Report: Water Quality Impacts of Helene
Report: Water Quality Impacts of Helene
Our Clean Waters team compiled a report summarizing MountainTrue’s sampling efforts post-Hurricane Helene. Click the button below to download/read the report.
Resilient Forests E-News: March ’25
Resilient Forests E-News: March ’25
Events Roundup
Thanks to everyone who joined us in February for Conservation Conversations! We had a great night at Ecusta Brewing in Brevard, NC. Hemlock Restoration Initiative, Conserving Carolina, Trout Unlimited (Pisgah Chapter), and Pisgah Area SORBA joined MountainTrue to discuss their current work and opportunities for attendees to get involved. We hope to see even more folks at our upcoming Conservation Conversation in Asheville at RAD Brewing, May 28!
Get Involved
Ongoing: Help MountainTrue document damage to forest roads and trails by signing up to participate in landslide surveys. Go for a hike, take your phone, and submit data if you see a landslide. Sign up here!
Friday, March 28: Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a Trail Workday near Asheville. Read more and sign up here!
Saturday, April 5: Join MountainTrue and Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway for a day of removing non-native invasive plants along the Greenway. Read more and sign up here!
Saturday, May 3: Join MountainTrue as we enjoy spring wildflowers and pull invasive garlic mustard on the Appalachian Trail near Max Patch. Read more and sign up here!
Save the Date
Wednesday, May 28: Join MountainTrue and other land stewardship-focused organizations for Conservation Conversations in Asheville at RAD Brewing! Sip and socialize, then learn how you can get involved in the important work these organizations do.
Saturday, June 21: BioBlitz! Help MountainTrue document biodiversity at Hickory Nut Gap Farm near Asheville. Volunteer with us in the afternoon, then celebrate a job well done at the evening barn dance!
Take Action
Save the UNCA Woods! MountainTrue is working with a local alliance of dedicated volunteers to protect the University of North Carolina Asheville’s urban forest. The 45-acre forest in the heart of downtown Asheville provides a scenic respite from everyday life by offering outdoor recreation opportunities. The woods also act as a carbon sink, heat mitigation tool, and wildlife habitat. Although the woods are ecologically important and beloved by many, they are now under threat of development. MountainTrue believes UNCA should prioritize building on their already cleared lots (totaling about 20 acres) before they consider destroying one of the city’s few intact urban forests. Please join us in asking UNCA to protect the forest and better collaborate with those who appreciate the forest for its many values.
In the News
MountainTrue’s Resilient Forests Director, Josh Kelly, recently shared his perspective in the Asheville Citizen Times on how proposed cuts to federal workers could harm the national parks and forests in Western North Carolina. In his op-ed, Kelly argues that the loss of federal employees would jeopardize vital conservation efforts and the health of these treasured landscapes.
Federal Policy Updates Affecting Public Lands & Forests
Federal judges order Trump Administration to reinstate thousands of fired workers (March 13): A federal judge has ordered the immediate rehiring of fired probationary workers from the Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs departments. The judge called the firings an unlawful sham, saying that the agencies did not follow proper protocol for firing employees. However, as the judge noted in his decision, agencies do still have the authority to implement reductions in force. The Trump Administration called for all agencies to submit reduction in force plans last month, and the White House will soon be reviewing those plans. Forest Service employees in Western North Carolina who were fired and then rehired may still be laid off through the reduction in force plan.
EPA looks to roll back significant climate protections (March 12): EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says he is looking to reconsider the endangerment finding, the principle that global warming poses a danger to human health and welfare. The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is the basis for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from many different sectors. Disproving the finding would pave the way for broadly dismantling greenhouse gas pollution regulations. Other EPA rules that may be reconsidered include those regulating wastewater, reducing haze in national parks, limiting CO2 emissions from power plants, and reducing methane emissions by the oil and gas industry.
Trump Administration seeks to increase logging in national forests and on public lands (March 4): President Trump signed executive actions directing agencies to increase logging on public lands and reduce timber imports from Canada and other countries. He also directed agencies to look into ways to bypass endangered species and other wildlife protections to increase timber production. Trump’s orders cite wildfire risk as a reason for ramping up U.S. timber production, but other groups point out that hotter average temperatures and dry conditions in forests create more risk for wildfires.
Post-Helene Cleanup Monitoring Form
Post-Helene Cleanup Monitoring Form
In response to complaints from the community and our own concerns about excessive woody debris removal in our waterways, MountainTrue met with Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) leadership earlier this week to learn more and advocate for a more balanced approach.
Encouragingly, they were receptive to our feedback and had already heard similar concerns from the public. As a result, they briefly paused all waterway debris removal work to retrain their contractors on properly-interpreting the standards and best practices, hopefully ensuring the retention of more live trees, ground cover, and legacy debris for the sake of bank stability and critical habitat. Additionally, the USACE has hired a new staff member dedicated to improving contractor training, and one of the primary in-stream debris contractors has brought on additional arborists for expert guidance.
We left the meeting feeling optimistic about these changes and hope to see improvements in the field, however, public vigilance remains crucial. Our community can play an important role in identifying potential violations against the standards that all USACE contractors must follow.
Key issues to watch for and report are:
- Lack of timber matting beneath vehicles and machines entering waterways.
- Spilled petroleum products or any other hazardous waste.
- Any form of excavation (digging) of soil or woody debris (versus pulling).
- Removal of live trees leaning less than 30%.
- Removal of rootballs with less than 50% exposure.
- Intact clumps of soil attached to the roots of removed trees.
- Removal of downed trees existing prior to the storm.
- Use of vehicles or machines in wetlands.
Use the form below to submit instances of perceived violations, which we will then relay to our contacts with the USACE. You are also welcome to send the information you collect (paired with the applicable standard) directly to your county’s County Manager and Emergency Management Director.
***Please remember to never trespass on private property, enter job sites, or put yourself in harm’s way when documenting prospective violations.
MountainTrue’s March E-Newsletter
MountainTrue’s March E-Newsletter
Spring is nearly here! Read on to find out what our Riverkeepers, Resilient Forests team, and Healthy Communities team have been up to + find out how to get involved.
MountainTrue Updates
We’re hiring for two positions:
✅Organizing Director: The Organizing Director will lead and manage MountainTrue’s grassroots organizing efforts across our programs, focusing on training staff and organizers in the skills necessary to build authentic relationships, empower our communities, and develop local leaders to drive community-led solutions. Accepting applications on a rolling basis: learn more + apply.
✅Creation Care Alliance Organizer: The Creation Care Organizer leads our Creation Care Alliance grassroots organizing efforts, focusing on building authentic relationships with people of diverse faiths, empowering local communities, expanding and strengthening our network of Covenant Partner congregations, and developing local leaders to drive community-led solutions. Accepting applications on a rolling basis: learn more + apply.
Clean Waters Program Updates
Join us in protecting our waterways!
From May to September, MountainTrue Riverkeepers and dedicated volunteers collect weekly water samples from over 90 sites across Western North Carolina and beyond, ensuring our waters stay clean and safe. You Can Make a Difference! Become a sponsor for a Swim Guide site and help us protect the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams. Your support will directly contribute to safeguarding our community’s water quality. Learn more here.
Status on post-Helene cleanups:
Our cleanup work continues and we have removed millions of pounds of trash from our waterways, but we are also expanding our capacity. Thanks to a partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council, we’re hiring 10 staff dedicated to cleaning up our waterways. We’ve also been hard at work lobbying the NC General Assembly for additional cleanup funds for WNC.
French Broad Riverkeeper
Anna Alsobrook paddles the French Broad River after Helene.
A message from your new French Broad Riverkeeper, Anna Alsobrook:
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Hartwell [Carson, previous French Broad Riverkeeper] for the last 10 years, and there’s not a week that goes by that I don’t learn something from him. I’m so grateful for his mentorship and guidance. The French Broad is lucky to have had his voice for the last 20 years.
My love of the French Broad started with a canoe-camping trip down section 10 of the river with an NC Outward Bound trip. I’d never done or seen anything quite like that before. I saw a sacredness to this river and these mountains. It has truly been an honor to work for its protection, and I am thrilled to step into the Riverkeeper role.”
Anna has been part of the MountainTrue team since 2014, most recently serving as our Watershed Science & Policy Manager. And don’t worry, we’re not saying goodbye to previous French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson; he’s now transitioned to MountainTrue’s Clean Water Program Director and can still be reached at hartwell@mountaintrue.org! Stay up-to-date with Anna’s work as French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook; she can also be reached via email at anna@mountaintrue.org.
French Broad Paddle Trail update
Check out the French Broad Paddle Trail’s website for the status of access points and campsites along the river between Rosman, NC, and Newport, TN. We’ve been working with public land managers and outfitters to ready the river for this year’s paddling season by organizing cleanups, repairing access points, and tidying up campsites. We look forward to seeing y’all out there in the months to come!
Green Riverkeeper
Green Riverkeeper pup, Shug, checks out the Green at Big Rock access.
Another post-Helene update from Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks:
Things on the Green are continuously changing (mostly for the good)! Locations that we’d planned on cleaning up in March are now being taken care of by the Army Corps of Engineers and hired contractors.
We’re planning a cleanup volunteer opportunity on Saturday, May 3, on the confluence of Big Hungry and the Green (where Big Hungry meets the Narrows – if the Army Corps doesn’t get to it first, that is); event details incoming. Regarding Army Corps cleanup around the Lower Green, we’re constantly talking with county officials and contractors in and around the river. We’re also planning a meeting with the Army Corps to discuss their scope of work and how we can work together to create a landscape where habitat restoration and stream bank stability can be a top priority. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for updates when they’re available.
Watauga Riverkeeper
Volunteer with us!
The Watauga Riverkeeper team has been hard at work organizing live staking volunteer workdays to restore stream bank stability along High Country waterways and post-Helene cleanups. The ‘24-25 live staking season will be wrapping up soon, but there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved + get outside with our High Country team! Check out the events calendar and stay tuned on the Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram and Facebook.
Broad Riverkeeper
May days on the First Broad River Paddle Trail
The month of May will be an opportunity for river enthusiasts to explore the First Broad River Paddle Trail. Every Saturday, Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell will host a guided river adventure on a different section of the 65-mile river trail. We’ll start on the uppermost section of navigable river with public access and work our way downstream, ending up in the main stem of the Broad River on the last Saturday. Expect to paddle about 2mph and add another hour for lunch and river fun. More info + registration links coming soon; stay tuned!
Resilient Forests Program Updates
MountainTrue is seeking volunteers to document landslides
We’re seeking volunteers for a new citizen science program to help document landslide impacts to roads and trails on public lands, with a particular focus on Nantahala, Pisgah, and Cherokee National Forests. All you need to participate is the desire to get out in the woods and a smartphone. The data collected will be shared with land stewardship agencies and other partners, and will be useful in setting priorities for infrastructure repair following the storm. To participate, please fill out this volunteer interest form.
MountainTrue’s Josh Kelly pens op-ed on the impact of federal worker cuts
MountainTrue’s Resilient Forests Director, Josh Kelly, recently shared his perspective in the Asheville Citizen Times on how proposed cuts to federal workers could harm the national parks and forests in Western North Carolina. In his op-ed, Kelly argues that the loss of federal employees would jeopardize vital conservation efforts and the health of these treasured landscapes. Read his full piece to learn more about the potential consequences.
Healthy Communities Program Updates
MountainTrue Housing & Transportation Director Susan Bean addresses Asheville City Council.
Asheville City Council makes big changes to support housing
On Tuesday night, Asheville City Council passed 5 significant changes to the city’s rules about how housing gets built. These changes make it easier to build homes like apartments and condos on our major bus routes and also make it easier to build small homes on small lots city-wide, with exceptions carved out for the city’s Legacy Neighborhoods and areas designated as particularly vulnerable to displacement. While we are very pleased that these changes will result in more housing options for the community, we also ask the city to commit to a continued process of engagement with Legacy Neighborhoods given the unique and awful impacts of historical land use policies like urban renewal. Our Housing and Transportation Director, Susan Bean, delivered public comment asking for the council’s support of both the proposals and the process of further engagement with Legacy Neighborhoods in advance of future proposals. Read more here. Watch MountainTrue’s Housing and Transportation Director Susan Bean’s remarks on YouTube.
New Orleans recovery expert visits Swannanoa
On March 6, Steven Bingler, the visionary behind New Orleans’ Unified Recovery Plan after Hurricane Katrina, presented to a packed house at Art Space Charter School in Swannanoa, NC. Bingler shared how an organic, community-centered approach ultimately succeeded where early top-down efforts failed. He recounted how New Orleans’ initial recovery plans, which lacked deep community engagement, were quickly abandoned in favor of a locally driven strategy. This innovative approach stitched together smaller, community-led plans into a unified vision that gained broad support and reshaped the city’s future. Bingler also met in smaller groups with area designers, as well as Swannanoa community members, offering his advice and encouragement, always highlighting the opportunities that disaster recovery may offer.
ADC volunteers needed!
If you’re a designer interested in volunteering and ready to pledge some hours, or if your community needs design assistance, sign up here. To make this initiative a success, we need volunteers from a variety of design disciplines, including:
✔️Architects
✔️Engineers (structural & civil)
✔️Landscape Architects
✔️Environmental Consultants
✔️Land Planners
✔️Surveyors
✔️Soil Scientists
Take Action + Tell UNC Asheville: Save the Woods!
Take Action + Tell UNC Asheville: Save the Woods!
Public land at the University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) is under threat of being developed. Please contact the Chancellor, Dr. Kimberly van Noort, Board of Trustees Chair Roger Aiken, and the rest of the Board of Trustees, and urge them to halt this development and save the woods!
UNCA’s 45-acre urban forest is a cherished resource for students and community members in the heart of Asheville. The woods offer an escape from busy city life and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Unfortunately, in early January, the university began the process of assessing the woods for potential development. Excavators cleared wide paths through the forest, with boring and drilling work beginning a few weeks later. The university failed to issue advance notice of these activities to their students and the surrounding community. Read more and sign the petition to Save the UNCA Woods here!
We want UNCA to thrive, but not at the cost of free and easily accessible outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat. What’s more, UNCA has other options for expansion. The former Health Adventure Property on Broadway has been cleared and ready for building for over a decade, yet remains fallow. Please contact Chancellor van Noort, Chairman Aiken, and the Board of Trustees and urge them to halt all development of the UNCA Urban Forest, and instead consider already cleared land for construction projects.
MT Raleigh Report – HB47 is A Critical $500M Lifeline for Western NC Recovery
MT Raleigh Report – HB47 is A Critical $500M Lifeline for Western NC Recovery
If you’re surprised to learn that the North Carolina General Assembly has been in session since January, you’re not alone. Despite the urgent needs of Western NC following Hurricane Helene, the legislature has yet to approve a relief package so far this year.
That may soon change. This week, the state House is expected to approve HB47, a $500 million relief bill. While that’s a step in the right direction, the bill still faces uncertainty in the Senate, and it remains unclear when and at what amount the General Assembly will use its billions in unspent reserves for disaster aid.
What’s in HB47?
HB47 would allocate state funds for housing, environmental restoration, debris removal, small business grants, and other critical recovery efforts. MountainTrue supports this bill, particularly the funding for debris removal and restoration projects. You can find a plain-English summary of the latest version of the bill here.
What’s Next?
If the bill passes the House as expected, it will still need approval from the Senate, which has shown less urgency on disaster relief. Senate leaders tend to be more cautious about spending and want to wait for federal agencies like FEMA to complete their recovery work before committing state funds. This could delay progress or result in a reduced package.
MountainTrue has already reached out to Senate leaders to advocate for quick approval of HB47 as written. Our staff will be in Raleigh this week to meet with lawmakers across both parties to stress the importance of timely disaster assistance and share our priorities for the 2025 legislative session.
You can read our full 2025 legislative agenda here.
Looking Ahead
HB47 is just the beginning. House leaders have indicated that it will be the first of several disaster relief bills for Western NC. However, differences between the House and Senate are likely to continue, particularly regarding the amount and structure of disaster funding. The Senate’s preference may be to address this through the broader 2025-2027 state budget process, which typically takes months to finalize.
Governor Josh Stein expressed support for the House’s disaster recovery bill as a good start while calling for even larger investments in recovery. He also urged the federal government to provide an additional $19 billion in disaster aid.
Why Your Support Matters
The General Assembly’s action – or inaction – on Helene recovery underscores the importance of having a strong voice for Western NC in Raleigh. That’s why MountainTrue is proud to be the only WNC environmental organization with a year-round lobbyist in the state capital. Your support makes that possible, and we are deeply grateful.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue advocating for a strong, swift recovery for our region.