New PTRF director takes on river’s cause

Harrison Marks graduated from Dartmouth College and went on to a career in banking. But that’s behind him; in front, is a wide, open river.

Marks took over the directorship of Pamlico-Tar River Foundation last month following the retirement of David Emmerling. He’s come at an interesting time, as PTRF continues to fight the construction of a pit mine straddling the Beaufort and Craven county line that, according to many, could destroy aquatic life as it’s known in Blounts Creek and its tributaries. It’s a challenging time when the state budget, if passed, will defund plans already in place for paddle trails and a dedicated kayak launch at Washington’s Havens Gardens, and a bill making its way through the North Carolina General Assembly could possibly roll back every piece of North Carolina environmental legislation considered more stringent than the federal laws governing the same.

But by taking the role on, Marks is returning to his first love — the environment — and finding ways to involve more people directly in the life of the river.

“The reason why Washington is special is the river,” Marks said. “I would argue it’s our greatest natural resource. Washington is an extremely attractive town and the quality of the water matters.”

Marks is looking into ways to move the organization forward with its advocacy efforts, educating the community about not only the river, but how to protect it, and creating more access by expansion of the river trail and construction of more camping platforms dotting the riverside. In that is the desire to develop an economy based on the natural environment: eco-tourism.

“As a banker, I’m extremely interested in job creation. It’s a false choice to think you have to choose between the environment and jobs,” Marks explained.

According to Marks, water accessibility is increasingly hard to come by: on new bridges, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has consistently put up no-parking signs and others limiting access in places once used by fishermen. It’s part of his job, he said, to help municipalities understand how access, or lack thereof, affects quality of life.

“We welcome ideas as to how we make the river more accessible,” Marks said.

For now, Marks is getting up to speed with the help of Riverkeeper Heather Jacobs Deck, whom he refers to as “kind of a superstar.”

“I’m learning all things we do — which is plenty,” he said.