Central Region News

A note from Bob Wagner, Executive Director: 

I can’t help it; I like to win! Just ask any of our staff after a friendly game of kickball or wiffleball. I grew up playing, watching, and learning about sports. I learned the value of being a team as well as many other wonderful life lessons while doing my best to win. 

Increasingly, however, I see that “winning at all costs” is a big part of our society’s problem. Our public rhetoric has become more incendiary. It’s a winner-take-all mentality. Many politicians — most of whom were elected by not much more than 50% of the vote — don’t see a need to listen to the nearly 50% of the people who didn’t vote for them. And, by definition, winners create losers. Losers aren’t happy, and will frequently subvert the winner. We need to do better, and there is another way.

The theme for MountainTrue’s Annual Gathering this past Saturday was We are all interconnected. We all need to do a better job of listening to each other, being willing to disagree but not vilify, debating ideas, and considering ways to accommodate diverse ideas in the solution. MountainTrue did this with 30 partners representing different interests when making a recommendation on the Nantahala Pisgah Forest Plan. We also engaged and included ideas from diverse stakeholders when making our anti-single-use plastics recommendation to Asheville and Buncombe County. Going forward, we remain committed to listening and bringing more people into the tent as we tackle the next big issue.

The Endemic Species Pub Crawl returns on October 28​

Join us at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, to enjoy some tasty brews in South Asheville while dressed as your favorite endemic or native species! You don’t have to drink to join the pub crawl; come out to talk about endemic species with local experts and enthusiasts. All three locations (Hillman Beer, 7 Clans Brewing, and Village Pub) are dog-friendly, so feel free to coordinate your costume with your well-behaved pups and bring them along for this fun, free Halloween celebration! Need some costume inspiration? Click here to register + browse an extensive list of endemic flora and fauna species.

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Click here to find out more.

Join the MountainTrue team: Spring 2024 internships

We’re hiring one to two interns for our newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC (N4MN)! This position will begin in January 2024, with a flexible end date. The N4MN intern(s) will support program goals by creating social media content, conducting general program outreach, event planning, research on best practices in the pro-housing movement, and more. Click here to learn more + apply by October 30, 2023!

We’re also hiring a Healthy Communities Intern for spring 2024 — learn more + apply for this position here (application deadline is November 30).

Incoming bike lanes and pedestrian improvements in Downtown Asheville

We’re excited that Asheville City Council voted to move forward with multi-modal transportation improvements on College St. and Patton Ave. There was heated opposition to this project, and without the support of over 200 responders to our call to action, this project would have died despite years of studies, plans, and work to get it passed. Improvements like these create safer options for more users of our roads — including biking, walking, riding transit, or driving — and that paves the way for increased residential density in our city centers.

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC supports Project Aspire

We believe that dense, multi-use development located in our city centers is part of the solution to meeting both our housing crisis and our climate crisis. Read our letter to Asheville City Council to learn about why we support Project Aspire on the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC blog.

Hot Springs and the French Broad River

Come out to Pine Hall in Hot Springs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, to hear MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, Jack Henderson, talk about access, stewardship, water quality, and partnerships focused on the French Broad River in and around Hot Springs and Madison County. Click here to learn more about this event sponsored by Friends of the Hot Springs Library.

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Buncombe, Cherokee, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, as well as several other counties across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Property owners: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

High Country News

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

It was so lovely to see many of you at our MountainTrue Annual Gathering in Asheville! Fall is here in the High Country, and we’re transitioning to our seasonal work projects. We enjoyed conducting habitat surveys with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and App State during hellbender breeding season. Work is progressing nicely on our dam removal projects. We hope you can join us this season to plant some live stakes and treat some nonnative invasive plants. Keep reading to learn about our upcoming engagement opportunities and what else we’ve been up to.

MountainTrue & the 105 Broadstone Bridge Replacement​

We’ve been in consultation with the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on managing environmental impacts associated with 105 Bridge Replacement. MountainTrue has been engaged in advocacy on this project for over a decade, from its first inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to the current Best Fit Alternative. We’ll continue to monitor this project. Monitoring hellbender populations and fitting individuals with pit tags for long-term monitoring has been an exciting part of this project. Click here to learn more.

Photo: Hannah Woodburn poses for a photo behind the Middle Fork Trash Trout.

Middle Fork Trash Trout update

The Watauga Riverkeeper team ventured out to the Middle Fork Trash Trout for maintenance and a cleanout this month to ensure its preparedness for the upcoming cold season. Some significant trees, limbs, and brush created flow issues and put the Trash Trout in need of a little TLC. We’re happy to report that it’s back in action and functioning properly! Trash Trout cleanouts allow us to keep tabs on the amount of macroplastics flowing through our rivers and help our downstream neighbors a bit in the process!

Fall + winter live staking in the High Country

As cooler weather starts to move in, our team is getting ready for live staking season! Join us outside this season to help restore and replenish streambanks while meeting new friends and doing some good work for Mother Nature. Live staking involves taking dormant cuttings of a living tree and planting them along the river’s edge. Join us on Friday, November 17, and December 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (location TBD). Email Hannah (hannah@mountaintrue.org) or Emma (hcrointern@mountaintrue.org) for more information!

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Photo: Emma Crider (left) and Hannah Woodburn (right) pose for a fun photo at AMB’s 2023 Oktoberfest. 

Good times at AMB Oktoberfest

This year’s Oktoberfest at Appalachian Mountain Brewery was the best one yet! Brats + beer + meeting new friends = a fantastic day! We were able to spend the day alongside other amazing nonprofit organizations and spread the word about our goals, upcoming events, and community partnerships that help us protect our watershed. With perfect weather for games and outdoor fun, it was nothing short of a perfect day. Thank you to our AMB family for hosting such a fun event!

Turtle Island Preserve stream lesson

Last month, Hannah and Emma spent a day teaching a homeschool group about their watershed at Turtle Island Preserve. It was a beautiful day to experience the natural living experience the space provides for people of all ages. We played with horses, explored a tributary of the South Fork New River, and discussed the processes and challenges of our watershed. The children were so knowledgeable and curious; obviously little scientists in the making! Thank you to all of our Turtle Island friends for having us.

Photo: A serene scene from the recent Watauga Tailwaters guided paddle.  

A summer send-off on the Watauga Tailwaters

Hannah led our annual tailwaters paddle trip in September, which was absolutely wonderful! We had a great turnout and even better weather to soak in the last bit of summer. We’re so thankful for fun days on the water with our river family, taking time to appreciate our awesome watershed. A huge thank you to all those who could come and hang out with us!

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

Cool, crisp weather is finally here, and it’s time to bring out the flannel! Our autumn forests teach us how beautiful it can be to let some things go; I hope this season brings a lot of peaceful reflection to your life. Something we haven’t let go of and are eager to resume is our Hendersonville Green Drinks Series! I appreciate Mike Huffman, Trailside Brewing Company, and Conserving Carolina for their roles in the successful first lecture of this series. Read on for details about next month’s lecture at Trailside Brewing Co.

Photo: Mike Huffman, Stormwater Division Manager for the City of Hendersonville, speaks to the crowd at the first Green Drinks of 2023 on October 12.​

While coordinating the return of Hendersonville Green Drinks, I learned that Green Drinks started in London in 1989 and currently exists in over 500 cities globally, with international events coordinated through greendrinks.org. I look forward to seeing you at future Green Drinks presentations and supporting efforts throughout our region to create more spaces to learn and express our interests in protecting the places we share.

Happy fall, and happy learning!

Float down the Broad River with us this weekend

Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell this Saturday, October 21, for a fall float along the Broad River in Shelby, NC. We’ll paddle and float down a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to enjoy! The first half of the trip will have some fun, easy class I and II rapids. The second half of this section is slow-moving and still water, so we’ll need to paddle some (not just float) to reach the takeout on time. This guided adventure will last approximately four to five hours. If interested, we invite you to bring a fishing pole and binoculars on this trip, as there will be opportunities to fish and see wildlife! Click here to learn more and register.

Come out to the Broad Riverkeeper Open House on October 26

MountainTrue and Biz Hub invite you to learn more about the Broad Riverkeeper Program at this casual drop-in event in Shelby, NC! We’ll be serving food from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with a short program at 5:30 p.m. to hear from your Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell; MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Director, Nancy Díaz; and Biz Hub’s Jeff and Julie Weathers. The Broad River Watershed includes 5,419 square miles within both North and South Carolina. The Broad River Basin includes Five Natural Heritage Program Priority Areas: the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, Hickory Nut Gorge, the Green River Gorge, the Pacolet River Gorge, and Pinnacle Mountain. These areas provide habitat for more than 100 rare plant and animal species and 24 rare natural communities. Join us in being a part of preserving this important local natural resource! RSVP by Monday, October 23, 2023.

Join us at Trailside Brewing Co. for Hendersonville Green Drinks this Fall

Join us at Trailside Brewing Co. on Thursday, November 9, in Hendersonville, NC, for an informative session led by retired MountainTrue ecologist Bob Gale. At this event, Bob will discuss issues related to nonnative invasive plants, methods of control, and ideas for moving your yard toward a more natural ecosystem. Click here to learn more. 

Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, and Trailside Brewing Co. We’re thankful to our gracious hosts, Trailside Brewing Company! Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome — you don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen! Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.

Photos: Sarah Sweep volunteers enjoying each other’s company and showing the First Broad some love by removing river trash (left). Sarah Sweep volunteers pose for a photo with their impressive haul of river trash (right).

The 8th Annual Sarah Sweep was one for the books!

Mother Nature must have known our crew’s good intentions for the First Broad River and our community at the 8th Annual Sarah Sweep last month; she held back the thunderstorms that the weatherman promised, and we had a lovely day on and off the water. Fifteen volunteers on the water removed a dump truckload’s worth of tires and garbage from the First Broad River! We then returned to Double Shoals Cotton Mill for an evening of good food, friends, and local music.

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Join the MountainTrue team: Spring 2024 internships

We’re hiring one to two interns for our newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC (N4MN)! This position will begin in January 2024, with a flexible end date. The N4MN intern(s) will support program goals by creating social media content, conducting general program outreach, event planning, research on best practices in the pro-housing movement, and more. Click here to learn more + apply by October 30, 2023!

We’re also hiring a Healthy Communities Intern for spring 2024 — learn more + apply for this position here (application deadline is November 30).

Clear Creek Wastewater Discharge Permit – comments submitted

Last month, NCDEQ shared a draft wastewater discharge permit and held a public comment period for a new proposed Henderson County Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Clear Creek is a tributary to Mud Creek that ultimately flows into the French Broad River and is listed as impaired on the state’s 303(d) list of impaired streams. Henderson County is proposing construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and expansion of sewer service to the Edneyville area. MountainTrue is opposed to this permit because a new discharge to an impaired stream is unlawful and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant is unnecessary given the option available to connect to the existing plant operated by the City of Hendersonville. However, any sewer expansion to this part of Henderson County could open the doors to sprawling development, so appropriate land use protections need to be implemented before facilitating unchecked development. Thank you to those of you who submitted comments through our action alert (tag alert). MountainTrue also submitted technical comments with support from the Southern Environmental Law Center, and we will continue to monitor this issue. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Diaz (nancy@mountaintrue.org).

Photo: The NC Danza Chichimeca poses for a photo on the French Broad Riverkeeper canoe after a spirited performance.​

Many thanks to our community partners

A few weeks ago, FIND Outdoors hosted the first Latino Heritage Festival at the Cradle of Forestry; the new Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Mills River location held an Oktoberfest celebration and community fundraiser; the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville invited us to be a part of their program; and Trinity Presbyterian of Hendersonville hosted a screening of The River Runs On documentary. We’re so thankful to the many wonderful partners who support our mission and give us opportunities to engage with new audiences in an effort to build our MountainTrue community, and we extend a warm welcome to the new folks who have joined our network!

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Buncombe, Cherokee, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, as well as several other counties across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Property owners: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

Take this survey to let Hendersonville know your priorities for the future

The City of Hendersonville is developing its 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is called Gen H to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. The Gen H Community Survey is the first opportunity for the public to provide input. The survey is open through November 14 and is an excellent opportunity to share your ideas for Hendersonville’s future. Read our recommendations and take the survey here.  

The Hendersonville Public Works department is updating their master plan too, take the Parks & Greenspace Survey! (Open thru December 2023)

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

Many of you summer lovers won’t share my enthusiasm for October. I love all seasons, but I get really happy when the ragweed dies and the leaves start to fall. In my opinion, it’s perfect hiking weather! And it often means we might see some snow soon. (My colleague, Tony, is groaning right now.) Our on-the-ground work here in the Western Region shifts away from summer E. coli sampling and more towards habitat restoration and invasive plant removal. However, with your help, our advocacy work continues as strong as ever. Emily Bronte shared my view of the season:

Fall, leaves, fall by Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay

Ushers in a drearier day.  

Happy fall, y’all!

Cherokee County, NC adopts first comprehensive plan, places moratorium on high impact land uses

The Cherokee County commissioners have taken positive and historic steps in recent weeks to protect residential communities from the establishment of more cryptocurrency mining operations and other high-impact land uses. On September 18, Cherokee County adopted its first-ever comprehensive land use plan, establishing a baseline by which private property rights can be balanced with community character. On October 2, the commissioners adopted a moratorium on certain high-impact land uses while they work to develop an ordinance that would provide limitations for these uses in the future. MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore spoke in favor of the moratorium at the public hearing, applauding the county’s efforts to develop an ordinance requiring a closer look at new and expanding high-impact commercial and industrial operations, including cryptomines. MountainTrue has been working behind the scenes with county residents and partner organizations to push for these changes since the unenclosed Harshaw Road cryptomine came online in the fall of 2021.

Photo: Parrot feather infestation in the south end of Lake Chatuge near the US Hwy. 76 bridge in Towns County, Georgia.​

Controlling nuisance aquatic weeds in the headwaters of Lake Chatuge

For the last two summers, noxious weeds have been an unwelcome presence on the south side of Lake Chatuge in and around the Macedonia area of Towns County, Georgia. The primary culprit, parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), is native to tropical parts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite its highly invasive tendencies in natural waters, it’s still actively promoted and sold for use in ponds and aquariums and has been accidentally introduced to waterways all over the US from these sources. Like many invasive aquatic species, parrot feather can also be transferred to waters on boats and other watercraft. Flourishing in warm water conditions, it grows rapidly in late spring and summer, creating huge mats of rooted vegetation that can cause recreational and navigational issues. Learn more about what TVA is doing and recommending to homeowners here.

Fall volunteer opportunities on the Jackson County Greenway

MountainTrue is again hosting a series of community volunteer workdays this fall to control nonnative invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC. Our partners for these events include Jackson County Parks & Recreation, Mainspring Conservation Trust, and the WCU Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. We’ll pull up roots, cut vines, and use hand tools to remove invasive shrubs (like Chinese privet) and then treat the stumps. No prior experience is necessary; we’ll provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we’ll have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t have to be able to do strenuous physical labor to participate. Please, no pets. Email AmeriCorps service member Eve Davis with any questions. 

• Register for Friday, October 27, 1-4 p.m.
• Register for Friday, November 10, 1-4 p.m.

Photo: Benjamin Davis won the prize for Most Creative Trash Photo in 2020.​

13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup: Saturday, November 4

Join other lake-loving volunteers on Saturday, November 4, for the 13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup, sponsored by Tennessee Valley Authority & Georgia Rivers Alive. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion across from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds where volunteers will get their assigned cleanup locations and be given bags, gloves, and safety information. Coffee and grab-n-go breakfast snacks will be available, along with free Rivers Alive t-shirts for the first 30 volunteers. After two hours of shoreline cleaning at assigned sites, volunteers will meet back at the pavilion at 11:30 a.m. for prizes. Three prizes will be given on the day of the cleanup: Most Trash Collected by a Group, Most Creative Trash Photo, and Most Unique Trash Item Found. Please register yourself or your group so we’ll know you’re coming. 

Live closer to Fontana Lake? The annual Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup sponsored by Fontana Village Marina is also the first weekend in November. Email AmeriCorps service member Eve Davis for details.

Order native trees and shrubs through November 5

There’s still time to order native plants during our 7th Annual Fall Native Tree Sale Fundraiser! Choose from 30 native species, ranging from large shade trees to smaller ornamental shrubs. All plants are quality nursery stock and are available in one to three-gallon pots. Click here to place your orders by November 5, 2023. A few species are nearly sold out, so place your order today! Please note: Your plants must be picked up between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, at the MountainTrue West office parking lot in Murphy, NC.

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote

Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

NC voters: check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in your communities.

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

GA voters: click here to check out this one-stop-shop for voting resources on the Georgia Secretary of State website.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Cherokee and Haywood counties, as well as several other counties across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Property owners: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

Central Region News

A note from Karim Olaechea, Deputy Director of Strategy & Communications: 

It’s almost time for one of our favorite events of the year, the MountainTrue Annual Member Gathering. We love celebrating the accomplishments of our dedicated members and volunteers and welcoming new faces into our community of nature lovers and eco-warriors. 

Comradery is essential to building and sustaining a vibrant movement for a better future, and so is having a bit of fun. This year, we’re turning up the dial on the fun by moving the gathering to the weekend so more of you can come. We’ve also added more activities, including a special MountainTrue Jeopardy game in which players representing our different regions will test their knowledge of environmental trivia for glory, a new MountainTrue hellbender hat, and the right to determine which of our programs will receive a bag full of donations. 

It should be a great evening of laughter, joy, and inspiration. I hope to see you there.

Join us as we celebrate another year of working together​

MountainTrue’s Annual Member gathering will be on Saturday, October 14, at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company in Asheville, NC. Current members will enjoy celebration, snacks, and watching our first live MountainTrue Jeopardy! Come early to get fired up and learn how you can do your part to stop plastic pollution from local organizers. We’ll also take time to congratulate and recognize our outstanding Regional Volunteer of the Year Award winners: Marta Toran (High Country Region), Michael Cheng (Southern Region), Jonathan Micancin (Western Region), Elizabeth Porter (Central Region), as well as this year’s Esther Cunningham Award winner: Jane Laping. 

RSVP here. Not sure if your membership is current? Check here or email members@mountaintrue.org. We hope to see you there!

Plastic-Free WNC: it’s time to take action!​

Join MountainTrue, the WNC Group of the Sierra Club, the N.C. Public Interest Research Group, and the Creation Care Alliance for a rally to call on Buncombe County Commissioners to take action to protect the public and the environment from plastic pollution! The rally will begin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, and will feature a very exclusive appearance by our very own French Broad Mermaid, rousing remarks, and a prayer vigil led by Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree. Wear blue to show that you support a Plastic-Free WNC! 

Can’t make it to the rally? Email Buncombe County Commissioners and ask them to take action to reduce plastic pollution.

On Monday, September 11, Black Mountain Town Commissioners unanimously (with one absence) approved a resolution calling on Buncombe County to pass an ordinance that would ban single-use plastic shopping bags at the checkout aisle and styrofoam takeout containers. With the passage of this resolution, Black Mountain has become the second municipality within Buncombe County to call on County Commissioners to fulfill their obligation under the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act to reduce plastic pollution. The Town of Woodfin passed a similar resolution by a vote of 5-1 on August 15, 2023. Now it’s time for Buncombe County to fulfill its obligation under the NC Solid Waste Management Act to pass a common-sense law to reduce plastic pollution.

Hear your French Broad Riverkeeper speak at Malaprop’s Bookstore

MountainTrue is proud to co-sponsor Keeping the Chattahoochee: Sally Bethea in conversation with Hartwell Carson at Malaprop’s in downtown Asheville at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 21. Sally Bethea — one of the first women in America to become a riverkeeper — will chat with Hartwell Carson about their experiences as riverkeepers and their passion for protecting the Chattahoochee and French Broad rivers. Bethea will also be signing hardcover copies of her book, Keeping the Chattahoochee: Reviving and Defending a Great Southern River. This is a hybrid event with limited in-store seating and the option to attend online. The event is free but registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance — click here to learn more and register.

Thank you, 2023 Swim Guide sponsors

Another Swim Guide season is in the books, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. Thank you to Pink Mercury and Pirani for sponsoring French Broad Riverkeeper sampling sites along the French Broad River!

MountainTrue joins legal filing to protect communities from industrial pollution

Last month, MountainTrue joined Cape Fear River Watch and the Yadkin Riverkeeper, represented by Southern Environmental Law Center, in a petition to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for a ruling requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to consistently apply the law to protect all communities from industrial water pollution. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants without a permit. Those permits must include technology-based limits, which are based on the strategy that as technology improves, industrial facilities can further reduce or eliminate their pollution. Unfortunately, DEQ bypasses the technology-based requirement in the majority of permits it issues for industries that discharge pollution directly into local waterways. The petition asks the commission to require DEQ to evaluate existing pollution-control technologies for all industrial facilities and impose limits based on those technologies in permits moving forward. Click here to learn more. Read the full petition here.

Photo: An aerial view of the French Broad River flowing through Asheville, NC. Photo by Jack Henderson.​

Flying high with SouthWings

Jack Henderson, MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, recently flew with SouthWings volunteer pilot, Hap Endler, to document the French Broad River between Asheville and Hot Springs. The purpose of this flight was to update our catalog of photos of the river corridor, including current and new developments and industrial sites, but also to capture imagery for our new French Broad Paddle Trail website, set to be released within the next month. We are super grateful to SouthWings, which is a non-profit that connects conservation partners with a network of volunteer pilots to advocate for the restoration and protection of the ecosystems of the Southeast through flight, and all they do to support our work.

Understanding the role of the Riverkeeper

Transylvania Times readers: look out for MountainTrue’s monthly column in the paper’s outdoors section! Our August column, Understanding the role of the Riverkeeper, was written by French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson to highlight important riverkeeper history and what’s being done to clean up and protect the beloved French Broad River. Read Hartwell’s August column here. Want to learn more about MountainTrue’s ongoing conservation efforts on the French Broad? Click here to read our July column, Celebrating and Stewarding the French Broad River Paddle Trail, written by French Broad Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson.

Public meeting: Pisgah View State Park

The public information meeting for the Pisgah View State Park (PVSP) master plan is scheduled from 4-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26 at the Upper Hominy Fire Station on Highway 151 in Candler (1795 Pisgah Highway Candler, NC 28715). The Friends of Pisgah View State Park invites you join them at the public meeting to advocate for future PVSP users. If you’re unable to attend the meeting but want to get involved, click here to take the online survey.

High Country News

A note from Hannah Woodburn, High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator:

The colors are already emerging among several tree species around the High Country, showing surefire signs of fall! Emma and I are so excited to welcome Watauga Riverkeeper and High Country Regional Director Andy Hill back from a renewing and adventurous sabbatical in October.

September has brought exciting news for one of our favorite salamander species, the Eastern Hellbender! In 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) denied hellbenders federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Last week, a federal judge found FWS’ decision to be unlawful, proclaiming it to be a significant flaw in the agency’s decision-making. This new development means that the Eastern Hellbender is back on track to receive more formal and specialized protections to keep these ancient creatures around for many decades to come!

It’s the dedicated efforts of people like you that make a real difference, and it’s almost time to celebrate all of you at one of our favorite events of the year! The MountainTrue Annual Member Gathering is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our dedicated members and volunteers while welcoming new supporters, nature lovers, and advocates. This year, we’ll host an interactive Jeopardy Game to test your knowledge of environmental trivia — read on for more event info and to RSVP. 

Be sure to renew your membership for the year if you haven’t already. I’d love to see you there! Thank you for being MountainTrue.

Join us as we celebrate another year of working together​

MountainTrue’s Annual Member gathering will be on Saturday, October 14, at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company in Asheville, NC. Current members will enjoy celebration, snacks, and watching our first live MountainTrue Jeopardy! Come early to get fired up and learn how you can do your part to stop plastic pollution from local organizers. We’ll also take time to congratulate and recognize our outstanding Regional Volunteer of the Year Award winners: Marta Toran (High Country Region), Michael Cheng (Southern Region), Jonathan Micancin (Western Region), Elizabeth Porter (Central Region), as well as this year’s Esther Cunningham Award winner: Jane Laping. 

RSVP here. Not sure if your membership is current? Check here or email members@mountaintrue.org. We hope to see you there!

Calling all Jeopardy enthusiasts!

YOU could be chosen to represent your region in our very first game of MountainTrue Jeopardy at the Annual Gathering on October 14 in Asheville, NC. Want to play? Click here to sign up. One contestant from each of MountainTrue’s four regions will be selected by the end of September. You must be a current MountainTrue member and attend the event in person to play.

URGENT ACTION ALERT: stop the NCGA from stripping local governments of authority to take action on plastic pollution!

Breaking News: A draft conference report of the state budget released to the media includes language that would prohibit counties (§ 153A-145.11) and cities (§ 160A-205.6) from passing ordinances, resolutions, or rules that would restrict, tax, or charge a fee on auxiliary containers — the definition of which includes bags, cups, bottles, and other packaging. This language would preempt local control and undermine existing provisions of the NC Solid Waste Management Act that give counties and cities the authority to ban single-use plastic bags and other forms of packaging and the use of plastic foam (e.g., styrofoam) in foodware.

Plastic pollution is a threat to our environment and to the health of North Carolina residents. Email your legislators and let them know that our right to protect ourselves from dangerous pollutants is too important to be traded away to fossil fuel and retail industry lobbyists in backroom deals. Take action here.

Photo: MountainTrue volunteer and Lees-McRae College professor Anna Bigler poses for a photo with an Eastern Hellbender during a recent hellbender survey.

Celebrating volunteers as the sun sets on Swim Guide ‘23​

All good things must come to an end; in the blink of an eye, summer 2023 and our annual Swim Guide sampling season have come to a close. We want to thank each and every one of you for supporting the Watauga Riverkeeper Swim Guide program this season. All of the data we collect helps us make better-informed decisions on behalf of our watershed. Please join us for our Volunteer Volunteer Appreciation Cookout, happening from 6-8:30 p.m. tomorrow, September 21. We love celebrating the end of summer and the work that you all do with our water quality programs! RSVP here.

Thank you, 2023 Swim Guide sponsors

Another Swim Guide season is in the books, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors and volunteers! Thank you to Asheville Fly Fishing Company, Watauga River Lodge, Appalachian Veterinary Ultrasound, Mellow Mushroom of Boone, Watauga Tourism Development Authority, Boone Cocoon, Tennessee Valley Authority, Animal Hospital of Boone, Birdies Coffee,  The Speckled Trout Outfitters, Rivergirl, Zach Hobbs, Boone’s Fly Shop, Trophy Water Guide Service, and Blue Ridge Tourist Court for sponsoring Watauga Riverkeeper sampling sites along the Watauga, Elk, and New rivers.

Boone film screening: The River Runs On

Come out to the Appalachian Theater in Boone, NC from 7-9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) on Friday, September 22 for a screening of The River Runs On! This film explores the release of a forest plan that decides the fate of two of the most important national forests in the country – the Pisgah and Nantahala. Stick around after the film for a panel discussion with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, and other issue experts from around WNC. See the trailer and get tickets here.

Photo: Hannah Woodburn (back left) and Emma Crider (center) of Watauga River Keeper/MountainTrue teach about water quality and enviroscape. Photo by Moss Brennan via Watauga Democrat.​

Watauga County Soil & Water Environmental Field Day @ Valle Crucis​

On September 7 and 8, our High Country team helped kick off the school year by taking part in another successful 5th Grade Environmental Field Day! Organized by Watauga County Soil and Water, the kiddos walked around nine environmental education stations set up at Valle Crucis Community Park to learn about all things sustainability and conservation-related. We loved talking with the students about water quality, infrastructure, environmental history, and species endemic to the Southern Appalachians — we always learn just as much from them as they learn from us! A huge thank you to all agencies and organizations that make it happen every year. Click here to read more in this recent article from the Watauga Democrat. 

Strawberry Hill Arboretum workday: Our amazing intern, Emma, continued invasive plant eradication efforts with the Watauga Residential College at Strawberry Hill Arboretum on August 17. This work has occurred annually for over three years, and the group has made terrific strides in eliminating oriental bittersweet and barberry around the arboretum. The students are incredibly helpful every year and have made a significant impact on regional forest health!

High Country Yo Pro at Valle Crucis Community Park: Hannah and Emma represented the Watauga Riverkeeper at the High Country Young Professional event on September 5. They had the opportunity to engage with young professional representatives from other High Country organizations, share info about the work we’re doing in the region, and discover the ways in which we can organize our communities and build lifelong partnerships! If you’re under the age of 40 and looking to be a part of an uplifting young professional community in the High Country, join the fun on the first Tuesday of every month!

Good times on the New River at Float Fest ‘23

Riverkeeper Float Fest 2023 is in the books as one of the best yet! We hope y’all had as much fun as we did. Shoutout to River and Earth Adventures, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Boone’s Fly Shop, and Little Wing Ice Cream for their partnership, and many thanks to our staff and volunteers for all their hard work in making this event a success! We hope to see y’all back out on the New River at Float Fest ‘24. 

MountainTrue joins legal filing to protect communities from industrial pollution

Last month, MountainTrue joined Cape Fear River Watch and the Yadkin Riverkeeper, represented by Southern Environmental Law Center, in a petition to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for a ruling requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to consistently apply the law to protect all communities from industrial water pollution. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants without a permit. Those permits must include technology-based limits, which are based on the strategy that as technology improves, industrial facilities can further reduce or eliminate their pollution. Unfortunately, DEQ bypasses the technology-based requirement in the majority of permits it issues for industries that discharge pollution directly into local waterways. The petition asks the commission to require DEQ to evaluate existing pollution-control technologies for all industrial facilities and impose limits based on those technologies in permits moving forward. Click here to learn more. Read the full petition here.

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

Earlier this month, I joined some member volunteers as they cleaned up a section of Wash Creek in Hendersonville as part of the Adopt a Stream program. These small team cleanups happen a few times a year and make a valuable impact in the overall health of this local waterway.

Photo: Volunteers and members Dan, Rick, and Ann cleaning up a section of Wash Creek.

The time you take to participate in environmental action — big or small — goes a long way and, in this case, helps maintain the health of a local waterway. It’s the dedicated efforts of people like you that make a real difference, and it’s almost time to celebrate all of you at one of our favorite events of the year! The MountainTrue Annual Member Gathering is an opportunity to review the accomplishments of our dedicated members and volunteers, celebrate, and welcome new faces into our community of nature lovers and advocates. This year, we’ll host an interactive Jeopardy Game to test your knowledge of environmental trivia — read on for more event info and to RSVP. See you somewhere in the Southern Blue Ridge!

Join us as we celebrate another year of working together​

MountainTrue’s Annual Member gathering will be on Saturday, October 14, at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company in Asheville, NC. Current members will enjoy celebration, snacks, and watching our first live MountainTrue Jeopardy! Come early to get fired up and learn how you can do your part to stop plastic pollution from local organizers. We’ll also take time to congratulate and recognize our outstanding Regional Volunteer of the Year Award winners: Marta Toran (High Country Region), Michael Cheng (Southern Region), Jonathan Micancin (Western Region), Elizabeth Porter (Central Region), as well as this year’s Esther Cunningham Award winner: Jane Laping. 

RSVP here. Not sure if your membership is current? Check here or email members@mountaintrue.org. We hope to see you there!

Calling all Jeopardy enthusiasts!

YOU could be chosen to represent your region in our very first game of MountainTrue Jeopardy at the Annual Gathering on October 14 in Asheville, NC. Want to play? Click here to sign up. One contestant from each of MountainTrue’s four regions will be selected by the end of September. You must be a current MountainTrue member and attend the event in person to play.

Come out for the annual Big Sweep on the Green River​

Join your Green Riverkeeper on Saturday, September 23, for our Big Sweep event! This event will be a part of the Big Sweep movement that happens throughout our region. Kayakers and roadside volunteers are welcome. We’ll meet at Fishtop Access (2302 Green River Cove Rd, Saluda, NC 28773) at 11:00 a.m. to split into teams before heading out. Please bring water, snacks, and gear appropriate for the water or roadside (gloves, closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, medical needs, etc). MountainTrue will 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. Volunteers are invited to join Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks at the Green River Brew Depot after the Big Sweep for a free drink of choice and food from the Purple Onion! Click here to register. Please contact Erica (erica@mountaintrue.org) if you have any questions about this event. 

MountainTrue supporter spotlight: Michael Cheng

Last fall, Broad River enthusiast Michael Cheng, several volunteers, and Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell were joined by the Voices of Deoli film crew while cleaning up a section of the First Broad River. Cinematographer Oxana Onipko filmed the cleanup as part of the Voices of Deoli feature film, which shares the stories of Deoli Internment Camp survivors, including Michael Cheng. We encourage folks to support the Voices of Deoli crew by checking out their website, learning about the project, and following Voices of Deoli on Facebook and Instagram. 

Supporters like Michael help make our work possible; the Broad River is cleaner and healthier because of Michael and his enthusiasm for its wellbeing. Michael, MountainTrue is grateful for you and all you do to support the Broad Riverkeeper in protecting the Broad River Watershed! We recently chatted with Michael about his experiences and love of the Broad River — click here to read his interview on the MountainTrue blog.

Thank you, 2023 Swim Guide sponsors

Another Swim Guide season is in the books, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. Thank you to Wilderness Cove Campground, The Purple Onion, The S.P.O.T., Green River Cove Tubing, Lake Adger Property Owners Association, Hendersonville Community Co-Op, Shelby Women for Progress, Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, Joy Pharr Realty, and Fabbit Customs for sponsoring Green and Broad Riverkeeper sampling sites along the Green, Broad, and First Broad Rivers! 

Photos: (left) The Broad’s Best Angler 2023, David Engelhardt, poses with one of the three bass he caught during the tournament. (right) Bailey Bowman poses with the 20.25in smallmouth bass that won the tournament’s ‘biggest bass’ category.

4th Annual Broad River Fishing Tournament winners

Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell recently reviewed all submissions after his week-long fishing tournament on the Broad River and its tributaries concluded, and the results are in: 

“Congratulations to the Broad’s Best Angler 2023, David Engelhardt! David pulled in three nice bass totaling 49″ and made it look easy; it’s not, but it’s fun! Sam Ruppe was right there with a total of 42.5″, and probably caught the most fish. Sam also reported a bluegill for biggest panfish. Biggest bass goes to Bailey Bowman for a fabulous 20.25″ smallie. Biggest catfish goes to Emily Nieto. Lastly, David Rikard gets recognized for most unusual fish, because I fished with him all morning and caught nothing over 9″, while he reeled in a 15″ bass! It’s always a treat to see the beautiful fish from the Broad and the beautiful people who enjoy the sport of fishing.” 

Click here to see the winning fish on the Broad Riverkeeper Instagram page.

Celebrate the colors, flavors, & rhythms of Latin America in Pisgah National Forest

FIND Outdoors will host its first-ever Hispanic Heritage Fest at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest, NC, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 1. Join us for this all-day event featuring cultural activities, performances, and food, and stop by the MountainTrue table to chat with Southern Regional Director Nancy Díaz and French Broad Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson! Stay tuned for the schedule of events on the FIND Outdoors website.

Hendersonville film screening: The River Runs On

MountainTrue is proud to present another screening of The River Runs On in the Sanctuary at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC, from 7-8:45 p.m. on Friday, October 13 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). This film explores the release of a forest plan that decides the fate of two of the most important national forests in the country – the Pisgah and Nantahala. Immediately following the film, we’ll have a panel discussion with the film’s director, Garrett Martin, and MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly. See the trailer and get tickets here. 

Float down the Broad River with us this fall

Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell on Saturday, October 21, for a fall float along the Broad River in Shelby, NC. We’ll paddle and float down a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to enjoy! The first half of the trip will have some fun, easy class I and II rapids. The second half of this section is in slow-moving and still water, so we’ll need to paddle some (not just float) to reach the takeout on time. This guided adventure will last approximately four to five hours. If interested, we invite you to bring a fishing pole and binoculars on this trip, as there will be opportunities to fish and see wildlife! Click here to learn more and register.

Hendersonville residents: take this survey to let Hendersonville know your priorities for the future

The City of Hendersonville is developing its 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is called Gen H to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. The Gen H Community Survey is the first opportunity for the public to provide input. The survey is open through November 14 and is an excellent opportunity to share your ideas for Hendersonville’s future.  Read our recommendations and take the survey here.  

MountainTrue joins legal filing to protect communities from industrial pollution

Last month, MountainTrue joined Cape Fear River Watch and the Yadkin Riverkeeper, represented by Southern Environmental Law Center, in a petition to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for a ruling requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to consistently apply the law to protect all communities from industrial water pollution. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants without a permit. Those permits must include technology-based limits, which are based on the strategy that as technology improves, industrial facilities can further reduce or eliminate their pollution. Unfortunately, DEQ bypasses the technology-based requirement in the majority of permits it issues for industries that discharge pollution directly into local waterways. The petition asks the commission to require DEQ to evaluate existing pollution-control technologies for all industrial facilities and impose limits based on those technologies in permits moving forward. Click here to learn more. Read the full petition here.

Photo: Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks (left) with fellow kayakers at the Women’s Takeover on the Green in August.

2023 Women’s Takeover on the Green: a note from your Green Riverkeeper

I recently enjoyed an amazing day paddling with over 100 women for the Women’s Takeover on the Green! This was the 10th year of this event taking place on Mama Green to honor the women we have lost in the whitewater community. How special it is that the Green River is the chosen place to host this energy each year. Fun times and sweet lines were had all around, and I look forward to getting back out on the river with these awesome ladies at next year’s event! 

Understanding the role of the Riverkeeper

Transylvania Times readers: look out for MountainTrue’s monthly column in the paper’s outdoors section! Our August column, Understanding the role of the Riverkeeper, was written by French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson to highlight important riverkeeper history and what’s being done to clean up and protect the beloved French Broad River. Read Hartwell’s August column here. Want to learn more about MountainTrue’s ongoing conservation efforts on the French Broad? Click here to read our July column, Celebrating and Stewarding the French Broad River Paddle Trail, written by French Broad Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson.

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

September is a time of transition from summer into fall. It’s a great month because it’s still warm enough for water-based recreation, and it’s starting to get cool enough for me to enjoy hiking at lower elevations again (at least in the morning and evening)! The fall equinox happens in September. According to Almanc.com, the word “equinox” comes from the Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, “night.” On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length. I didn’t realize it when we were planning our guided adventures, but our Bartram Trail hike outing is on the fall equinox this year: Saturday, September 23. So, you can officially spend the equinox with MountainTrue! 

We also invite you to enjoy more weekend fun with us at our Annual Member Gathering on October 14. This year, we’re hosting it on a Saturday afternoon to make it more accessible for folks like us out here in the Western Region! Read on for more information about the fun, as well as carpool options. Be sure to renew your membership for the year if you haven’t already. I’d love to see you there! Thank you for being MountainTrue.

Join us as we celebrate another year of working together​

MountainTrue’s Annual Member gathering will be on Saturday, October 14, at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company in Asheville, NC. Current members will enjoy celebration, snacks, and watching our first live MountainTrue Jeopardy! Come early to get fired up and learn how you can do your part to stop plastic pollution from local organizers. We’ll also take time to congratulate and recognize our outstanding Regional Volunteer of the Year Award winners: Marta Toran (High Country Region), Michael Cheng (Southern Region), Jonathan Micancin (Western Region), Elizabeth Porter (Central Region), as well as this year’s Esther Cunningham Award winner: Jane Laping. 

RSVP here. Not sure if your membership is current? Check here or email members@mountaintrue.org. We hope to see you there!

Calling all Jeopardy enthusiasts!

YOU could be chosen to represent your region in our very first game of MountainTrue Jeopardy at the Annual Gathering on October 14 in Asheville, NC. Want to play? Click here to sign up. One contestant from each of MountainTrue’s four regions will be selected by the end of September. You must be a current MountainTrue member and attend the event in person to play.

Photo: Mryna Carley picks up a tree she ordered at the 2018 event.

Western Region Fall Native Tree & Shrub Sale begins today!

We are now accepting orders for our 7th Annual Fall Native Tree Sale Fundraiser. Choose from 30 native species, ranging from large shade trees to smaller ornamental shrubs. All plants are quality nursery stock and are available in one to three-gallon pots. Click here to place your orders by November 5, 2023. A few species are limited in quantity this year, so place your order today! Please note: Your plants must be picked up between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, at the MountainTrue West office parking lot in Murphy, NC.

Thank you, 2023 Swim Guide sponsors & volunteers

Another Swim Guide season is in the books, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. Special thanks to Union County and Towns County governments, as well as the City of Hiawassee, GA, for sponsoring this weekly sampling at their park sites on Lake Chatuge and Lake Nottely. Many thanks to David Best, Stephanie Brundage, Stacey Cassedy, Ken Kloblen, and John Knoblich for volunteering with our Swim Guide program this summer! We sampled 14 locations in the Hiwassee River Basin and six new locations in the Little Tennessee River Basin this summer. A handful of our river access sites failed the EPA’s safe swimming standard fairly often. Still, unless there had recently been a heavy rainfall event, most of our sampling sites typically met the safe standard set by the NC Department of Health & Human Services for “non-primary contact recreation activities” such as kayaking, canoeing, tubing, etc., that don’t involve frequent full contact with the water. Click here to see the swimming results for your favorite spots in the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee river basins. Click here to see swimming results for the Pigeon River Watershed.

Speaking up in support of needed housing in Hiawassee, GA

This month, MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore and Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC collaborated to evaluate and then express full support for a proposed housing development in Hiawassee, GA. The project is called The Commons at Lake Chatuge (initially The Overlook at Lake Chatuge), and it’s a development that would create the kind of homes we believe are needed for our communities to be healthy, to protect water quality, and prevent continued loss of our farms and forests. Callie spoke in support of the project at the City of Hiawassee Building & Planning Committee’s public hearing on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Click here to learn more about why we support these kinds of projects generally and why The Commons specifically aligns with our goals.

Photo: A group of volunteers poses with the trash they collected at their assigned location during a previous cleanup.

Save the date for the Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup: November 4

Join fellow lake-loving volunteers on both sides of the state line on Saturday, November 4, for MountainTrue’s 13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion across from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. After two hours of shoreline cleaning at an assigned location, volunteers will meet at the pavilion at 11:30 a.m. for prizes.

MountainTrue joins legal filing to protect communities from industrial pollution

Last month, MountainTrue joined Cape Fear River Watch and the Yadkin Riverkeeper, represented by Southern Environmental Law Center, in a petition to the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for a ruling requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to consistently apply the law to protect all communities from industrial water pollution. The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants without a permit. Those permits must include technology-based limits, which are based on the strategy that as technology improves, industrial facilities can further reduce or eliminate their pollution. Unfortunately, DEQ bypasses the technology-based requirement in the majority of permits it issues for industries that discharge pollution directly into local waterways. The petition asks the commission to require DEQ to evaluate existing pollution-control technologies for all industrial facilities and impose limits based on those technologies in permits moving forward. Click here to learn more. Read the full petition here.