Central Region News 

A note from Gray Jernigan, Deputy Director & General Counsel: 

It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through the year, and now that summer is in high gear, our team is spending a lot of time outside on the water, in the woods, and in our communities. We’re taking weekly water samples to inform the public about where it’s safe to recreate in our mountain waters, guiding hikes to educate participants about public lands, and spreading the word at local events about our work and how to get involved. 

While it might not sound as fun as getting outside, another important side of our work has been happening at the General Assembly in Raleigh. Our staff has taken four trips to the state capitol this legislative session to meet with lawmakers about our priorities for Western North Carolina, and our contract lobbyist has been “carrying our water” every day in between. We advocate on bills passing through the chambers and try to improve legislation as it moves. Our biggest legislative advocacy focus is on the state budget that allocates funding for programs and projects that, among other things, can improve public access to rivers and forests, protect water quality, and expand conservation of natural resources. To stay up to date on all the happenings at the General Assembly and our advocacy work there, sign up to receive the MountainTrue Raleigh Report. 

Of course, this work can’t happen without the generous support of our members, people just like you, who join our commitment to protect the places we share. Any amount helps, and you can even start with a small monthly donation that fits your budget. Join us by making a donation today. Now get out there and enjoy the summer, and while you do, remember to join in the MountainTrue-a-thon as you hike, bike, and paddle! We’ll see you out there!

MountainTrue’s State of Our Rivers Report details health of our waters, likely sources of pollution, and policy solutions

Learn about the health of our waterways with MountainTrue’s new State of Our Rivers Report, which leverages a year’s worth of data to give the public a better understanding of the water quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. For the first time, this report outlines likely sources of pollution and provides legislators, stakeholders, and advocates with a set of targeted policy solutions to protect the health of our waters, our communities, and our multi-million dollar water recreation economy. Read the report at stateofourrivers.report. 

See French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson discuss the findings of the report with WLOS News.

Have you signed up for the MountainTrue-a-thon yet?

There’s still time to sign up for the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon, which kicks off on June 15 and runs through August 31. Earn money for MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities: hiking, biking, and paddling — it’s a win-win! Lace up your boots, grab your gear, and let’s hit the trails for some adventure. 

P.S. Did we mention there are PRIZES for the top $ earner and most pledged miles hiked?!

Bioblitz with us in the Craggies

MountainTrue’s 2023 Bioblitz is happening now until June 25 in the Craggy Mountains! The Bioblitz is an annual event – hosted by MountainTrue on iNaturalist – that seeks to get experts, naturalists, and curious others outdoors to document every living organism we can find. The information you collect will be crucial in documenting the special character of the area, helping the Forest Service to better protect it, and in demonstrating to Congress that it should be designated a permanently protected National Scenic Area. Click here to learn more about the Bioblitz and sign up to participate. 

Jam with Michael Franti, MountainTrue, and your French Broad Riverkeeper

Join us for the 2023 Michael Franti & Spearhead concert featuring Fortunate Youth at the Salvage Station on July 8 in Asheville, NC! All proceeds from the concert support the work of the French Broad Riverkeeper, a program of MountainTrue and the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. Get your tickets now! Doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. There will be several food trucks and full bars open for you to enjoy! Please visit the Salvage Station’s event page for the most up-to-date information, tickets, parking information, and other FAQs.

Photo: French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson and family paddle the river on a previous paddle trip.

The countdown to the 2023 French Broad Paddle Trip is on! 

Every year, MountainTrue and the French Broad Riverkeeper guide participants on an incredible trip down a stretch of the French Broad River, creating lasting memories exploring what can feel like uncharted territory right in our own backyards and camping under the stars on the French Broad River Paddle Trail. Leave the hustle behind and experience the joys of river travel while having your meals provided, your campfire built, and your gear transported for you to your next campsite! This year’s trip will take place July 12-14, with an option to add a one-day paddle down Section 9 of the French Broad on July 11 to your ticket purchase. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot! 

Welcome to our new Development & Operations Coordinator

The Development team is thrilled to welcome Sydney Swafford as our new Development & Operations Coordinator. Sydney most recently filled our Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator position with AmeriCorps. She brings hands-on experience with her Environmental Science degree and years of organizational management in her personal and professional life. She can be reached at sydney@mountaintrue.org.

Local grocer makes a stand against plastic pollution 

Founded as Amazing Savings in the early 2000s, Hopey and Company is a locally-owned grocery store specializing in artisan and discount food and beverages. With locations in Asheville and Black Mountain, Hopey & Co is leading the charge to ban plastic bags from retail establishments. Starting July 1, 2023, Hopey & Co will no longer offer plastic bags when you pay for your groceries. Hopey & Co currently offers these in-store alternatives to single-use plastic bags:

• Cardboard boxes conveniently located in a bin by the checkout
• Two sizes of reusable grocery bags 

We’re thankful for businesses like Hopey & Co, who are helping to pave the way for a more sustainable future. Show your support for a single-use plastic bag ban by taking your reusable bags when you shop! Visit plasticfreewnc.com to learn more about our collaborative efforts to bring about a Plastic-Free WNC.

Save the date: MountainTrue launches new housing program!

MountainTrue is excited to be launching Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC on August 10 with a kickoff event in Asheville. Where we live shapes our lives and our long-term success — from the length and cost of our commute to where we shop for groceries, and where we send our children to school. Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC will advocate for policies and projects that will create more housing choices close to town centers; creating the kinds of walkable, convenient communities that are good for both people and the planet. Save the date and join us to learn how you can be involved!

Buncombe County residents: take the Buncombe Open Space Bond Survey

Buncombe County is seeking your help in setting the community vision for the future of Buncombe County recreation. The county recently opened a six-question survey to gather public feedback about passive recreation lands. The passage of the Open Space Bond in November 2022 cleared the way for the development of Passive Recreation Lands in Buncombe County. These lands provide opportunities for outdoor activities that require minimal stress on a site’s resources. As the Open Space Bond funds allow more lands to be purchased or protected in conservation easements, more areas of Buncombe County can be enjoyed for passive recreation activities.

Film premiere: Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes

Long-time Henderson County environmental advocate, filmmaker, and cultural preservationist, David Weintraub, invites the community to the premier events for his newest film, Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes. The film integrates native storytelling and philosophy with cutting-edge science that affirms what native peoples have been saying about the intelligence of nature for thousands of years! Local premiere dates include Saturday, June 24 at North River Farms in Mills River, NC (drive-in theater) and Saturday, July 1 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. The starting time at all venues is 7:30 p.m. Find out more here. 

High Country News

A note from Andy Hill, High Country Regional Director & Watauga Riverkeeper:

It’s a special time of year for river people with warm weather and spring flows. We have been taking advantage of the clear water to enjoy river snorkeling, paddle trips, and cleanups. Our Swim Guide water quality sampling program is in full swing, with results published weekly on the Swim Guide app. 

This week also marks the retirement of our beloved Ecologist and Public Lands Director, MountainTrue legend Bob Gale (or Sweet Bobby G as we call him). Bob has been with MountainTrue for over 25 years and has been a tremendous asset to conservation efforts in the Southern Blue Ridge. Please join me in expressing your gratitude for his years of service. You can send your kind words to bob@mountaintrue.org.

Consider supporting our very talented staff by becoming a MountainTrue member and contributing to our mission of protecting the places we share! Join us by making a donation today.

Weekend plans: Riverkeeper Float Fest! 

Ready to ring in the summer? Riverkeeper Float Fest is back and better than ever! Join MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper and High Country Water Team on Saturday, June 24, for a fun-filled, family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at River & Earth Adventures’ New River Outpost in Todd, NC. Rain or shine, shuttles will be going all day from Peacock traffic circle in Boone to ensure safe transportation to and from the festival. Our friends at Appalachian Mountain Brewery will be providing the jams, good brews, and fantastic food all day long. Spend your day chilling out, listening to music and snacking with friends, or tube down the New River and enjoy fly fishing demos from our buddies at Boone’s Fly Shop. Ticket levels are available for tubing, general admission, designated drivers, and kids 12 and under are FREE — click here to get your tickets. 

MountainTrue’s State of Our Rivers Report details health of our waters, likely sources of pollution, and policy solutions

Learn about the health of Western North Carolina’s waterways with MountainTrue’s new State of Our Rivers Report, which leverages a year’s worth of data to give the public a better understanding of the water quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. For the first time, this report outlines likely sources of pollution and provides legislators, stakeholders, and advocates with a set of targeted policy solutions to protect the health of our waters, our communities, and our multi-million dollar water recreation economy. Read the report at stateofourrivers.report.

Photos: Hannah Woodburn and recent App State grad and research technician, Quentin LaChance, pose with a hellbender (left). Hannah Woodburn safely handles a hellbender that the group captured and tagged for long-term monitoring (right). Photo credit: Henry Gates. 

Hellbender surveys on the Upper Watauga River

Along with the first week of Swim Guide, our Watauga Riverkeeper team was busy searching for hellbenders during the last week of May. We teamed up with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Appalachian State University’s Aquatic Conservation Research Lab to assess river habitat and monitor local populations of sensitive aquatic salamanders. Our Watershed Coordinator and biologist, Hannah Woodburn, was the first of the snorkeling group to spot a baby hellbender! Over the course of the two-day search, 24 hellbenders were captured and tagged for long-term monitoring. We thank all of the dedicated professionals, students, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the surveys! 

Swim Guide launch at Valle Crucis Community Park

To kick off the 2023 Swim Guide season, our Water Team hosted a launch party on May 11 at Valle Crucis Community Park for our trusty volunteers. We discussed safety, protocols, and how awesome this summer will be! We had a great time connecting with our volunteers and we sincerely appreciate their help. Our annual Swim Guide program monitors E. coli levels at popular High Country swimming sites and runs until September 6, 2023. Our small mountain community is one of many contributing to an international effort to monitor bacteria levels at local “beaches” or, in our case, lakes or streams. 

Want to volunteer with our Swim Guide program? Sampling sites are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, but we encourage folks to sign up to join our list of backup Swim Guide volunteers! (Sampling typically requires a 1 to 2-hour commitment, once per week). 

Photos: The full Winkler’s Creek Trash Trout in Boone, NC, before a routine cleanup.​

An update on the Tennessee Trash Trouts

Another month, another Trash Trout cleanout! Last month, we hopped across the Tennessee line and paid a visit to the two Trash Trouts monitoring macroplastics in waterways for our neighbors in East TN. Cleaning out these passive litter collection devices is a great way to get outside, help keep the river clean, and have fun! The TN Trash Trouts are located on Buffalo Creek and Doe River, and they serve as indicators of the trash levels that flow through the channel over a certain amount of time. We appreciate our community partners who helped implement this plastics monitoring tool! 

Bioblitz with us in the Craggies and at Valle Crucis Community Park 

MountainTrue’s 2023 Bioblitz is happening now until June 25 in the Craggy Mountains! The Bioblitz is an annual event – hosted by MountainTrue on iNaturalist – that seeks to get experts, naturalists, and curious others outdoors to document every living organism we can find. The information you collect will be crucial in documenting the special character of the area, helping the Forest Service to better protect it, and in demonstrating to Congress that it should be designated a permanently protected National Scenic Area. Click here to learn more about the Bioblitz and sign up to participate.

Join our High Country team for the 3rd annual Bioblitz at Valle Crucis Community Park on Sunday, July 23! Stop by anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to explore the meadows and wetlands along the river and help us find and identify as many different plants, animals, and fungi as we can for the park’s species list! Register here. 

Chatting about sustainability in the workplace at Watauga High School 

Our High Country Watershed Coordinator, Hannah, led a talk for AP Environmental Science students at Watauga High School on May 9 centered around careers and professional development within the scientific community. The students chatted about conservation, ecology, career development, and highlighting the work of other nonprofit organizations in the High Country dedicated to protecting the places we share! Our Water Team loves educational outreach — most of the time, we learn from the students as much as they learn from us. Thank you to Courtney Capozzoli and Watauga High School for allowing us to chat with these future scientists!

Have you signed up for the MountainTrue-a-thon yet?

There’s still time to sign up for the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon, which kicks off on June 15 and runs through August 31. Earn money for MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities: hiking, biking, and paddling — it’s a win-win! Lace up your boots, grab your gear, and let’s hit the trails for some adventure. 

P.S. Did we mention there are PRIZES for the top $ earner and most pledged miles hiked?!

Welcome to our new Development & Operations Coordinator

The Development team is thrilled to welcome Sydney Swafford as our new Development & Operations Coordinator. Sydney most recently filled our Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator position with AmeriCorps. She brings hands-on experience with her Environmental Science degree and years of organizational management in her personal and professional life. She can be reached at sydney@mountaintrue.org.

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

I recently had the pleasure of joining our long-time Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, on the Lewis Creek Nature Preserve Walk, a conservation property just a few minutes away from my old high school. I continue to be amazed by all the rich natural resources in our little piece of WNC and by the people who carry and share their expertise selflessly and with so much passion. In this message, I want to express gratitude to Bob for all his contributions to environmental advocacy and education in MountainTrue’s Southern Region — happy retirement, Bob!

Consider supporting our very talented staff by becoming a MountainTrue member and contributing to our mission of protecting the places we share! Join us by making a donation today.

MountainTrue’s State of Our Rivers Report details health of our waters, likely sources of pollution, and policy solutions

Learn about the health of Western North Carolina’s waterways with MountainTrue’s new State of Our Rivers Report, which leverages a year’s worth of data to give the public a better understanding of the water quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. For the first time, this report outlines likely sources of pollution and provides legislators, stakeholders, and advocates with a set of targeted policy solutions to protect the health of our waters, our communities, and our multi-million dollar water recreation economy. Read the report at stateofourrivers.report. 

See French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson discuss the findings of the report with WLOS News. 

Clean the Green River with us this summer 

Join Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks on the river this summer for our 2023 Green Clean Series! This recurring event will happen from 5:30-8 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month from June-August, 2023. You don’t have to kayak to be a part of the monthly cleanups — roadside volunteers are also welcome! Click here to learn more and sign up! Join your Green Riverkeeper at the Green River Brew Depot in downtown Saluda after each cleanup! The Brew Depot will be giving one free beer to each volunteer who attends the cleanup and presents a ticket. Additionally, The SPOT will offer volunteers a free drink to enjoy within a week of their participation in the cleanup!

Join us for the 5th annual Broad River Race Day

The 5th annual Broad River Race is happening from 1-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, in Mooresboro, NC! The Broad Riverkeeper welcomes folks to race at their own pace and enjoy paddling five miles on the most beautiful stretch of the Broad River. Participants will meet at the Lake Houser put in at 1 p.m. to drop off their boats, and the race will begin at 2 p.m. The first person or first team across the finish line wins a MountainTrue gift bag and takes possession of Betsy the Turtle until next year’s race (a cool wooden turtle carved by Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell)! This race only has two rules: You MUST wear a pfd and no motors allowed. You can paddle solo, tandem, or with as many people as you can fit in your boat. Click here to learn more and register.

Photo: Folks enjoy the cool waters along the Broad River Greenway in Cleveland County.

Broad Riverkeeper Swim Guide sponsor highlight: Shelby Women for Progress  

Shelby Women for Progress (SW4P) is a women-led, Shelby-based, advocacy group “supporting progressive women throughout the county, and beyond, by building an inclusive network of member-led advocacy.” SW4P believes that “organizing a community means creating and maintaining a system where people can work together to meet common goals that benefit the community.” This strong group of women can indeed organize, engage, and get things done! SW4P recently held a fundraiser for your Broad Riverkeeper and MountainTrue, which financed their sponsorship of our Swim Guide site at the Broad River Greenway — the Broad River’s most popular swimming location. Group leader Stevie Brooks said, “Shelby Women for Progress is a homegrown organization dedicated to making Cleveland County an inclusive and safe place for all. SW4P is honored to be helping ensure that accessible recreational areas, like our rivers, are maintained and monitored to be enjoyed safely by the residents of Cleveland County.” Thanks, SW4P!

Want to sponsor your favorite swimming spot along the Broad or Green rivers? Businesses and individuals can sponsor Swim Guide sampling sites! Contact MountainTrue Development Director Adam Bowers (adam@mountaintrue.org) or click here to learn more about pricing and benefits.

Bioblitz with us in the Craggies

MountainTrue’s 2023 Bioblitz is happening now until June 25 in the Craggy Mountains! The Bioblitz is an annual event – hosted by MountainTrue on iNaturalist – that seeks to get experts, naturalists, and curious others outdoors to document every living organism we can find. The information you collect will be crucial in documenting the special character of the area, helping the Forest Service to better protect it, and in demonstrating to Congress that it should be designated a permanently protected National Scenic Area. Click here to learn more about the Bioblitz and sign up to participate. 

Photo: Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks and superstar SMIE volunteer, Lee McCall, collect aquatic macroinvertebrates during an SMIE field day in Fletcher, NC.

Looking for bugs + documenting stream health with the Green Riverkeeper

SMIE (Stream Monitoring Information Exchange) season kicked off to a great start! We’ve been able to visit 17 sites so far this spring season, and we’ve found over 500 aquatic macroinvertebrates throughout our different streams and rivers. We’ve identified different species of caddisflies, mayflies, dragon and damselflies, salamanders and more! We’re always looking for volunteers to join our SMIE team, so reach out if you’re interested in playing in the water with your Green Riverkeeper!

Have you signed up for the MountainTrue-a-thon yet?

There’s still time to sign up for the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon, which kicks off on June 15 and runs through August 31. Earn money for MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities: hiking, biking, and paddling — it’s a win-win! Lace up your boots, grab your gear, and let’s hit the trails for some adventure. 

P.S. Did we mention there are PRIZES for the top $ earner and most pledged miles hiked?!

Photo: The 2023 Spring Clean on the Green crew poses for a photo.​

Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks on a successful Spring Clean on the Green & Green River Bash: 

We hosted our 13th annual Spring Clean on the Green with LiquidLogic Kayaks co-founder Shane Benedict last month, and it was one for the books! Volunteers helped us pull 21 bags of trash, three tires, three tubes, a radiator, and plastic bits from the Narrows, Lower Green, and roadside sections of the Green River Gorge. Big shoutout to everyone who came and lent a hand. The weather was perfect and we left the Green cleaner than we found it!

The cleanup’s afterparty also happened to be the Spring Green Bash at Green River Adventures. The Spring Green Bash is always my favorite day of the year here in Saluda! It was awesome to connect with my community in my role as your Green Riverkeeper and sell some raffle tickets to support MountainTrue’s work! I’m stoked that the mom and daughter team who won the raffle will be taking their new LiquidLogic kayak down the Grand Canyon this August! Thanks for showing some big love that weekend, y’all. I’m always grateful for this community, and look forward to doing it all again next year!

Welcome to our new Development & Operations Coordinator

The Development team is thrilled to welcome Sydney Swafford as our new Development & Operations Coordinator. Sydney most recently filled our Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator position with AmeriCorps. She brings hands-on experience with her Environmental Science degree and years of organizational management in her personal and professional life. She can be reached at sydney@mountaintrue.org.

Film premiere: Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes

Long-time Henderson County environmental advocate, filmmaker, and cultural preservationist, David Weintraub, invites the community to the premier events for his newest film, Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes. The film integrates native storytelling and philosophy with cutting-edge science that affirms what native peoples have been saying about the intelligence of nature for thousands of years! Local premiere dates include Saturday, June 24 at North River Farms in Mills River, NC (drive-in theater) and Saturday, July 1 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. The starting time at all venues is 7:30 p.m. Find out more here. 

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

While searching for inspiration about the month of June, I ran across a list of the top ten best places in the U.S. to visit in June. Of course, the list mentioned the national parks out west that are shifting from snow into spring and the coastal beaches that aren’t too hot yet. Since I’m not likely to be going to any of those far-flung places this year, I started thinking about places closer to home. One of the best places I can think of visiting in the Southern Blue Ridge in June is the Craggy Mountains, which are typically resplendent with wild rhododendron blooms in mid-June. As luck would have it, MountainTrue’s 2023 BioBlitz is happening right now in that very same mountain range!

Another really neat June-blooming plant is the mountain camellia, also known as mountain Stewartia or summer dogwood. These can be found growing along the Cover Trail in Fires Creek Wildlife Management Area, among other places in both Nantahala and Chattahoochee National Forests. Synchronous fireflies are another amazing wonder of nature in these mountains in June, and lots of our darter (fish) species are donning their brilliant spawning colors this month. If you’ve never been freshwater snorkeling, I encourage you to check it out! Thank you in advance for reading on, and know that all this work couldn’t happen without your support. Thank you for being MountainTrue!

MountainTrue’s State of Our Rivers Report details health of our waters, likely sources of pollution, and policy solutions

Learn about the health of Western North Carolina’s waterways with MountainTrue’s new State of Our Rivers Report, which leverages a year’s worth of data to give the public a better understanding of the water quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. For the first time, this report outlines likely sources of pollution and provides legislators, stakeholders, and advocates with a set of targeted policy solutions to protect the health of our waters, our communities, and our multi-million dollar water recreation economy. Read the report at stateofourrivers.report.

Photo: AmeriCorps member Darby Stipe processes Swim Guide samples from the Little Tennessee River basin.

Swim Guide launched in the Little Tennessee River basin!

MountainTrue has added another river basin to its summer Swim Guide program of weekly E. coli monitoring with six new locations on the Little Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers. We also added another site in the Hiwassee River basin for a total of 14 locations this year! MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program is powered by volunteers and staff who collect water samples mid-week and rush to process, analyze, and post the results on the swimguide.org website and smartphone app in time for your weekend fun. While the primary purpose of Swim Guide is to inform you about where it’s safe to swim, we use the data to help solve water quality problems, as well as to inform our advocacy and push for science-based policy solutions. 

Want to sponsor your favorite swimming spot in MountainTrue’s Western Region? Businesses and individuals can sponsor Swim Guide sampling sites! Contact MountainTrue Development Director Adam Bowers (adam@mountaintrue.org) or click here to learn more about pricing and benefits.

Housing discussion forum in Clay County tomorrow evening

MountainTrue is hosting a discussion forum at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow evening, June 20, at Hinton Rural Life Center near Hayesville, NC. In response to the severe housing shortage in our region and the climate crisis, MountainTrue is launching a new pro-housing program called Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC (which will also be active in North Georgia), in support of building small-scale and multi-family housing in more walkable places. The purpose of the forum is to learn what our members think this work should look like in rural areas. If you’re interested in this topic, please contact MountainTrue’s Housing & Transportation Director, Susan Bean to learn more or RSVP: susan@mountaintrue.org.

Photo: More than 30 volunteers worked to remove nonnative invasive plants and restore native habitat along the Jackson County Greenway this past winter and spring.

Thank you, Jackson County Greenway volunteers!

We had a great first season of removing invasive plants along the Tuckasegee River and the Jackson County Greenway in partnership with Mainspring Conservation Trust. Volunteers showed a great deal of dedication and hard work helping us improve the biodiversity of our shared lands. During our first season working the Greenway, we hosted three workdays with a total of 33 individuals contributing nearly 100 hours. In addition to getting a lot of work done, all of that volunteer time resulted in $2,965.05 in matching funds that can be applied to grants! 

Have you signed up for the MountainTrue-a-thon yet?

There’s still time to sign up for the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon, which kicks off on June 15 and runs through August 31. Earn money for MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities: hiking, biking, and paddling — it’s a win-win! Lace up your boots, grab your gear, and let’s hit the trails for some adventure. 

P.S. Did we mention there are PRIZES for the top $ earner and most pledged miles hiked?!

Bioblitz with us in the Craggies

MountainTrue’s 2023 Bioblitz is happening now until June 25 in the Craggy Mountains! The Bioblitz is an annual event – hosted by MountainTrue on iNaturalist – that seeks to get experts, naturalists, and curious others outdoors to document every living organism we can find. The information you collect will be crucial in documenting the special character of the area, helping the Forest Service to better protect it, and in demonstrating to Congress that it should be designated a permanently protected National Scenic Area. Click here to learn more about the Bioblitz and sign up to participate.

Welcome to our new Development & Operations Coordinator

The Development team is thrilled to welcome Sydney Swafford as our new Development & Operations Coordinator. Sydney most recently filled our Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator position with AmeriCorps. She brings hands-on experience with her Environmental Science degree and years of organizational management in her personal and professional life. She can be reached at sydney@mountaintrue.org.

Central Region News 

A note from Bob Wagner, Executive Director: 

Two weeks ago, I ran a marathon. I prepared for a year and a half. During my training, I was frequently reminded of my late grandfather when he said, “Bob, do hard things.” Because by doing hard things, we learn about ourselves, we break barriers, we build new relationships, and we achieve big things. Accomplishing anything significant is always hard.

Doing hard things is in MountainTrue’s DNA. In 1985, our Coordinator, David Liden, received a letter from Jesse Helms — one of the most powerful US Senators — stating that clearcutting practices in our National Forests would always be used. Seven years later, because of MountainTrue’s advocacy efforts, the US Forest Service changed its clearcutting practices. Similarly, MountainTrue successfully fought a nuclear waste dump from being placed in Haywood County. More recently, after almost 20 years of advocacy, we pressed DOT to change its design of I-26 to better protect local neighborhoods. And in another multi-year effort, we pressured Duke Energy to close its coal-fired power plant at Lake Julian and clean up the coal ash ponds polluting our rivers. These campaigns took years and are modern David and Goliath stories. MountainTrue will never shy away from a fight when our environment and communities are at stake.

Today, we’re in uphill battles, including reducing single-use plastics by seeking a plastics bag ban and fighting to protect old-growth forests. We’re in this for the long haul and we hope you’ll join us in doing hard things by donating, volunteering, and showing up.

Photo: Bob Gale poses against a tree in a WNC old-growth forest.

Raise a glass to Bob Gale’s retirement on June 13!

Save the date! Join MountainTrue as we bid farewell to our beloved Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, after 25 incredible years spent working to protect the places we share in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Come share in the memories, enjoy some cake, and raise a glass with friends on Tuesday, June 13, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Wedge Brewery at Foundation (5 Foundy St #10, Asheville, NC 28801).

Buncombe County Comprehensive Plan heads to final vote

After nearly a year of public engagement, Buncombe County’s 2043 Comprehensive Plan recently won unanimous approval from the county’s Planning Board. The plan now advances to the Board of Commissioners for a public hearing and final vote on May 16 at 5 p.m. The final draft addresses numerous issues facing the county, including housing, transportation, and land conservation. More information can be found on the county’s website.

Swim Guide season is almost here!

From May 24 to September 6, check the Swim Guide website to ensure your local swimming hole is safe to recreate in — weekly results are posted on Fridays. The French Broad Riverkeeper monitors E.coli levels in popular swimming sites throughout the French Broad Watershed as part of MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program. Our small mountain community is one of many contributing to an international effort to monitor bacteria levels at local “beaches” or, in our case, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Real-time E. coli estimates are live at Pearson Bridge in Asheville

Visit frenchbroadwaterquality.com to get real-time E. coli estimates for the French Broad River at Pearson Bridge in Asheville, NC! Last summer, MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality launched one of the first real-time E. coli estimators in the country — the reading is based on a correlation from the US Geological Survey turbidity meter at Pearson Bridge. This tool helps keep the public informed about water quality and allows folks to make decisions based on their desire for swimming or boating in Asheville’s River Arts District. Click here to learn more about this collaborative project and our methods.

2023 Craggy Mountain BioBlitz

Join MountainTrue for our 2023 Bioblitz from June 10-25 in the Craggy Mountains! MountainTrue and Friends of Big Ivy are partnering to hold an in-person Bioblitz event on June 10 in Barnardsville, NC — click here to register for this event. We’ve recruited over 15 experts to lead you, your friends, and your family to discover and photograph the natural diversity of the Craggy Mountains. What’s more, the information you collect will be crucial in documenting the special character of the area, helping the Forest Service to better protect it, and in demonstrating to Congress that it should be designated a permanently protected National Scenic Area. Click here to learn more about the Bioblitz and sign up to participate.

Put the FUN in FUNdraising: help MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities this summer!

Last year’s successful Hike-a-thon was a blast, so we decided to do it again in 2023! This summer, you can raise money for MountainTrue by enjoying your favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, and paddling. Mark your calendars for June 15 through August 31, and sign up to support a good cause and have fun outside! Click here for more info on the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon.

French Broad River cleanup with Wicked Weed

TVs, shopping carts, plastic bags, and who knows what other kinds of river trash will all be up for grabs when MountainTrue and Wicked Weed host a beer series cleanup on Saturday, June 17! We’ll paddle the river to collect as much trash as possible — folks who pick up the weirdest trash will win some great prizes! More details coming soon. Click here to register.

Photo: MountainTrue’s new ‘Save the Hellbender’ tshirt, crewneck, hoodie, and hats are now available on the MountainTrue store!

Get your new MountainTrue Merch!

Current MountainTrue members will receive a 5% discount on merchandise (check your email inbox for your discount code). Your MountainTrue merchandise purchase supports our continued work and spreads the word about our mission to protect the places we share. Together, we can do more. Get your MountainTrue merch today!

Join us on a Guided Adventure this summer!

MountainTrue’s summer ‘23 Guided Adventures are officially open for registration! These adventures provide the opportunity to get outside in nature, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, and learn from experts along the way. MountainTrue’s staff of ecologists, naturalists, and riverkeepers will teach you to gain a new appreciation for the world around you. With limited spots available, these Guided Adventures will sell out quickly! Click here to sign up today!

Snorkel Trail pilot sites opening this summer

Plans are being made for snorkeling kick-off events this summer at several of the ten pilot sites for the new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. Save the date — Saturday, June 17 — for the first one to be held at the Canton Recreation Park Boat Ramp on the Pigeon River. Other western region locations with kickoff events in the works include: Mainspring’s Queen Branch Preserve on the Little Tennessee River and Bryson City’s Island Park. Watch the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail website and our social media for details!

We need a volunteer to help us advocate against pollution

MountainTrue’s advocacy team needs help with some data-entry projects in support of our campaigns to pass a ban on single-use plastics in Buncombe County and to support policies to reduce water pollution at the state, county and city levels. If you’re a wiz at spreadsheets, contact Karim Olaechea at karim@mountaintrue.org.

MountainTrue in the news: Josh Kelly speaks about the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

An opinion piece by MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, was recently published in the Asheville Citizen Times. Josh elaborates on the newly-released Forest Plan — which was adopted by the US Forest Service in late March 2023 — and explains how it flies in the face of President Biden’s pledge to protect old-growth forests by putting over 12,000 acres of old growth on the chopping block. Click here to read the full piece.

Jam with Michael Franti, MountainTrue, and your French Broad Riverkeeper

Join us for the 2023 Michael Franti & Spearhead concert featuring Fortunate Youth at the Salvage Station on July 8 in Asheville, NC! All proceeds from the concert support the work of the French Broad Riverkeeper, a program of MountainTrue and the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. Get your tickets now! Doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. There will be several food trucks and full bars open for you to enjoy! Please visit the Salvage Station’s event page for the most up-to-date information, tickets, parking information, and other FAQs.

High Country News

A note from Andy Hill, High Country Regional Director & Watauga Riverkeeper:

Spring is here and Swim Guide season is just around the corner. We’re enjoying more time on the water and gearing up for our lengthy lineup of summer events. Read on for an update on recent High Country happenings and opportunities to get involved. 

Alair Homes and the Watauga Riverkeeper partner to support environmental stewardship

We’re so grateful to Alair Homes for their recent announcement of a five-year environmental stewardship commitment with the Watauga Riverkeeper. To celebrate the partnership, our High Country team worked with Alair team members to plant native trees and live stakes in the wetlands on the Middle Fork Greenway. Click here to read more.

Riverkeeper Float Fest returns June 24 in Todd, NC

It’s that time of year… Riverkeeper Float Fest is back and better than ever! Join MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper and High Country Water Team on Saturday, June 24, for a fun-filled, family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at River & Earth Adventures’ New River Outpost in Todd, NC. Rain or shine, shuttles will be going all day from Peacock traffic circle in Boone to ensure safe transportation to and from the festival. Our friends at Appalachian Mountain Brewery will be providing the jams, good brews, and good food all day long. Spend your day chilling out, listening to music and snacking with friends, or tube down the New River and enjoy fly fishing demos from our buddies at Boone’s Fly Shop. MountainTrue staff will also have viewbuckets and snorkels for an ultimate underwater river viewing experience! Click here to purchase your tickets. 

Swim Guide season is almost here!

From May 24 to September 6, check the Swim Guide website to ensure your High Country swimming hole is safe to recreate in — weekly results are posted on Fridays. The Watauga Riverkeeper monitors E.coli levels in popular swimming sites in the High Country as part of MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program. Our small mountain community is one of many contributing to an international effort to monitor bacteria levels at local “beaches” or, in our case, rivers, lakes, and streams. Want to become a Swim Guide sampling volunteer? Click here to sign up! Sampling sites are assigned to volunteers on a first come, first served basis (sampling typically requires a one to two-hour commitment, once per week).

Watauga River Reclassification update

Thank you to all of our community members who recently joined us in support of a proposed reclassification of 11 Watauga River tributaries. These reclassifications, including Outstanding Resource Water and Class B Recreation, will grant further protections to water quality and long-term ecosystem health. Public comments made in favor of these changes came from stakeholder groups, local water-based businesses, and community members.

Traveling NOAA climate panel exhibit at Watauga County Public Library

Join your Watauga Riverkeeper for a panel discussion on the local effects of climate change on Monday, June 12 (time tbd, check the library’s website for updates). This exhibit is designed to connect with communities across the country to share the science of climate change and the impact it’s having on people’s everyday lives. Using images, infographics, hands-on interactives, and personal stories, the traveling exhibit explains how scientists know the climate is changing, what that future may look like, and how these impacts are affecting people, from flooding and drought to sea level rise and severe weather. The exhibit also allows visitors to explore how their own choices make a difference.

Put the FUN in FUNdraising: help MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities this summer!

Last year’s successful Hike-a-thon was a blast, so we decided to do it again in 2023! This summer, you can raise money for MountainTrue by enjoying your favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, and paddling. Mark your calendars for June 15 through August 31, and sign up to support a good cause and have fun outside! Click here for more info on the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon.

Join us on a Guided Adventure this summer!

MountainTrue’s summer ‘23 Guided Adventures are officially open for registration! These adventures provide the opportunity to get outside in nature, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, and learn from experts along the way. MountainTrue’s staff of ecologists, naturalists, and riverkeepers will teach you to gain a new appreciation for the world around you. With limited spots available, these Guided Adventures will sell out quickly! Click here to sign up today!

Photo: MountainTrue’s new ‘Save the Hellbender’ tshirt, crewneck, hoodie, and hats are now available on the MountainTrue store!

Get your new MountainTrue Merch!

Current MountainTrue members will receive a 5% discount on merchandise (check your email inbox for your discount code). Your MountainTrue merchandise purchase supports our continued work and spreads the word about our mission to protect the places we share. Together, we can do more. Get your MountainTrue merch today!

MountainTrue in the news: Josh Kelly speaks about the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

An opinion piece by MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, was recently published in the Asheville Citizen Times. Josh elaborates on the newly-released Forest Plan — which was adopted by the US Forest Service in late March 2023 — and explains how it flies in the face of President Biden’s pledge to protect old-growth forests by putting over 12,000 acres of old growth on the chopping block. Click here to read the full piece.

Outreach and education with Blue Ridge Wild & Free

Our Watauga Riverkeeper team loves days spent on the water with the next generation. On April 19, our talented Watershed Coordinator and biologist, Hannah, took a group of homeschool students to Brookshire Park to learn more about our river ecosystems. The kids loved doing a mini trash cleanup along the river banks and enjoyed using the view buckets to check out darters, sculpins, and crayfish. The students were so inquisitive and thankful for the hands-on experience. We love taking time to showcase to local youth just how special the High Country really is. Nothing beats spring view bucket days on the river!

Thanks for a successful Fly Fishing Film Festival 

A huge thank you to our friends at Boone’s Fly Shop and High Country Guide Service for hosting the Fly Fishing Film Festival at the App Theatre. It was wonderful to see the river family come together for an evening of great films and fellowship. We’re very grateful for the amazing contributions generated by the raffle in support of the Watauga Riverkeeper. We’re looking forward to continuing this great event next April in honor of Earth Day!

Earth Day festivities

In honor of Earth Day, the Town of Boone hosted an eventful Earth Weekend from April 21-22. Hannah and one of our volunteers joined the festivities at the Jones House to catch up with our local community and share our latest happenings. We brought the river to King Street for folks of all ages, safely displaying aquatic insects, fish, and crayfish in tanks to showcase some of the aquatic species that call the High Country home. We extend our thanks to the Town of Boone for hosting this event and uplifting local organizations dedicated to keeping the High Country beautiful.

Our High Country Intern, Emma, also involved the local Appalachian State University community in the Earth Day festivities. App State’s Office of Sustainability hosted an Earth Day Expo on April 20, right in the heart of campus on one of the most beautiful days of the year (so far)! MountainTrue represented the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Clean Water and Sanitation — we recruited over 50 students or faculty who were new to the Riverkeeper world and wanted to join the river fam! We had great conversations, soaked in the sunshine, and celebrated this awesome planet.

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Hendo Earth Fest last month and our Green River Bash just a few days ago! Thank you to our volunteers who make these opportunities possible for us. I’ve enjoyed being at these, and other, community events to meet and catch up with many of you, as well as introduce others to MountainTrue. I look forward to more opportunities this spring and summer to gather with you outside! Below you’ll find information about our MountainTrue-a-thon. I plan to spend as much time as I can on our shared trails, rivers, and greenways to fundraise for our mission — please reach out if you’d like to join me!

Come out for the Moss Lake Paddle Race on May 20!

All are invited to join us in this first-ever paddle race and fundraiser for the Broad Riverkeeper at Moss Lake in Kings Mountain, NC! Racers will meet at 10 a.m. and Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell will explain the race course layout and race rules, and the race will start around 10:45 a.m. Racers will paddle up the lake approximately two miles, circle around an island, and race back down to the finish line in the boat landing area. Prizes will be given to the racers who come in first, second, and third place! Click here to learn more and register. Volunteer safety/observer boats will be anchored along the race course to help guide participants and assist anyone who might have trouble. Want to be a safety boat volunteer? Email david@mountaintrue.org. Big thanks to the event sponsors: City of Kings Mountain, Joy Pharr Realty – Ivester Jackson Blackstream, Christie’s International Real Estate, and Michael Cheng!

Swim Guide season is almost here!

From May 24 to September 6, check the Swim Guide website to ensure your local swimming hole is safe to recreate in — weekly results are posted on Fridays. The Broad and Green Riverkeepers monitor E.coli levels in popular swimming sites in Western NC as part of MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program. Our small mountain community is one of many contributing to an international effort to monitor bacteria levels at local “beaches” or, in our case, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Clean the Green River with us this summer

Join Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks on Thursday, June 22, to kick off our Green Clean Series! This recurring event will happen from 5:30-8 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month from June-September, 2023. You don’t have to kayak to be a part of the monthly cleanups — roadside volunteers are also welcome! We’ll meet at Fishtop Access in Saluda, NC, at 5:30 p.m. on cleanup days to split into teams before heading out. Please bring water, snacks, appropriate water gear or roadside gear (gloves, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, medical needs, etc). We’ll provide trash bags. If you need gear to get out on the water please contact us as we have a limited amount of duckies, helmets, and pfds for use. If you have any questions about the cleanups, please contact Erica at erica@mountaintrue.org. Click here to learn more and sign up!

Join us on a Guided Adventure this summer

MountainTrue’s summer ‘23 Guided Adventures are officially open for registration! These adventures provide the opportunity to get outside in nature, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, and learn from experts along the way. MountainTrue’s staff of ecologists, naturalists, and riverkeepers will teach you to gain a new appreciation for the world around you. With limited spots available, these Guided Adventures will sell out quickly! Click here to sign up today!

Photo: Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell (left) receives the Paul Harris Fellow award from Shelby Rotary Club, presented by District 7680 Area 4 Assistant Governor Peter Bagley (right).

Broad Riverkeeper named Paul Harris Fellow by Shelby Rotary Club

Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell became Shelby Rotary Club’s (SRC) newest Paul Harris Fellow at the club’s meeting on April 21. Here’s what SRC had to say about David: “David is a man of many talents: engineer, woodcarver, educator, and environmentalist extraordinaire who is passionate about his role as the Broad Riverkeeper. As a child he developed a love for nature and as a man he has become a tireless advocate for protecting the natural world. For his commitment to making a difference in our community, Shelby Rotary Club is honored to bestow the Paul Harris Fellow award on this skilled and truly dedicated professional whose work is essential for the health of our river and its ecosystem.” Click here to read more.

Hendersonville’s new pedestrian plan – Walk Hendo

Do you live, work, or recreate in Hendersonville? Your feedback is requested as they wrap up Walk Hendo, the new plan to improve walking in the city. The purpose of this survey is to collect your thoughts about a proposed set of sidewalk and path projects that have been developed based on feedback received from the first round of community engagement activities. Fill out the Walk Hendo survey today!

Put the FUN in FUNdraising: help MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities this summer!

Last year’s successful Hike-a-thon was a blast, so we decided to do it again in 2023! This summer, you can raise money for MountainTrue by enjoying your favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, and paddling. Mark your calendars for June 15 through August 31, and sign up to support a good cause and have fun outside! Click here for more info on the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon.

Photo: MountainTrue’s new ‘Save the Hellbender’ tshirt, crewneck, hoodie, and hats are now available on the MountainTrue store!

Get your new MountainTrue Merch!

Current MountainTrue members will receive a 5% discount on merchandise (check your email inbox for your discount code). Your MountainTrue merchandise purchase supports our continued work and spreads the word about our mission to protect the places we share. Together, we can do more. Get your MountainTrue merch today!

MountainTrue in the news: Josh Kelly speaks about the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

An opinion piece by MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, was recently published in the Asheville Citizen Times. Josh elaborates on the newly-released Forest Plan — which was adopted by the US Forest Service in late March 2023 — and explains how it flies in the face of President Biden’s pledge to protect old-growth forests by putting over 12,000 acres of old growth on the chopping block. Click here to read the full piece.

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

Happy spring! I hope you’ve been able to find time to get outside over the past month to see all the wildflowers and other blooms adorning our mountains. We saw 53 different blooms on the Western Region wildflower hike on the John Muir National Recreation Trail last month, including the less frequently seen native pinkster azalea, which prefers stream corridors to woodlands! As you’re out hiking, biking, and paddling this summer, we hope you’ll take MountainTrue along with you and help raise a little money during our MountainTrue-a-thon FUNdraiser! Read more below and thank you for being MountainTrue.

We’re hiring: AmeriCorps Western Region Program Associate

This full-time position will work within MountainTrue’s Clean Waters and Resilient Forests program areas in Southwestern North Carolina. The position includes a combination of volunteer recruitment and coordination, water quality monitoring, on-the-ground stewardship of public and conserved lands, and public outreach and engagement. It involves a lot of time outdoors in all seasons and regular travel across several counties. Primary responsibilities are to (1) engage volunteers in all aspects of volunteer monitoring of water quality, aquatic communities and habitat; (2) coordinate and expand the region’s microplastics sampling program; (3) help control nonnative invasive plants and restore native plant communities in parks, along greenways, and on other public lands; and (4) coordinate public outreach and engagement activities in MountainTrue’s Western Region. This position will begin on September 5, 2023, and last until July 31, 2024. Click here to learn more and apply by Wednesday, May 31!

Congratulations to our 2023 Carson Conservation Scholarship winners!

We’re proud to announce that Will Johnson of Murphy High (pictured above) was selected as the top 2023 scholarship recipient. Will is headed to NC State University this fall to study Agriculture Education with a concentration in Animal Science. Abby Lancaster of Graham County, NC, received the second scholarship award. After graduating from Robbinsville High, Abby plans to attend Appalachian State University to study Agriculture. Click here to read more about our outstanding scholarship recipients.

Swim Guide season is almost here

From May 26 to September 1, check the Swim Guide website to ensure your favorite local swimming hole is safe to swim in — weekly results are posted on Fridays. Our Western Regional Office volunteers and staff monitor E.coli levels at popular swimming sites and canoe/kayak put-ins in Western NC and Northern GA every week as part of MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program. We’re excited to be adding locations in the Little Tennessee River basin this summer! Our small mountain community is one of many contributing to an international effort to monitor bacteria levels at local “beaches” or, in our case, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Snorkel Trail pilot sites opening this summer

Plans are being made for snorkeling kick-off events this summer at several of the ten pilot sites for the new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. Save the date — Saturday, June 17 — for the first one to be held at the Canton Recreation Park Boat Ramp on the Pigeon River. Other western region locations with kickoff events in the works include: Mainspring’s Queen Branch Preserve on the Little Tennessee River and Bryson City’s Island Park. Watch the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail website and our social media for details!

Photo: A patch of still-dormant kudzu covering the forest floor in one part of Sylva’s Pinnacle Park will be an initial focus of control efforts.

Tackling invasive plants at Pinnacle Park

MountainTrue is partnering with the Pinnacle Park Foundation on a strategy for controlling nonnative invasive plants at the 1,100-acre park, which is owned by the Town of Sylva. Our Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward, and AmeriCorps member, Darby Stipe, met with Foundation board members and others on April 29 to evaluate patches of kudzu, English ivy, and other invasives that are pushing out native plant species that would normally thrive there.

Put the FUN in FUNdraising: help MountainTrue while doing your favorite activities this summer!

Last year’s successful Hike-a-thon was a blast, so we decided to do it again in 2023! This summer, you can raise money for MountainTrue by enjoying your favorite outdoor activities: hiking, biking, and paddling. Mark your calendars for June 15 through August 31, and sign up to support a good cause and have fun outside! Click here for more info on the 2023 MountainTrue-a-thon.

Join us on a Guided Adventure this summer!

MountainTrue’s summer ‘23 Guided Adventures are officially open for registration! These adventures provide the opportunity to get outside in nature, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, and learn from experts along the way. MountainTrue’s staff of ecologists, naturalists, and riverkeepers will teach you to gain a new appreciation for the world around you. With limited spots available, these Guided Adventures will sell out quickly! Click here to sign up today!

Photo: MountainTrue’s new ‘Save the Hellbender’ tshirt, crewneck, hoodie, and hats are now available on the MountainTrue store!

Get your new MountainTrue Merch!

Current MountainTrue members will receive a 5% discount on merchandise (check your email inbox for your discount code). Your MountainTrue merchandise purchase supports our continued work and spreads the word about our mission to protect the places we share. Together, we can do more. Get your MountainTrue merch today!

MountainTrue in the news: Josh Kelly speaks about the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

An opinion piece by MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, was recently published in the Asheville Citizen Times. Josh elaborates on the newly-released Forest Plan — which was adopted by the US Forest Service in late March 2023 — and explains how it flies in the face of President Biden’s pledge to protect old-growth forests by putting over 12,000 acres of old growth on the chopping block. Click here to read the full piece.