Press Release: MountainTrue Announces Kid’s Merchandise Design Contest in Celebration of Earth Day 2024

For immediate release: April 22, 2024

Western North Carolina – MountainTrue is thrilled to announce its first-ever Kid’s Merchandise Design Contest, inviting budding artists aged 10-14 to showcase their creativity and love for the mountains. With the aim of fostering appreciation for the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains and promoting environmental stewardship, the contest encourages young minds to express their passion for nature through art. The contest launches on Earth Day, April 22, and runs through May 24, 2024.

The theme of the contest is “I Love Mountains,” inviting participants to illustrate what makes these majestic landscapes special to them. Designs that celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains will be favored, along with those that inspire others to share in the love for our mountains and region.

“We are excited to see the unique perspectives and creative expressions of young artists as they showcase their love for mountains,” said Amy Finkler, Development and Engagement Manager at MountainTrue. “This contest provides a platform for youth to connect with nature and share their environmental enthusiasm with the region.”

The winner of the contest will have the exclusive opportunity to collaborate with a professional designer to refine their design and prepare it for merchandise production. Additionally, the winning design will be featured on wearable merchandise, allowing the artist to proudly showcase their creation. The winner will also receive recognition in a MountainTrue e-newsletter as the contest champion.

Complete guidelines and requirements for the contest are as follows:

Theme: I Love Mountains

Preference given to designs showcasing the beauty and biodiversity of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.
Preference given to designs that encourage others to share their love for mountains and the region.

Rules:

Designs must not contain offensive material or profanity.
Participants must be within the age range of 10-14 at the time of submission.
Winners must be available in August 2024 for a virtual meeting with the designer.
No restrictions on the number of colors or entries submitted.

Submission Deadline: May 24, 2024

The winner selection process will involve MountainTrue staff selecting three finalists on June 3, whose designs will be showcased to MountainTrue supporters and the general public for voting until June 30. The final winner will be notified during the first week of July. Parents or guardians must provide permission for participants to enter the contest. For more information on how to enter the contest and submission guidelines, visit mountaintrue.org/event/earth-day-kids-merchandise-design-contest/.

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Press Release: Asheville Celebrates the Eighth Anniversary of Michael Franti’s Support for the French Broad River with a Special Two-Night Music Event

For immediate release: April 16, 2024

Asheville, NC – This June, Asheville’s cherished summer tradition returns to the scenic banks of the French Broad River for its eighth year. Music icon Michael Franti, renowned for his global performances and deep commitment to social causes, will headline a two-night musical extravaganza at the Salvage Station, continuing his support for the environmental efforts of the French Broad Riverkeeper.

The event, set for June 28 and 29, promises an unforgettable experience with a stellar lineup of artists. The Friday show features Trevor Hall & The Great In-Between, Bombargo, and Michael Franti & Spearhead. The following night, attendees can look forward to performances by Niko Moon, Bombargo, and once again, Michael Franti & Spearhead. Tickets for both single and two-night passes are currently available at salvagestation.com/events/michael-franti-spearhead-4/

“We continue to support MountainTrue through live music and community outreach because we believe care about the health of the French Broad River,” said Katie Hild with the Salvage Station.

Over the past decade, Michael Franti has been a staunch supporter of the French Broad Riverkeeper, a program housed by MountainTrue. This enduring partnership has significantly benefited the organization, raising over $150,000 to aid in the preservation and protection of the local river ecosystem.

As French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson explains, “It isn’t just the money that has been used to monitor the river, track pollution sources, advocate for improved policies, and improve river recreation; it’s the connection with the community. Asheville loves Michael Franti, and his brand of positivity and connection to environmental protection are the perfect matches for our work.”

Anna Alsobrook, MountainTrue’s Watershed Science and Policy Manager, explains that “Franti helped us push a plastic bag ban to the one-yard line by rallying the sold-out crowd two years in a row to take action, but the Retail Merchants Association overruled the will of the public and got a state law in place that now prevents action. Well, we aren’t just going to stand by and let plastic choke our waterways and poison our fish and families; we have a fresh set of actions for the public to take so we can tackle single-use plastic pollution.”

MountainTrue Deputy Director and General Counsel Gray Jernigan explains, “Every year, Franti not only shows up to headline the benefit show, he really gets behind the cause. He’s always willing to go the extra mile by giving a heartfelt shout-out to MountainTrue, recording videos encouraging the crowd to take action, donating, and getting involved. He even floated down the river to see what we have been working so hard to protect. Want to hear good music for a good cause? Come out to one or both of Michael Franti’s Asheville shows this June!”

Join us in celebrating this unique fusion of music and environmental activism at the Salvage Station for a cause that impacts us all. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an inspiring and joyful event!

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Letter to Our Members: We’re Going to Court to Protect Endangered Wildlife

On Thursday, April 18, MountainTrue, in collaboration with our partners at the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violations of the Endangered Species Act committed during consultation and development of the Biological Opinion on which the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan relies. This legal action seeks to protect endangered wildlife that are threatened by the new Forest Plan, which prioritizes commercial logging in habitat that is critical for the survival of several species.

Our decision to pursue litigation was not made lightly. After our previously issued Notice of Intent to Sue—a mandatory precursor under the Endangered Species Act—was filed last July, it became clear that the Forest Service was not going to take steps to correct its failures. Despite our extensive efforts to work collaboratively with the Forest Service to produce a balanced and scientifically sound plan, we are again forced to go to court to seek the changes necessary to protect endangered wildlife. This is MountainTrue’s commitment to protect our diverse ecosystems and the communities that cherish these forests.

DONATE TODAY

Our members and supporters power our Resilient Forests program. Donate today, so we can continue to protect our old-growth and mature forests, which are critical habitats for many endangered and threatened species.

Photo of a Virginia big-eared bat by Larisa Bishop-Boros – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

The flawed Forest Plan jeopardizes not only the endangered northern long-eared bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared bat, and the gray bat but also impacts species like the little brown bat and the tricolored bat, which are currently being considered for the endangered species list. Our lawsuit aims to rectify the inaccuracies, incomplete data, and flawed analysis that underpin the current plan, ensuring a more sustainable future for these critical habitats and the wildlife that dwell there.

To be clear, our goal with this lawsuit is not to stop logging on the national forest. However, we believe logging should be limited in areas known to be used by endangered bats. Unfortunately, the new forest plan allows run-of-the-mill logging in many of these areas without even looking for endangered wildlife.

Our Resilient Forests program, powered by the support of our members and donors, is essential in this fight. We thank you for your generous support. Every donation helps us work to protect old-growth, mature forests, and critical wildlife habitat.

The path ahead is challenging, but with you by our side, we can continue to advocate for a forest management plan that truly reflects the ecological and communal values we stand for. The future of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests depends on our collective action.

Thank you for standing with us,

Gray Jernigan
Deputy Director & General Counsel

Conservation Groups sue Forest Service over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan’s impact on endangered wildlife

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — This week, a coalition of conservation groups filed a lawsuit over glaring flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan that put endangered forest bats at risk, following through on a previous 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue letter.

The Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan guides the long-term future of two of the nation’s most popular and beloved public lands. Together, the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests total more than a million acres, contain 1,500 miles of trails, and boast some of western North Carolina’s most iconic destinations. The forests are also major drivers of local economies — each year they attract millions of visitors looking to enjoy the area’s incredible diversity of wildlife.

But the newly published 2023 Forest Plan aims to quintuple the amount of logging in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and puts sensitive areas, including important habitat for endangered forest bats, on the chopping block. Instead of fully studying the impact this massive expansion in logging would have on federally protected bats, the Forest Service relied on incomplete and inaccurate information to downplay the increased risks posed by the new Plan. The agency even ignored data showing where bats are found on the national forests and wrongly assumed that forests outside of the bats’ ranges would make up for cutting their actual habitats.

The flawed analysis clearly violates the Endangered Species Act, which requires federal agencies to use the best available science when considering how their decisions might harm federally protected species.

The northern long-eared bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared bat, and gray bat, which are the focus of this lawsuit, are teetering on the edge of extinction and the Forest Service has admitted that protecting their habitats in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests is essential to the species’ survival. The bats are important pieces of these forests’ ecosystems and if they are unable to survive, there will be a domino effect throughout western North Carolina.

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the case in federal district court for the Western District of North Carolina on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, MountainTrue, Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity. Statements from the groups are provided below:

“The amazing diversity of wildlife is a major part of what makes the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests so special. The Forest Service should be doing everything they can to protect the rare and endangered animals that call these forests home, not recklessly putting their habitats on the chopping block.” Sam Evans, Leader of SELC’s National Forests and Parks Program, said. “The Forest Service had a great opportunity to restore forests and protect endangered forest bats, but the agency refused – now we are suing.”

“The U.S. Forest Service is duty bound to conserve species listed under the Endangered Species Act,” said Ben Prater, Southeast Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife. “The revised Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan falls short of the obligation to prevent extinction and secure the habitat strongholds that these public lands provide for four critically endangered bat species. The Plan commits us to accelerated logging and road building for the next 20 years, putting these imperiled bats at even greater risk. This is simply unacceptable for endangered bats that so desperately need our best efforts to survive and recover.”

“Sustainable and economically viable commercial logging is not incompatible with protecting our endangered wildlife. Instead, the Forest Service ignored the best available science and withheld critical information from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees endangered species protection. They forced our hand when they broke the law. Now, we’re going to court to protect wildlife and to win a more responsible Forest Management Plan,” Josh Kelly, Public Lands Field Biologist for MountainTrue, said.

“The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests serve as anchor points for sensitive habitat that protects a marvelous array of plants and wildlife, which are increasingly under pressure. The revised Forest Plan misses the boat for protecting key wildlife by emphasizing activities that fragment and degrade habitat, especially for species that rely on mature and undisturbed forests. The N.C. Sierra Club will continue to work to protect the wildlife and habitats that we cannot afford to lose,” David Reid, National Forests Issue Chair for the Sierra Club, said.

“The Forest Service has prioritized logging over protecting some of the most endangered species on the planet,” said Will Harlan, Southeast Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These bats are on the brink of extinction, yet the Forest Service wants to aggressively increase logging in their forest habitats. It is another heartbreaking failure of the Forest Plan.”

Media Contacts:
Southern Environmental Law Center: Eric Hilt, 615-622-1199, ehilt@selctn.org
Defenders of Wildlife: Jay Petrequin, 202-772-0243, jpetrequin@defenders.org
MountainTrue: Karim Olaechea, 828-400-0768, karim@mountaintrue.org
Sierra Club: David Reid, 828-713-1607, daviddbreid@charter.net
Center for Biological Diversity: Will Harlan, 828-230-6818, wharlan@biologicaldiversity.org

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Will You Help Us Protect the Places We Share?

We are incredibly lucky to be in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, with natural treasures like native brook trout streams, just like the one near my childhood home in Madison County. Like many of you, I fell in love with the outdoors and any opportunity to play in the water or fish at a young age. Once you’ve experienced the beauty of catching trout, it’s not hard to understand why it’s a tradition for so many in these mountains we call home.

Photo: MountainTrue’s Josh Kelly fly fishing in a stream in Pisgah National Forest.

One stream I grew up fishing was Fall Branch, and it was loaded with brook trout until an upstream landowner logged the forest in the headwaters. Two hundred and twenty acres of mature forest protected those streams, but they were gone in an instant. The logging job was done with the goal of making a profit, without regard for the native species that relied on this clean mountain stream.

Miles of poorly built logging roads eroded into the creek, clogging it with silt and smothering any chance for many native species to reproduce and thrive. There are no longer any native brook trout in Fall Branch, and there may never be again.

This story is being played out all across our Nantahala Pisgah National Forests. Roads are being built but not maintained, and forests are being cut in sensitive ecosystems that are important to us all. We need you to help us protect these places. Please consider making a donation today.

Donate

With your donation, we can continue to work to protect these ecosystems so others can experience the same joy of growing up in the Southern Blue Ridge. Your donation directly allows the longevity of these forests to continue through the monitoring of logging projects and forest studies on how to protect the places we share. You can help fund our biologists and water quality specialists to collect the data necessary to persuade our local and state governments. Your support allows our volunteers and communication team to inform the public and rally support for protecting the forests that sustain us all.

The support you bring directly impacts the change you see. With you by our side, we will continue to fight to protect these valuable, deep-rooted traditions and the forests that allow them to exist.

Thank you for your commitment to our shared mission of protecting the places we share.

Josh Kelly, MountainTrue Public Lands Field Biologist

P.S. Consider making a monthly recurring donation. Even a gift of $5 each month can make a big impact over time. Select the “Make my donation recurring!” box when making your donation. Join as a monthly donor and you will receive our limited edition bat pin (while supplies last). We hope that you will wear your support for our Resilient Forests work proudly!

MountainTrue’s April 2024 E-Newsletter

MountainTrue’s

April 2024 E-Newsletter

April 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 message from Executive Director Bob Wagner:

While many are dealing with personal or societal grief for any number of reasons, it’s an excellent time to take in the anticipation and vibrancy springing forth outside our windows, on the trails near our house, and on our morning rides to work. We don’t have to go far to see cherry blossoms, redbuds, and daffodils, with dogwoods and rhododendrons on deck. They’re a reminder that life, beauty, and goodness are tenacious. This Earth Month, I hope we can embrace and celebrate that goodness. Come join us at one of our spring events as we take a moment to acknowledge and give thanks for the natural gifts all around us.

Photo: Single-use plastic bags tangled in the streambank brush on the French Broad River.

Enjoy lunch + learn about our plastics advocacy at Green Sage on April 17

Want to learn what MountainTrue is doing to address the single-use plastics problem and how you can help? Join us for a lunch + learn hosted by MountainTrue and Green Sage Cafe on Wednesday, April 17. Lunch will be purchased separately by participants — to make ordering easier, Green Sage will have a designated cash register for event participants. Please arrive between 11:10 and 11:25 a.m. so you can order and get settled before the presentation. Learn more and register.

Celebrate Earth Day with MountainTrue in Asheville!

Join us as we raise a glass to Earth Day and MountainTrue supporters from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 22, at The Funkatorium in Asheville, NC. MountainTrue volunteers in the month of April will receive a complimentary beer, wine or n/a beverage courtesy of Wicked Weed, so make sure you check out our volunteer opportunities! And that’s not all: Sugar Hollow Solar will also celebrate with us on-site. Homeowners or business owners can bring in their power bill for one complimentary drink ticket (good for beer, wine, or n/a drinks) on behalf of Sugar Hollow Solar.

Help save native habitat on our Earth Day Garlic Mustard Pull

Join us outside on Earth Day, April 22, for a day spent enjoying and protecting the fantastic botanical diversity of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The wildflowers should be at their peak as we pull garlic mustard and listen to the birds sing near Hot Springs, NC. Sign up soon, this one is filling up fast! Register here.

Call for tabling volunteers

Love talking to people and want to volunteer with MountainTrue? Consider being a volunteer at tabling events! Contact amy@mountaintrue.org for more information.

MountainTrue member spotlight: meet the Bairds

Ross and Bess Baird have been MountainTrue members for more than a decade. Recently, they’ve focused on supporting the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC program. When asked why this project has inspired them to give, they said, “We want to support systemic work that makes an impact at the local level. Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC is promoting dense development that can reduce urban sprawl in the counties. We’re currently crowding single-family homes onto smaller acreage with little to no erosion controls and building outwards rather than up. In the process, we’re destroying farmlands and forests. We want to treat the cause of suburban sprawl, and MountainTrue is working to do that.” Read more on our blog.

5Point Adventure Film Fest returns May 21

Tickets are on sale now! Join us on Tuesday, May 21, for the 5Point Adventure Film Screening in Asheville, NC, presented by Mosaic Realty and benefiting MountainTrue. Learn more.

Join MountainTrue’s Board of Directors

MountainTrue seeks a diverse board representing its service areas, including different areas of expertise and life experiences. The Governance and Equity Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis, and the full board considers new members at its August meeting. If interested, please complete the board member application and attach your CV/bio. Review the board member job description and apply here. We look forward to hearing from you!

Kid’s merch contest

Calling all budding artists aged 10-14 — MountainTrue Kid’s Merchandise Contest Launches on Earth Day (April 22)! Learn more here.

Print-on-demand merch options

Looking for a more responsible way to support MountainTrue’s mission and our environment while raising critical dollars for our ongoing work? We’ve partnered with Recover Brands to offer a mix of sustainable apparel throughout the month of April. All items in our temporary online store are printed on-demand when you place your order, which eliminates waste and relieves us from dealing with the expense and hassle of excess inventory. These items will ship straight to your door and Recover will send MountainTrue a check at the end of the month. Join us this Earth Month in making more intentional decisions for our organization and our earth. Place your order now!

MountainTrue hellbender hoodies & t-shirts are back in stock!

Proceeds fund the work of MountainTrue, including our clean water team. We are excited to announce that our Hellbender shirts are now 100% organic cotton. These have sold out fast so don’t wait — get yours today!

Rural Transportation Workshop: Building Clean Connected Communities

We’re excited to announce a free workshop charting the course for improved transportation in rural Western North Carolina on April 13. Through community-led sessions, peer discussions, and connections with resources and supporting organizations, we’ll gain insights and tools to address your community’s unique transportation challenges and bring sustainable mobility solutions home. Please join us to be a part of this transformative journey. Register here.

May 4 pollinator garden workshop

Looking for a family-friendly outing? Stop by the Olivette Pollinator Garden Workshop in Asheville on May 4 to learn about native plants and pollinators. This event is hosted by MountainTrue’s organizational partner, Sugar Hollow Solar.

Clean up the French Broad with Headwaters Outfitters this May

Join French Broad Paddle Trail Manager Jack Henderson for Headwaters Outfitters’ Annual Upper French Broad River Clean-Up Day on May 18 in Rosman, NC! This is not a MountainTrue-hosted event — Headwaters Outfitters supports MountainTrue, and we would love to help them in return. Space is limited and advance registration is required, so sign up today! Contact Danielle for more information or questions regarding this event at danielle@headwatersoutfitters.com.

MountainTrue Annual Gathering: save the date!

Mark your calendars and join us for our Annual Member Gathering in Asheville, NC on September 14, 2024!

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

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

Madison County advocacy updates

On April 9, Madison County Commissioners will take up two significant ordinances to regulate industrial activity in the county upon recommendations from the Planning Board, while kicking the can down the road with another potentially harmful revision to an existing ordinance.

Biomass facilities: In response to public feedback, the Madison County Planning Board has significantly revised the definition of what constitutes a large biomass facility, requires they obtain a special permit, and restricts their operations to industrial-zoned areas of the county. MountainTrue supports the revised ordinance, although, to be clear, MountainTrue opposes industrial-sized biomass facilities in Madison County, as they would emit more climate-changing carbon into the atmosphere, cause significant air pollution, and pose serious fire risks to nearby residents. So, while the Planning Board has moved in the right direction, we encourage the Board to reconsider whether large biomass facilities are appropriate for Madison County at all.

Cryptocurrency mining: The Planning Board also recommended the adoption of an ordinance to regulate the siting of data processing centers (aka, cryptocurrency mines) to industrial and commercially zoned districts. Cryptocurrency mining and the processes necessary to maintain and validate cryptocurrency transactions are incredibly energy-intensive. Because the fans needed to cool crypto storage units/warehouses full of computers are so loud, crypto companies look for locations with few or weak land-use protections when deciding where to build data processing centers. They also produce copious amounts of electronic waste and non-compactable styrofoam. MountainTrue applauds Madison County for stepping up to address this issue and protect citizens from this industrial nuisance.

Ridgetop protection: Responding to the desires of a single landowner, the Madison County Planning Board put aside the best interests of the wider community and recommended doing away with the rule that would prevent the construction of homes and buildings within 50 feet of ridgelines. This change would completely undercut Madison County’s Mountain Ridge Protection ordinance and open the door to unfettered home construction along mountaintops. County Commissioners have now called on an in-house staff task force to explore the ordinance revision, with no pending deadline for their findings. Allowing development on our ridgetops would threaten Madison County’s irreplaceable natural beauty, environmental health, economic vitality, and community well-being. MountainTrue will continue to monitor this development and keep our members updated when it’s time to act.

Buncombe County advocacy updates

Regulating short-term rentals: The Buncombe County Planning Board is considering amendments to regulate short-term rentals (STRs), including limiting the location of STRs, clarifying definitions, and creating special requirements. Ensuring that short-term rentals are appropriately regulated and located can create more opportunities for long-term rental and owner-occupied housing in our county. There are over 5,000 STRs in Buncombe County, accounting for about 5% of the county’s total housing stock. The Planning Board continues determining what STR regulations would allow pre-existing STRs to remain in operation. Homestays will be taken up at a later date. View the full list of the discussed STR regulations and watch the meeting video on the county’s website. We’ll keep you posted as county officials continue to develop their regulations.

Public transit: When public transit is efficient and reliable, people can choose to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking the bus to meet daily needs. The transportation sector is the country’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, most of which come from personal vehicles. Take action to encourage Asheville and Buncombe County to commit to increased bus service frequency in South Asheville and give our community cleaner transportation options.

High Country News

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

Happy spring and Happy Earth Month! We’re encouraged by the warmer weather and new life. We’ve been busy planting trees and celebrating World Water Day with our friends at Appalachian Mountain Brewery here in Boone. Thank you to all the old and new friends who came out to volunteer and support our work! We look forward to getting out on the water with you this spring. Scroll down + check out our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Hope to see y’all at the Fly Fishing Film Fest to celebrate Earth Day on April 20!

Mark your calendars for the Trout Derby on April 6!

Join MountainTrue and your Watauga Riverkeeper for the annual Trout Derby in Blowing Rock, NC, on Saturday, April 6. Whether you want to compete or enjoy a day outside filled with food, games, and music, it’ll be a fun Saturday for your whole crew! This family-friendly event has been happening for over four decades and is sure to impress. See you there!

Fly Fishing Film Fest returns to Boone on April 20

To continue Earth Day celebrations this year, the Watauga Riverkeeper is joining the party at the Appalachian Theater to see this year’s International Fly Fishing Film Festival! Make sure you and your crew mark your calendars for Saturday, April 20, to enjoy a night of films produced by professional filmmakers from around the globe showcasing the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and showtime is at 7 p.m. Pre-ordered adult tickets are $10/each, and day-of-show tickets will be $15/each. Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase at the door — the raffle winner will be announced at intermission and receive gear donated by Boone’s Fly Shop and Watauga Riverkeeper/MountainTrue merch. Raffle proceeds support the continued work of the Watauga Riverkeeper. Purchase tickets here.

Photo: Volunteers prepare live stakes for planting along the banks of the Watauga River.

That’s a wrap on our winter ‘23-24 live staking season!

As temperatures rise and plants emerge from their dormant season, our winter 2023-24 live staking season came to a bittersweet end on Saturday, March 23. With the largest turn-out in High Country live staking history and the weather clearing up right on time, we planted over 2,500 live stakes along Rominger Road, just upstream from the old Ward’s Mill dam site. We’re so excited to see how these live stakes revegetate the riparian buffer and continue to shade and protect our river. A huge thank you to all of our trusty workday volunteers this season — we couldn’t have done it without y’all! And shout out to Tennessee Valley Authority and Tennessee River Basin Network’s Shade Your Stream Grant for providing much-appreciated live staking funding.