MountainTrue
Donate
eNews Signup
MountainTrue
Donate
eNews Signup
2023 Volunteer of the Year and Esther Cunningham Award Winners

2023 Volunteer of the Year and Esther Cunningham Award Winners

2023 Volunteer of the Year and Esther Cunningham Award Winners

Every year, MountainTrue recognizes five individuals from across the Southern Blue Ridge as our regional Volunteer of the Year and Esther Cunningham award winners. We look forward to celebrating these exceptional MountainTrue volunteers at our Annual Member Gathering on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co in Asheville, NC.

High Country Volunteer of the Year: Marta Toran

Originally from Spain, Marta has made the High Country her home for the past 16 years. She teaches environmental science, oceanography, and climate change courses in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University. She also coordinates the department’s outreach program, which supports K12 STEM education across Western North Carolina and promotes environmental stewardship among students by connecting them with local organizations. Her students regularly participate in habitat restoration, native plant removal, and water sampling efforts organized by the Watauga Riverkeeper. Marta also helps students become certified as North Carolina Environmental Educators. She has been awarded grants from organizations like the EPA to help educate people about natural resources and how to protect them. She’s proud to see her students get involved in the community through environmental advocacy organizations like MountainTrue, especially when they bring friends along with them. She also hopes that one day, North Carolina will catch up to Europe in environmental regulations forbidding the use of single-use plastic and regarding other measures to reduce plastic waste and encourage recycling. Thanks for all you do to make the High Country a better place, Marta! 

Central Region Volunteer of the Year: Elizabeth Porter

Elizabeth moved to the Asheville area ten years ago from her hometown in Northeast Florida to take a position teaching environmental economics at UNCA. She knew when she arrived in the area that she also wanted to find “her people.” Having been an active volunteer with the St. Johns Riverkeeper, she began volunteering for Western North Carolina Alliance (the organization that would later become MountainTrue) and French Broad Riverkeeper events. Her years spent canoeing in Florida translated into a particular affinity for river cleanups and all of the interesting things and people to be found on the river. Elizabeth is currently in her second year teaching sustainability and environmental policy in the Department of Business Administration at Mars Hill University. When she’s not on campus, there’s a good chance you’ll find her out on her stand-up paddleboard on French Broad Section 9.

Western Region Volunteer of the Year: Jonathan Micancin

Jonathan Micancin earned his Ph.D. at UNC Chapel Hill and is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Young Harris College, where he teaches courses in conservation biology, ecology, environmental science, and related topics. Since coming to Young Harris in 2019, Jonathan has taken the lead on MountainTrue’s Corn Creek Riparian Restoration Project. He has involved his students in all aspects of the work, organizing volunteer workdays to remove nonnative invasive plants and plant native ones in the streamside corridor. Last fall, he began working with Young Harris College to replace its landscaping with native trees and shrubs, again having his students create the plans and help implement them. They bought many plants through our Fall Native Tree & Shrub sale fundraiser. Jonathan and his students also study the behavioral ecology, evolution, and conservation of cryptic amphibians. They discovered the decline of southern cricket frogs in the Southeast, extended the known range of Collinses’ mountain chorus frog in Georgia, and are currently studying rare and imperiled Appalachian salamanders. Thanks so much for all you do to conserve Southern Appalachian biodiversity and support MountainTrue’s work, Jonathan!

Southern Region Volunteer of the Year: Michael Cheng

Michael Cheng (pictured above) is no stranger to the Broad River, as he frequently joins Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell for river cleanups, races, and other events. In fact, Michael and his wife, Patsy, were two of the wonderful sponsors of the 8th Annual Sarah Sweep and First Broad River Festival, which took place on September 9 in Shelby, NC. As David has said, “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!” 

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. Learn more about Michael by reading his interview here.

The 2023 Esther Cunningham Award Winner: Jane Laping

This award is given each year in honor of one of our organization’s founders, Esther Cunningham. Esther bravely stood in the face of opposition, rallied her community to stand with her, and tirelessly fought to protect and defend the forests of Western North Carolina. 

Jane co-founded MountainTrue’s faith-based program, the Creation Care Alliance (CCA, formerly called WNC Green Congregations), in 2012 and has served on the Steering Team ever since. Earlier this year, she filled in as Interim Coordinator while CCA Director Sarah Ogletree was on maternity leave for 14 weeks. Additionally, Jane has been the Creation Care Team lead at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville since 2010. 

Jane volunteered in various roles with Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC), a national eco-justice network that connects, equips, and inspires Presbyterians to make creation care a central concern of the church. She currently serves as PEC’s Vice Moderator. In 2007, she wrote Earth Care Congregations, a certification program for Presbyterian Churches that was adopted by the Presbyterian Church (USA). There are now ~300 certified Earth Care Congregations in the US incorporating creation care in their worship, education, facilities, and outreach.

Jane worked as the first community organizer and Executive Director of Mothers for Clean Air in Houston, TX — a nonprofit that worked to reduce air pollution, especially as it affects children. She organized and collaborated with members of marginalized communities to measure air pollution levels, speak out against industries that polluted their neighborhoods, and engage with elected officials. Jane also worked with a theater artist to develop Ozone Theater — a program to educate children about color codes for ozone warnings — which won a national award from the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Jane is currently working with the Plastic Free WNC coalition. She recently assisted in surveying local organizations that serve the underserved and conducted in-person interviews with unhoused individuals to better understand how they would be impacted by the coalition’s proposed single-use plastic bag ban. Many thanks for all you continue to do to protect our shared environment, Jane! 

We Are Speaking Up in Support of Needed Housing in Hiawassee, GA

We Are Speaking Up in Support of Needed Housing in Hiawassee, GA

We Are Speaking Up in Support of Needed Housing in Hiawassee, GA

This month, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC and MountainTrue staff collaborated to evaluate and subsequently express full support for a proposed housing development for Hiawassee, GA. The project is called The Commons 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 due to sprawl development. Here are the reasons why we support these kinds of projects generally and also why The Commons specifically aligns with our goals:

 

  • Location: By building homes within walking distance of grocery stores, restaurants, jobs, and town centers, we reduce daily vehicle miles traveled and our community’s carbon footprint. Additionally, building in or near our town centers relieves development pressure on surrounding farms and forests that we need for watershed protection, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. The project site on Main Street, not far from the center of town — and with existing water and sewer access — is ideal placement and more fiscally responsible.
  • Small size: This project would build homes of 700-1,100 square feet, which we support because smaller homes generate less stormwater runoff and require less energy to heat and cool. We also need smaller home options in our communities for working families or elderly residents who want to downsize. 
  • Variety: 21 of the homes are proposed to be townhomes or duplexes — a housing type that further increases energy efficiency by taking advantage of shared walls. While duplexes also represent a housing type that has been less commonly built in recent decades, they are a beneficial addition to a community’s housing stock and create different kinds of homes for people to choose from as their lives and needs change over time.
  • Affordability: Because this developer is passionate about creating housing communities to serve the workforce, the sale price for all of these homes will be lower than would otherwise be possible on Hiawassee’s regular housing market. And through the company’s business model, 15 homes will have 25% lower pricing, making them even more affordable.  Having more reasonably priced homes within a community helps maintain a community’s health and vibrancy by ensuring that a wider range of income earners can live and work there, filling critical positions in a community’s workforce.

 

MountainTrue has a long history of advocating for responsible growth across the region. Continuing that tradition, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC is committed to supporting projects representing the kind of built environment that causes the least harm to our natural environment while also promoting healthy communities within which our families and neighbors can thrive. MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore spoke in support of the project at the City of Hiawassee Building & Planning Committee’s public hearing on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Stay tuned for project updates coming soon! 

MountainTrue Supporter Spotlight: Michael Cheng

MountainTrue Supporter Spotlight: Michael Cheng

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. 

Photo: Michael Cheng poses with a tire he removed from the Broad River on a previous cleanup with the Broad Riverkeeper in Shelby, NC. 

“Michael has been joining us for river cleanups, races, and other Broad Riverkeeper events a lot in the past three years, and I’m beginning to suspect that when his boat accidentally flips over, it’s no accident at all — the man loves to swim,” says Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell. “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!”

Learn more about Michael and his experiences by reading his interview below:

 

What brought you to Western North Carolina?

The value and quality of life in terms of the low cost of living, friendly people, and peaceful living. 

How did you get involved with MountainTrue?

Your Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, organized a river cleanup with our Rotary Club. I really felt that David had a full heart and deeply cared about our river. He also organized a fun float. I really appreciate that, with David and MountainTrue, I can do good stewardship for our environment and have a lot of fun. 

We’ve spent a lot of time together out on the river, both paddling for fun but also doing river cleanups and work days. What drives you to want to steward our rivers?

I want to live a life without regrets. In the beginning, when humans first came to inhabit this planet, it was clean. Now, we’ve left tires, plastics, and trash in our river that could remain there for many centuries. I want to do my part to make our planet clean again. I don’t want to look back when I’m feeble or gone and wish I had done more to get rid of those tires. 

You’re featured in Voices of Deoli, an upcoming documentary about the Deoli internment camps, where the Indian government rounded up and imprisoned Chinese-Indians during the Sino-Indian War. In the internment camp, Chinese Indians were expelled from their homes and subjected to extreme racial and ethnic bias. Has that made you more driven to be deeply involved in our community?

After being through all the difficulties in my life, I was fortunate to come to this town and meet a lot of good people and leaders. They inspire me to learn to be involved with the community and do good stewardship. 

How old were you when you were in the Deoli internment camp? How did you make your way from a childhood in India to Western North Carolina, where you have become a successful businessman? 

When I was interned, I was six years old. After more than two years, we were released to Calcutta, but we were not allowed to go back to my birthplace, Darjeeling. I traveled in Europe for a few years, then went to Canada, and then the US. I first came to New York. Then, in 1981, I settled in North Carolina. 

What happened to your other family members who were at the camp?

All of my family is in Canada except one sister who lives in Wilmington, NC.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently welcomed by the Biden Administration in Washington DC. The United States government has apologized and provided reparations to Japanese citizens who were interned during World War II. India, on the other hand, has never apologized to the people of the Deoli Camps. Do you hope this film might get you that long-overdue apology and recognition?

I don’t have a lot of optimism or confidence in the current Modi administration.

You brought the film documentary film crew with you to a river cleanup last summer. Why do you feel it was important to show that part of you to audiences?

For the same reason that I like taking part in MountainTrue’s river cleanups. The tires that get thrown into our rivers may never surface but will continue to degrade and pollute our planet. Similarly, if we don’t speak up and act now, the Indian government will never apologize and acknowledge the injustice they did to us. I don’t want that injustice, like many issues that happen in the world, to be forgotten and buried forever after I die. 

Do you know what the status of Voices of Deoli is? When can we see it in theaters?

Lulu, the producer of the film, has said the film will be released sometime next year.

Is there anything else that you would like to say about your life or your involvement with MountainTrue to our members and supporters who get our e-news? 

I’ve been to a lot of other countries and seen how dirty and full of trash the water is simply because of a lack of leadership in the community. I appreciate MountainTrue’s involvement in regional efforts to protect and advocate for the environment and lead not only now but generations to come.

MountainTrue to expand river access and knowledge with grant from MADE X MTNS

MountainTrue to expand river access and knowledge with grant from MADE X MTNS

MountainTrue to expand river access and knowledge with grant from MADE X MTNS

MountainTrue is proud to announce that we are one of twenty grant recipients of the MADE X MTNS Outdoor Equity Fund. We join a group of small businesses, community groups, and nonprofits working to increase outdoor access and economic opportunity in Western North Carolina. Thanks to the generosity of the MADE X MTNS, MountainTrue will be able to lead more paddling trips on the French Broad Paddle Trail, share ecological and skill-building knowledge that centers Leave No Trace ethics, and provide important conservation information about the trail with organizational partners and event participants. 

“As residents of Western North Carolina, we’re fortunate to work and play in such a beautiful area with ample opportunity to enjoy public lands and rivers. However, we recognize that there are several barriers keeping certain communities from these places — especially rivers — including access to gear, logistics, confidence in safety, and concern for environmental dangers,” says MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, Jack Henderson. “With funding from the MADE X MTNS Outdoor Equity Fund grant, we’re excited to help break down some of these barriers by offering equitable paddling opportunities to communities of color in Transylvania and Henderson Counties. We hope this is just the first step towards ensuring that everyone in this region has access to the French Broad Paddle Trail, along with other outdoor recreational endeavors.”

So far, six separate paddling trips have been planned for 2023-2024, with more likely to be scheduled. MountainTrue’s current partners include Find Outdoors’ Club de Exploradores, El Centro of Transylvania and Henderson counties, Latinos Aventureros, and the North Carolina BIPOC Climbers network. Click here to read more about the Outdoor Equity Fund and all fellow grantees, or read more below. 

 

MADE X MTNS Announces Outdoor Equity Fund Grant Awardees

MADE X MTNS funds twenty community-led initiatives that address identified barriers to outdoor recreation access and outdoor economic opportunity.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA (August 3, 2023) – MADE X MTNS is thrilled to announce the grant recipients of its Outdoor Equity Fund. The twenty grantees represent small businesses, sole proprietors, non-profits, and community groups, located across Western North Carolina’s 25 county footprint and the Qualla Boundary, all working to increase outdoor recreation access and economic opportunity.

“The energy and enthusiasm for shaking up the outdoor industry and making it a more inclusive space from the applicants is inspiring. These proposals aren’t just about changing the outdoor economy field; they’re about deeply remembering our connection to the outdoors and redefining who gets to play and thrive in the great outdoors,” says Outdoor Equity Fund Working Group Facilitator, Iliana Hernandez.

“We’re very excited about the potential impact of these projects and the outdoors becoming a place where everyone feels welcomed and communities can flourish,” she adds.

These grants have been made possible through $125,000 in funding from the Dogwood Health Trust, as part of the three-year “Accelerating Outdoors Grant” awarded to the MADE X MTNS Partnership (MADE X MTNS). The goal of The Outdoor Equity Fund is to help empower community-led initiatives that address identified barriers to outdoor recreation and outdoor economy access and opportunity, and help close these gaps in Western North Carolina.

“We are so inspired by the work of each grantee and the opportunity that this funding presents,” said MADE X MTNS Partnership Director, Amy Allison.

“Together, we can create a more inclusive and vibrant outdoor industry, unlocking the vast potential of diverse voices and experiences to drive entrepreneurship and economic growth, foster community wellness, and lead the way towards a more inclusive and sustainable future,” she adds.

Forty-four applicants, with a grand total of requested funds at $333,304.74 made up the inaugural grant submission cycle, affirming that there is a lot of work being done in the community to make WNC’s outdoor spaces more inclusive and accessible, that the need for more funding is apparent, and that there is excitement and motivation around increasing outdoor recreation access and outdoor economic opportunities.

Outdoor Equity Fund grantees include:

  • Riding in Color Western North Carolina
  • Activated Earth
  • Latinos Aventureros
  • The 30th Alliance
  • UnSPOKEN Bond
  • James Vester Miller Historic Walking Trail
  • The Flying Bike
  • Yadkin Valley Adventure
  • BCOutdoors
  • MountainTrue
  • Blue Ridge Dirt Skrrts
  • McDowell Trail School
  • Catalyst Sports
  • Christmount Adapted Programs
  • Aflorar Herb Collective
  • El Centro Brevard
  • Michelle Black
  • FINDOutdoors
  • Issa Vibe Adventures, LLC
  • Color My Outdoors

Find out more about each grantee’s project on the MADE X MTNS Website.

###

About WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership

The WNC: MADE X MTNS (Made By Mountains) Partnership is working to expand the outdoor industry and economy across North Carolina’s Appalachian region and catalyze rural development by building vibrant outdoor communities, growing outdoor businesses, and amplifying outdoor culture. For more information, visit madexmtns.com or @madexmtns

You’re Invited to MountainTrue’s 2023 Annual Gathering!

You’re Invited to MountainTrue’s 2023 Annual Gathering!

MountainTrue Annual Gathering 2023

You’re invited!

Celebrate another year of successes and partnerships with the MountainTrue team at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co on Saturday, October 14, 2023! 

RSVP

About the event

Get ready for a night of fun and camaraderie with like-minded folks as we celebrate our achievements and honor the relationships each of us have with each other and to the natural world. We are all interconnected. Healthy forests and sustainable development make for clean water. The built environment has profound effects on the natural environment. Understanding the interconnectedness of our world guides our work and is key to building a better future for the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. This event is open to current members of MountainTrue. Click here to check your membership status or email members@mountaintrue.org. If you’re not a current member, we would love to have you join us — You don’t want to miss out on the fun!

This year our doors open early for a Plastics Rally beginning at 2 pm, where you’ll learn about ongoing work to fight plastic pollution. The General Assembly snuck an amendment into the budget to protect plastic polluters, but we’re not backing down! Find out how you can get involved. 

General programming will begin at 3 p.m. and will include voting on new Board Members, reflecting on our achievements this year, and honoring outstanding Volunteers. Come snack on some hors d’oeuvres and grab a drink on us! Stick around for our exciting Jeopardy game show featuring one contestant from each of our four regions. The winner will get to designate what MountainTrue work donations collected at the event will fund. 

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.

To help offset event costs and ensure that your membership dollars continue supporting MountainTrue’s programmatic work, please consider making a $25 donation per member.

Become a MountainTrue member

Click here

Many thanks to our Corporate Sponsors

MountainTrue’s August 2023 E-Newsletter

MountainTrue’s August 2023 E-Newsletter

MountainTrue’s

August 2023 E-Newsletter

August news from MountainTrue’s four regional offices:  

Central Region News

Click here to read

High Country News

Click here to read

Southern Region News

Click here to read

Western Region News

Click here to read

Central Region News

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

A few weeks ago, MountainTrue and partner organizations, represented by the outstanding legal team at Southern Environmental Law Center, sent the US Forest Service a 60-day notice of our intent to sue for violating the Endangered Species Act in developing the recent revision to the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan. If the Forest Service does not take immediate action to protect endangered forest bats that face extinction under the approved plan, we’ll be forced to take them to court to enforce the law. 

Litigation is not an action we take lightly, and it would be the first time in our organization’s more than 40-year history that we have filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service. This comes after more than a decade of collaborative stakeholder input, but in the end, our concerns were ignored, and we have a responsibility to protect resilient forests and hold our government accountable to the law. To be clear, the impact on bats and violations of the Endangered Species Act is not our only concern with the Forest Plan, and just because we aren’t raising additional concerns in this action doesn’t mean that we won’t raise them in the future. 

As an advocacy organization, this is what we do. We work to protect the places we share, and when our voices are ignored as they were here, we keep fighting using all of the tools available to us. We sincerely appreciate the support of our members, staff, and board of directors, who voted unanimously to take action. If you aren’t a MountainTrue member, please join us — we’re stronger standing together for the future of our forests. 

MountainTrue prepares for lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

On July 25, MountainTrue joined a coalition of conservation groups in sending a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, signaling our intent to sue over glaring flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan and violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Forest Service is needlessly putting several endangered bat species at risk of extinction by putting commercial logging first and ignoring the best science available. 

MountainTrue and our experts remain ready and willing to work in partnership with the Forest Service and other stakeholders to develop a responsible win-win plan for the environment, our economy, and the people of our region. Read our full statement, press release, and the 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue for Violations of the Endangered Species Act Related to Consultation on the Nantahala-Pisgah Land Management Plan.

 

Let’s pass a plastic bag ban in Buncombe County

We need you to take action to help pass a common-sense law to reduce plastic pollution in Buncombe County. Plastic pollution is a global problem, and we must act locally to do our part. That’s why MountainTrue is advocating for a county-wide ban on single-use plastic bags and styrofoam at grocery and retail store checkout counters paired with a 10-cent fee on paper bags. More than 500 local governments in 28 states across the country have already passed laws to reduce plastic pollution. Let’s make Buncombe County next! 

If you live in Black Mountain or Woodfin: please email your Town Councilpersons and ask them to pass resolutions supporting a county-wide ordinance. 

Other Buncombe County residents: sign the petition that we’ll be taking to County Commissioners calling on them act. 

Photos: (left) MountainTrue, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), & Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy had fun treating ash trees on Bluff Mountain. Photo by Sydney Swafford. (right) Josh Kelly and Darby Stipe of MountainTrue and Dane White of ATC treat a 40” in diameter white ash. Photo by Matt Drury.

Ash trees thrive thanks to MountainTrue and Appalachian Trail Conservancy

MountainTrue and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) completed another season of treating ash trees on the Appalachian Trail to protect them from the Emerald Ash Borer — an invasive beetle estimated to have killed over 100 million ash trees across 30 states. This year we were back at Bluff Mountain, where we treated 117 trees for the fourth time since 2017. The treated trees are in great condition! One tree was 38” in diameter when treatment began and has grown to 40” in diameter this year. This work is funded by the ATC NC License Plate Grant and the support of MountainTrue members.

 

MountainTrue-a-thon: we’re halfway to our fundraising goal!

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

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

 

MountainTrue to expand river access and knowledge with grant from MADE X MTNS

MountainTrue is proud to announce that we are one of twenty grant recipients of the MADE X MTNS Outdoor Equity Fund. We join a group of WNC small businesses, community groups, and nonprofits working to increase outdoor access and economic opportunity. Thanks to the generosity of the MADE X MTNS, MountainTrue will be able to lead more paddling trips on the French Broad Paddle Trail, provide ecological and skill-building knowledge for participants, teach Leave No Trace ethics and provide important conservation information about the trail. Click here to read about the Outdoor Equity Fund and all fellow grantees.

Photo: 2023 Paddle Trip-goers “sending it” over a rapid on the French Broad River.

Cheers to a great 2023 Paddle Trip

The 2023 French Broad Paddle Trip was a huge success, with sixteen guests and seven MountainTrue staff members making the voyage from Barnard, NC, to Bridgeport, TN. Over four wonderful days, we navigated rapids, relaxed through flatwater, marveled at Paint Rock’s petroglyphs and Chimney Rock’s cliffs, observed wildlife, ate tasty food, shared stories, and made memories. The Paddle Trip is always a great way to bring together friends — new and old — to learn about and celebrate the French Broad River, including the successes of MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper program, and discuss upcoming challenges and opportunities.

Photo: Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree (left) and MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore (right) at the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC kickoff party on August 10.

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC off to a great start

We had an awesome turnout for our program kickoff event this month, and it was so exciting to be in a room full of supporters who were enthusiastic about creating more of the kinds of housing our communities need! If you missed the event but want to get involved, you can sign up here to volunteer or contact Susan Bean directly to get plugged in (susan@mountaintrue.org).

 

Save the date for our Annual Member Gathering

MountainTrue’s Annual Member Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 14. This year’s event will be held at The Mule in Asheville, NC. If you’re not a current member, there’s still time for you to join us — you don’t want to miss out on the fun!

High Country News

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

This summer has been one of our busiest yet — filled with so many community events, water quality sampling, and advocacy actions! We truly appreciate your support and engagement, whether you just connected with MountainTrue or have been involved with us for years! As summer comes to a close, know that we are working nonstop to protect the places we share. I hope you can find a way to stay involved; we have something for everyone in our Clean Waters, Resilient Forests, Healthy Communities, Green Energy, and Creation Care programs.

MountainTrue prepares for lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan​

On July 25, MountainTrue joined a coalition of conservation groups in sending a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, signaling our intent to sue over glaring flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan and violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Forest Service is needlessly putting several endangered bat species at risk of extinction by putting commercial logging first and ignoring the best science available. 

MountainTrue and our experts remain ready and willing to work in partnership with the Forest Service and other stakeholders to develop a responsible win-win plan for the environment, our economy, and the people of our region. Read our full statement, press release, and the 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue for Violations of the Endangered Species Act Related to Consultation on the Nantahala-Pisgah Land Management Plan.

 

Great news for High Country waters!

Thanks to your support and advocacy, 11 streams within the Watauga River Basin will now receive special protections as Outstanding Resource Waters or High-Quality Waters, starting September 1, 2023. This remarkable achievement is a significant step in safeguarding the health of our local rivers, protecting the delicate aquatic ecosystems, and supporting the recreation economy of the High Country. Click here to read more.

 

Weekend plans: Riverkeeper Float Fest

The rescheduled Riverkeeper Float Fest is happening this Saturday, August 19! Substantial rains the week prior to the original June 24 date led to increased bacteria levels unsafe for river recreation. Any previously purchased ticket(s) will be honored at the rescheduled date. If you can’t attend the new date, please contact sydney@moutaintrue.org to begin the refund process (or consider leaving it as a donation to support the Watauga Riverkeeper’s clean water efforts). Riverkeeper Float Fest details:

  • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2023
  • River & Earth Adventures’ New River Outpost (6201 Castle Ford Road Todd, NC 28684)
  • Brews, food, and tunes provided by Appalachian Mountain Brewery
  • Tubing with River & Earth Adventures down the New River 
  • Fly fishing demos with Boone’s Fly Shop
  • And so much more! 

Antlers & Acorns Boone Songwriters Festival

Join us from September 5-9 to hear some of the best singers and songwriters from around the country at Antlers & Acorns, The Boone Songwriters Festival. VIP tickets are on sale now, with perks like exclusive performances, best seats in the house, and an opportunity for three daytime gatherings with songwriters in the Blue Ridge Mountains. MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper will be featured on Friday night (September 8) and will have a table in the Appalachian Theater’s Community Room. We’re so excited for this festival and to explore the ways that music, advocacy, and environmentalism collide within the arts.

Photo: Event participants enjoy some river snorkeling on the last Guided Snorkel event of the 2023 season.

Wildlife-packed last guided snorkel of the season​

As summer rapidly comes to an end, we were able to enjoy good weather for the last of our Guided Snorkel series. It’s always such a joy to share our knowledge of the watershed and encourage others to ask more questions about the rivers, streams, and places we all share. We identified Nothern watersnakes, redbreasted sunfish, margined madtoms, blacknose dace, stonerollers, smallmouth bass, and Northern hogsuckers… just to name a few!

 

Japanese knotweed treatments

Our Watauga Riverkeeper team has been busy removing invasive plants in the High Country this month! Once again, we’re turning our focus to Japanese knotweed, a species of herbaceous perennial plant in the knotweed and buckwheat family. On July 31, MountainTrue’s recently-retired superstar ecologist, Bob Gale, ventured to the High Country to train us in eradication techniques, specialized equipment/treatments, and (as always) gift us with a wealth of native plant knowledge. Our group was able to treat Japanese knotweed at Valle Crucis Community Park, ideally ensuring 100% native growth in the main wetland area. Continuing efforts along the river, we’re grateful to have also partnered with Wildlands Engineering to treat invasives in the Watauga River Watershed. 

Photo: A volunteer holds a bottled Swim Guide sample.​

Swim Guide results summary

It’s absolutely incredible how fast the summer flies by, considering we only have FOUR weeks of Swim Guide left until the end of the season. So far, we’ve had over 11,110 people check water quality at the 21 “beaches” we sample in the High Country region. We’re so grateful for our volunteers, site sponsors, and community members that place a high value on keeping our waters safe and clean. Our cleanest sites this season include Watauga Point Recreational Area, Wilbur Dam Put-In, Guy Ford, Price Lake, and Valle Crucis Park. The most failed sites this season include 321 Upper Gorge Park, Lover’s Lane, Brookshire Park, Blevins Boat Ramp, and the Boone Greenway at the covered bridge. Click here to learn more about our Swim Guide program, and be sure to download the mobile Swim Guide app so you can get the skinny before you dip!

Volunteer Appreciation Cookout

We’re so excited to announce our annual Volunteer Appreciation Cookout from 6-8:30 p.m. on September 21 at Valle Crucis Park in Banner Elk, NC. We can’t wait to celebrate our amazing High Country volunteers who help keep our programs running all year round. Whether you’re a Swim Guide volunteer, VWIN volunteer, or have helped plant plenty of livestakes, we want to celebrate our volunteers’ roles in our clean water successes over the years. Please email hannah@mountaintrue.org to receive our RSVP form.

MountainTrue-a-thon: we’re halfway to our fundraising goal!

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

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

High Country education and outreach: July 2023 edition

Amongst all the other happenings in July, our Clean Water Team joined Valle Crucis Park for their annual River Alive Day and BioBlitz. We had so much fun teaching folks of all ages about river health and the aquatic species that call them home.

We recently led our first Guided Stream Hike with the Town of Beech Mountain Parks and Recreation Department. It was great connecting with visitors and residents on a lovely streamside hike. MountainTrue’s High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator, Hannah Woodburn, led the hike and discussed watershed literacy, aquatic species, and current happenings within MountainTrue’s advocacy work. We look forward to spending more time in the headwaters of the Watauga River in future collaborative guided outing offerings. 

The High Country Trash Trouts are still hard at work! We had several volunteers join us to help inventory and count the trash found within the Winkler’s Creek Trash Trout last month. A big thank you to our High Country Intern, Emma, for leading this workday opportunity!

Thanks, 828 Realty!

We had so much fun at the first (and hopefully!) annual 828 Realty Community event at the Jones House in July. There were games, music, and fun for the whole family, including a dunk tank! This event benefitted MountainTrue, Safe Harbor, and F.A.R.M. Cafe — important nonprofit cornerstones of our High Country community. Thank you to our friends at 828 Realty for hosting this wonderful summer gathering!

Beech Mountain Ski Resort Concert Series

The Beech Mountain Concert Series + Party on the Mountain were an absolute blast to table at. Sheryl Crow, My Morning Jacket, and The Revivalists were some of the big names hitting the High Country. It was great making new connections, friends, and spreading the word about the work that MountainTrue does in the New and Watauga watersheds. We had an awesome summer jamming on the mountain!

Photo: Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree (left) and MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore (right) at the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC kickoff party on August 10.​

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC off to a great start

We had an awesome turnout for our program kickoff event this month, and it was so exciting to be in a room full of supporters who were enthusiastic about creating more of the kinds of housing our communities need! If you missed the event but want to get involved, you can sign up here to volunteer or contact Susan Bean directly to get plugged in (susan@mountaintrue.org).

Save the date for our Annual Member Gathering

MountainTrue’s Annual Member Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 14. This year’s event will be held at The Mule in Asheville, NC. If you’re not a current member, there’s still time for you to join us — you don’t want to miss out on the fun! 

Southern Region News

A note from Gray Jernigan, Deputy Director & General Counsel (+ former Southern Regional Director & Green Riverkeeper):

A few weeks ago, MountainTrue and partner organizations, represented by the outstanding legal team at Southern Environmental Law Center, sent the US Forest Service a 60-day notice of our intent to sue for violating the Endangered Species Act in developing the recent revision to the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan. If the Forest Service does not take immediate action to protect endangered forest bats that face extinction under the approved plan, we’ll be forced to take them to court to enforce the law. 

Litigation is not an action we take lightly, and it would be the first time in our organization’s more than 40-year history that we have filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service. This comes after more than a decade of collaborative stakeholder input, but in the end, our concerns were ignored, and we have a responsibility to protect resilient forests and hold our government accountable to the law. To be clear, the impact on bats and violations of the Endangered Species Act is not our only concern with the Forest Plan, and just because we aren’t raising additional concerns in this action doesn’t mean that we won’t raise them in the future. 

As an advocacy organization, this is what we do. We work to protect the places we share, and when our voices are ignored as they were here, we keep fighting using all of the tools available to us. We sincerely appreciate the support of our members, staff, and board of directors, who voted unanimously to take action. If you aren’t a MountainTrue member, please join us — we’re stronger standing together for the future of our forests.

MountainTrue prepares for lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan​

On July 25, MountainTrue joined a coalition of conservation groups in sending a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, signaling our intent to sue over glaring flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan and violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Forest Service is needlessly putting several endangered bat species at risk of extinction by putting commercial logging first and ignoring the best science available. 

MountainTrue and our experts remain ready and willing to work in partnership with the Forest Service and other stakeholders to develop a responsible win-win plan for the environment, our economy, and the people of our region. Read our full statement, press release, and the 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue for Violations of the Endangered Species Act Related to Consultation on the Nantahala-Pisgah Land Management Plan.

 

Green River oil spill update from Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks: ​

On Thursday, July 13, a tanker carrying fuel up the Saluda Grade wrecked at mile marker 62, spilling 8,000 gallons of oil and gasoline into Cove Creek. Cove Creek runs into the Lower Green, about halfway down. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) immediately jumped on the situation to start remediation at the site. There are currently six oil booms in the creek upstream of Little Bradley Falls and five downstream of Little Bradley Falls. These booms are monitored daily and will be in Cove Creek anywhere from two more weeks to one month. Three to six feet of soil also had to be removed at the wreckage site for future health of the creek bed. The trucking company is responsible for paying for cleanup efforts.

As of right now, Little Bradley is currently closed to the public. DHHS will continue to update the public on when it is safe to visit this area again, but I’ll also keep you informed as we learn more. Follow me on Instagram for weekly updates (@greenriverkeeper)! There are currently no advisories on the Green River.

Photo: (from left to right) MountainTrue Development and Engagement Manager Amy Finkler, Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks, and Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree pose with littered items they picked up while paddling the Green River in June 2023.

Upcoming cleanups on the Green and Broad rivers

Green Clean Series: Help Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks clean up the Green River from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 24! This will be the final cleanup of our 2023 Green Clean Series. You don’t have to kayak to be a part of the cleanup; roadside volunteers are also welcome! Click here to learn more and sign up. Volunteers are invited to join the Green Riverkeeper at the Green River Brew Depot in downtown Saluda after the cleanup — the Brew Depot will be giving one free beer to each volunteer who attends the cleanup and presents a ticket. Additionally, The SPOT will offer volunteers a free drink to enjoy within a week of their participation in the cleanup!

Eighth Annual Sarah Sweep + First Broad River Festival: All are welcome to join the Broad Riverkeeper on Saturday, September 9 for the 8th Annual Sarah Sweep in honor of Sarah Spencer, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2016. We’ll paddle and clean up a lovely section of the river that Sarah Spencer held dear to her heart. After the cleanup, we’ll head back to Double Shoals Mill for an evening of fabulous local music and food at the First Broad River Festival. Click here to learn more and register. 

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. If you have any questions about any of the upcoming Green River cleanups, please contact your Green Riverkeeper (erica@mountaintrue.org).  

Photo: Latinos Aventureros volunteers pose with Nancy Díaz (right) during the trail cleanup.​

Cleaning up the Broad River Greenway trails with Latinos Aventureros

On Friday, July 21, MountainTrue Southern Regional Director Nancy Díaz and Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell teamed up with a crew of volunteers from Latinos Aventureros to pick up litter along the beaches, picnic areas, and trails at our Broad River Greenway. We removed 12 bags of trash, preventing it from inevitably washing into the river. Thanks, volunteers!

 

Green Clean Series: July update from your Green Riverkeeper

​​Thanks to all the volunteers who participated in last month’s Green Clean Series cleanup on July 27 — we hauled out 10 full bags of trash from the Lower Green and roadside! Laughs were had, jokes were made, and Mama Green can now flow a bit easier with a little less trash. Join us next time, Thursday August 24, to do it all over again! Huge shoutouts to: Green River Tubing (also one of our wonderful Swim Guide sponsors) for shuttling us; the Green River Brew Depot for post-cleanup drinks; Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell for joining us and lending a hand; and to the Purple Onion for the amazing food!

 

MountainTrue-a-thon: we’re halfway to our fundraising goal!

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

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

 

MountainTrue to expand river access and knowledge with grant from MADE X MTNS

MountainTrue is proud to announce that we are one of twenty grant recipients of the MADE X MTNS Outdoor Equity Fund. We join a group of WNC small businesses, community groups, and nonprofits working to increase outdoor access and economic opportunity. Thanks to the generosity of the MADE X MTNS, MountainTrue will be able to lead more paddling trips on the French Broad Paddle Trail, provide ecological and skill-building knowledge for participants, teach Leave No Trace ethics and provide important conservation information about the trail. Click here to read about the Outdoor Equity Fund and all fellow grantees.

 

Save the date for our Annual Member Gathering

MountainTrue’s Annual Member Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 14. This year’s event will be held at The Mule in Asheville, NC. If you’re not a current member, there’s still time for you to join us — you don’t want to miss out on the fun!

Photo: Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree (left) and MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore (right) at the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC kickoff party on August 10.​

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC off to a great start

We had an awesome turnout for our program kickoff event this month, and it was so exciting to be in a room full of supporters who were enthusiastic about creating more of the kinds of housing our communities need! If you missed the event but want to get involved, you can sign up here to volunteer or contact Susan Bean directly to get plugged in (susan@mountaintrue.org).

 

Generation H: Hendersonville’s Comprehensive Plan

​​The City of Hendersonville is starting to develop its 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is being referred to as Gen H to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. The Gen H Comprehensive Plan will provide guidance and recommendations for Land Use and Growth; Public Infrastructure; Community Character; Cultural and Historic Resources; Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Resiliency; Parks, Recreation, and Public Spaces; Downtown and other community-identified focus areas; and Community and Economic Development. Click here to subscribe + receive Gen H email updates. Click here to watch a short video to learn more about Gen H!

 

NCDOT seeks public input for next 10-year Transportation Plan

The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) identifies construction and funding schedules for state transportation projects over a 10-year period. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking project input for the STIP that will cover 2026-2035. The 30-day public comment period will conclude on August 31, 2023. How to submit public comments and suggestions: 

More information on ways to provide feedback can be found on the 2026-2035 STIP webpage. Please note that this comment period is not for maintenance-related projects, such as patching potholes, resurfacing, or ditches. NCDOT uses a different method to prioritize maintenance projects.

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

I recently enjoyed a nice afternoon snorkeling in the Little Tennessee River at Mainspring Conservation Trust’s Queen Branch Preserve — one of the first ten locations on the new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. While walking the path to the river access point, I saw an indigo bunting sitting on a branch and bumblebees pollinating flowers. The air was hot, but the river and the shade of the riparian buffer were cool. I’m grateful for conserved and public lands, especially along our waterways, and luckily, we have acres and acres of them in the Southern Blue Ridge. I hope you’ve had a chance to do some swimming, wading, boating, fishing, or wildlife-watching this summer. If not, there’s still time! I want to call your attention to the Great Southeast Pollinator Census happening in August in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. One count only takes 15 minutes of your time, and most of you will be able to do it in your backyard! Thank you for reading and for being MountainTrue.

MountainTrue prepares for lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan​

On July 25, MountainTrue joined a coalition of conservation groups in sending a letter to the U.S. Forest Service, signaling our intent to sue over glaring flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan and violations of the Endangered Species Act. The Forest Service is needlessly putting several endangered bat species at risk of extinction by putting commercial logging first and ignoring the best science available. 

MountainTrue and our experts remain ready and willing to work in partnership with the Forest Service and other stakeholders to develop a responsible win-win plan for the environment, our economy, and the people of our region. Read our full statement, press release, and the 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue for Violations of the Endangered Species Act Related to Consultation on the Nantahala-Pisgah Land Management Plan.

Photo: Towns County resident Larry Bundy conducts water chemistry tests on a water sample from Corn Creek at a Georgia Adopt-A-Stream workshop in May 2018.​

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream new volunteer certification workshops

Residents of the Hiwassee River Watershed: If you value clean water, consider getting involved with MountainTrue’s volunteer water quality monitoring program! Upcoming water chemistry and bacterial monitoring workshops for new volunteers will occur in late August and early September 2023. The training will be conducted as a two-part series. Part One will be offered virtually via Zoom. Part Two is the field training portion of the workshop and will be offered in-person at Cupid Falls Park in Young Harris, Georgia, on Saturday, September 9. 

Volunteers will learn how to test stream samples for dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and conductivity in the water chemistry workshop. Those participating in the bacterial sampling will learn how to test for and identify the presence of E. coli in our waterways. Anyone aged 12 and up who is interested in joining our team of 45 volunteers to keep tabs on the health of our waterways and help solve water quality problems should either register for one of the workshop field sessions or email Callie Moore to be placed on an interest list for a future workshop. If you prefer a 100% in-person workshop, let us know.

 

Volunteer opportunity in Jackson County

MountainTrue is working to expand our microplastics sampling program into Jackson County NC. We’re seeking volunteers to collect quarterly water samples from local rivers and streams. We’ve collaborated with Sylva’s Soil and Water Conservation District office to create an accessible drop-off and pick-up location for jars and samples. For more in-depth information about our microplastic sampling program, please watch this video from MountainTrue University. If you’re interested in volunteering to take microplastic samples, please email Eve Davis, our new Western Region AmeriCorps member. Please let us know if you have a stream location that you would like to sample in mind. If not, we’ll assign you a location from our list of possible sample sites!

Photo: An amazing Cherokee hoop dancer teaches a dance to festival participants during the 2017 Cherokee Heritage Festival.​​

Join MountainTrue at the Cherokee Heritage Festival in Hayesville

On Saturday, September 16, MountainTrue will again participate in the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association’s Cherokee Heritage Festival at the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit in downtown Hayesville, NC. Come out and enjoy traditional Cherokee dancing, cultural arts demonstrations, storytelling, frybread, singing, and flute music during this free festival! MountainTrue’s Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward, will conduct native plant walks during the festival along the Quannassee Path through lovely gardens on the adjacent Historical & Arts Council property. Visit our booth during the festival to sign up for one of the walks and to learn more about our native tree and shrub sale!

Photo: The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail signs highlight species that you are likely to see while snorkeling at each location.

Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail ready for underwater adventures

Signs providing information about notable aquatic species and water safety are up at seven of the ten pilot locations on the new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail, which officially launched in June. The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail is a unique wildlife recreation opportunity connecting people to the fascinating underwater world through publicly accessible river snorkel sites. 

Upcoming kickoff event: August 26 at Island Park in Bryson City, NC. Another kickoff event is being planned at the Valley River in Andrews, NC — click here to learn more and stay tuned for details!

 

Save the date for our Annual Member Gathering

MountainTrue’s Annual Member Gathering will take place on Saturday, October 14. This year’s event will be held at The Mule in Asheville, NC. If you’re not a current member, there’s still time for you to join us — you don’t want to miss out on the fun!

Photo: Creation Care Alliance Director Sarah Ogletree (left) and MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore (right) at the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC kickoff party on August 10.

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC off to a great start

We had an awesome turnout for our program kickoff event this month, and it was so exciting to be in a room full of supporters who were enthusiastic about creating more of the kinds of housing our communities need! If you missed the event but want to get involved, you can sign up here to volunteer or contact Susan Bean directly to get plugged in (susan@mountaintrue.org).

MountainTrue-a-thon: we’re halfway to our fundraising goal!

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

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

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue is partnering 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 County and others 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. Cherokee County is being prioritized because a long stretch of the Valley River is not safe for swimming due to bacterial contamination and leaking septic systems in older neighborhoods has been identified as one part of the problem. Macon County is also being prioritized based on new Swim Guide data in the Little Tennessee River in Franklin. Property owners: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.