Maddy Watson, Author at MountainTrue

Press Release: MountainTrue Announces Anna Alsobrook as New French Broad Riverkeeper

Photo: Anna Alsobrook paddles the French Broad River to assess the damage in Asheville’s River Arts District after Hurricane Helene, photo by Hartwell Carson.

March 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MountainTrue Announces Anna Alsobrook as New French Broad Riverkeeper

Asheville, NC – MountainTrue welcomed Anna Alsobrook as the organization’s new French Broad Riverkeeper in early March. Anna has been part of the MountainTrue team since 2014, most recently serving as their Watershed Science & Policy Manager.

“My love of the French Broad started with a canoe-camping trip down section 10 of the river with a NC Outward Bound trip. I’d never done or seen anything quite like that before. I got to experience the sacredness of this river and these mountains. It has truly been an honor to work for its protection, and I’m thrilled to step into the French Broad Riverkeeper role,” said Alsobrook. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Hartwell Carson [previous French Broad Riverkeeper] for the last 10 years, and there’s not a week that goes by that I don’t learn something from him. I’m so grateful for his mentorship and guidance. The French Broad is lucky to have had his voice for the last 20 years.”

Hartwell Carson now serves as MountainTrue’s Clean Waters Program Director and works directly with all four of MountainTrue’s Riverkeepers — the Broad, French Broad, Green, and Watauga Riverkeepers — to protect waterways across the Southern Blue Ridge.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being the eyes and ears for the river during my time as French Broad Riverkeeper,” said Carson. “Our work put the French Broad on the map as a great place to recreate by establishing the French Broad Paddle Trail; vastly increasing awareness of the threats posed to the river by pollution; establishing a monitoring program that is one of the first of its kind in the world; forcing Duke Energy to clean up their coal ash ponds and close their power plant; restoring miles of streams; and hosting a plethora of volunteers to help clean up millions of pounds of trash in the river and along its banks.”

Stay up-to-date with Anna’s work as the French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook; she can also be reached via email at anna@mountaintrue.org. Hartwell can still be reached hartwell@mountaintrue.org.

About MountainTrue

MountainTrue champions resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities. We are committed to keeping our mountain region a beautiful place to live, work, and play. Our members protect our forests, clean up our rivers, plan vibrant and livable communities, and advocate for a sound and sustainable future for all. MountainTrue is active in the Broad, French Broad, Green, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, New, and Watauga watersheds and is home to the Broad Riverkeeper, French Broad Riverkeeper, Green Riverkeeper, and Watauga Riverkeeper.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, MountainTrue is committed to leading the recovery of our region with a vision to rebuild stronger, safer, and better prepared for the impacts of climate change. mountaintrue.org

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Western Region Watershed Outreach Coordinator

Murphy, NC

Apply Now

Position Summary

The Western Region Watershed Outreach Coordinator position serves rural communities and provides programmatic, field, and fundraising support for MountainTrue’s Clean Water Program in far Southwestern NC and North GA. Based in MountainTrue’s Western Regional Office (WRO) in Murphy, NC, the WRO Watershed Outreach Coordinator will interact with community members and volunteers on several levels including recruiting, training, educating, and organizing for water quality monitoring and watershed health. The WRO Watershed Outreach Coordinator must understand the importance of attention to detail in science and provide good quality assurance and control in both field and lab practices. The WRO Watershed Outreach Coordinator must be comfortable working in both field and office settings, individually or with a team.

The MountainTrue Watershed Outreach Coordinator is:

Organized – enjoys managing a variety of projects & timelines, with self-directed systems and smooth execution of tasks needed to meet goals.

Analytical – capable of using scientific principles in data collection and analysis with a high level of attention to detail.

Engaging – adept at building relationships in-person or virtually and working with diverse people (e.g. youth, retirees, rural, urban, different cultural backgrounds, and people with varying levels of education or income).

Versatile – a problem-solver with the ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future program needs.

Loves Southern Blue Ridge Mountain waterways and is hopeful about our future.

Key Responsibilities

Water Quality Monitoring & Data Management

Manage and expand volunteer water quality sampling programs, including Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Swim Guide, and microplastics
Manage data and review regularly to determine most impacted waterways; conduct further testing to determine pollution source; and work with the regional and/or program director to develop and implement a remediation strategy.
Recruit/train volunteers and promote sediment pollution reporting using the Muddy Water Watch website/app.
Review NPDES data in the region to ensure compliance and work with the regional and clean water directors to push for improvements, especially during the permit renewal process.
Manage the summer water quality intern

Education / Outreach / Engagement

Help publish the annual State of the River report/presentation for the western region
Plan and implement an annual volunteer appreciation event
Organize the Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup
Lead efforts to promote improved water quality through education and recreation

Fundraising

Recruit sponsors for the Swim Guide program & Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup
Help secure auction items and raffle prizes for the Watershed Gala
Assist with western region fundraising events
Research and assist in the development of grant applications

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Completion of at least a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health/Science, Biology, Wildlife/Natural Resources Management, or a related field.
Valid driver’s license and dependable personal vehicle.
Excellent written and oral (including public speaking) communication skills. Must be willing to regularly use email as a primary communication tool.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suite programs and applications.
Available on some nights and weekends for events and outreach.
Committed to equity, inclusion, and social justice principles.

Location & Travel

This is a hybrid position with 1-3 days per week (depending on the season) required to be in the Western Regional Office in Murphy, NC. MountainTrue utilizes frequent virtual meetings and phone calls. This position requires fairly extensive daytime travel within southwestern NC and north GA with occasional longer day trips to other MountainTrue regions; travel costs are covered by the organization.

Compensation

This is a full-time 40 hr/week position starting at $48,000. Benefits package includes 20 vacation days per year; 12 holidays; sick, parental, and bereavement leave; sabbatical after five years; health insurance; simple IRA with employer contribution of up to 3%.

How to apply

No longer accepting applications – application deadline has passed

Email a cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@mountaintrue.org. The subject line should read: “WRO Watershed Outreach Coordinator.” The cover letter should address your relevant skills/abilities and work experience and answer the following questions:

Why do you want to be MountainTrue’s western region watershed outreach coordinator?
What is your favorite waterway and why is it important to you?
What familiarity do you have with living and/or working in rural communities?

The deadline for applications is April 24, 2025. The projected start date is July 7, 2025.

Report: Water Quality Impacts of Helene

Our Clean Waters team compiled a report summarizing MountainTrue’s sampling efforts post-Hurricane Helene. Click the button below to download/read the report.

View the report - click here

Resilient Forests E-News: March ’25

Events Roundup

Thanks to everyone who joined us in February for Conservation Conversations! We had a great night at Ecusta Brewing in Brevard, NC. Hemlock Restoration Initiative, Conserving Carolina, Trout Unlimited (Pisgah Chapter), and Pisgah Area SORBA joined MountainTrue to discuss their current work and opportunities for attendees to get involved. We hope to see even more folks at our upcoming Conservation Conversation in Asheville at RAD Brewing, May 28!

Get Involved

Ongoing: Help MountainTrue document damage to forest roads and trails by signing up to participate in landslide surveys. Go for a hike, take your phone, and submit data if you see a landslide. Sign up here!

Friday, March 28: Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a Trail Workday near Asheville. Read more and sign up here!

Saturday, April 5: Join MountainTrue and Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway for a day of removing non-native invasive plants along the Greenway. Read more and sign up here!

Saturday, May 3: Join MountainTrue as we enjoy spring wildflowers and pull invasive garlic mustard on the Appalachian Trail near Max Patch. Read more and sign up here!

Save the Date

Wednesday, May 28: Join MountainTrue and other land stewardship-focused organizations for Conservation Conversations in Asheville at RAD Brewing! Sip and socialize, then learn how you can get involved in the important work these organizations do.

Saturday, June 21: BioBlitz! Help MountainTrue document biodiversity at Hickory Nut Gap Farm near Asheville. Volunteer with us in the afternoon, then celebrate a job well done at the evening barn dance!

Take Action

Save the UNCA Woods! MountainTrue is working with a local alliance of dedicated volunteers to protect the University of North Carolina Asheville’s urban forest. The 45-acre forest in the heart of downtown Asheville provides a scenic respite from everyday life by offering outdoor recreation opportunities. The woods also act as a carbon sink, heat mitigation tool, and wildlife habitat. Although the woods are ecologically important and beloved by many, they are now under threat of development. MountainTrue believes UNCA should prioritize building on their already cleared lots (totaling about 20 acres) before they consider destroying one of the city’s few intact urban forests. Please join us in asking UNCA to protect the forest and better collaborate with those who appreciate the forest for its many values.

In the News

MountainTrue’s Resilient Forests Director, Josh Kelly, recently shared his perspective in the Asheville Citizen Times on how proposed cuts to federal workers could harm the national parks and forests in Western North Carolina. In his op-ed, Kelly argues that the loss of federal employees would jeopardize vital conservation efforts and the health of these treasured landscapes.

Federal Policy Updates Affecting Public Lands & Forests

Federal judges order Trump Administration to reinstate thousands of fired workers (March 13): A federal judge has ordered the immediate rehiring of fired probationary workers from the Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs departments. The judge called the firings an unlawful sham, saying that the agencies did not follow proper protocol for firing employees. However, as the judge noted in his decision, agencies do still have the authority to implement reductions in force. The Trump Administration called for all agencies to submit reduction in force plans last month, and the White House will soon be reviewing those plans. Forest Service employees in Western North Carolina who were fired and then rehired may still be laid off through the reduction in force plan.

EPA looks to roll back significant climate protections (March 12): EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says he is looking to reconsider the endangerment finding, the principle that global warming poses a danger to human health and welfare. The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is the basis for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from many different sectors. Disproving the finding would pave the way for broadly dismantling greenhouse gas pollution regulations. Other EPA rules that may be reconsidered include those regulating wastewater, reducing haze in national parks, limiting CO2 emissions from power plants, and reducing methane emissions by the oil and gas industry.

Trump Administration seeks to increase logging in national forests and on public lands (March 4): President Trump signed executive actions directing agencies to increase logging on public lands and reduce timber imports from Canada and other countries. He also directed agencies to look into ways to bypass endangered species and other wildlife protections to increase timber production. Trump’s orders cite wildfire risk as a reason for ramping up U.S. timber production, but other groups point out that hotter average temperatures and dry conditions in forests create more risk for wildfires.

Post-Helene Cleanup Monitoring Form

In response to complaints from the community and our own concerns about excessive woody debris removal in our waterways, MountainTrue met with Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) leadership earlier this week to learn more and advocate for a more balanced approach.

Key issues to watch for and report are:

Lack of timber matting beneath vehicles and machines entering waterways.
Spilled petroleum products or any other hazardous waste.
Any form of excavation (digging) of soil or woody debris (versus pulling).
Removal of live trees leaning less than 30%.
Removal of rootballs with less than 50% exposure.
Intact clumps of soil attached to the roots of removed trees.
Removal of downed trees existing prior to the storm.
Use of vehicles or machines in wetlands.

Use the form below to submit instances of perceived violations, which we will then relay to our contacts with the USACE. You are also welcome to send the information you collect (paired with the applicable standard) directly to your county’s County Manager and Emergency Management Director.

View the form - click here

***Please remember to never trespass on private property, enter job sites, or put yourself in harm’s way when documenting prospective violations.

MountainTrue’s March E-Newsletter

Spring is nearly here! Read on to find out what our Riverkeepers, Resilient Forests team, and Healthy Communities team have been up to + find out how to get involved.

Contribute to the MountainStrong Recovery & Resilience Fund

MountainTrue Updates

We’re hiring for two positions:

✅Organizing Director: The Organizing Director will lead and manage MountainTrue’s grassroots organizing efforts across our programs, focusing on training staff and organizers in the skills necessary to build authentic relationships, empower our communities, and develop local leaders to drive community-led solutions. Accepting applications on a rolling basis: learn more + apply.

✅Creation Care Alliance Organizer: The Creation Care Organizer leads our Creation Care Alliance grassroots organizing efforts, focusing on building authentic relationships with people of diverse faiths, empowering local communities, expanding and strengthening our network of Covenant Partner congregations, and developing local leaders to drive community-led solutions. Accepting applications on a rolling basis: learn more + apply.

Clean Waters Program Updates

Join us in protecting our waterways!
From May to September, MountainTrue Riverkeepers and dedicated volunteers collect weekly water samples from over 90 sites across Western North Carolina and beyond, ensuring our waters stay clean and safe. You Can Make a Difference! Become a sponsor for a Swim Guide site and help us protect the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Your support will directly contribute to safeguarding our community’s water quality. Learn more here.

Status on post-Helene cleanups:

Our cleanup work continues and we have removed millions of pounds of trash from our waterways, but we are also expanding our capacity. Thanks to a partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council, we’re hiring 10 staff dedicated to cleaning up our waterways. We’ve also been hard at work lobbying the NC General Assembly for additional cleanup funds for WNC.

French Broad Riverkeeper

Anna Alsobrook paddles the French Broad River after Helene.

A message from your new French Broad Riverkeeper, Anna Alsobrook:

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Hartwell [Carson, previous French Broad Riverkeeper] for the last 10 years, and there’s not a week that goes by that I don’t learn something from him. I’m so grateful for his mentorship and guidance. The French Broad is lucky to have had his voice for the last 20 years.

My love of the French Broad started with a canoe-camping trip down section 10 of the river with an NC Outward Bound trip. I’d never done or seen anything quite like that before. I saw a sacredness to this river and these mountains. It has truly been an honor to work for its protection, and I am thrilled to step into the Riverkeeper role.”

Anna has been part of the MountainTrue team since 2014, most recently serving as our Watershed Science & Policy Manager. And don’t worry, we’re not saying goodbye to previous French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson; he’s now transitioned to MountainTrue’s Clean Water Program Director and can still be reached at hartwell@mountaintrue.org! Stay up-to-date with Anna’s work as French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook; she can also be reached via email at anna@mountaintrue.org.

French Broad Paddle Trail update

Check out the French Broad Paddle Trail’s website for the status of access points and campsites along the river between Rosman, NC, and Newport, TN. We’ve been working with public land managers and outfitters to ready the river for this year’s paddling season by organizing cleanups, repairing access points, and tidying up campsites. We look forward to seeing y’all out there in the months to come!

Green Riverkeeper

Green Riverkeeper pup, Shug, checks out the Green at Big Rock access.

Another post-Helene update from Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks:

Things on the Green are continuously changing (mostly for the good)! Locations that we’d planned on cleaning up in March are now being taken care of by the Army Corps of Engineers and hired contractors.

We’re planning a cleanup volunteer opportunity on Saturday, May 3, on the confluence of Big Hungry and the Green (where Big Hungry meets the Narrows – if the Army Corps doesn’t get to it first, that is); event details incoming. Regarding Army Corps cleanup around the Lower Green, we’re constantly talking with county officials and contractors in and around the river. We’re also planning a meeting with the Army Corps to discuss their scope of work and how we can work together to create a landscape where habitat restoration and stream bank stability can be a top priority. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for updates when they’re available.

Watauga Riverkeeper

Volunteer with us!

The Watauga Riverkeeper team has been hard at work organizing live staking volunteer workdays to restore stream bank stability along High Country waterways and post-Helene cleanups. The ‘24-25 live staking season will be wrapping up soon, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved + get outside with our High Country team! Check out the events calendar and stay tuned on the Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram and Facebook.

Broad Riverkeeper

May days on the First Broad River Paddle Trail

The month of May will be an opportunity for river enthusiasts to explore the First Broad River Paddle Trail. Every Saturday, Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell will host a guided river adventure on a different section of the 65-mile river trail. We’ll start on the uppermost section of navigable river with public access and work our way downstream, ending up in the main stem of the Broad River on the last Saturday. Expect to paddle about 2mph and add another hour for lunch and river fun. More info + registration links coming soon; stay tuned!

Resilient Forests Program Updates

MountainTrue is seeking volunteers to document landslides

We’re seeking volunteers for a new citizen science program to help document landslide impacts to roads and trails on public lands, with a particular focus on Nantahala, Pisgah, and Cherokee National Forests. All you need to participate is the desire to get out in the woods and a smartphone. The data collected will be shared with land stewardship agencies and other partners, and will be useful in setting priorities for infrastructure repair following the storm. To participate, please fill out this volunteer interest form.

MountainTrue’s Josh Kelly pens op-ed on the impact of federal worker cuts

Healthy Communities Program Updates

MountainTrue Housing & Transportation Director Susan Bean addresses Asheville City Council.

Asheville City Council makes big changes to support housing

On Tuesday night, Asheville City Council passed 5 significant changes to the city’s rules about how housing gets built. These changes make it easier to build homes like apartments and condos on our major bus routes and also make it easier to build small homes on small lots city-wide, with exceptions carved out for the city’s Legacy Neighborhoods and areas designated as particularly vulnerable to displacement. While we are very pleased that these changes will result in more housing options for the community, we also ask the city to commit to a continued process of engagement with Legacy Neighborhoods given the unique and awful impacts of historical land use policies like urban renewal. Our Housing and Transportation Director, Susan Bean, delivered public comment asking for the council’s support of both the proposals and the process of further engagement with Legacy Neighborhoods in advance of future proposals. Read more here. Watch MountainTrue’s Housing and Transportation Director Susan Bean’s remarks on YouTube.

New Orleans recovery expert visits Swannanoa

On March 6, Steven Bingler, the visionary behind New Orleans’ Unified Recovery Plan after Hurricane Katrina, presented to a packed house at Art Space Charter School in Swannanoa, NC. Bingler shared how an organic, community-centered approach ultimately succeeded where early top-down efforts failed. He recounted how New Orleans’ initial recovery plans, which lacked deep community engagement, were quickly abandoned in favor of a locally driven strategy. This innovative approach stitched together smaller, community-led plans into a unified vision that gained broad support and reshaped the city’s future. Bingler also met in smaller groups with area designers, as well as Swannanoa community members, offering his advice and encouragement, always highlighting the opportunities that disaster recovery may offer.

ADC volunteers needed!

If you’re a designer interested in volunteering and ready to pledge some hours, or if your community needs design assistance, sign up here. To make this initiative a success, we need volunteers from a variety of design disciplines, including:

✔️Architects

✔️Engineers (structural & civil)

✔️Landscape Architects

✔️Environmental Consultants

✔️Land Planners

✔️Surveyors

✔️Soil Scientists

Take Action + Tell UNC Asheville: Save the Woods!

Public land at the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) is under threat of being developed. Please contact the Chancellor, Dr. Kimberly van Noort, Board of Trustees Chair Roger Aiken, and the rest of the Board of Trustees, and urge them to halt this development and save the woods!

UNCA’s 45-acre urban forest is a cherished resource for students and community members in the heart of Asheville. The woods offer an escape from busy city life and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Unfortunately, in early January, the university began the process of assessing the woods for potential development. Excavators cleared wide paths through the forest, with boring and drilling work beginning a few weeks later. The university failed to issue advance notice of these activities to their students and the surrounding community. Read more and sign the petition to Save the UNCA Woods here!

We want UNCA to thrive, but not at the cost of free and easily accessible outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat. What’s more, UNCA has other options for expansion. The former Health Adventure Property on Broadway has been cleared and ready for building for over a decade, yet remains fallow. Please contact Chancellor van Noort, Chairman Aiken, and the Board of Trustees and urge them to halt all development of the UNCA Urban Forest, and instead consider already cleared land for construction projects.

Creation Care Alliance Organizer

Western North Carolina

Apply Now

About the Organization

MountainTrue

MountainTrue is a non-profit organization that works with communities across 26 mountain counties in Western North Carolina and North Georgia and champions resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities. We are committed to keeping our mountain region a beautiful place to live, work and play. Our members protect our forests, clean up our rivers, plan vibrant and livable communities, and advocate for a sound and sustainable future for all. mountaintrue.org

Creation Care Alliance of WNC

The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina (CCA) is a MountainTrue program that unites people of faith and congregations around a moral and spiritual call to preserve the integrity, beauty, and health of God’s creation. CCA’s work has included climate advocacy, renewable energy education, energy efficiency, solar energy, food justice, and eco-grief work. It is an expression of our love of God and God’s love for the earth and all life. For more information, visit creationcarealliance.org.