydroelectric power generation and the relationship between Alcoa and the Yadkin River in that part of the state. We'll also hear about how these water management situations are typically handled and how this dispute may be resolved.
Guests
Julie Rose - Reporter, WFAE News
Gene Ellis - Licensing and Property Manager, Alcoa Power Generating Inc.
Lindsey Dunevant - Stanly County Commissioner
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Governor Bev Perdue's official request to intervene in hopes of preventing Alcoa's license from renewal.

Alcoa's rebuttal to Governor Perdue's request.

Summary of the Water Quality Certification granted to Alcoa by the NC Division of Water Quality.

Header photography courtesy of Melanie Watson Photography