Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors: Samantha Krop

Name: Samantha Krop

Age: 36

Party affiliation: Democrat

Campaign website: krop4wake.com

Occupation & employer: Neuse Riverkeeper and Director of Advocacy with Sound Rivers

Years lived in the area: 4.5

1. Why are you running for the position of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor? In your answer, please explain your understanding of the role and why it is important.

I am running for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor because protecting our environment has been a defining part of my life and work, and I believe Wake County needs a strong environmental voice in a role that is often overlooked. As a Riverkeeper, educator, and longtime environmental advocate, I have spent my career working to protect clean water, conserve forests, support sustainable local agriculture, and build healthier, more resilient communities. I want to bring that experience to the Soil and Water Conservation District and help make conservation of our valuable natural resources a central part of how Wake County plans for its future.

I am also running because I am a new mother. I had my first child this summer, in the midst of a historic drought, at a moment when the realities of a changing climate were impossible to ignore. As I thought about the world I want my child and the next generation to inherit, I felt a renewed responsibility to move beyond advocacy and enlist myself in public service. I am running because I want to help ensure that our children inherit clean water, healthy land, and communities prepared for the challenges ahead. 

The Soil and Water Conservation District has a direct impact on some of the issues that matter most to Wake County residents: clean drinking water, healthy rivers and streams, farmland, forests, flooding, and climate resilience. The District can connect residents, farmers, and landowners with technical assistance, conservation programs, and funding to protect land and water resources. It also has an important role in education and community engagement.

I see this as both a practical and important role in a rapidly growing county. Growth puts increasing pressure on our natural resources, while climate change is exacerbating environmental stressors by bringing longer droughts, more intense flooding, and hotter summers. We need to make forward-thinking conservation part of our planning now rather than trying to respond after problems become crises.

I would bring both my professional experience and my experience as a grassroots environmental advocate to the Soil and Water Board of Supervisors. My goal would be to make the District’s resources easier to understand and access, strengthen partnerships with communities and landowners, and advance practical, community-driven conservation solutions.

2. What are the three most pressing issues facing the Conservation District and Board of Supervisors? How do you plan to address these issues? Please be specific.

“I see three interconnected priorities for the conservation district: Safeguarding Wake County’s environmental resources from climate impacts, ensuring that conservation funding, trainings and resources reach the communities that need them most, and investing in education to empower future generations to be part of our environmental solutions.

First and foremost, we must prepare Wake County for climate change and more extreme weather. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are already putting pressure on our communities and natural resources. Flooding in particular poses a growing challenge, and preparing for that risk requires us to invest in solutions before disasters occur.

As a Soil and Water District Supervisor, I would prioritize practical, nature-based approaches to reducing flood risk, including protecting urban greenspace and supporting the installation of wetlands, rain gardens, and other practices that can absorb and slow stormwater. These investments can provide multiple benefits at once: improving water quality, reducing flood impacts, protecting natural areas, and helping communities cope with extreme heat.

Climate change also creates challenges for agriculture and local food security. Extreme weather can reduce crop yields, increase erosion, and accelerate the loss of nutrient-rich topsoil. I would work with farmers to expand access to conservation practices that build healthy soils, reduce erosion, and help farms become more resilient to changing conditions. Preparing for climate change means making sure our conservation programs are helping farmers and communities adapt to the conditions they will face in the years ahead.

Secondly, we need to make sure conservation resources reach the communities and lands that need them most. The impacts of flooding, pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation have not been distributed evenly. Communities with fewer resources face greater barriers to preparing for and recovering from environmental challenges. Every Wake County resident should have access to clean water, healthy natural resources, and meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their environment.

As a Soil and Water District Supervisor, I would prioritize conservation investments based on need, directing resources toward communities and areas facing significant risks from flooding, extreme heat, and water-quality impacts. I would listen to residents and community leaders (particularly those who have experienced the greatest impacts from environmental problems) and incorporate their knowledge into conservation planning. Rather than relying on residents to know that assistance is available or navigate the process on their own, I would work to bring conservation resources, information, and technical assistance directly into communities. I would also build partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and community organizations to secure funding and deliver science-based conservation solutions where they can have the greatest impact.

Lastly, we need to build a more informed and engaged community around conservation. Lasting conservation depends not only on government programs and funding, but on residents having the knowledge, resources, and opportunities to take action. By expanding environmental education and making conservation resources easier to access, we can help Wake County residents understand the challenges facing our soil, water, and natural resources—and empower them to be part of practical, community-driven solutions.

As a Soil and Water District Supervisor, I would expand opportunities for residents to learn about conservation programs and resources available to them, while strengthening public education about the major challenges facing our watersheds and natural resources. I would work with communities to identify place-based solutions that reflect local needs and conditions, and build partnerships that turn education into action. I would also help connect individuals, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods with the technical assistance, funding opportunities, and partnerships they need to implement conservation practices and build healthier, more resilient communities.”

3. As the Triangle continues to grow, what steps does the region need to take to ensure adequate water supply going forward? What role should the Board of Supervisors play in long-term water supply and conservation planning?

Wake County needs to plan for water supply with both population growth and climate change in mind. Prolonged drought and increasing demand are putting greater pressure on drinking water supplies. According to Wake County’s recently published One Water Plan, water demand is projected to double by 2070 and every municipal treatment system in the county will require an upgrade. We cannot treat water conservation as an afterthought. 

When forests and wetlands are cleared for development, topsoil is exposed and more sediment and pollutants can enter our waterways. Replacing forests and other greenspaces with roads, rooftops, and other impervious surfaces also increases stormwater runoff. Protecting forests, wetlands, riparian buffers, and other natural areas—particularly in critical watersheds such as Falls Lake—is therefore an important part of protecting Wake County’s long-term water security.

Protecting water resources starts with protecting forests and wetlands that filter and sustain them. Long-term planning should include protecting the forests, wetlands, riparian areas, and watersheds that naturally help protect water quality and water supplies. We should also plan growth in ways that reduce impacts to streams, floodplains, and groundwater and that minimize pollution at its source.

We also need to recognize that watershed protection does not stop at the edge of a farm or forest. Urban and developing areas play a major role in water quality. Wake County’s Community Conservation Assistance Program provides funding to private landowners for projects such as rain gardens, stormwater wetlands, cisterns, and riparian buffer protection. These projects can reduce runoff and pollution while providing other community benefits. As a Supervisor, I would work to expand funding for conservation projects in urban and rapidly developing areas so that these tools can be used at a scale that matches the county’s growth.

The Board should also help make conservation practical and accessible for residents. That means connecting homeowners, farmers, and landowners with technical assistance and financial incentives for projects that reduce stormwater runoff, improve soil and water quality, and protect natural resources.

The Soil and Water Conservation District can serve as an important bridge between residents and the broader resources needed to conserve water and protect watersheds. The Board should use that role to promote conservation practices, support watershed-based planning, and ensure that conservation is incorporated into long-term decisions about how and where Wake County grows.

4. This year’s drought heavily affected farmers. What should the Board of Supervisors do to support farmers in recovering from the drought and associated losses, and going forward as climate change increases the likelihood of worsening drought?

“The drought has underscored how vulnerable farmers are to a changing climate. Supporting farmers means both helping them respond to immediate challenges and making sure they have the resources and technical assistance needed to build resilience over the long term.

The Soil and Water Conservation District should connect farmers with available conservation programs, technical assistance, and funding that can help them protect soil and water resources and adapt their agricultural practices to changing conditions.

I also believe protecting farmland itself is an important climate and food-security strategy. Preserving agricultural land helps maintain Wake County’s local agricultural economy and ensures that we retain the capacity to produce food closer to home as climate instability increases.

More broadly, we should make sure that conservation resources are accessible to farmers and landowners across the county. Education, technical assistance, and financial assistance can help farmers implement practices that improve soil health, conserve water, and make agricultural operations more resilient to drought and other extreme weather.

As a Soil and Water District Supervisor, I would work to protect farmland by expanding opportunities under the Voluntary Agricultural District Program and the Agricultural Cost Share Program that helps farms implement best management practices that protect soil and water resources and promote climate resiliency.”

5. Climate change is also contributing to worse inland flooding, like the Triangle saw from Tropical Storm Chantal in 2025. How can the board support the county’s climate resilience?

The Board should focus on both natural and built infrastructure and, importantly, invest before disasters happen. As a Riverkeeper, I have seen firsthand the impacts that extreme storms can have on our communities, land, and water resources. After Tropical Storm Chantal brought significant flooding to the Triangle in 2025, and following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene across western North Carolina, we have a clear reminder that disaster preparedness cannot begin after a storm arrives. We need to anticipate these risks and invest in resilience before the next disaster strikes. 

Forests, wetlands, and other natural areas are some of our most effective and affordable flood-protection tools. They absorb and slow stormwater, reduce flooding, protect water quality, and help communities recover after extreme weather. The District can help landowners voluntarily conserve and restore these resources in places where they provide the greatest benefits for downstream communities.

We should also expand nature-based solutions such as green stormwater infrastructure, stream restoration, and tree and forest conservation. These investments can reduce flooding while also improving water quality and addressing other climate impacts such as extreme heat.

At the same time, we need to address vulnerable infrastructure before it becomes an emergency. County resources should support improvements to water and wastewater systems, septic systems, wells, drainage, and other infrastructure that communities depend on during extreme weather.

Finally, resilience investments need to reach the communities most vulnerable to flooding and other environmental burdens. I would prioritize conservation funding and technical assistance for communities facing the greatest risks, including assistance with septic and well improvements, stream restoration, drainage, rain gardens, and cisterns.

6. Most candidates in this race have listed protecting farmland as a priority. What steps can and should the Board of Supervisors take in protecting farmland, and how would you balance that goal with the pressures of growth and development?

“Protecting farmland is an important part of protecting Wake County’s food security, local agricultural economy, open space, and climate resilience. The Soil and Water Conservation District can help farmers and landowners access technical assistance and conservation programs that make it easier to protect and manage agricultural land. The District should also make conservation resources easier to access and ensure that farmers understand what programs and assistance are available to them.

As Wake County grows, we need to be intentional about where and how development occurs. Growth should be planned with our watersheds and natural resources in mind, while protecting important farmland, forests, wetlands, and other natural areas.

I also see farmland protection as complementary to responsible growth rather than inherently opposed to it. Preserving agricultural land and natural areas can provide important public benefits, including food production, flood protection, water-quality protection, and climate resilience.

My approach would be to make conservation part of the broader conversation about how Wake County grows, rather than treating it as something that happens after development decisions have already been made.”

7. What steps should the county take to prevent water pollution, whether from runoff or chemicals like PFAS? What role should the Board of Supervisors play in safeguarding clean water?

“Protecting clean water starts with preventing pollution at its source. Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of water-quality degradation in North Carolina, and it becomes an increasingly serious challenge as Wake County grows. Forests and wetlands absorb rainfall, filter water through the soil, and help recharge groundwater. But when vegetated land is replaced with roads, rooftops, and sidewalks, more rain becomes stormwater runoff. That runoff can pick up litter, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizer, oil, sediment, and other pollutants and carry them directly into our creeks and streams. In many cases, stormwater is discharged through separate drainage systems rather than being sent to a wastewater treatment plant.

That makes protecting natural systems that filter stormwater and investing in better stormwater management essential to protecting our water resources. Programs such as the Community Conservation Assistance Program can help homeowners address runoff, erosion, drainage, and other water-quality problems, but residents need clear information and support to take advantage of them. As a Soil and Water District Supervisor, I would work to make these resources easier to access through targeted outreach, partnerships with HOAs and neighborhood organizations, community workshops, and direct technical assistance.

PFAS deserves particular attention because preventing contamination at its source is far more effective than waiting until it reaches our drinking-water supplies. North Carolina’s study of wastewater treatment plants found PFAS in both influent and effluent, and the state currently has no surface-water quality standards for PFAS. NC DEQ has specifically identified reducing PFAS at the source of discharge as an important way to protect drinking-water sources and reduce the cost of treating contaminated water.

At the federal level, PFAS regulation is also evolving. EPA currently maintains enforceable drinking-water limits for PFOA and PFOS, while proposing changes to some other PFAS regulations and to the compliance timeline for PFOA and PFOS. When federal protections are changing or do not address pollution before it enters our waterways, Wake County should do more to prevent contamination at its source rather than waiting for it to reach our drinking water.

This is especially important as Wake County considers continued industrial growth, including the rapid expansion of the data-center industry. Large industrial facilities can have significant demands on water and wastewater infrastructure, and the county has a responsibility to make sure economic development does not come at the expense of our sensitive water resources. We should not give any industry free rein to consume our water resources or discharge potentially harmful contaminants into our watersheds. The county should use every tool available within its authority—including careful land-use planning, strong stormwater and wastewater requirements, monitoring, and consideration of cumulative watershed impacts—to ensure that new development protects water quality and water quantity.

We also need to address pollution from existing infrastructure. Failing septic systems can introduce bacteria and other pollutants into groundwater and surface waters, creating environmental and public health risks. The county should support cost-share programs, grants, technical assistance, and other resources that help residents repair and upgrade failing septic and well systems.

Safeguarding clean water requires us to prevent pollution before it reaches our waterways, protect the natural systems that filter and absorb it, and hold new development accountable for its impacts. The Soil and Water Conservation District can serve as a bridge between residents, local government, farmers, and other stakeholders—helping connect communities with the resources they need while ensuring that protecting our water resources remains central to how Wake County manages growth.”

8. Are there any other issues you would like to address?

“I believe the Soil and Water Conservation District has an opportunity to become a much more visible and accessible resource for Wake County residents.

Many people don’t know what the District does or how its work affects their daily lives. As an educator and longtime environmental advocate, I want to change that. Conservation should not feel like a technical or distant function of local government. It should be something people can see and participate in—whether they are a farmer protecting their land, a homeowner managing stormwater, a student participating in a cleanup, or a family enjoying one of Wake County’s waterways.

I would make education and community engagement a core part of my service. Programs such as Big Sweep can be more than annual cleanups; they can be opportunities to teach residents about stormwater, litter prevention, water quality, wildlife, and how pollution moves from our neighborhoods into our waterways.

Ultimately, I want to help build a Wake County where clean water is abundant, natural spaces are protected, farms can continue to thrive, and every community has access to the resources it needs to become more resilient. Protecting our natural resources is not separate from building a healthy and prosperous Wake County—it is a fundamental part of it.”