Take Action: Tell the USDA to Keep the Roadless Rule

We need you to take action today to stop the USDA from rescinding the Roadless Rule.

On June 23, Agriculture Secretary Rollins announced that the Trump Administration will end the Roadless Rule, which has protected 58.5 million acres of roadless Forest Service land for 25 years. The Roadless Rule was finalized in 2001 after years of planning and public consultation. Over 600 public meetings were held and 1.6 million public comments were received on the rule, with 97% in favor of protecting the last wild areas in America from roadbuilding and commercial logging.

While most Roadless Areas are in the western US and Alaska, North Carolina is blessed with more public land and wild country than most eastern states. About 15%, or 152,000 acres, of Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are protected by the Roadless Rule. These areas include well-known and beloved places like Cheoah Bald, South Mills River, Laurel Mountain, the Black Mountains, Tusquitee Bald, and Upper Wilson Creek. Roadless areas provide the best remaining fish and wildlife habitat in the nation, and unique recreational opportunities. Ending the roadless rule is nothing more than a handout to a small group of people that would benefit from logging and mining them.

But what about wildfire risk, some will ask? The truth of the matter is that fire is a crucial part of forest health, and roads bring both more arson fires and more fire suppression. The natural fires that burn in roadless areas maintain and renew the forest and don’t harm communities, which are by definition far from roadless areas. In fact, just 5% of roadless acreage is near human habitation. Plus, the Roadless Rule already contains the flexibility to cut trees to reduce wildfire risk and insect outbreaks. The Roadless Rule is working – don’t let oligarchs and bureaucrats take it away!

Take Action

The public comment period opened August 29 and only lasts 3 weeks. In order to facilitate informed comments on the roadless rule, MountainTrue has developed roadless.org, a comment writing tool specifically designed to educate you about the roadless rule and produce a quick, unique comment that will be persuasive and impactful. All you have to do is visit the site, choose between three options for the time you want to spend on commenting, and approve the comment that you draft with the help of an assistant, and copy and paste your comment when you are finished.

The comment period for the Roadless Rule ends on September 19!

Take action now to protect our Roadless Areas!

Press Release: MountainTrue Announces Hannah Woodburn as Upper New Riverkeeper

FOR RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2025

AUGUST 21, 2025

MountainTrue Names Hannah Woodburn as Inaugural Upper New Riverkeeper

The New role expands protections for vital mountain waterways in Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany Counties.

Boone, NC — MountainTrue is proud to announce the appointment of Hannah Woodburn as the first Upper New Riverkeeper, a new full-time position dedicated to safeguarding the headwaters and tributaries of the New River in North Carolina’s High Country. This appointment expands MountainTrue’s Riverkeeper program to five and underscores the organization’s commitment to clean water in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

“I am honored to serve as the Upper New Riverkeeper. As a North Carolinian, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and fishable, swimmable rivers, for generations to come,” says Hannah. “The New River watershed is beautiful, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the community better and building meaningful partnerships to help protect the river we know and love.”

Hannah holds a Master’s Degree in Biology from Appalachian State University, where she also earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Science. She has been a member of MountainTrue’s Clean Water Team since 2020, and most recently served as the Watershed Coordinator for the High Country Watauga Riverkeeper program.

“Hannah brings deep local and scientific knowledge, a love for our community, and a fierce passion for clean water,” says Andy Hill, MountainTrue’s High Country Regional Director and Watauga Riverkeeper. “She’s been a vital part of our team since 2020, and her leadership as the inaugural Upper New Riverkeeper is exactly what this watershed needs.”

Meet Your Riverkeeper!

The public is invited to join MountainTrue and the Upper New Riverkeeper at two upcoming “meet and greet” events partnered with local businesses. These gatherings offer an opportunity to meet Hannah Woodburn, ask questions, and share any water quality concerns. Guests who sign up or visit the MountainTrue table will be entered in a prize raffle. We look forward to celebrating clean water together!

Thursday, September 11, 6-8 p.m. at New River Brewing Taproom & Brewery/Brewzer’s Bites in West Jefferson, NC
833 U.S. Hwy 221 Business, West Jefferson, NC 28694
Thursday, October 16, 6-8 p.m. at Speckled Trout Outfitters + Outfitters Tap Room in Boone, NC
140 Depot St #1, Boone, NC 28607

For more details, visit: mountaintrue.org/eventscalendar/

About the Upper New Riverkeeper

As the new Upper New Riverkeeper, Hannah will patrol local waterways, respond to pollution complaints, and lead community-based water quality volunteer programs like Swim Guide, Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN), and Trash Trout. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Hannah will prioritize long-term resilience efforts such as advocating for dam removal, septic repair funding, riparian buffer protections, stream restoration, and stronger surface water standards. Hannah will work to improve water quality, monitor the ecological health of the river, and build strong community partnerships.

“We’re not alone in this work,” says Hannah. “We collaborate with local governments, farmers, faith communities, businesses, and other nonprofits to protect our shared waters. “Whether you’re a paddler, angler, farmer, or just someone who loves the river — this watershed belongs to all of us, and we need your voice and your help.”

The Upper New Riverkeeper jurisdiction includes 754 square miles and more than 2,000 stream miles in North Carolina, and encompasses the towns of Boone, Todd, West Jefferson, Jefferson, and Sparta. The watershed includes a dense network of headwater streams and two major tributaries—the North and South Forks of the New River—that converge and flow north into Virginia. While the watershed is renowned for its stunning headwater streams and natural beauty, it also faces significant challenges, including aging sewer infrastructure, aging septic systems, high levels of bacteria in certain areas, and a lack of oversight from state regulators. With growing development pressures in the watershed, the need for an active, on-the-ground watchdog has never been more urgent.

About MountainTrue

MountainTrue champions resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities in the Southern Blue Ridge. With a focus on science-based advocacy and grassroots engagement, we’re active in the Broad, French Broad, Green, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, New, and Watauga River watersheds. MountainTrue is home to the Broad Riverkeeper, French Broad Riverkeeper, Green Riverkeeper, Watauga Riverkeeper — and now, the Upper New Riverkeeper. Learn more at mountaintrue.org.

About Waterkeeper Alliance

Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates worldwide, focusing citizen action on issues affecting our waterways, from pollution to climate change. Waterkeepers patrol and protect over 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes, and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. For more information, please visit: waterkeeper.org

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MountainTrue reunites former Swannanoa resident with cup lost during Helene

Last August, Max Trumpower was excited to move to the Asheville area. One month before Hurricane Helene, the ceramic artist settled into an apartment overlooking what was then the gently flowing Swannanoa River east of Asheville. In late September, that all changed.

On the evening of September 26, with the water steadily rising, Max decided to leave their apartment for a friend’s house in a safer location. Two days later, Max’s entire apartment building, including all their belongings, was gone, swept away by the swollen Swannanoa. The same storm took the lives of two others in a neighboring building who did not leave their home soon enough. With little keeping Max in Asheville, they left the state with more room in their suitcase than when they arrived.

Ten months after Helene, with the help of volunteers from City Year, Truist and N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson, MountainTrue recovered several personal items along the banks of the Swannanoa River. Among them, a small handmade ceramic cup was found completely intact. It featured a cityscape design with intricate details, and an artist’s signature — Autumn McCay, a Cincinatti, Ohio-based ceramic artist. We reached out to Autumn and found that she created the small “sipper” cup for one friend in particular — Max. The cityscapes featured on Autumn’s ceramic pieces were reflections of the Louisville, Kentucky skyline where they both once lived. The cup detailed some of their favorite Louisville hangouts — an incredibly personal expression of their friendship.

Now returned to Max, this special sipper cup represents one of only two items from their Asheville home. The other, a control panel from their personal kiln, was found lodged under a boulder in the riverbed nearby. Among Max’s extensive losses are irreplaceable large figurative ceramic sculptures that they created. We were thrilled to be able to return this special sipper cup to Max, one small step on the road to recovery! Good luck to Max! We can’t wait to see what you make next!

— Mandy Wallace, MountainTrue Artifact Recovery Technician

Take Action: Speak up to Protect our USFS Southern Research Station

The USDA has proposed changes to the U.S. Forest Service structure. The proposal is far-reaching, but could have a huge impact on the US Forest Service if implemented. The Forest Service currently has a hierarchical structure of Washington Office > Regional Office > Forest Supervisors Office > Ranger District Office. The Forest Service also has a research branch that provides information on forest economics, forest pests and pathogens, timber management techniques, wildlife habitat, watershed management, fire management, and forest inventory, among other responsibilities. The headquarters for the Southern Research Station is in Asheville, North Carolina, and two important research forests, Bent Creek and Coweeta, are also located in Western North Carolina. The current reorganization plan would eliminate all Regional Offices and consolidate Forest Service Research to Fort Collins, Colorado. This plan would lead to the elimination or relocation of more than 100 forestry, administrative, and research jobs in Western North Carolina.

Take Action

The economic effects of the reorganization would reverberate for decades. More than just the local job losses, the closing of the Southern Research Station would stifle innovation in forestry and conservation for decades to come. The Forests of the Southeast are distinct from those in other parts of the country. Southern National Forests have always gotten less funding and attention than those in the West, while the water, recreation, and wildlife they supply to the South are crucial. Please tell the USDA and your elected officials to save the US Forest Service and the Southern Research Station from this costly and unneeded reorganization.

We’re Refreshing Our Look — But Our Mission Remains the Same

At MountainTrue, we’ve always believed that protecting the places we share — our rivers, forests, and communities — starts with being deeply rooted in the people and places of the Southern Blue Ridge. That’s why we’re refreshing our brand to better reflect who we are today and where we’re going tomorrow.

Over the coming months, you’ll notice updates to our logo, colors, typography, and design. These changes are grounded in our core values: we are professional and effective, yet proudly grassroots and community-driven. We are hopeful, forward-thinking, and fiercely committed to creating a healthier, more resilient region for generations to come.

Along with these updates, we’re also building a brand-new website that’s easier to use, more accessible, and better equipped to tell the stories of our work and the people who make it possible. We’ll be launching the new site later this year — and we can’t wait to share it with you.

We appreciate your patience and support during this exciting transition. Our look may be evolving, but our mission remains the same: to champion clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities across the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains

Thank you for being part of the MountainTrue community.

Debris cleanup update: How debris cleanup is progressing in Madison County

Many have seen heavy machinery in Madison County waterways and have expressed concerns about excessive woody debris removal and impacts to wildlife in the French Broad River. MountainTrue shares those concerns. We wanted to share an update for how this cleanup is going and how you can help ensure it goes smoothly.

MountainTrue, funded by a grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, is focused on removing small, hand-pickable trash from waterways that machines can’t reach. Our work focuses on extracting man-made debris from areas inaccessible to machinery and restoring stream banks to help prevent erosion. MountainTrue will not be removing woody debris.

Meanwhile, with funding from FEMA, Madison County has hired Southern Debris Removal (SDR) to conduct larger debris removal using heavy machinery from bank to bank on the French Broad River, up to the traditional high water mark (Not the Helene flood mark.) SDR’s work is overseen by the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District, the local government agency responsible for directing their efforts.

MountainTrue is working closely with Madison County Soil & Water to protect the river from unnecessary disturbance and ensure that dangerous debris is removed. To ensure that this complicated process is done as safely and effectively as possible, we could use your help.

How You Can Help

As residents and members of the local boating community, you have more eyes on this process than anyone. We’re calling on you to help guide this operation toward the best possible outcome by witnessing, documenting and reporting what you see.

SDR, like all contractors paid with FEMA funding, is required to follow FEMA Waterway Debris Removal Guidelines.

What actions would violate those guidelines?

No timber matting under vehicles or machines entering/exiting waterways (these mats look like railroad ties embedded in the bank)
Spilled petroleum or hazardous substances
Excavation (digging) of soil or woody debris instead of pulling
Removal of live trees leaning less than 30%
Removal of root balls with less than 50% exposed
Clumps of soil still attached to tree roots
Removal of downed trees that were there before the storm
Use of vehicles or machinery in wetlands

SDR is contracted to work countywide and may enter any navigable waterway. However, they are not allowed to remove pre-storm debris. On creeks that didn’t flood (like Big Pine Creek), there should be little to no debris removal. If you see them working on our little creeks, it’s worth documenting. MountainTrue is funded to carefully remove debris from smaller tributaries impacted by Helene.

If you see anything that violates these guidelines, including actions that create unnecessary environmental or safety hazards, you can submit this form: Madison County Debris Removal Concerns.

When submitting, include as much of the following as you can:

Date, time, and location of the incident
Close-up photos or videos showing the issue
Zoomed-out photos or videos that give context to the location
If safe to obtain, a photo of the machine’s ID sticker (usually located on the side) can also be helpful, but it’s not required

What happens next?

MountainTrue staff will review your submissions and pass them along to the Madison County Soil and Water Department if we feel that there is strong evidence that SDR is in violation of the guidelines.

To be clear, this is a complicated and necessary process. We are not seeking confrontation with machine operators, just accountability. Please keep in mind that debris removal employees are doing tough work in challenging conditions. How we engage matters and how we approach them may shape how they care for our community in return.

Let us know what you see. With your help, we can advocate for this cleanup to be done right and protect our rivers. For more information on Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District’s work with SDR, see its post here.

Additional information about the debris removal process in Madison County

SDR’s work will occur in two phases.

Phase 1: Waterway Debris Removal (WDR)

During this stage, SDR may operate in the river channel (bank to bank) and remove debris up to the traditional high‑water line (not the Helene flood mark). Think of it like they are working on a highway right-of-way.
No landowner permission is required to remove debris up to the traditional high‑water line from within the river.
Machines may not operate above the high-water line unless the owner has signed a Right of Entry (ROE) during this phase.

If you see machines driving up the banks, tire tracks left above the traditional high water line, or debris that has been removed above the high water line during this stage, those are all causes for suspicion – please take a video and report it via the above form.

Phase 2: Personal Property Debris Removal (PPDR)

Begins after the WDR phase is completed for a given river section.
Some areas (like Sections 7 and 10) may enter this phase before others (like Sections 8 and 9)
Property owners must sign up for this phase to have debris removed above the traditional high‑water line, otherwise SDR is not allowed to enter the property.

Can I still access the river?

All public access points and river parks will remain open throughout SDR’s stay in Madison County.
You are absolutely within your rights to be present at river parks, observe work, and take videos.
SDR cannot ask you to leave public access points or parks.