Post-Helene Watershed Report: Green Riverkeeper

I was getting ready to board a flight to our Global Waterkeeper Alliance Conference the Wednesday before Hurricane Helene hit, and I had a gut feeling that the home I would return to the following Sunday was going to be different. I had no idea what that would look like, but the Tuesday night before my flight, we already had five inches of rain in Saluda, and I knew it wasn’t going to stop. Watching Helene build from the outside was an entirely different traumatic experience. Seeing the catastrophic devastation surrounding our homes, rivers, and communities was heartbreaking and it felt like we were a million miles away with no way to help.

On Facebook, there was a local kayaking community page that I follow and multiple efforts were starting to unfold to get to those affected in the Green River Cove (the Lower Green) the Saturday after the storm. Houses were wiped off the map, folks were stranded with no way out, and there was no way to tell if lives had been taken by the floods that occurred Friday morning in the Gorge. I kept commenting in the group “You all can meet at my office in Saluda to make a plan, and when I get home Sunday, we can use the office for whatever is needed!” A good friend, Chris Wing from H20 Dreams, who also has a business on the Green River, reached out and said, “I have donation money and supplies…” and my response was, “I have the office space and parking.” We both asked, “We wanna do this?” (not knowing what “this” was)” and of course, our answer to each other was YES!

That Sunday, another Riverkeeper and I flew into Greenville/Spartanburg airport as our flight into Asheville was canceled. A friend picked us up with a truck loaded full of supplies and we headed towards Saluda.

The next week was a blur filled with love, support, community, and a lot of heroes. Out of my office, we ran a supply and donation relief effort for the local community, and we sent recon search and rescue teams out to affected areas where folks couldn’t be reached. We sent supplies, worked with local fire departments, alerted the correct personnel if there needed to be evacs, and set up a drive-through line for the community to come and gather supplies. It started with the kayaking community SHOWING UP Y’ALL and morphed into an all-hands-on-deck effort from the local community and beyond to help folks in WNC.

Fast forward to now and we have hired contractors to get the cars, houses, roofs, RVs, trailers, and more out of the river (HUGE thanks to Jake Jarvis from Precision Grading for all his hard work and huge heart to help WNC right now). We’ve tested numerous wells that were flooded for traces of E. coli, we’ve sampled the Lower Green for bacteria and will be testing for chemicals in the coming weeks, and we’ve raised funds for cleanup efforts and river restoration for the Green and Pacolet rivers!

As we move forward, we grieve the loss of our rivers and communities, but we feel immense gratitude to the community for their outpouring of love and support over the past month. We will be doing this restoration and resilience work for years to come, and I look forward to welcoming you all to assist in those efforts. We can’t do it without you.

Look for updates on our social media pages: Green Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

-Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks

Post-Helene Watershed Report: French Broad Riverkeeper

I’m standing overlooking the bank of the Swannanoa River as I watch pieces of a house smack the side of the bridge, witness oil in the floodwaters pooling around a nearby hotel, and businesses and homes sinking underwater. I’m heartbroken as I watch people’s hopes and dreams float down the river and witness the destruction of the river I’ve spent the last 20 years trying to protect. My first thought is, I quit. I can’t imagine the scope and hard work it will take to bring back the river. But I am also incredibly stubborn and a few moments later, I reverse course and tell my son, “I’m not going out like this.” If it will take an army of volunteers and staff to clean up and bring our river back to life, then that’s what we’ll give it.

Since that evening, there have been a lot of late nights and early mornings. A lot of questionable food choices and dirty showerless days. We spent the early days running around the watershed and checking on the damage to the river and making sure friends and family were safe. Next, we realized there was an urgent need to provide hot meals to folks who didn’t have electricity, water, or a way to buy supplies, so we perfected the art of grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for hundreds of people from all corners of the watershed. Now, we are moving into the phase where we need to understand the impact on the river and start to dig out.

At first glance, the Asheville River District seemed beyond repair. There was so much trash and debris that I couldn’t fathom the scenario where it would ever be the same. Despite that, we organized a cleanup with around 150 people and removed about 650 bags of trash. After those few hours of cleaning, there was a remarkable improvement and it certainly provided me with hope that with the community behind us, we could do this.

Our team is also busy lobbying for a massive investment in the cleanup of our river. We are pushing the state for a $7 million river cleanup fund, so we can hire 200 out-of-work river guides to clean up our waterways. In this critical window of time, if we can invest the time and resources needed to clean up our waterways, by the start of the paddling season in the late spring, we can save many river businesses and be a moral boost to our community, a statement to the flood that knocked us down, that we are getting back up.

We have already taken numerous water samples, and despite the impact of the storm and the damage to our wastewater treatment systems, the water quality doesn’t look nearly as bad as I feared.

Despite the devastation I have never been more encouraged at how our community has come together. Seeing people from all walks of life, all income levels, all different backgrounds, and a variety of political persuasions come together to feed people, provide supplies to people, organize rescues, do wellness checks, and provide mental health resources, has made me realize that despite what we are told, we are all good people, and when we need each other, we are there for each other. If we can ignore the things that drive us apart and focus on what we have in common, which is our love for our mountains, rivers, and our communities, we’re all gonna be just fine.

Look for updates on our social media pages: French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

-French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson

Post-Helene Watershed Report: Broad Riverkeeper

Since the morning of September 27 when Helene hit North Carolina, I’ve been joining others who are pitching in to support neighbors, friends, and community members. We’ve cleared trees and limbs from driveways and roads, shared meals with neighbors, and volunteered to provide food to disadvantaged communities. We’ve been out in the field taking water samples to monitor water quality in the Broad River and tributaries, and sharing those results with river residents and river users. Communications with NCDEQ about Waste Water Treatment Plant failures and sewer overflows continue to inform us so that we can keep you informed. River sweeps, debris and blockage removal, and access cleanups will be a priority through the spring.

Three weeks out from the storm we realize, Mother Nature and the river will do what they are meant to do. All that water knows to do is flow downhill to the coast, and it has taken the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, human development can sometimes be in that path. We must learn to be more prepared for the changes that are sure to come with nature’s progression. Homes, businesses, and infrastructure built in our floodplains are not sustainable.

One example is the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Lake Lure. Built in the floodplain below the Lake Lure dam and over 50 years old, the treatment plant was inundated by flood waters during Hurricane Helene. It is now inoperable, and sewage from the collection system has been released into the Broad River below the Lake. We have been monitoring water quality for the last three weeks between Lake Lure and the Broad River Greenway — about 50 miles of river. Encouraging results are in from water sampling on October 21 with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition. Three weeks ago, there were very high concentrations of bacteria just downstream of Lake Lure and its damaged wastewater treatment plant. Two weeks ago, the bacteria was starting to be seen about 20 miles downstream at Grays and Coxe Road accesses. Last week, the bacteria had shown up at our Broad River Greenway in Boiling Springs, about 50 miles below the Lake.

Though the levels are not extremely high (150 mpn, compared to the safe swimming recommended level of 126), we are still advising people to not swim in the river at this time. Conditions can change rapidly and we want you all to be safe.

Look for updates on our social media pages: Broad Riverkeeper Instagram + Facebook.

Hang in there, ask for help, and offer help where you can.

-Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell

Volunteer Safety Guidelines Post-Helene: Personal Protective Equipment

Volunteer Safety Reminder: Always Wear Your PPE During Cleanups!

As more volunteers participate in river clean-ups and other recovery activities, many will be coming into contact with mud, sludge, sediment, and dust left behind by the storm. These materials may contain higher levels of pollutants and contaminants, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

To work safely, we recommend using the following personal protective equipment (PPE):

✔️Rubber boots that can be easily cleaned to prevent cross-contamination.

✔️Rubber gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with contaminated materials.

✔️N95 masks (or better) to reduce inhalation of harmful dust and particles.

✔️Long sleeves to protect your arms from direct contact with potentially harmful substances.

✔️Waterproof bandages to cover any cuts or abrasions, reducing the risk of infection.

✔️Safety glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from mud particles and dust.

After your clean-up activities, be sure to shower as soon as possible to remove any remaining contaminants from your skin and clothing. Given the lack of running water in many areas, you may want to arrange your shower plans before signing up for a clean-up. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety while helping our community recover.

MountainTrue Calls on EPA to Protect NC Waters from Legislative Sabotage

The following is a letter sent to our members on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, announcing MountainTrue’s decision to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw North Carolina’s authority to regulate water pollution.

Dear members and supporters,

I’m writing to share some important news with you regarding the future of North Carolina’s water quality, environment, and public health. MountainTrue has always been committed to safeguarding the public water resources of Western North Carolina. Our mission to protect the health of our waterways and the well-being of our communities has never been more critical. However, the obstacles we now face have made it clear that the state cannot meet its obligations under the Clean Water Act.

Therefore, MountainTrue has joined the Southern Environmental Law Center, Cape Fear River Watch, Environmental Justice Community Action Network, and the Haw River Assembly in filing a formal petition asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw North Carolina’s authority to regulate water pollution. This action is necessary because the state legislature has crippled the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s ability to protect our waterways, drinking water sources, and communities from harmful pollution.

As with most states, EPA delegates authority to North Carolina to regulate pollution from industry and wastewater treatment plants into rivers, lakes, and other waters through the “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” program. This means the state takes on EPA’s legal duty to issue water pollution permits that protect North Carolina waters, to solicit participation from the public, and to enforce against any polluters that violate water quality laws.

Unfortunately, the North Carolina General Assembly has systematically undermined the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Management Commission to the point that the state can no longer effectively protect our waters.

These legislative actions have led to weakened permits, an inability to regulate toxic chemicals effectively, and a state budget that leaves DEQ severely underfunded. As a result, industrial facilities are allowed to operate under expired permits with outdated protections, efforts to better protect the public and enforce against polluters are routinely blocked, and North Carolinians are exposed to more pollution in our waterways and drinking water sources.

Moreover, recent changes to state law have given final authority over water pollution permits to the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, an entity that is not equipped to prioritize public health and environmental safety. This shift not only sidelines DEQ’s expertise but also cuts the public out of the permitting process altogether.

Given these circumstances, we believe that the only path forward is to request that the EPA reclaim its authority over water pollution regulation in North Carolina. This is a drastic measure, but one that is necessary to ensure that our waters and communities are protected from the serious threats posed by unchecked pollution.

We understand that this news may be concerning, and we want to assure you that MountainTrue will continue to fight tirelessly for clean water and healthy communities. We will keep you informed of any developments as the EPA considers our petition and takes action.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to protecting our precious public waters.

Sincerely,

Gray Jernigan
Deputy Director & General Counsel

Resources:

Press Release: Legislative actions leave North Carolina unable to protect water and communities, groups warn EPA – Southern Environmental Law Center

Petition: 2024.08.28-SELC-NC-De-Delegation-Petition.pdf (southernenvironment.org)

MT Raleigh Report: NC State Budget Update – July 2024

When – or if – the history of the 2024 legislative session of the North Carolina General Assembly is ever written, it will be recalled more for what lawmakers were NOT able to accomplish than what they managed to do.

The General Assembly’s paralysis was most striking in its attempts to approve a revised budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Lawmakers approve a two-year budget in odd-numbered years and adjust the second-year spending plan in even-numbered years to account for fluctuations in revenue, salary increases for state employees, and dozens of other needed changes.

Despite months of negotiations, veto-proof Republican majorities in both the House and Senate AND a revenue surplus of more than $1 billion, the GOP-controlled House and Senate were unable to agree on a revised budget. Instead, they approved very limited funding bills to provide modest, stopgap assistance for childcare centers and a few other items.

In the absence of a revised budget, the FY24-25 budget approved last year remains in place, but leaves the state’s massive budget surplus sitting, uninvested, in the state’s coffers until lawmakers decide to act – most likely during next year’s long session, which begins in January.

For MountainTrue – and Western North Carolina – the budget stalemate means that our requests for investments to help reduce water pollution in the French Broad, to improve paddle trails on the First Broad and Watauga Rivers, and to fund a variety of nonpartisan outdoor recreation projects across the region will have to wait at least another year. You can find a list of MountainTrue’s legislative priorities here.

The paralysis in Raleigh was not limited to the budget. Dozens of bills – most of them noncontroversial – died in committee, held hostage in vain efforts by both the Senate and House to force the other to come to the table on unrelated issues. Among the victims: a bill to require local governments to pass ordinances encouraging “accessory dwelling units”. MountainTrue supported this legislation – which was approved by the House last year nearly unanimously – as a noncontroversial way to increase affordable housing stock without encouraging sprawl, among other environmental benefits to building more densely in already developed urban areas. Unfortunately, the bill was never heard in the Senate and will have to start from the beginning of the legislative process next year.

Despite our frustrations with the General Assembly, MountainTrue will continue to advocate for a clean, healthy mountain region in the state capital. We are already drawing up plans for our 2025 priorities and meeting with lawmakers in their home districts to discuss our to-do list for next year. Your support of MountainTrue makes this work possible – thank you for being part of our lobbying team.