On Jan. 15, tell the NC Utilities Commission: No Rate Hikes for Dirty Energy!

Duke Energy is trying to raise our electric bills to pay for dirty energy. Again. The company’s latest rate hike proposal would increase residential electricity costs by another 6.7% – or about $97 more per year for the average electricity user.

Duke’s proposal lacks any direct investment in renewable energy and would raise our rates to burn more gas, create a “deferral” account of up to $2.5 billion for Duke to access in a future rate hike, and call for customers to foot the bill to clean up coal ash – even though Duke knew this coal ash was toxic as far back as the 1980s, and did nothing to prevent it. The rate increase would also come only two years after their last rate hike, and would be their fifth rate hike in ten years.

Join MountainTrue members in Franklin on January 15 and in Morganton on January 16 to tell the NC Utilities Commission: Enough is enough. Don’t let Duke pass the bill for more dirty energy to customers.

Rate Hike Hearing in Franklin
Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00PM
Macon County Courthouse
5 W. Main Street
Franklin, NC 28734

Rate Hike Hearing in Morganton
Thursday, January 16 at 7:00PM
Burke County Courthouse
201 South Green Street
Morganton, NC 28655

The fate of 1 million acres of our nation’s most important forest lands is in your hands.

Under the Trump Administration, the Forest Service has made a number of troubling policy proposals. By overhauling the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), they are making it harder for the public to protect our public lands. They’ve issued an executive order to increase timber harvest on national forests by one-third. They’ve proposed opening up vast swaths of rainforest to logging in Tongass National Forest. They’re pushing for oil and gas pipelines and open-pit mining — including a large copper sulfate mine that would pollute Minnesota’s beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The pattern is clear: time and again, this administration has put the interests of industry first regardless of the impact on our communities, our environment and our climate.

Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests could be next on the cutting board.

The next 20-year forest management plan for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will be released soon, and it could have a dramatic impact on the health of our public lands.

Will you protect our national forests? Our goal is to raise $30,000 before the end of the year. Whether it’s $10 or $1,000, your gift makes sure our team of experts has the resources to fight for a better forest management plan. Join the thousands of MountainTrue members and supporters in standing up for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.

Support MountainTrue’s Public Lands Team. With more than 50 years combined experience working for you, we fight to protect habitats that support vulnerable species, safeguard old-growth forests, and make sure you have wonderful outdoor spaces for biking, hiking, hunting, fishing and foraging.

MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly documents the age of a 200-year-old tree as part of our objection to a timber sale.

Donate to MountainTrue today and protect places like Pisgah National Forest — because it’s the right thing to do now and for future generations. We can only do this with your support.

MountainTrue has a record of success when it comes to fighting for our forests.

In the 80s and early 90s, MountainTrue (then the Western North Carolina Alliance) collected more than 16,000 signatures opposing the practice of clearcutting — and the resulting petition was the length of three football fields. Through our collective action, we pressured the Forest Service to cut the maximum allowable harvest in half, stopped the practice of clearcutting in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, and put water quality protections and old-growth forest restoration in place.

Thirty years later, we need your support again to fight for a better management plan that balances the needs of all of us who love and value public lands. And if the Forest Service fails to do that, we will be here to fight back — just like we did in 1987.

Join MountainTrue and strengthen our collective voice. With your help we can:

be a voice for the wild and roadless parts of the forest,
protect existing old-growth forests,
educate and inform the public with professional analysis,
provide technical comments to the Forest Service, and
organize public participation in meetings and comment periods, making it difficult for the Forest Service to ignore the people who speak for the trees.

Thank you for standing with our beloved national forests. Remember, you can make a small donation that will have a big impact by signing up for monthly giving.

Members and supporters of the Western North Carolina Alliance (now MountainTrue) hold up a scroll of more than 16,000 petitions taped together outside the federal building in downtown Asheville.

Protect The Places We Share

Have fun with us, learn more about the incredible natural treasures of our region, and make a difference in your community.

Join Today

MT Raleigh Report Yearly Wrap Up: The Budget, Wins for the Environment and Looking Ahead to 2020

Dec. 10, 2019

It’s been a strange year at the North Carolina General Assembly.

There have been lots of votes – and vetoes – on various budget bills, but no final state budget. There was just a smattering of problematic environmental bills, the worst of which either didn’t pass or were defanged before becoming law.

Then there’s the legislative session itself, which started in January but didn’t end until Halloween – only to be serialized in November and when the legislature is scheduled to come back in January.

Confused? No worries. We’re here for you with a quick rundown on what happened this year at the legislature and where things stand as the political stalemate between Governor Roy Cooper and the GOP-controlled legislature continues into the new year.

The Budget

You’ll recall that Governor Cooper vetoed the legislature’s budget for the 2019-2021 biennium earlier this summer. Governor Cooper wants the General Assembly to include expanded Medicaid coverage for more than 500,000 North Carolinians in the budget. Most Republicans in the legislature disagree. The result is a political and policy battle in which the two sides have been sparring about budget issues all year. In a surprise September vote, the House overrode the Governor’s veto, but the Senate has not been able to find the votes needed to complete the override. Thus the state’s budget stalemate.

With a budget deal stalled, the legislature has moved sections of their overall budget into separate “mini-budget” bills and sent them to Governor Cooper – some of which he has signed, while vetoing others.

So what does the budget battle mean for the environment? For starters, important funding for open space conservation has not been approved. Also held up is funding for a variety of conservation and water quality projects that MountainTrue supported in the legislature’s budget this year. The budget stalemate has also stalled funding for expanded water quality testing in the French Broad River and other WNC rivers to address E. coli pollution that can make people sick.

The budget impasse also cuts off new investments in the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s ability to protect water quality. The Cooper administration requested 37 new water quality positions, of which the legislature funded five. DEQ Secretary Michael Regan described the legislature’s budget for the Department as insufficient to protect the state’s natural resources.

When will the budget battles in Raleigh end? That’s the $24 billion question. Senate Republicans need just one or two Democrats to join them in overriding the Governor’s veto. So far, the Democrats in the Senate are sticking with Governor Cooper, who continues to call on GOP lawmakers to negotiate a budget deal. Lawmakers will return to the legislature on January 14 to continue their 2019 work.

Environmental Wins

Without the veto-proof majorities necessary to easily override Governor Cooper’s veto, Republican lawmakers have significantly reduced the number of bills sent to the Governor for approval. This has resulted in fewer environmental bills being taken up, let alone approved, during the 2019 session.

The biggest environmental bill of the session, SB559, put renewable energy advocates as well as many industries on red alert over a provision to allow the North Carolina Utilities Commission to approve electrical rate increases up to five years in advance in a single proceeding. Advocates including MountainTrue were concerned that the bill would reduce public feedback and transparency about rate increases, making it easier for utilities to pass costs onto their customers. The bill would have also allowed utilities more cushion on their allowed earnings, including a “band” of allowed profit above and below a certain percentage.

After months of debate, a veto threat by the Governor, and weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiating, the most controversial sections of the bill were turned into a study and the bill was signed into law by Governor Cooper. This was a big win for renewable energy supporters and consumer advocate groups.

This moderating trend for environmental bills also showed up in the debate about a bill reducing local governments’ regulation of billboards. After a veto by Governor Cooper this summer, supporters of the bill have been unable to muster the votes necessary to override the veto, essentially killing the bill altogether – and giving environmentalists and local governments another win.

And for those of you in need of an unarguably positive and feel-good environmental story, we give you the legislature’s authorization of the new Pisgah View State Park, which will preserve 1,600 acres in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. Three Republican Senators – Senator Chuck Edwards, R-Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania; Senator Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey; and Senator Jim Davis, R-Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain, introduced the bill in April. It was passed unanimously by the Senate in June and by the House in early July, where it was championed by Representative Brian Turner, D-Buncombe, and Representative Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson. The park is expected to cost $18.1 million and to take five years to complete.

Looking Ahead

With the General Assembly out of session until January 14, its agenda in the new year is still unclear. Senate Republicans will almost certainly continue to try to find a few Democrats to help them override the Governor’s budget veto. If the Senate does not override the budget veto, the legislature may continue to send Governor Cooper more mini-budget bills. Some House Republicans, led by Rep. Chuck McGrady, would also like to invest state funding in a variety of strategies to make North Carolina more resilient to storms and flooding – not only on the coast but, hopefully, in the mountains as well. These strategies include increased funding to buy out industrial hog operations with a history of pollution problems in the flood plain, as well as assistance to local governments to improve flood control infrastructure. While the Senate’s appetite for these investments is unclear at the moment, MountainTrue will support these appropriations and remind all legislators that, like the coast, WNC needs new investments to prepare for the bigger and more frequent storms and fire seasons we can expect as a result of climate change.

Finally, a note of thanks. MountainTrue is the only WNC environmental organization with a lobbyist in Raleigh. This makes us a stronger advocate for our region in the state capitol, which wouldn’t be possible without your support. Thank you for your part in our 2019 policy work, and we hope you will continue to be part of our team here in WNC as well as in Raleigh in 2020.

Healthy Forests = Good Fishing

by Fred Mix

I’ve been an avid fisherman since before I could speak. In fact, I’ve even got a photo of me holding up a fish I caught from when I was still in diapers. And in all my time fishing, I’ve never been as concerned about the health of our rivers and streams as I am now.

That’s why I support MountainTrue — they help keep our rivers and streams fishable and clean.

One of my favorite fishing spots lies just below the Forest Service’s proposed Buck Project timber sale. The exact spot is this fisherman’s secret, but it’s a beautiful stream designated as an Outstanding Resource Water by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. Buck Creek is one of the largest and most biologically diverse of its type in WNC. It’s also the largest tributary of the Nantahala River above the headwaters, where there is no commercial development.

Not long ago, the Forest Service invited me and other stakeholders to tour the Buck Project site and assure us that we had nothing to worry about. They’re planning to cut new roads, bury culverts to redirect water and then to take them out when they finish up. While they told me this, all I could think about was all the water and mud that would wash right down the valley into Buck Creek. If they push this project through, our pristine waterway is gone. The Forest Service staff are good people, reasonable and smart, but are dead set on cutting those trees no matter the cost.

When I was younger, we caught a fish and we killed it. We were takers back then. Now I catch and release because I’m more interested in preserving what we have. Unfortunately, the Forest Service is stuck in the taking mode.

You can help protect our Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests by supporting MountainTrue’s PublicLands Team. Join as a MountainTrue member today and protect places like Buck Creek – because it’s the right thing to do, now and for future generations.

Fred Mix is a life-long Fisherman & MountainTrue supporter. He was born in New Orleans, raised in Atlanta, and has lived most of his life somewhere between Bluffton, SC and the Nantahala Gorge. Fred spent 11 years in the fire service, and has maintained a boat brokerage business for the last 30 years. He is an avid fisherman who volunteers his time and expertise surveying fish populations in Nantahala.

Protect the Places We Share

Have fun with us, learn more about the incredible natural treasures of our region, and make a difference in your community.

Join Today

Nov. Vistas E-Newsletter

Creation Care Alliance Retreat 2020 Announced for Feb. 7-8

The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina will hold its 2020 retreat on Friday, February 7-8 at the Montreat Conference Center. This year’s retreat welcomes both clergy and creation care volunteers, and will allow you to spend a day with a theologian, a climate scientist, a forest biologist, and local colleagues and pastoral innovators. Whether you’re new to creation care or a long-time advocate, you’ll gain new language and tools to inspire your congregation to care for the environment, interwoven with space for rest, relationship, prayer and good food. Read more.

Giving Tuesday Save the Date

December 3 is #GivingTuesday – the international day of giving back to our communities and our planet. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are about getting deals, #GivingTuesday is about coming together to support and champion the causes we believe in, and the communities in which we live.

MountainTrue and our members protect our forests, clean up our rivers, plan vibrant and livable communities, and advocate for clean energy and a sound and sustainable future for all residents of our mountain region.

Consider making a donation this #GivingTuesday in support of MountainTrue to protect the places we share.

Central Regional News

For Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties

Buncombe County Takes Crucial First Step In Meeting Renewable Goals

On November 5, Buncombe County’s Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to request proposals for solar energy on county-owned buildings and land. With their vote, the County has taken a crucial first step in walking their talk on their renewable energy resolution, which sets a goal of transitioning Buncombe County’s government operations to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

But this is just a first step. When they discussed renewable energy, some Commissioners weren’t convinced that it’s an urgent priority. They need to hear that Buncombe County residents want them to go beyond exploring renewable energy to funding and building it – and that they need to get started as soon as possible.

Take action here to tell Buncombe County Commissioners: Thank you for voting to approve the solar request for proposals (RFP). Now, fund solar energy when proposals come back in the spring.

Mountaintrue And City Of Asheville Help Build New Falconhurst Trail System

The City of Asheville has partnered with MountainTrue’s Asheville Design Center to assist the Falconhurst neighborhood in building a new system of natural surface trails within the Falconhurst Nature Preserve. The Falconhurst Nature Preserve is a 7.9 acre parcel and the trail system will be a couple of loop trails that meander throughout the property.

“We are excited to give people the opportunity to explore this hidden gem in West Asheville,” said ADC’s Chris Joyell. “Our neighborhood volunteers will prepare the trails this winter, and we encourage folks to hike the trails next spring. Read more.

Tickets For The 2020 French Broad Riverkeeper Float Go On Sale Monday, Nov. 25

Next year’s annual French Broad Riverkeeper Float will take place on June 24-26, and tickets go on sale next Monday. This incredible trip down a stretch of the French Broad River is a great opportunity to create powerful memories of camping under the stars on the French Broad River Paddle Trail. Leave the hustle behind and experience the joys of river travel while having your meals provided, your campfire built and your gear transported for you to your next campsite. Read more.

High Country Regional News

For Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties

Watauga Riverkeeper Welcomes Newest Member To Our Clean Water Team

Meet Cullen Birdsong Hill, born on October 18 to Betty Hill and her husband Andy, our Watauga Riverkeeper. It’s been a bit cold out, so you’ll have to wait until late spring before we can share a photo of Andy dipping him into the river.

Watauga Livestaking Program Combats Sediment Pollution

This year’s High Country live staking program kicked off with the Shade Your Stream Workshop, held by the Watauga Riverkeeper, New River Conservancy, and Blue Ridge Resource and Conservation Development, where participants planted 400 trees along the Watauga in just one morning. That’s a great start. Livestakes are essentially baby trees (like Cullen) that grow root systems that help prevent stream banks from eroding and depositing sediment — our biggest source of water pollution — into the river. The more livestakes that we can plant this winter, the cleaner our river will be in future years. Come out and lend a helping hand: additional “Paddle and Plant” workdays will be held by MountainTrue at Valle Crucis Community Park on December 6, December 13, February 9, February 16, March 13, March 20.

Andy Hill Nominated For Best Environmentalist

Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill is honored to have been nominated by the community for Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s Best of the Blue Ridge Award — the largest and most prestigious outdoor awards in the Southeast. Voting concluded on November 7, and the winners will be announced in the January 2020 issue and online at blueridgeoutdoors.com. Winners will be recognized by newspapers, magazines, shops, and businesses across the region.

Southern Regional News

For Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties

PHHAT Crew Rescues ‘Buddy’ In Green River Gorge, Protects 1000th Hemlock Tree

On Sunday, November 3, the Paddlers Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT), a partnership between our MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper, Hemlock Restoration Initiative, American Whitewater, and NC Wildlife Resources Commission, set out into the upper section of the Green River Gorge to protect hemlocks from the deadly woolly adelgid. As they paddled down Class III-IV whitewater getting deeper into the wilderness, they heard a bark, and a dog came down to greet our team by the water. The poor thing was lost and had been out for at least a night or two. We went into action, safely evacuating the dog back upstream to a trail where we were able to hike him out and turn him over to county animal services. The next day, “Buddy” was reunited with his family in Saluda who had been missing him since Friday. After this great demonstration of teamwork, the team continued downriver to treat several stands of hemlocks. This project has now protected more than 1,000 trees since we started two years ago!

‘From Climate Talk To Citizen Action’ Forum Draws Over 250 Attendees

On Sunday, October 27, MountainTrue cosponsored the “From Climate Talk to Citizen Action.” forum at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville. The event was organized by local residents under the banner of Citizens Concerned with the Climate Crisis with the support of MountainTrue and others. Over 250 people turned out to hear speakers including David Eastering, Director of National Climate Assessment for NOAA — who offered an overview of climate science and projections. There was a panel discussion covering topics such as farming, plant-based diet, engaging faith communities, policy change, and technology. Celia Donaldson, President of the Student Body at Hendersonville High School, concluded the event by delivering an impassioned speech that implored adults to take action for the sake of future generations. The energy and momentum was palpable, and we look forward to capitalizing on this energy for positive change as we work to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change in WNC.

Western Regional News

For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in NC, and Towns and Union counties in GA

Save The Date: Our 12th Annual Watershed Gala Will Be On February 27th

Make plans now to join us on Thursday, February 27, 2020 for the 12th Annual Watershed Gala in the Charles Suber Banquet Hall at Young Harris College, Young Harris, Georgia. Reservations will be $50 each or $360 for a reserved table of eight and will include complimentary drink tickets.

The Watershed Gala is our annual event to celebrate the water quality of the many rivers, lakes and streams across the upper Hiwassee River watershed and to recognize those who work to sustain it. The Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition is now part of MountainTrue, but this is still our largest fundraiser. We hope you will join us for a delightful evening of food, laughter, and fun and to help honor the 2020 Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award winner! More details coming soon!

Thank You for Helping Us Remove One Ton of Trash From Lake Chatuge

Despite temperatures below freezing and a cold wind, 41 volunteers turned out on Saturday morning, November 9 to clean up the shoreline of Lake Chatuge! Volunteers picked up 1.08 tons of trash – bringing our 9-year total to just over 12 tons! Thanks to TVA, Towns County Government, Boundary Waters Resort & Marina, the US Forest Service, Mary’s Southern Grill, Papa’s Pizza To-Go, and Sundance Grill for the sponsorships, in-kind donations and prizes.

MountainTrue Western Regional Director, Callie Moore (4th from right) presents members of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at Young Harris College along with Devin Filicicchia (left) and Dr. Charlie Swor (back) a gift certificate for a pizza party at Papa’s Pizza To-Go – the prize for the team that picked up the most trash.

Members of the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge-Hiawassee stand with the trash collected at one Towns County location on the Lake Chatuge shoreline.

We Need Volunteers to Provide Lunches for Alternative Break Program

MountainTrue is continuing the Alternative Breaks program in the Hiwassee River watershed during the December winter break! During alternative breaks, college students choose to take part in service projects instead of relaxing during their seasonal break from classes. This year, we are hosting groups from Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan and Georgia Southern University during the week of December 15-20. Volunteers are needed to provide lunch for 16-24 students on four different weekdays. Help us fuel all their hard work; they really appreciate both the meals and the community engagement!

Volunteer, Barbara Lanwermeyer serves lunch to a group of alternative break participants in 2017.

To volunteer, email Callie (callie@mountaintrue.org). If mid-December is not a good time for you to help, you’ll have another opportunity in 2020, as we already have three schools confirmed for alternative spring breaks starting the week of February 23.

Buck Project Update: Forest Service Holds Objection Resolution Meeting

Mountain True Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly and Western Regional Director Callie Moore joined other partners represented by Southern Environmental Law Center in an objection resolution meeting on November 8 with the US Forest Service. The partners are opposed to the forest service’s latest proposal to build 8.9 miles of road and harvest timber in sensitive areas. (You can read more about the Buck Project and our objections here.)

Two other objectors who wanted to see more logging in the Buck Project area were also present. Forest Supervisor, Allen Nicholas actively listened to better understand the concerns of all parties during the professionally-facilitated session. The Forest Service intends to provide a response to our objection by December 16th.

Events & Opportunities

Nov. 20: Plugged in Buncombe: Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and Environment
In an effort to encourage Buncombe County residents to get plugged into our local democracy, we want you to join us at advisory board or committee meetings. These meetings are designed to encourage residents’ input on specific community issues at the city and county level. Read more.

Dec. 4: Bearwallow Contemplative Hike w/ CCA in Hendersonville
Join us for a contemplative fall hike up Bearwallow mountain. This easy-to-moderate trail climbs one mile through lovely mountain forest, and opens up onto a large grassy field at the top. Read more.

Watauga Riverkeeper Paddle-n-Plant Workdays
Reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks with the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue. Sign up for:
Dec. 6 workday
Dec. 13 workday
Feb. 9 workday
Feb. 16 workday
Mar. 13 workday

Dec. 7: Alexander River Park Public Workday in Alexander
Join Asheville GreenWorks, MountainTrue and RiverLink for a restoration extravaganza! Take part in River Cane Propagation, Invasive Removal, Tree Planting and Stream Cleanup. Read more.

Dec. 12: Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Reduction Task Force & Trash Trout
Eric Bradford, Director of Operations with Asheville GreenWorks, will join us to discuss the issue of plastics and waste reduction efforts in WNC. Read more.

Feb. 7-8 Creation Care Retreat in Montreat
Designed with creation care volunteers and clergy in mind, this retreat allows you to spend a day with a theologian, a climate scientist, a forest biologist, and local colleagues and pastoral innovators. Read more.

Tell Buncombe County’s Board of Commissioners: Thanks for Voting for the Solar RFP. Now, Make Solar Energy a Reality.

Action Expired

On November 5, Buncombe County’s Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to request proposals for solar energy on county-owned buildings and land. With their vote, the County has taken a crucial first step in walking their talk on renewable energy. It also puts them on the right path to meeting their commitment to transition Buncombe County’s government operations to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

But this is just a first step. When they discussed renewable energy before the vote, some Commissioners weren’t convinced that it’s an urgent priority. They need to hear that Buncombe County residents want them to go beyond exploring renewable energy to funding and building it – and that they need to get started as soon as possible.

Take action below to tell Buncombe County Commissioners: Thank you for voting to approve the solar request for proposals (RFP). Now, fund solar energy when proposals come back in the spring.

Vistas E-News, October 2019

MountainTrue Annual Gathering At New Belgium

Join us on October 23rd for our 2019 Annual Gathering at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville. Expect great beer, delicious food and great camaraderie.

Stronger Together: MountainTrue’s Annual Gathering
October 23, 6-9 pm
New Belgium Brewing Company
21 Craven St., Asheville, NC 28806
Click Here to RSVP

MountainTrue is a member organization, and your dedication and support helps us fight for our communities and protect one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. At the Annual Gathering we’ll be honoring our 2019 MountainTrue Award Winners, voting on our new board nominees and celebrating our recent merger with the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition.

MountainTrue’s Annual Gathering is made possible with the help of the law firm of Davis & Whitlock Environmental Law. Together with New Belgium Brewing, their generous support helps us keep costs for the Annual Gathering low.

Vote On Our New Board Nominees

MountainTrue’s board members are voted on and approved by our current members. With so many new members throughout our region, this year we are rolling out electronic voting. You must be a current member for your vote to count.

Vote Online Now

Online votes will be tallied along with a live vote that will take place at our Annual Gathering.

Meet Our 2019 MountainTrue Award Winners

MountainTrue is proud to announce our annual award winners for 2019. These awards are given to MountainTrue members and volunteers who have been outstanding in their commitment to preserving WNC’s natural heritage. Awards will be formally presented at our Annual Gathering on October 23.

Esther Cunningham Award Winner: Katie Breckheimer
Volunteer of the Year for the High Country Region: Chris Souhrada
Volunteers of the Year for the Southern Region: Kay Shurtleff and Lucy Butler
Volunteer of the Year for the Western Region: Charlie Swor
Volunteer of the Year for the Central Region: Erin Gregory

Nominate MountainTrue For Best Of The Blue Ridge Awards

Cast your vote for your favorite outdoor organizations, businesses, events, people and destinations. The nomination window for Blue Ridge Outdoors’ Best of the Blue Ridge closes on October 18 at 9AM. We would appreciate your support for Best Environmental Organization in the Businesses category. Vote now.

Calling Volunteers Who Like To Hike!

In advance of the release of the next management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, we are looking for volunteers who are interested in talking to hikers, anglers, birders or any type of recreational user at trailheads and parking lots about how they can help ensure the places they like to access are protected. If you’re interested in being part of our trail outreach team, please fill out this short sign up form.

Central Region News

For Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties

Building Our City Speaker Series Addresses Walkability And Road Diets

Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban designer who advocates internationally for more walkable cities. We are excited for him to come to Asheville to inspire our community to imagine and plan for a more vibrant, walkable city. Jeff will be touching on the upcoming Charlotte St. road diet project which will decrease vehicle traffic lanes in order to add bike lanes and other bike and pedestrian friendly features. Join us to hear how projects like this will transform our community!
Read more.

Plugged In Buncombe Makes It Easier To Participate In Local Democracy

Have you ever wanted to attend a local government meeting, but worried you wouldn’t be able to follow along? This fall, MountainTrue is working to remove this roadblock through Plugged in Buncombe, an effort to demystify local advisory boards and committees. Participants will get the background on each meeting they’re interested in, and will be paired up with local topic experts who will be available to answer questions before and after each meeting. See the full list of meetings here and sign up to participate here.

Paint-Out And Artist Retreat To Preserve The French Broad

Join Preserving a Picturesque America (PAPA) for a free four day retreat in Hot Springs from Oct. 24-27. Conservationists, writers, artists are invited to participate in creating, learning and sharing ways to preserve the scenic beauty of the French Broad River. PAPA will be giving tours to sites that were depicted in the 1872 book, Picturesque America. The goal is to create an updated version of the book to promote the protection of these sites. For more details contact Scott Varn at 828-273-5383. Check out the Facebook Event.

Join The Buncombe County Parks, Greenway And Recreation Advisory Board

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board was dissolved a few years ago but is now being reestablished. The County is starting from scratch and is seeking to get representation from a wide cross section of residents. The inaugural board will have a tremendous influence on goals and processes — a big task, but an important one. If you have a passion for parks, greenways and recreation, apply here.

High Country Regional News

For Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties.

Watauga Live Staking Season Kicks Off On October 18 In Boone

Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill is looking for some hearty volunteers to help stabilize local riverbanks. Volunteers will plant “live stakes” — a cutting from a tree species like silky dogwood, black willow, or elderberry that can be planted along riverbanks. They grow into trees and their root systems shore up riverbanks and reduce erosion.

The series kicks off with a Shade Your Stream workshop in partnership with the New River Conservancy and Blue Ridge Resource and Conservation Development Council and takes place this Friday, October 18, 2019 at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center. Learn more.

Additional “Paddle and Plant” workdays will be held by MountainTrue at Valle Crucis Community Park on November 8, November 15, December 6, December 13, February 9, February 16, March 13, March 20.

Watauga Riverkeeper Conducts Hellbender And Mussel Survey

Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill scuba diving with a headlamp.

As part of the environmental impact survey for a dam removal project in the Watauga River Basin, Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill joined Dr. Mike Gangloff from Appalachian State University to conduct a survey of Hellbenders and Green Floater Mussels — a species of special concern and a threatened species, respectively. The aim of the project is to improve aquatic habitat and to ensure that dam removal does not harm these local treasures.

Southern Regional News

For Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties

Green Riverkeeper Tracks Down Sewer Leak

Over the summer of Swim Guide bacteria sampling, we got some unusually high E. coli results in Cove Creek below Little Bradley Falls. Green Riverkeeper Gray Jernigan received a tip about a broken sewer line from a Saluda resident and did some follow up testing. Upstream the water tested clean. Twenty yards downstream was nine times over the EPA limit of 235 coliform forming units per 100 mL of water. The Green Riverkeeper has contacted the Town of Saluda and we’ll be working with them to get this fixed.

Help Save The Hemlocks Of The Green River

The eastern hemlocks of our Green River Gorge are under attack by the hemlock woolly adelgid, an exotic invasive insect that will kill most of our region’s hemlock trees within the decade unless action is taken. Join the Paddlers Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT) for a day on the Lower or Upper Green River treating and saving hemlocks. For the Lower Green, no experience is necessary. For the November 3 workday on the Upper Green, all volunteers must have their own gear and be experienced on Class III whitewater. Sign up for one of four upcoming workdays:

Western Regional News

For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in NC, and Towns and Union counties in GA

Support Native Habitats, Buy A Native Tree Or Shrub

Native trees and shrubs are important to the integrity of local habitats and key components to healthy streams and lakes. They provide shelter and food for native animals, filter pollution from water runoff, trap excess soil, keep water water temperatures cooler and help prevent stream bank erosion.

To raise awareness about the beautiful, resilient plants that are native to our Southern Appalachian Mountains and to raise funds for our ongoing invasive plant eradication efforts, we are again holding a Native Tree and Shrub Sale this fall. Choose from 25 species of native trees and shrubs, ranging from large shade trees, native ornamentals, pollinator species, and those particularly beneficial to wildlife.
Read more and order yours.

Callie Takes Part In Panel Discussion On Water & Climate Change

MountainTrue’s Western Regional Director, Callie Moore, participated in a well-attended film screening and panel discussion presented by WNC Climate Action Coalition on September 21 at Lake Junaluska. Panelists, which also included David Weintraub, director of the film Guardians of our Troubled Waters, and Eric Romaniszyn, executive director of Haywood Waterways Association, discussed local rivers, water quality and climate change-related impacts. Extreme weather events associated with climate change are causing increases in runoff, flooding and landslides across our mountain region. Panelists discussed how this is impacting water quality and straining our water infrastructure. Thanks to MountainTrue member, Neva Duncan Tabb for facilitating MountainTrue’s participation and providing signage to call attention to our table at the event. (Photo: Callie & Neva Duncan Tabb)

Save The Date! The Hiwassee Watershed Gala Returns On February 27, 2020

The 12th Annual Watershed Gala and Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award presentation will be held on February 27, 2020. This is our annual celebration and a chance to recognize all of our members, supporters and volunteers who work to keep our Hiwassee watershed healthy and clean. We hope you will join us for a delightful evening of food, laughter, and fun. Further details to come.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Now – Nov. 11: Fall Native Tree And Shrub Sale In Murphy
Choose from 25 species of native trees and shrubs, including large shade trees, native ornamentals, pollinator species, and those particularly beneficial to wildlife, and support the work of MountainTrue.

Oct. 16: Plugged In Buncombe
In an effort to encourage Buncombe County residents to get plugged into our local democracy, we want you to join us at advisory board or committee meetings. These meetings are designed to encourage residents’ input on specific community issues at the city and county level.
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and Environment
5:00-7 p.m.: Planning & Zoning Commission

Oct. 18: Shade Your Stream Workshop With The Watauga Riverkeeper And Friends
Join our Watauga Riverkeeper, the New River Conservancy, and Blue Ridge Resource and Conservation Development for a workshop focused on stream bank repair and live staking techniques.

Oct. 22, Nov. 1, 3 & 10: PHHAT Hemlock Treatment Workday On The Green River
Save the hemlocks of the Green River from the invasive hemlock wooly adelgid.
Sign up for the Oct. 22 workday.
Sign up for the Nov. 1 workday.
Sign up for the Nov. 3 workday.
Sign up for the Nov. 10 workday.

Oct. 22: High Country Habitat Restoration Workday
Learn about some of the worst invasives in the region and help clean up the Boone Greenway with MountainTrue and the High Country Habitat Restoration Coalition.

Oct. 23: Stronger Together: MountainTrue’s 2019 Annual Gathering
Celebrate another great year of protecting the places we share with MountainTrue at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville.

Nov. 2: Guardians Of Our Troubled Waters Film Exhibition In Mill Spring
Join filmmaker David Weintraub for a screening of and discussion about his documentary featuring the stories of the river heroes who helped clean up our waters.

Nov. 7: Plugged In Buncombe: Planning And Zoning Commission
Learn about the works of the Planning and Zoning Commission and how you can get involved in helping to steer future development in the city of Asheville.

Nov. 6: Building Our City Speaker Series With Jeff Speck In Asheville
Prepare to be inspired at this latest installment of the Building Our City Speaker Series featuring Jeff Speck, a city planner and urban designer who advocates or more walkable cities.

Nov. 8 & 15: Watauga Riverkeeper Paddle-N-Plant Workday
Reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks with the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue.
Sign up for the Nov. 8 workday.
Sign up for the Nov. 15 workday.

Nov. 9: Lake Chatuge Clean Up
MountainTrue hosts the 10th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup in conjunction with Georgia Rivers Alive! The first 100 volunteers receive a free Rivers Alive t-shirt.

Nov. 14: Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Story Of DuPont State Recreational Forest
Sara Landry, Executive Director with Friends of DuPont State Forest will join us to discuss the story of DuPont State Forest.

Check out our full Events Calendar

Meet the 2019 MountainTrue Award Winners

The awards are as follows:

Esther Cunningham Award Winner: Katie Breckheimer
This award is given in honor of Esther Cunningham, the founder of the Western North Carolina Alliance, and is MountainTrue’s most prestigious award.

Katie Breckheimer has been a leader in environmental advocacy in WNC for over three decades. She was active with the Environmental and Conservation Organization (ECO) in Henderson County, and then was crucial to the success of the transformative 2015 merger between ECO, the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) and the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance (JMCA) that created MountainTrue. Not long after the merger, Katie’s natural capacity for leadership and her commitment to our work led her to serve a term as MountainTrue’s Board Chair.

Katie has played a major role in advocacy efforts including green energy, promoting greenways and recycling, and stopping coal ash pollution and expansion of Asheville’s Duke Energy power plant. Katie launched and continues to host Green Drinks in Hendersonville, a monthly social gathering and lecture series on environmental issues. Her passion for and dedication to environmental protection is beyond compare, and has positioned her as a leading voice for natural resources across the region.

Volunteer of the Year for the High Country Region: Chris Souhrada

Shortly after moving to Banner Elk, Chris connected with MountainTrue and immediately became one of MountainTrue’s most dedicated and reliable volunteers in the High Country. Chris has been a long-running water quality volunteer with the Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN) program. High Country Regional Director Andy Hill calls him “the MVP and anchor of the water quality team who covers for others when needed, goes above and beyond what is asked of him and is always willing to help with other projects like livestaking and non-native invasive removal.” In general, Andy says Chris is just a hell of a guy and we are pleased to award him our High Country Region Volunteer of the Year!

Volunteers of the Year for the Southern Region: Kay Shurtleff and Lucy Butler

Kay and Lucy have both been committed volunteers with MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Office water quality monitoring programs for over a decade. Together they coordinate over 30 water testing sites by collecting samples from all of the volunteers and transporting them to the lab every month. They also participate in and coordinate biomonitoring for water insects in local streams twice per year. In addition to their ongoing commitments to our water programs, they have helped with a variety of other initiatives including Christmas tree recycling, river cleanups, local festivals, and advocacy at public meetings. Southern Region Director Gray Jernigan says “they are two of our most dedicated and reliable members and set the example by being great stewards of our natural environment.” Congratulations Kay and Lucy!

Volunteer of the Year for the Western Region: Charlie Swor

As the former secretary of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition (HRWC) board of directors, Charlie worked hard on the complex and successful merger between HRWC and MountainTrue this past summer. Charlie also participates in our volunteer water quality monitoring program, taking monthly water chemistry and E. coli measurements from Corn Creek. He spearheaded a partnership between Young Harris College and HRWC for management of the Corn Creek riparian corridor, creating a much healthier stream environment and a more pleasant walk on the college’s streamside trail. Charlie float-fishes area rivers on a regular basis and lets us know when he discovers issues that might impact water quality. “Charlie is one of those ‘go-to’ guys when we need help with set-up for an event or really any ‘ole thing,” says Western Regional Director Callie Moore. “If he’s not busy and his wife, Rachel can take care of the kids (thanks Rachel!), he’s there!”

Volunteer of the Year for the Central Region: Erin Gregory

Erin has been a key volunteer for the French Broad Riverkeeper program for the last two years, spending hours each week collecting water samples that have led to the team finding no fewer than three major sewer issues. When French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson and Watershed Outreach Coordinator Anna Alsobrook were out of town earlier this summer, Erin texted them to report an issue and then also contacted the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality on their behalf to instigate a quicker response. She has single-handedly created a French Broad River Festival for our Beer Series at The Wedge, including gear builders, outfitters, and other local producers, and she prompted the Asheville Yoga Center to designate MountainTrue their Charity of the Month. We couldn’t do it without you Erin!

Diana Richards invites you to attend an evening with the Green and Broad Riverkeepers

Update on the Buck Project in Nantahala National Forest

MountainTrue’s Public Lands Biologist, Josh Kelly, next to a “temporary road” built in 2012 in Nantahala National Forest.

In August, Forest Service staff for Nantahala National Forest made their final decision on the Buck Project. As you may remember, the Forest Service had selected Alternative B as its proposed alternative in April, and we called on you to oppose this project because it would have harvested 845 acres of timber and constructed 9.1 miles of new road – much of that in sensitive places like existing old-growth forests, Outstanding Resource Waters, Natural Heritage Areas, and the Chunky Gal potential Wilderness addition.

In response, the Forest Service created a new alternative for the project, Alternative G. In the positives column, Alternative G includes understory thinning and controlled burns in the Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens. It also calls for watershed repairs in areas where old roads, culverts and infrastructure are causing erosion and blocking the passage of aquatic organisms. But unfortunately, Alternative G still proposes to build 8.9 miles of road and to harvest timber in sensitive areas.

Here’s where MountainTrue stands on the Forest Service’s new alternative:

We support Alternative G’s inclusion of water quality work and activities in the Serpentine Barrens.
While we welcome the reduction of timber harvest by 50 acres to protect old-growth forest and a North Carolina natural heritage area, as well as the .2 miles of reduced road construction, these are very small changes around the margins. This project still does tremendous harm to wild places, soil and water, old-growth forest, and goes against the wishes of hundreds of people that commented on the project.
Alternative G would still build new roads and harvest timber in one of the wildest places in North Carolina – the Chunky Gal Addition to Southern Nantahala Wilderness. At over 7,000 acres, this is the largest potential addition to an existing Wilderness in North Carolina, and one of the wildest, most remote, and ecologically healthy places in Nantahala National Forest. Proceeding with Alternative G would surely disqualify thousands of acres of Chunky Gal from management as either Backcountry or Wilderness for at least 20 years. This at a time when there is broad public support for protecting the area in the new Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan.
The 8.9 miles of road construction will have considerable risks for erosion, landslides, and the spread of invasive plants. The Forest Service has over 2,200 miles of roads in Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, yet they want to build more in the wildest remaining places. They are proposing a 10-mile roundtrip haul and 2 miles of new road construction to access just 50 acres of timber on Kitty Ridge. The new road would cross rock outcrops and extremely steep slopes, which increases the risk for erosion and landslides. The value of the timber being accessed is likely to be less than the cost of constructing this “temporary” road!
In compartment 110, the Forest Service still proposes to build a 14-16 foot-wide “temporary” road paralleling an unnamed tributary of upper Buck Creek. Both Buck Creek and this tributary are known to be native brook trout streams that are already under stress from non-native trout. Road construction will further jeopardize this fragile brook trout population.
Alternative G still contains existing old-growth forest with trees over 200-years-old in at least three locations. The Forest Service claims to be working with MountainTrue to exclude these areas from harvest, but still has them mapped inside harvest areas. The simplest solution would have been to exclude those areas from the decision to harvest. What happens if and when there is a disagreement about the location and boundaries of existing old-growth? The decision makes no promises in this regard.

MountainTrue continues to push for a modified Alternative D, which the Forest Service has acknowledged would meet the purpose and need for the Buck Project. We will object to the Buck Project, as this is our last recourse short of going to federal court. The Forest Service has not been responsive to our concerns on recent problematic decisions in the Mossy Oak and Southside Projects, and does not seem inclined to fix the problems with the Buck Project either.

It’s also come to our attention that those who commented on the Buck Project through MountainTrue’s comment portal received a message from Steverson Moffat, NEPA Planning Team Leader for the Forest Service. While we’re glad that the Forest Service is taking the time to engage with people who comment on their projects, we have a very different take on the Buck Project than what Moffat’s message shared. You can read our response here.

The Forest Service proposed the very flawed Buck Project in early 2018. They have now made changes around the margins of the problem they created and called this a balanced compromise. Any compromise that relies on compromising the health of the land and water is unacceptable to MountainTrue.

Sincerely,

Josh Kelly, Public Lands Biologist for MountainTrue

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