2024 Western North Carolina Conservation Priorities

Support and Protect our Mountain Waters – and the Jobs and Businesses that they Sustain

Mountain rivers and streams are big business. A recent report conducted by economists at Western Carolina University found the total economic impact of the French Broad River is $3.8 billion annually, and river-reliant businesses create or maintain 38,554 jobs each year. Similarly, each dollar anglers spend to fish for mountain trout in Western North Carolina returns $1.93 to our economy and results in a $1.38 billion impact, according to new data from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Unfortunately, stormwater pollution, man-made barriers like dams, and development pressure threaten this economic engine by making our waters unsafe for the thousands of recreational users and unsuitable habitat for a thriving fishery. One of the most popular areas for recreation, a 19-mile section of the French Broad River – from the Asheville Regional Airport, through the Biltmore Estate and the River Arts District in downtown Asheville – was added to NC’s list of impaired waterways in 2022.

To support our mountain waters and the local economy, MountainTrue supports the following:

Help property owners reduce stormwater pollution – The Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) allows local soil and water districts to help property owners reduce stormwater pollution. Unfortunately, demand for CCAP far outstrips its funding. $500,000 nonrecurring for CCAP program in the French Broad River watershed will significantly reduce stormwater pollution in an area that is heavily used for recreation.
Help rural families repair failing septic systems – MountainTrue and NC DHHS recently partnered to administer funding to fix failing septic systems in WNC, and the effort spurred Buncombe County to launch its own program. Help rural counties in WNC (outside of Buncombe County) administer their own septic repair programs with an appropriation of $400,000 nonrecurring to NC DHHS for grants to local health departments.
Expand Real-time E. coli Monitoring in the French Broad River – Recently, NCDEQ launched the first real-time sensor in the French Broad River in Buncombe County to give river users an up-to-date picture of bacteria levels. Two more sites in Henderson and Transylvania Counties are needed to automate bacteria monitoring across the upper watershed. Legislators can help by providing $100,000 nonrecurring for modeling and equipment to expand this service.
State Trail Designation for Two State Paddle Trails – The First Broad River (Cleveland County) and Watauga River (Watauga County) are popular paddling and fishing destinations with opportunities to expand access. State Trail designation will accelerate the development of paddle trails on these rivers and boost recreational and economic opportunities for local communities.

WNC Public Access, Restoration, and Recreation Investments:

Old Fort Finishing Dam Removal design phase is underway, but funds are still needed for the demolition phase ($350,000 nonrecurring to American Rivers). McDowell County
Craggy and Cullowhee Dam Removal projects need funding for required feasibility studies ($100,000 nonrecurring to American Rivers). Buncombe and Jackson Counties
Expand the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail to include one site in each WNC county and promotional materials ($150,000 nonrecurring to Mainspring Conservation Trust). All WNC Counties
Improve River Walk in downtown Murphy to extend the path to an affordable housing development ($250,000 nonrecurring to the Town of Murphy). Cherokee County
Improve public access to the Watauga River Paddle Trail by purchasing an additional access point in Watauga County ($500,000 nonrecurring to Watauga County). Watauga County
Develop a new public access point and riverwalk on Green River ($250,000 nonrecurring to Polk County Community Foundation, providing $250,000 match). Polk County
Enhance Chestnut Mountain Nature Park by expanding trails and improving the playground and creekside park ($450,000 nonrecurring to the Town of Canton). Haywood County
Complete the Wave and Riverside Park addition to the $32 million Woodfin Greenway and Blueway ($250,000 nonrecurring to the Town of Woodfin). Buncombe County

Other policy and funding initiatives that MountainTrue supports:

Support Abundant Housing Legislation – Opportunities for dense, energy-efficient housing located close to jobs reduces energy demand and transportation emissions. HB 409 passed the House in 2023, which would allow homeowners more freedom to build accessory dwelling units and add to available housing supply. MountainTrue supports the final approval of this bill by the General Assembly in 2024.\
Reduce Plastic Pollution – North Carolina took a step backward in addressing plastic pollution with language in the state budget prohibiting local governments from taking action. However, HB 28 – approved by the House in 2023, would initiate a study of plastic reduction opportunities. We encourage the Senate to pass this bill in 2024.
Plant Native – Non-native invasive plants harm ecosystems across the state, but SB 318 would require the use of native plants and seeds in state parks and on state highways. This bill passed the Senate in 2023, and we encourage the House to approve it in 2024.

MT Raleigh Report: MountainTrue Advocates for Environmental Progress Amid North Carolina’s 2024 Legislative Session

This week marks the beginning of the 2024 session of the North Carolina General Assembly. With elections looming in the fall, many lawmakers would like to see the legislature get in and out of session as quickly as possible and avoid taking up controversial issues that will slow the session down – or make campaigning more difficult.

Adjusting the second year of the state’s two-year budget is one of the legislature’s key tasks this year. Lawmakers got some good news on the budget front earlier this month when analysts reported that the state will enjoy higher-than-budgeted revenues for both the current 2023-24 fiscal year and the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25.

For MountainTrue, the legislative session provides another opportunity to speak up for the mountains, rivers, and communities of western North Carolina. Some of our priorities this year include:

Helping property owners reduce stormwater pollution.
The Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) allows local soil and water districts to help property owners reduce stormwater pollution. Unfortunately, demand for CCAP far outstrips its funding. By targeting dedicated funding for the CCAP program in the French Broad River watershed, we can reduce stormwater pollution in areas that are heavily used for recreation.

Continuing to help rural families fix failing septic systems
MountainTrue and NC DHHS recently partnered to administer funding to fix failing septic systems in WNC, and the effort spurred Buncombe County to launch its own program. Funding for grants to local health departments in WNC will allow other counties to administer their own septic repair programs.

Expanding E. coli Monitoring in the French Broad River
By expanding the state’s real-time E. coli bacteria detection program in the French Broad, we can provide the public with an up-to-date picture of bacteria pollution levels in a river that is heavily used for river recreation.

State Trail Designation for Two Paddle Trails
By securing State Trail designations for the First Broad River (Cleveland County) and Watauga River (Watauga County), we can accelerate the development of paddle trails on these rivers and boost recreational and economic opportunities for local communities.

MountainTrue is actively seeking funding for several local projects, including dam removals, trails, and greenways throughout the WNC region. Additionally, we are advocating for lawmakers to pass legislation that would mandate local governments to adopt ordinances permitting the construction of “accessory dwelling units” in residential areas. This initiative aims to promote smart infill development and alleviate the housing shortage throughout our region while addressing the climate impacts of commuting and protecting rural areas from sprawling development.

MountainTrue is the only WNC environmental organization with a full-time presence in Raleigh. Your support ensures that our region has a strong voice for the environment in the General Assembly. Thank you so much for your part in this effort.

Read our full 2024 Western North Carolina Conservation Priorities.

Press Release: 82% of North Carolina voters support state action to reduce single-use plastics

82% of North Carolina voters support state action to reduce single-use plastics

RALEIGH, NC — In a new statewide poll of North Carolina voters, a significant majority expressed concern about the health impacts of plastics and said state lawmakers should take action to reduce single-use plastics.

Support for state government action to reduce single-use plastics was widespread and bipartisan: More than eight out of ten (82%) North Carolinians support enacting policies to protect human health and the environment. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Republican and 91% of Democratic voters support reducing single-use plastics.

Recent studies and media reports have linked the presence of plastics in the human body to obesity, heart attack, stroke, falling sperm counts, infertility, premature births, birth defects, developmental disorders, and possibly Parkinson’s and dementia. Nearly nine out of ten (88%) North Carolinians said they were concerned about the health effects of plastic, with 50 percent of those saying they were very concerned.

Statement from Hartwell Carson, French Broad Riverkeeper with the Western North Carolina-based conservation organization MountainTrue:

“Ensuring that our food, water, and environment are safe and free of dangerous plastic pollution is widely supported by young and old, women and men, and Republicans and Democrats. With a resounding 82% of North Carolinians calling for action, it’s imperative that corporations quit forcing single-use plastics on us. We don’t want it. Sound policy can move us away from the detrimental impacts single-use plastics cause. In the meantime, businesses should be working to phase them out..”

These poll results mirror surveys conducted by the City of Asheville in 2023, which found that more than 80% of respondents supported a citywide plastic bag ban, and by the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce (2017), in which all but two of 500 respondents opposed overturning a popular local bag ban.

Special Interests Blocked Popular Local Laws. Now, It’s Time for the State to Act

In 2023, Durham was on the cusp of passing a 10-cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. In Western North Carolina, Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, and the towns of Black Mountain, Weaverville, and Woodfin were moving toward enacting local ordinances that would ban single-use plastic shopping bags at the checkout aisle and styrofoam takeout containers.

As those local laws moved forward, Senate Leaders conspired with special interest lobbyists from the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association to insert language into the state budget blocking local governments from enacting any regulations on “the use, disposition, or sale of an auxiliary container (153A-145.11)”, including styrofoam containers and single-use plastic bags. The omnibus budget containing these new limits on local governments was released to the public and to the House and Senate for an up-or-down vote without opportunity for debate or amendment. Governor Roy Cooper later allowed it to become law without his signature.

Environmental and public health advocates around the state regrouped and are now focusing their efforts on building support for and passing a state-wide ban on single-use plastic bags and takeout containers.

Statement from Steve Wall, MD, a retired pediatrician and member of the Plastic-Free WNC Health Working Group:

“Our legislators have a constitutional duty to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of North Carolina. It’s time for North Carolina to join the more than 500 state and local governments across the United States that have already passed commonsense laws to reduce single-use plastics. This is not just an environmental imperative—it’s a public health necessity.”

The Rise of the Plasticene Era: Plastics’ Significant Impact on Human Health

The theme of Earth Day 2024 is Plastic vs. Planet, and environmental and health advocates worldwide are calling for a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 for the sake of human and planetary health.

The production of plastics has seen an exponential increase since the 1950s, now accounting for 20% of global fossil fuel usage—surpassing its use in vehicles and electricity generation. This shift marks the dawn of what many scientists are calling the “Plasticene” era, characterized by significant environmental and health impacts due to pervasive plastic production and waste.

Despite the common practice of recycling, the reality remains stark; less than 6% of plastic waste in America is recycled. The lower cost of producing new plastics compared to recycling only exacerbates the issue, leading to increased plastic waste that often ends up in landfills and natural environments. Over time, these materials break down into microplastics that infiltrate the air, water, and even our food supply.

Research indicates that the average individual inhales approximately 22 million plastic particles each year. Studies have confirmed the presence of plastics in various human tissues and bodily fluids, including blood, brain, lungs, colon, liver, placenta, breast milk, and carotid arteries.

The impact of plastics on human health is becoming increasingly clear. Microplastics can penetrate cellular structures, disrupting energy production and promoting inflammation. They also interfere with hormonal functions, impacting brain communication, immune responses, and organ function. The consequences are severe, linking plastic pollution to a range of health issues including infertility, premature births, various cancers, and even neurodegenerative diseases. Research has shown that plastics in arterial plaques could increase the risk of severe cardiovascular events by up to 4.5 times within a three-year period.

The economic burden is also significant, with diseases related to plastic exposure costing approximately 1% of the US GDP annually. As the problem of plastic pollution grows, its pace is outstripping our ability to fully understand and mitigate its impacts on human health and the environment.

About the Poll

This poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida from April 9 through April 13, 2024. A total of 625 registered North Carolina voters were interviewed statewide by telephone.

Those interviewed were randomly selected from a phone-matched North Carolina voter registration list that included both land-line and cell phone numbers. Quotas were assigned to reflect voter registration by county.

The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than ± 4 percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the “true” figure would fall within that range if all voters were surveyed. The margin for error is higher for any subgroup, such as a gender or age grouping.

About Plastic-Free WNC

Plastic-Free WNC is a coalition of environmental organizations, advocates, and citizens dedicated to reducing plastic pollution in our environment. Members include MountainTrue, Sierra Club of WNC, Environmental Action Community of Western North Carolina, Riverlink, Creation Care Alliance of WNC, Beloved Asheville, Asheville En Espanol, NRDC, NCPIRG, and the North Carolina Plastics Coalition. Learn more at PlasticFreeWNC.com.

Media Contact:
Karim Olaechea, MountainTrue
Phone: 828-400-0768 E-mail: karim@mountaintrue.org

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MT Raleigh Report — A State Budget. Finally.

After weeks away from Raleigh and countless promises about when a new state budget will be approved, lawmakers finally passed a new two-year budget last week.

Here’s our take on good and bad in the spending plan that has taken the legislature all summer and then some to send to Governor Cooper. For his part, the Governor opposed the budget but allowed it to become law without his signature in order to move forward on Medicaid expansion.

The Good.

The final budget includes new investments in state parks, farmland preservation, and land and water protection supported by the state’s land trusts and other conservation groups. Recurring funding for state trust funds for land and water conservation, as well as state parks, is now budgeted at a generous $28 million for each fund annually. Funding for farm preservation and trails also received substantial increases. The budget also provides $12 million over the next two years for the Saluda Grade Trail, a rails-to-trails project that includes 16 miles in WNC.

In especially good news for WNC water quality, the budget includes $2 million in funding to help farmers in the French Broad Watershed with fencing and other measures to keep livestock and their waste out of streams to reduce bacteria pollution across the watershed. This funding is a victory for MountainTrue, which has advocated for additional funding to reduce agricultural waste runoff in the French Broad for several years.

MountainTrue will also be the steward of another round of funding to develop and improve the French Broad River Paddle Trail thanks to renewed investments in the NC Trails Program, a unit of the NC State Parks system that designates and supports State Trails.

The Bad.

Tucked away in the final budget is policy language that essentially strips local governments of any authority to reduce or control food packaging waste – including plastic bags – at the local level. This end-run on local authority comes at a time when an increasing number of local governments in North Carolina – including Buncombe County – are considering ways to reduce single-use plastic and styrofoam from entering the waste stream. We can all thank (or blame) the well-funded NC Retail Merchants Association for this outdated approach to plastics reduction at a time when the public and many retailers are looking for more ways to cut down on plastic waste.

The environment is best protected when government and politicians are subject to robust public scrutiny, so we are also concerned with new rules in the budget that shield lawmakers from public records requests. But while shielding lawmakers from scrutiny, another concerning provision in the budget gives a General Assembly oversight committee new powers to investigate state and local governments, private companies, and charities, including the power to charge people who the committee feels aren’t cooperative with a crime. One of lawmakers’ key roles is to hold government agencies accountable, but we worry that these new powers may be used to intimidate individuals and agencies, not to improve their performance.

Less critical but also disappointing was the lack of funding for a variety of small but important conservation projects MountainTrue has supported along with local partners. These projects include funding to expand the new WNC Snorkel Trail to all WNC counties; complete the River Walk in Murphy; improve public access to the Watauga River Paddle Trail; develop a new public access point and riverwalk in Polk County; and improve Canton’s Chestnut Mountain Nature Park by expanding trails and improving a playground. We’re disappointed that these went unfunded, but we will be back in Raleigh next year to support them.

Your support of MountainTrue makes our advocacy in Raleigh possible. Thank you, and look for more information about the final days of the 2023 General Assembly in future updates.

MT Raleigh Report — The Beginning of the End of the 2023 Session

The arrival of spring means that things are heating up in Raleigh, as the General Assembly begins what lawmakers hope will be the beginning of the end of the 2023 legislative session.

Legislators have already cleared several important hurdles on their way to adjournment. Last month the House approved its version of the new state budget. And on May 4, they completed “crossover” – the deadline by which most bills must “cross over” from one chamber to the other to remain eligible during the two-year session. The Senate released its version of the state budget this week and should approve it in the coming days. Then the House and Senate will begin the budget conference process to finalize a spending plan and send it to Governor Cooper for approval or veto.

Approval of a final budget typically means that the legislative session is close to ending.

While the legislature is not required to have a new budget in place by the beginning of the new fiscal year – July 1 – this year there are unusual circumstances pushing them to do so. Missing the July 1 deadline would mean missing out on more than $1 billion in federal incentives to expand Medicaid. So lawmakers are particularly eager to get the budget in place, collect the federal Medicaid bonus money and go home for the summer.

While MountainTrue welcomes lawmakers’ efficiency, the budgets put together by the two chambers are very light on details. Many of the specific projects and appropriations are left to be determined behind closed doors in conference negotiations to build the final version of the budget that will be sent to the Governor.

We have several priorities that we hope will be addressed before lawmakers leave for the summer. At the top of this list is funding to help livestock farmers keep cattle out of rivers and streams in the French Broad watershed. Last September, environmental regulators declared the main channel of the French Broad River in Asheville and upstream, including several major tributaries, to be impaired for fecal coliform bacteria, which can make people who swim in or paddle the river sick. Thanks to WNC Senators Tim Moffitt, Kevin Corbin and Julie Mayfield for introducing legislation to provide $2 million to help these farmers defray the cost of farm upgrades — and help keep the French Broad clean and safe for the thousands of people who play in it every year.

Other MountainTrue priorities include funding several projects to improve public access to our rivers and streams, including expansion of the newly created Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail to all WNC counties.

With the budget close to completion, MountainTrue staff will be going back to Raleigh next week to meet with key legislators in support of our priorities and to ensure that they are included in the final budget approved by the General Assembly. You can learn more about MountainTrue’s work in Raleigh here. And as always, thanks for your part in helping us speak up and out for our mountains in the state capitol.

MT Raleigh Report – Going Back to Raleigh

Some of MountainTrue’s most important work is accomplished Raleigh, where we maintain a year-round advocacy effort aimed at protecting and preserving Western North Carolina’s natural resources.

As part of this effort, five MountainTrue staff traveled to the North Carolina General Assembly earlier this month for the first of several lobby days. Our message to lawmakers: invest in clean water, improve public access to rivers, streams and open space, and address housing costs without compromising on building rules that protect the environment. You can find the specifics of MountainTrue’s 2023 legislative agenda here.

From left to right: MountainTrue’s Deputy Director Gray Jernigan, Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell, Southern Regional Director Nancy Diaz, Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell, and Western Regional Director Callie Moore.

A big thank you to all the legislators who took time to meet with us, including Senators Warren Daniel, Tim Moffitt, Kevin Corbin, Ted Alexander as well as Representatives Jennifer Balkcom, Caleb Rudow, Eric Ager, Destin Hall, Kelly Hastings and Lindsey Prather, and staff with Speaker of the House Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. Thanks also to all the WNC legislators who stopped by MountainTrue’s evening reception.

We’ll be back in Raleigh next week to continue our work and catch up with the legislature’s budget process. As of now, the House is on schedule to approve a budget and send it to the Senate by early April, far ahead of schedule in comparison to recent sessions. This year both the Senate and the House leadership have made quick approval of the budget a priority. The sooner the budget is done, the sooner the legislature can adjourn and lawmakers can return to home. You may recall that in 2021, the session lasted until December and there is no appetite in Raleigh for another marathon like that this year.