2025 Holman Water Quality Award Winner: Johnny Strawn

Johnny Strawn of the Hanging Dog Community of Cherokee County, NC, is the 2025 recipient of the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award.

Originally from Morgantown, WV, Johnny Strawn attended NC State University in Raleigh, NC, where he met his wife, Pam. After graduating with degrees in conservation and wildlife biology, Johnny began working for what was then the USDA Soil Conservation Service during which time Johnny and Pam moved to Cherokee County, NC. He served as District Conservationist in Cherokee and Clay counties for nine years and they fell in love with the area. So in 1982, instead of moving on with USDA, he and Pam opened Hanging Dog Valley Nursery, a wholesale nursery specializing in native plants.

Johnny is a founder of Murphy River Walk & Canoe Trails, serving as the project manager for eight years. He received the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award in 2013 for his volunteer work on the River Walk.

Johnny has served on the board of directors for the John C. Campbell Folk School, the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, and the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition (now MountainTrue). He also served on the board of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and Mainspring Conservation Trust for 13 years. As the first Hiwassee watershed board member of the land trust, Johnny was very instrumental in the expansion of land conservation efforts beyond the Little Tennessee River corridor in Macon County.

During his time on the land trust board, Johnny and Pam began to better understand the value of conservation easements; in 2024, they put the finishing touches on a 150-acre conservation easement on their own property, a combination of seven separate tracts which over decades they melded into one cohesive piece of land.

Upon being notified that he’d been selected to receive this award and expressing gratitude for the honor, Johnny was quick to acknowledge Pam’s role in all of the accomplishments we are attributing to him. “None of this happens without Pam,” he said.

Each year, we present the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award to the person or group who has done the most to sustain good water quality in rivers, lakes, and streams in the upper Hiwassee River watershed of Towns and Union counties in North Georgia and Cherokee and Clay counties in North Carolina. The award is named for Bill Holman, a lifelong conservation advocate currently serving as Senior Advisor to the Conservation Fund in NC. The Holman Award is sculpted by David Goldhagen of Goldhagen Blown Art Glass, whose studio is located on the shores of Lake Chatuge near Hayesville, NC.

Protect the Nolichucky River! Tell NC DEQ: Require Stronger Environmental Protections for CSX’s Railroad Rebuild

Photo courtesy of Jubal Roe.

Keep advocating to protect the Nolichucky! Please comment now to ensure stronger environmental requirements for CSX as they rebuild their railroad through North Carolina’s Nolichucky River Gorge.

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality is requesting public comment on CSX’s application to rebuild their railroad through our state’s section of the Nolichucky River Gorge. You may recall that CSX’s railroad experienced extensive damage as a result of Hurricane Helene, and CSX immediately started rebuilding in a manner that was highly damaging to the Nolichucky River’s Wild and Scenic values. Your advocacy helped stop their destruction previously but unfortunately, CSX is back at it under new approvals from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality can stop CSX’s most harmful practices and we need your help again pushing for strong environmental protections in their permit. Please use the link below to submit comments and help us protect the Nolichucky. We encourage you to make your comment your own, but the following may serve as a framework:

https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/Forms/401_Public_Notice_Comments

ID#: 20241562

Version: 2

Project Name: CSXT Emergency Track Rebuild Post Hurricane Helene

Your stance on the project: No

Comment:

I am opposed to this project without additional protections. The following provisions, if included, would allow me to support this project:

DEQ should prohibit any harvesting, mining, or excavation of material from below the ordinary high-water mark. Tennessee’s Department of Environment and Conservation has already prohibited the removal of material below the ordinary high-water mark in Tennessee. NC DEQ should do the same.
DEQ should establish an ordinary high-water mark using the Army Corps’ January 2025 Ordinary High-Water Mark Manual. That analysis indicates the ordinary high-water mark should be approximately 6 feet above baseflow in the Gorge.
DEQ must prohibit the removal of rock or any other material from any named rapid.
DEQ should require CSX to provide for safe recreational and commercial whitewater access during reconstruction.
The Nolichucky Gorge has been designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat for the endangered Appalachian Elktoe. It is also habitat for the Eastern Hellbender, which the Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. DEQ should require CSX to survey areas for Appalachian Elktoe and Eastern Hellbender presence before CSX takes any action – including operating machinery such as dump trucks and excavators – below the ordinary high-water mark.

MountainTrue E-News: January Good News Roundup

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The horrific fires in Los Angeles are an exclamation point to the climate change impacts we’ve experienced here in Western North Carolina. Coast to coast in just over three months, we’ve seen the effects of new weather patterns bringing torrential rains and historically dry and windy weather. This is not your grandparents’ planet.

At MountainTrue, our prayers and thoughts are manifested in putting boots on the ground to help our communities recover. Daily, we have crews out cleaning up trash and debris choking our rivers. We’re mobilizing skilled planners to assist local communities build back better. We’re advocating for improved local floodplain ordinances to protect lives and businesses from being lost in the future. We’re pressing the US Forest Service to incorporate planning and management practices that better reflect our changing climate.

The silver lining of Helene is that we’ve experienced communities coming together in the face of massive obstacles to help one another regardless of our differences. Tapping into this collective reservoir of goodwill, caring about each other and our environment, and taking action is our work in 2025.

Together, we can do this. Together, we are MountainStrong!

Bob Wagner

Executive Director

Contribute to the MountainStrong Recovery & Resilience Fund

Take Action

Boone Mayor Pro Tem Dalton George (left) with Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill (center) and High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator Hannah Woodburn (right).

Protect Hellbenders

With encouragement and support from the Watauga Riverkeeper, the Town of Boone recently passed a resolution supporting Endangered Species Act Protection for the Eastern Hellbender. Read about it here. And while you’re at it, submit your comment to support listing the Eastern Hellbender as a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act. Remember to make your comment your own – unique comments carry more weight with agency staff. Comments are due February 11, 2025.

Report Hurricane Debris

Report river debris + debris locations throughout the French Broad Watershed in the French Broad & Swannanoa rivers on our debris survey. Additionally, if you’re a landowner with river frontage and are willing to let MountainTrue access the waterway from your property, please reach out to cleanup@mountaintrue.org.

Report river debris + debris locations throughout the Watauga, New, & Elk river watersheds on our debris survey.

Facts & Figures: Post-Helene Cleanups

MountainTrue River Cleanup Coordinator Jon Stamper (center) with volunteers at the MountainTrue x United By Blue cleanup on January 18.

With the help of 463 volunteers, the French Broad Riverkeeper team has:

🤝Hosted over 17 river cleanups

🗑️Removed over 1484 contractor bags’ worth of trash from the French Broad

👏Collected ~98,280 pounds of trash

Shout out to our awesome French Broad Riverkeeper cleanup partners: United by Blue, who provided a generous donation and helped coordinate a cleanup on the French Broad on January 18; and students from the Disaster Management and Response program at Paul Smith College for helping on multiple cleanup days.

_________________

With the help of 168 volunteers, the Watauga Riverkeeper team has:

🤝Hosted 10 river cleanups

🗑️Removed 311 contractor bags’ worth of trash from High Country rivers and streams

👏Collected ~30,590 pounds of trash

Shout out to our awesome Watauga Riverkeeper cleanup partners: Wine to Water, Deer Valley Athletic Club, Girls on the Run, and The Speckled Trout Outfitters.

_________________

With the help of 50 volunteers at the most recent cleanup on the Green River last month, the Green Riverkeeper pulled two mattresses out of the river, along with housing materials including metal roofing, propane tanks, tables, chairs, building materials, unfortunately destroyed artwork, and more.

The total amount of debris the Green Riverkeeper + volunteers have pulled out since Helene is unknown, but it consisted of over seven cars, five or six campers, several trailers, literal houses, and everything you can think of that belongs in those houses.

Shout out to our awesome Green Riverkeeper cleanup partners: The Polk County Community Foundation, who awarded funding from two grants for cleanup efforts along the Green and Pacolet rivers; and Green Race Conservation Project and H20 Dreams, both of whom made generous donations for cleanup efforts.

Organizing Director

Waynesville, Sylva, or Franklin, NC

Apply Now

Position Summary

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.

This position requires both management and on-the-ground organizing experience. The organizing director will directly supervise the Creation Care Alliance Organizer and Resilient Forests Organizer and work with other program staff to build the capacity of staff, volunteers, and community partners to identify and achieve policy, advocacy, and programmatic goals.

This role is instrumental in developing and executing strategies to grow our network of members, supporters, and volunteers, empower communities, strengthen coalitions, and advance the organization’s mission of championing resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Strategy

Develop and implement a comprehensive organizing strategy to support the organization’s goals, and recruit, train, and retain a diverse and engaged base of volunteers and activists.
Provide leadership, training, and guidance to organizers, program staff, volunteers, and supporters engaged in organizing campaigns and initiatives.
Align organizing efforts with the organization’s strategic plan, policy priorities, and equity goals.
Supervise and mentor organizing staff, providing ongoing professional development opportunities.
Develop resources and training materials to build the organizing capacity of staff, volunteers, and allies.
Work with organizing staff to cultivate authentic relationships with community members, partner organizations, and stakeholders to identify community priorities and help strategize and win community-led solutions.
Work with organizers to identify activists with leadership potential and mentor them through one-on-one meetings between organizers and activists.
Works on evenings and weekends as necessary, with the option to take time off during the regular work week as compensation.

Data and Evaluation

Track and analyze metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of organizing campaigns.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of organizing activities and outcomes.
Utilize digital tools and databases to manage and grow the organization’s activist base.

Communications and Advocacy

Collaborate with the communications team to develop messaging and materials for organizing campaigns.
Engage directly with policymakers, stakeholders, and the media to advocate for the organization’s goals.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Lived experience in grassroots community organizing.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse communities.
Experience supervising organizing staff and volunteers, and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
Knowledge of public policy processes and key issues related to protecting clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency with organizing tools, such as CRMs (e.g., EveryAction, VAN), email platforms, and social media.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice principles.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Bilingual or multilingual abilities.
Experience with digital organizing and data-driven campaign strategies.
Familiarity with Western North Carolina and the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

Location & Travel

This position is based in Western North Carolina, with a preference for Asheville, North Carolina. This position utilizes frequent Zoom meetings and phone calls. Travel costs are covered by the organization.

Compensation

The salary is in the mid-$60s. The benefits package includes 20 vacation days per year, 12 holidays, sick leave, a sabbatical after five years, health insurance, and a simple IRA with an employer contribution of up to 3%.

How to apply

Accepting applications until the position is filled.
Email a cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@mountaintrue.org. The subject line should read: “Organizing Director”. The cover letter should answer the following questions and address your work history, organizing skills, and management experience:

What does grassroots organizing mean to you and how does it differ from other forms of top-down advocacy?
Describe a grassroots organizing success and the role you played.
What do you believe is the role of an organizing director in managing a team of organizers?

Take Action: Oppose Weakening Macon County’s Watershed & Flood Protection Ordinances

This action has expired

Let Macon County Commissioners know that you oppose weakening Macon County’s Watershed Protection and Flood Damage Prevention ordinances by allowing higher density for recreational vehicle parks in public water supply watersheds and removing restrictions on the use of fill dirt to elevate new houses or expand development in high-risk flood areas.

Commissioners may vote on changes to one or both of these ordinances at their upcoming meeting set for Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Commission Boardroom on the third floor of the Macon County Courthouse, located at 5 West Main Street, Franklin, NC, 28734.

Take Action Now

Eighteen years ago, to better protect public safety and the environment in a region with steep mountain slopes and a higher risk of flooding, Macon County adopted an ordinance that is stricter than the state’s minimum standards. A natural floodplain allows water to spread out during a flood event, soak into the soil, and reduce a river’s speed and destructive power.

Now, Macon County Commissioners are considering weakening the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to allow property owners to use fill material in these areas — decreasing safety and increasing public and private losses due to flooding, including potential loss of life. Using fill dirt to build homes and other buildings in flood-prone areas reduces the amount of floodplain area we have to mitigate flooding. Allowing this activity without requiring a permit puts more people at risk of floods by encouraging more homebuilding and development in floodplains. It also adds to development pressure on large agricultural properties currently in the floodplain, leading to an increase in loss of farmland.

Using fill dirt and materials in the floodplain will also increase costs for residents and taxpayers by raising insurance premiums and creating the need for the government to update floodplain maps more often. The increased risk to life and property from accelerated flooding will also demand costly county resources and put county emergency personnel and volunteer rescuers at risk.

Eleven years ago, county commissioners amended Macon County’s Watershed Protection Ordinance to make Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks ineligible for Special Nonresidential Intensity Allocations. Similarly to the changes to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, allowing increased density for RV parks would encourage their development in public drinking water supply watersheds. Most of the large tracts of land in these watersheds are currently in floodplains and in agricultural production.

Former county leaders recognized that because of Macon County’s steep slopes, narrow floodplains, and fast-flowing streams, the standard state ordinance wasn’t good enough and adopted stronger water supply watershed protections and floodplain restrictions that have served the county well for more than a decade. Tell our current leaders to maintain this legacy for Macon County’s future.

Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – December 18, 2024

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I recently saw my neighbor Jim down at the creek a couple of miles from our homes collecting and piling up trash. When asked, he said he was doing it because it needed to be done.

December ushers in the longest nights of the year in reality and metaphorically. The darkness reflects many of our neighbors’ struggles with losses to their homes, wages, and places they love. Helene reminded us just how vulnerable we are to nature’s wrath and the impacts of climate change.

This may be why some traditions choose to celebrate this time with light. A Christmas tree illuminates our living room every evening. The eight days of Hanukkah will begin soon. Kwanzaa candles will be lit. December is also when daylight starts to last a little longer.

We are entering a phase in the recovery when we are no longer in the national news, the urgency and inflow of help slows, and we acknowledge this is our new normal. It won’t be easy. Even our state legislature has chosen politics over supporting the people of WNC by holding up recovery funds. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.

As my grandfather used to say, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Well, friends, this is our time. We need each other more than ever to succeed. Western North Carolinians are resilient. We’ve lost a lot, but we will rebuild again. MountainTrue and our army of volunteers and staff will be there every step of the way.

I am grateful for my neighbor Jim. Like you, he embodies a can-do spirit. And though we are still mourning our losses, we can look to better days ahead with hope and confidence.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday!

Bob Wagner

Executive Director

Contribute to the MountainStrong Recovery & Resilience Fund

Get Involved: Take Action

MountainTrue has four active action alerts: check them out below and sign on to make your voice heard.

✅Take action to protect Hellbenders!

✅Help us remove debris from our rivers after Hurricane Helene

✅Protect the Nolichucky River: Urge CSX to rebuild responsibly without damaging public lands

✅Support an eviction moratorium & boost housing aid for Helene survivors

Clean Waters Team

Public Safety Announcements

⚠️ Read our Volunteer Safety Guidelines blog – always wear your PPE when participating in a cleanup or if you know you’ll come in contact with mud/sediment leftover from Helene.

Well Water Testing Updates

💧The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing. Where to get a bacteria sampling kit through the end of December: (after December we are switching to appointment only)

✔️Johnson County, TN: Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on TUESDAYS, and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on SATURDAYS through December 28. State Line is in desperate need of volunteers, if you’re interested in volunteering at State Line Resource Center visit their website and/or sign up for volunteer shifts here.

✔️If you’re interested in getting your well or spring tested for E. coli bacteria, you can also email emma@mountaintrue.org or call 828-446-5086 for an appointment, supplies, and/or water quality info.

Soil and Water Pollution Testing Updates

🔬 The Watauga Riverkeeper team is excited to further their sampling efforts in the New Year by tracking down sources of E. coli contamination. This will help our team understand sources of pollution, stop them, and advocate for better protections for our headwater streams.

Come see us at the Boone’s Winter Farmers Market on January 18, 2025, @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and February 1, 2025, @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm to pick up a bacteria testing kit for your well or spring, or learn more about other testing options! We’ll be doing livestaking demonstrations and teaching about erosion and stream sedimentation. We’ll also be offering pay-as-you-can native trees; teaching about the different species, and sending you home with a bundle of trees to plant yourself! If you’re interested in helping us identify places in need of stream bank repair for future volunteer workdays please answer a few quick questions HERE.

River Cleanups Update

🗑️ MountainTrue’s French Broad, Green, and Watauga Riverkeepers will continue to host cleanups in the coming weeks; look for cleanup info + updates in these weekly emails and on our Instagram and Facebook accounts: MountainTrue Instagram, Facebook + Twitter, French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Green Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

🗑 Upcoming river cleanup:

✔️ Madison County, NC:

🔹12/19, Marshall: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register.

✔️ High Country, NC:

🔹Save the date: 1/25, Lansing, Big Horse Creek with New River Conservancy and Keep Ashe Beautiful: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

🔹Save the date: 4/12, Creston, North Fork New River, with New River Conservancy: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

🗑️ The Watauga Riverkeeper is planning to host regular river cleanup volunteer opportunities in the New Year. While we’ve removed nearly 35,000 lbs of debris with volunteers over the past few months, there is still much work to be done. We’re grateful to each and every one of our volunteers who make these workdays such a success. We had a great turnout at our last river cleanup at Old Cove Creek School at the County Park, and we anticipate more opportunities to help with recovery in the future. If you know of areas that are in need of cleaning, please fill out our debris reporting form HERE.

Thank you to our partners, The Speckled Trout Outfitters and The Build For Good Foundation, for lending a hand and making cleanups a breeze! If you’re interested in sponsoring a future cleanup or donating gear like waders, boots, or gloves, please contact hannah@mountaintrue.org.

Other River Updates: High Country

✔️ As the Watauga Riverkeeper team prepares for their winter livestaking season, they’re collecting information to determine viable planting areas in the watershed. Please fill out our Livestaking Bank Stabilization Survey.

✔️ The Watauga Riverkeeper is still collecting data on large debris too difficult to remove by hand (including but not limited to propane tanks, cars, fridges, bridges, etc); fill out the form here. We’ll be using this info to help SDR and FEMA crews prioritize areas for clean-up in the coming weeks and months.

Healthy Communities Team

Temporary Housing Solutions Offered Across WNC

Whether you’re looking for short-term housing due to impacts from Helene or you have a home available to offer to families in need of housing, both the Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust and the NC STR Alliance would like to work with you. They’ve both created programs to match those who need shelter with available homes. Learn about the ABCLT matching program here. Learn about the NC STR Alliance program here. Want to talk to someone directly about these programs? Contact Susan Bean at susan@mountaintrue.org.

Design Volunteers Needed!

MountainTrue is excited to announce the launch of a community-driven design program aimed at helping rebuild areas in Western North Carolina that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Currently, our Recovery and Resilience Design Teams are focused on providing assistance to the Swannanoa and Marshall communities. Ultimately, we hope to provide the critical design services to communities throughout Western North Carolina.

To make this initiative a success, we need volunteers from a variety of design disciplines, including:

✔️Architects

✔️Engineers (structural and civil)

✔️Landscape Architects

✔️Environmental Consultants

✔️Land Planners

✔️Surveyors

✔️Soil Scientists

Many communities are still in rescue and recovery mode, and they may not yet fully understand their design needs. Banking design hours now is crucial for meeting future commitments to these communities.

If you’re a designer interested in volunteering and ready to pledge some hours, or if your community needs design assistance, please reach out to our Director of Healthy Communities, Chris Joyell, at chris@mountaintrue.org. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in the recovery process.

FEMA Application Deadline Extended to Jan. 7, 2025

To complete your application…

✔️ In-Person: Visit your local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC Locator: https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator)

✔️ Online: DisasterAssistance.gov available 24/7.

✔️ Phone: 800-621-3362, available daily 7:00am-11:00pm, multilingual.

Take Action: Protect Hellbenders

SOS: Save Our Salamanders!

Friday, December 13 was a lucky day for eastern hellbender salamanders. Following years of advocacy from environmental organizations and conservation-minded individuals, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing hellbenders as an endangered species across their entire range. Listing this species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a huge step towards their continued existence, offering substantial federal protections that have historically been massively successful in bolstering populations of other listed species. To ensure the hellbender is officially listed, we need you to comment in support of protecting them through the ESA.

Hellbenders experience population decline as a result of sedimentation, water quality degradation, and habitat loss. Impacts from Hurricane Helene also displaced hellbender populations, severely degrading available habitat in some of the healthiest parts of their range. Since the ESA is so successful in protecting vulnerable species and bolstering declining populations, it is crucial that the hellbender be listed and protected as quickly as possible.

Please comment now to support listing the eastern hellbender as a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act. Remember to make your comment your own – unique comments carry more weight with agency staff. Comments are due February 11, 2025.

Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – December 4, 2024

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Every year in early December, my family goes to Sandy Hollar Farm to cut down our Christmas tree. The farm is classic Western North Carolina. We take the tractor ride to the top of the mountain where we hunt for the “perfect” tree. After some debate, we settle on one, and then my boys and I get to work with the dull saw chopping it down. It’s a family tradition that I love.

As December ushers in some cold, snowy days, we know that because of Helene, more people than usual will find the holidays hard. And while much progress has been made, many homes, businesses, and communities remain wrecked from the storm.

At MountainTrue, we have pivoted our resources to address some of the biggest issues facing our region. We hired a River Cleanup Coordinator to ramp up our volunteer efforts around the most hard-hit river basins. We continue to test for pollution and toxins in our wells and rivers. Our Healthy Communities team is piloting a program pairing volunteer designers and planners with devastated communities to help them create a more climate-resilient build-back plan. Our Resilient Forests team continues to advocate for forest management practices that center climate impacts like Helene.

The people of WNC are resilient and hopeful. We will clean up, recover, and rebuild our rivers, forests, and communities one day, one family, one tree at a time – and will not rest until that work is done. Thank you for your support and for being MountainTrue!

Bob Wagner

Executive Director

Contribute to the MountainStrong Recovery & Resilience Fund

Get Involved: Take Action

MountainTrue has three active action alerts: check them out below and sign on to make your voice heard.

✅Help us remove debris from our rivers after Hurricane Helene

✅Protect the Nolichucky River: Urge CSX to rebuild responsibly without damaging public lands

✅Support an eviction moratorium & boost housing aid for Helene survivors

Clean Waters Team

Public Safety Announcements

⚠️ Read our Volunteer Safety Guidelines blog – always wear your PPE when participating in a cleanup or if you know you’ll come in contact with mud/sediment leftover from Helene.

Well Water Testing Updates

💧The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing. If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We’re asking that only wells that were flooded during Helene be tested. After testing, we can connect you with resources for next steps – or there may be no action required! Where to get a bacteria sampling kit through the end of December:

✔️Johnson County, TN: Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on TUESDAYS, and 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on SATURDAYS through December 28. State Line is in desperate need of volunteers, if you’re interested in volunteering at State Line Resource Center visit their website and/or sign up for volunteer shifts here.

✔️If you’re interested in getting your well or spring tested for E. coli bacteria, you can also email emma@mountaintrue.org or call 828-446-5086 for an appointment, supplies, and/or water quality info.

Soil and Water Pollution Testing Updates

🔬 The Watauga Riverkeeper team is continuing to collect surface water samples and testing for bacteria and chemicals. Levels of E. coli have generally been low or stabilizing to “normal” levels. We’re still waiting for the lab results of our most recent chemical sampling round, and appreciate our monthly volunteers that collect from 17 sites across the New, Elk, and Watauga rivers. We’re ramping up our monitoring and will be using sample results to track down septic, sewer leaks, and other water quality issues within our watershed jurisdiction.

🔬 The French Broad Riverkeeper team will have another sampling blitz on Thursday, December 12. From 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., volunteers can help us track pollution sources around the Swannanoa River Watershed. Learn more + register.

🔬 The French Broad Riverkeeper team received another round of water and sediment sample results back from the lab. Those results mostly tell a positive story:

These include water and sediment samples from the Nolichucky River in Erwin + the Nolichucky downstream of Erwin; the Swannanoa River in Swannanoa and Biltmore Village; the French Broad River at Westfeldt Park, Woodfin, Marshall, and Hot Springs; Mud Creek downstream of Hendersonville; and the North Toe River downstream of Spruce Pine.

We’ve analyzed these results, with the help of other water experts. We found a variety of pollutants, but are encouraged by our findings and the lower levels of those pollutants. We continue to find a host of metals in our samples, but for the most part, these metals are at fairly low levels (not above background levels) and aren’t very problematic to human health or the environment. We did find some pollutants with higher concerns around toxicity, such as Trichloroethylene (TCE), Pyrene, and Diesel Range Organics.

TCE was found in the sediment at Charles D. Owen Park along the Swannanoa River in Swannanoa. TCE is volatile, meaning it readily evaporates into the air at room temperature, where people can sometimes smell it. It’s used as a solvent to remove grease from metal, spots from clothing, and as a paint stripper. It’s also an ingredient in paints, varnishes, adhesives, and it’s used to make other products like furniture and electric/electronic equipment. The results found in our sample were 7.19 ug/kg, which is much lower than most state regulatory limits.

Pyrene was found at 286 ug/kg in our Woodfin sediment sample along the French Broad River. Pyrene is one of a group of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a group of naturally occurring pollutants. Pyrene is a natural component of coal tar, crude oil, and fossil fuels. The health effects of brief exposures to pyrene are unknown. Longer-term animal studies show that pyrene can cause nephropathy (kidney disease) and decreased kidney weight. Based on the regulatory levels we studied, this level does not appear alarming.

We also found Acetone in several of our samples, including a Nolichucky water sample taken downstream of Erwin, Swannanoa sediment samples at Charles D. Owen Park and Biltmore Village, and sediment samples from the French Broad in Marshall and Woodfin. Because of the low level of acetone found, we aren’t terribly concerned about the exposure this pollutant presents.

Another test was run to look for the impact of fuel that was present in the flood waters. We had the lab run two tests to look for any remaining fuel in the water or sediment in the form of diesel range organics (DRO) and gasoline range organics. None of our samples showed gasoline range organics, but DRO was present in five samples. The samples that showed DRO were all sediment samples and included the following locations: the North Toe at Penland (5.7 mg/kg), French Broad River at Woodfin (37.4 mg/kg), French Broad River in Marshall (16.9 mg/kg), the Swannanoa River at Charles D. Owen Park (69.7 mg/kg) and Biltmore Village (74 mg/kg). According to an NC State Extension article about DRO in soil for gardening, these levels would be classified as low or moderate.

River Cleanups Update

🗑️ MountainTrue’s French Broad, Green, and Watauga Riverkeepers will continue to host cleanups in the coming weeks; look for cleanup info + updates in these weekly emails and on our Instagram and Facebook accounts: MountainTrue Instagram, Facebook + Twitter, French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Green Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

🗑 Upcoming river cleanups:

✔️ Buncombe County, NC:

🔹12/5, Asheville: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register.

🔹12/12, Alexander: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register.

✔️ Polk County, NC:

🔹12/14, Saluda: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Lower Green; roadside cleanup. Learn more + register.

✔️ High Country, NC:

🔹12/14, Cove Creek: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register. (rain date is 12/21)

🔹Save the date: 1/25, Lansing: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

🗑️ The French Broad Riverkeeper team, with help from awesome volunteers, has hauled out almost 90,000 pounds of trash via cleanups in Transylvania County, Buncombe County’s River Parks, Asheville’s River Arts District, and Madison County’s public access points, along with all of our Paddle Trail campsites. These locations will expand as access is reopened and the scale is better known.

The need is so great that MountainTrue has hired a full-time River Cleanup Coordinator. We’re pleased to introduce Jon Stamper, formerly of Asheville Adventure Company (AAC), to lead this effort. Stamper’s story is familiar to many in our river community. AAC was devastated by the flood and almost everyone is out of work until the river can be restored to a safe and accessible condition. To get this rolling through the winter and onwards, Stamper will be leading three to four cleanups a week throughout the areas impacted most heavily by Hurricane Helene, including the French Broad, but also the Watauga, Nolichucky, Green, and Broad. Let Stamper know if you have a group that you would like to bring out for a work day by emailing cleanup@mountaintrue.org.

We’re also partnering with Blue Heron Whitewater to put 18 raft guides back to work cleaning up the French Broad in Madison County via generous funding from local donors.

While we’re still seeking large-scale state and federal funding to dramatically expand this work, we’re already doing quite a bit with the resources we currently have. If you would like to support this effort with funding or equipment, please email jack@mountaintrue.org.

🗑️ The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to haul out massive amounts of trash from our riparian areas. Since Helene, we’ve removed over 27,000 pounds of trash with volunteers across nine+ river cleanups. Thank you to partners like The Speckled Trout Outfitters and Blue Ridge Conservancy for helping coordinate debris removal! And thank you to Deer Valley Athletic Club and Beech Mountain Ski Resort for supporting our cleanups and providing snacks and refreshments to volunteers. If you’re interested in sponsoring a future cleanup, please contact hannah@mountaintrue.org

Other River Updates: High Country

✔️ As the Watauga Riverkeeper team prepares for their winter livestaking season, they’re collecting information to determine viable planting areas in the watershed. Please fill out our Livestaking Bank Stabilization Survey.

✔️ The Watauga Riverkeeper is still collecting data on large debris too difficult to remove by hand (including but not limited to propane tanks, cars, fridges, bridges, etc); fill out the form here. We’ll be using this info to help SDR and FEMA crews prioritize areas for clean-up in the coming weeks and months.

Healthy Communities Team

Temporary Housing Solutions Offered Across WNC

Whether you’re looking for short-term housing due to impacts from Helene or you have a home available to offer to families in need of housing, both the Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust and the NC STR Alliance would like to work with you. They’ve both created programs to match those who need shelter with available homes. Learn about the ABCLT matching program here. Learn about the NC STR Alliance program here. Want to talk to someone directly about these programs? Contact Susan Bean at susan@mountaintrue.org.

Design Volunteers Needed!

MountainTrue is excited to announce the launch of a community-driven design program aimed at helping rebuild areas in Western North Carolina that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Currently, our Recovery and Resilience Design Teams are focused on providing assistance to the Swannanoa and Marshall communities. Ultimately, we hope to provide the critical design services to communities throughout Western North Carolina.

To make this initiative a success, we need volunteers from a variety of design disciplines, including:

✔️Architects

✔️Engineers (structural and civil)

✔️Landscape Architects

✔️Environmental Consultants

✔️Land Planners

✔️Surveyors

✔️Soil Scientists

Many communities are still in rescue and recovery mode, and they may not yet fully understand their design needs. Banking design hours now is crucial for meeting future commitments to these communities.

If you’re a designer interested in volunteering and ready to pledge some hours, or if your community needs design assistance, please reach out to our Director of Healthy Communities, Chris Joyell, at chris@mountaintrue.org. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in the recovery process.

FEMA Application Deadline Extended to Jan. 7, 2025

To complete your application…

✔️ In-Person: Visit your local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC Locator: https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator)

✔️ Online: DisasterAssistance.gov available 24/7.

✔️ Phone: 800-621-3362, available daily 7:00am-11:00pm, multilingual.

Henderson County, NC, Affordable Housing Listening Sessions

Henderson County residents: check out the rescheduled listening session dates here.

Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – November 18, 2024

Dear Friends and Supporters,

During these times of hardship, I am more present. I notice the intricate spots in my dog’s fur, take more time to chat with and listen to my neighbor in front of their house draped with a blue tarp, and admire the mountain view that used to be obscured by a large oak tree. And, while there are plenty of reasons to remain despondent, right now, I am choosing to be grateful. Grateful for drinking water flowing in my sink, a dry and warm home, roads not blocked by downed power lines or trees, being able to hike a short section on the MST, and much more. And, I’ve realized that the goal is not to recover what we’ve lost, but to rebuild in ways that make us a stronger, more resilient, and caring community. Helene has given us this opportunity.

At MountainTrue we realize it may take years to remove the debris and restore our rivers, clear our favorite trails, and rebuild our neighborhoods. See below to read about the MountainTrue staff and volunteers who are working on critical issues now. We will not miss the opportunity to strengthen the fabric of our communities. We are excited about the days ahead and give thanks for each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bob Wagner

Executive Director

Contribute to the MountainStrong Recovery & Resilience Fund

Get Involved: Take Action

MountainTrue has four active action alerts: check them out below and sign on to make your voice heard.

✅Help us remove debris from our rivers after Hurricane Helene

✅Protect the Nolichucky River: Urge CSX to rebuild responsibly without damaging public lands

✅Protect the Broad River Basin: Comment on the 2024 Broad River Basin Plan for the future of our lakes, rivers, & streams (comment deadline = 11/22; read MountainTrue’s comments and the Basin Plan on our action page)

✅Support an eviction moratorium & boost housing aid for Helene survivors

Clean Waters Team

Public Safety Announcements

⚠️ Read our Volunteer Safety Guidelines blog – always wear your PPE when participating in a cleanup or if you know you’ll come in contact with mud/sediment leftover from Helene.

⚠️ MountainTrue’s Riverkeepers and Clean Waters Team ask that you stay out of rivers and waterways at the moment.

Well Water Testing Updates

💧The Watauga Riverkeeper continues to offer free well testing in partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Waterkeepers Carolina.

💧Who should test: If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we’re asking that only wells that were flooded during Helene be tested. Where to get a well-testing kit:

✔️ Johnson County, TN: Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – CLOSED Wednesday & Sunday.

✔️Watauga County, NC: The Greenhouse (164 Depot Street Boone, NC 28607) to pick up supplies and check in with our team on Monday or Thursday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Completely fill sample bottle with well water from your sink and return to us within 24 hours of collection time (ex. if you collect sampling supplies on a Thursday evening, wait until Sunday night to collect your water sample). Drop off your water sample and I.D. sheet back at the Greenhouse on Monday or Thursday between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Results will be communicated to you within 36 hours.

Soil and Water Pollution Testing Updates

🔬MountainTrue continues to survey the impact of Hurricane Helene on the French Broad River and its tributaries. We recently received another batch of test results back from the lab and we believe the news is overwhelmingly good. Here are the latest results from Cane Creek in Fletcher, the French Broad River in Hot Springs, French Broad River in Marshall, the French Broad River in Asheville, and Hominy Creek at Hominy Creek Greenway:

Out of ~185 chemical pollutants that we tested for, we found almost none of the pollutants present in any of our samples. The only pollutants we found in these latest samples were metals. Each sample contained some level of metals, but the vast majority of the metals consisted of more benign metals such as iron, manganese, zinc, strontium, and aluminum. While some of these do have drinking water standards, for the most part, the levels we found in our samples were below those standards, and we were not testing drinking water.

We did find lead, chromium, and mercury in our soil sample from Marshall. The levels of Chromium and Mercury were below the drinking water standard. The levels of lead were 28.9 mg/kg, which is below EPA’s safe level for soil of 400 mg/kg.

We believe this is good news for the quality of the water around the French Broad Watershed. We’re still awaiting several more samples and we’ll continue to take samples throughout the watershed, but are very encouraged with the pollution levels found so far in our waterways and river sediment.

🔬The Broad Riverkeeper sampled the Broad River this past Monday, from the Greenway in Boiling Springs, up to 1/2 mile below the Lake Lure dam. Bacteria levels were fairly low everywhere, but turbidity was very high below the lake. The Broad Riverkeeper sampled at Hwy 150, Hwy 221, Coxe Road, Grays Road, Rock Springs Ch. Road, and just below the dam. The Lake Lure waste water treatment plant is partially operational after being out of service for a month, so the no flush order has been lifted for most residents. Plans are being made to build a new treatment plant on higher ground, out of the floodplain. Shoutout to the awesome folks at Rutherford Outdoor Coalition for helping our sampling efforts!

🔬 The Watauga Riverkeeper team has collected 50+ surface water samples from the New, Watauga, and Elk Rivers. We’re happy to announce that our regular monthly chemical sampling program, VWIN, is back online post-hurricane. So far, E. coli levels have remained lower than normal, but we will continue to sample and track down sources of pollution. Thank you to folks who have reported water quality issues. As always, if you see something, say something!

River Cleanups Update

🗑️ MountainTrue’s French Broad, Green, and Watauga Riverkeepers will continue to host cleanups in the coming weeks; look for cleanup info + updates in these weekly emails and on our Instagram and Facebook accounts: MountainTrue Instagram, Facebook + Twitter, French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Green Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook, Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

🗑️ The French Broad Riverkeeper continues to haul out massive amounts of trash from our riparian areas. Since Helene, we’ve removed over 84,000 lbs of trash. French Broad Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson recently held another successful cleanup at Redmond Dam. In the coming weeks, we’ll be significantly expanding our cleanup operations after hiring a river cleanup coordinator, so look for a lot more cleanups in the near future.

🗑️ The Watauga Riverkeeper also continues to haul out massive amounts of trash from our riparian areas. Since Helene, we’ve removed over 27,000 pounds of trash with volunteers across nine river cleanups. Thank you to partners like The Speckled Trout Outfitters and Blue Ridge Conservancy for helping coordinate debris removal! And thank you to Deer Valley Athletic Club and Beech Mountain Ski Resort for supporting our clean ups and providing snacks and refreshments to volunteers. If you’re interested in sponsoring a future clean up, please contact hannah@mountaintrue.org

🗑 Upcoming river cleanups:

✔️ Buncombe County, NC:

🔹11/21, Alexander: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. @ Whittier Branch. Learn more + register.

🔹12/5, location TBD: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register.

🔹12/12, location TBD: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more + register.

✔️ Watauga County, NC:

🔹12/14, Sugar Grove: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. @ Winklers Creek. Learn more + register.

✔️ Polk County, NC:

🔹12/14, Saluda: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Lower Green; roadside cleanup. Learn more + register.

Other River Updates: High Country

✔️ As the Watauga Riverkeeper team prepares for their winter livestaking season, they’re collecting information to determine viable planting areas in the watershed. Please fill out our Livestaking Bank Stabilization Survey.

✔️ The Watauga Riverkeeper is still collecting data on large debris too difficult to remove by hand (including but not limited to propane tanks, cars, fridges, bridges, etc); fill out the form here. We’ll be using this info to help SDR and FEMA crews prioritize areas for clean-up in the coming weeks and months.

Resilient Forests Team

Hot Springs Workday w/ Carolina Mountain Club on Nov. 30

Work to clean up trails and parts of town that were impacted by Helene. All are welcome and youth ages 14+ can participate with a guardian. Bring lunch, water, boots, long pants, a long sleeve shirt, raingear, and work gloves. CMC will provide any tools and PPE needed. Learn more + register.

Public Safety/Access Announcements

Please respect closures of public land to allow for continued recovery efforts from Helene. Much of Pisgah National Forest remains closed, but the Pisgah Ranger District and a portion of the Grandfather Ranger District are now open.

Chainsaw Certification Classes

There is a great need for folks to help clear trails to reopen recreational opportunities on public land, but federal saw certification is required to use a chainsaw on federal lands. If you are an experienced sawyer and want to get your federal saw card, McDowell Tech is offering six chainsaw classes in the next two months; click here to learn more.

Free Firewood Collection: Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest is waiving permit requirements for collecting down firewood along open roads until December 2025. Please respect closure orders.

Healthy Communities Team

Design Volunteers Needed!

MountainTrue is excited to announce the launch of a community-driven design program aimed at helping rebuild areas in Western North Carolina that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Currently, our Recovery and Resilience Design Teams are focused on providing assistance to the Swannanoa and Marshall communities. Ultimately, we hope to provide the critical design services to communities throughout Western North Carolina.

To make this initiative a success, we need volunteers from a variety of design disciplines, including:

✔️Architects

✔️Engineers (structural and civil)

✔️Landscape Architects

✔️Environmental Consultants

✔️Land Planners

✔️Surveyors

✔️Soil Scientists

Many communities are still in rescue and recovery mode, and they may not yet fully understand their design needs. Banking design hours now is crucial for meeting future commitments to these communities.

If you’re a designer interested in volunteering and ready to pledge some hours, or if your community needs design assistance, please reach out to our Director of Healthy Communities, Chris Joyell, at chris@mountaintrue.org. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in the recovery process.

Mold Matters Event w/ Thrive Asheville

MountainTrue is partnering with Thrive Asheville and other partners to host a program called Mold Matters on Monday, November 25 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This program invites you to learn about the health risks associated with mold after flooding and provides guidance and options for how to remediate mold risks in a home. Information on accessing mold kits will also be provided to assist with ongoing monitoring and prevention. RSVP to attend in person here or RSVP to attend virtually here.

FEMA Application Deadline Extended to Jan. 7, 2025

To complete your application…

✔️ In-Person: Visit your local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC Locator: https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator)

✔️ Online: DisasterAssistance.gov available 24/7.

✔️ Phone: 800-621-3362, available daily 7:00am-11:00pm, multilingual.

Henderson County, NC, Affordable Housing Listening Sessions

Henderson County residents: check out the rescheduled listening session dates here.

Creation Care Alliance

CCA continues to connect congregations from unimpacted areas to communities in need. Recently, groups from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva, First Baptist Church of Sylva, and Cullowhee United Methodist Church traveled to Mitchell and McDowell counties to help sort donations and deliver items that continue to be essential, like heaters.

Protect the Broad River Basin: Comment on The 2024 Broad River Basin Plan for the Future of Our Rivers, Lakes, & Streams

This action has expired

Paddlers enjoying the First Broad River.

Now is your chance to make your voice heard and help influence our Department of Environmental Quality in planning for a healthy Broad River Watershed.

The 2024 Broad River Basin Plan is being developed for the Broad River Basin by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR). DWR wants to hear from you – tell DWR to stand firm in their recommendations to:

Improve stream monitoring.
Offer financial incentives for the preservation or restoration of riparian areas.
Actively assess water quality in Kings Mountain Reservoir.
Evaluate and better support the staffing and resource needs of the biological assessment and ambient monitoring programs.

Ask DWR to do more by:

Developing a list of known significant violations or exceedances in discharge limits for permitted facilities, how these violations can affect water quality, and how DEQ staff should address and monitor these polluters.
Study the combined effects on water quality from the application of fertilizer (including poultry manure), sludge (land applied residuals) application to fields, and runoff from animal farming operations.
Develop minimum flow requirements for Lake Adger Dam into the Green River and Lake Lure Dam into the Broad River.
Acknowledge the extensive recreational use of our rivers for swimming, boating, and fishing, and protect these waterways for their current uses.
Planning for floods from storms like Helene and developing an extensive resiliency strategy for the future.

Resources

>> Click here to read MountainTrue’s comments

>>Click here to read the 2024 Broad River Basinwide Water Quality Plan Draft