It was a spectacle. Last year, when six teams of 22 people gathered on the Washington waterfront, loaded onto long, narrow boats and took up paddling to the beat of a drum, it drew many spectators to the boardwalk. Washington had never seen the likes of these dragon boats and their teams racing one another through the sheltered water of the Pamlico River.

This year, dragon boats are back, and organizers are planning for an event that’s bigger and better than its launch at the 2014 Smoke on the Water barbecue festival. Rather than six teams, they’re aiming for 24. Rather than 132 participants, they’re aiming for 528. Rather than, 1,000 spectators, they’re aiming for many, many more.

The dragon boat races are not just a way to pull people to Washington and Smoke on the Water; they’re the means to raise money for Sound Rivers, formerly Pamlico-Tar River Foundation and the local environmental advocacy organization that’s been around for three decades. The races aren’t the only wildly successful fundraiser this group claims — the PTRF Oyster Roast, held each November on the Washington Civic Center grounds, is always a success.

One of the reasons it’s important for an organization like Sound Rivers to be able to raise money became apparent in Beaufort County Superior Court last week.

Starting in 2013, Sound Rivers, along with its supporters and residents of Blounts Creek, have been fighting to prevent a limestone mining company from discharging enough freshwater into tributaries of the creek that it would permanently change the ecosystem there. In January, a judge informed Sound Rivers it had no standing in filing a petition with the courts to prevent that from happening — not to prevent the mine from happening, but to prevent that method of discharge when there were other options available. Last week, another judge said that Sound Rivers, indeed, had standing to do what it was created to do: protect local waterways and the people who enjoy them from potential harm. The judge also sent the case back to the previous court, saying there were a lot of disputed facts that need to be clarified. The next courtroom go ‘round will include witness and expert testimony, as to whether the state was right to issue the discharge permit to the mining company.

Money collected through fundraisers like the annual oyster roast, “Save Blounts Creek” 5Ks and barbecue lunches, and dragon boat races, is being used to protect and educate about not just “the” environment, but “this” environment — the one that so many enjoy from the shore, from a pier, a boardwalk, a kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, canoe, powerboat, sailboat, and the list goes on.

To put together a dragon boat team, to sign on as an individual paddler, to sponsor a member of the military, is not just an investment in a day of fun, friendly competition. It’s investing in an organization that’s investing in residents’ right to protect local waters.

For more information about joining, sponsoring or putting together a dragon boat team, visit www.washingtonncdragonboat.com or call Matt Butler at 252-946-7211.