An ecological melting pot of marine life and pleasing scenery, Blounts Creek provides local residents and visiting tourists a medium for a leisurely afternoon on the water. The fish are diverse and numerous, the crabbing prime and other wildlife plentiful. It’s a gem the Sound Rivers Foundation is looking to preserve in its purest form.

Residents and community organizers are hosting the Save Blounts Creek 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Sound Rivers Foundation in its legal battle against the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to impede Martin Marietta, Inc. from pouring millions of gallons of untreated fresh water daily into brackish Blounts Creek. The race will be held of Aug. 15 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

“This year’s race is a run and a walk, so it will involve more people that way,” said event organizer Les Sheridan, who lives on the banks of Blounts Creek. “Whatever we get beyond expenses will go toward Sound Rivers Foundation.

“We have legal sized crab now and we can fish for flounder and striped bass. What we have is Martin Marietta pouring thousands of gallons of untreated water into Blounts Creek. We feel it will have an effect on the ecology in the river.”

The race will have seven age categories — 13 and under, 14 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50-59 and 60 plus — and awards will be distributed to the top finishers from each group.

“The course starts at Cotton Patch Landing Marine, continues along the road to the new Beaufort County boat launch, flows through the Blounts Creek campgrounds and finishes back at Cotton Patch Landing Marina,” according to a press release.

Pre-registration forms can by found on www.soundrivers.org. The pre-registration fee is $20 and goes towards participants’ Save Blounts Creek T-shirt, refreshments, raffle tickets and awards. T-shirts are available to the first 40 registrants.

Completed forms and fees must be returned by Aug. 8 to event director Les Sheridan at 560 Harbour View Drive, Chocowinity. All checks should be made payable to Sound Rivers Foundation 5K Run/Walk and applicants under the age of 18 must have signed parent permission in order to participate.

Registration will take place the day of the event from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. at the staging area near Cotton Patch Marina on Blounts Creek. Ample parking is available in designated areas, according to the release.

For more information or if you wish to donate, volunteer or be a sponsor, contact Sheridan at 252-946-0050 or visit https://sites.google.com/site/saveblountscreek.