Central Region News

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

During this season of gratitude, the MountainTrue team reflects on the year and shares our appreciation for all we have to celebrate. We’re so thankful for our staff, amazing board of directors, members and supporters, and dedicated volunteers. 

Last month at the MountainTrue Annual Gathering, we got together and celebrated with many of you in person. Our Executive Director, Bob Wagner, highlighted our 2023 successes and summarized the setbacks we’re working to overcome. We presented awards to some of the most active and motivated volunteers, like my friend Beth Porter, who we can always count on to pull some trash out of the river. It’s always inspiring to get together with our friends to thank each other for a job well done and to recommit to never giving up the fight for our mountains. 

As the days get cooler and we huddle with family and friends for another holiday season, we want to thank you for being part of our MountainTrue family. We couldn’t keep going without your support. 

Celebrate #GivingTuesday at No Man’s Land Film Festival​

MountainTrue, Mosaic Realty, and Altura Architects are proud to invite you to No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) – the premier adventure film festival featuring women, transgender, and gender-fluid adventurers in conservation-focused documentary shorts – at New Belgium’s Brewhouse in Asheville, NC, on Tuesday, November 28. NMLFF is free to attend, and the event will also be available virtually for those who can’t attend in person. The NMLFF in-person screening is first come first serve, so be sure to arrive early to get your seats! 

We’re proud to partner with Cold Spring Basecamp and Second Gear to offer an exciting prize for our 2023 NMLFF raffle! One lucky winner will win a $100 gift card to Second Gear, Asheville’s outdoor adventure gear consignment store, and a two-night stay at Cold Spring Base Camp, where adventure potential is endless on this beautiful 38-acre property in Zirconia, NC.  Cold Spring Base Camp is the jumping-off point for biking, hiking, paddling, zip lining, exploring waterfalls, or just enjoying time spent camping, glamping, or relaxing above the forest floor in a treehouse (option coming soon)! 

Madison County action alert: tell county officials to protect mountain ridges

On November 21, the Madison County Planning Board will be considering a drastic change to their Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance that would threaten the natural beauty and environmental integrity of the county. They will then make their recommendation to the County Commission, which could consider the rule change in December. The county has received an application from a private citizen to amend the county’s Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance and do away with a 50’ setback requirement, a key provision that protects mountain ridges from development. Take action by: 

• Emailing your Madison County Commissioners & Planning Board
• Attending the Planning Board meeting happening from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, November 21) at the Marshall Library (1335 N Main St. Marshall, NC 28753)

Join the MountainTrue team: Healthy Communities Spring 2024 internship

The Healthy Communities intern will work with Healthy Communities Program Director Chris Joyell to research issues involving housing, transportation, land use controls and health, and assist in engaging communities in designing their future. Our work is rooted in the principles of Smart Growth, and we encourage prospective interns to familiarize themselves with these principles prior to engaging with us. A background in design and/or planning is preferred, but students studying health, environmental management, geography/GIS, and economics have also found their niche in our program. This position offers flexible start and end dates and will be based out of our Asheville or Hendersonville offices (though much of the work can be done remotely). Click here to learn more + apply by November 30, 2023!

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

Looking for the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life this holiday season? Gift your loved ones or friends some MountainTrue Hellbender swag! Proceeds fund MountainTrue’s work to protect the places we share in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Act now before they’re gone! *No items will be mailed between December 22, 2023 and January 2, 2024 – please plan accordingly. 

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: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

New gov’t program offers renewable energy tax credits for low-income communities

The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program is now accepting applications. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established the program under section 48(e), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Inflation Reduction Act, to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and benefitting low-income households. The program prioritizes:

• Increased adoption of and access to renewable energy facilities in underserved and environmental justice communities.
• Encouraging new market participants.
• Providing substantial benefits to underserved communities and individuals who have been historically marginalized from economic opportunities and overburdened by environmental impacts.

Click here to learn more about the program, access helpful resources, and apply. 

Envisioning a new Patton Avenue

This past summer, the City of Asheville hired a consultant to conduct a corridor and feasibility study of Patton Avenue between the Jeff Bowen Bridge and Pack Square. With the redesign of the I-26 Connector, we have an opportunity to reimagine how Patton Avenue can extend to the Bowen Bridge, creating an extension of our downtown with a dense, urban corridor. On Wednesday, November 29, the project will conduct a public open house event to kick off the project. This free meeting will be held in the Banquet Hall of Harrah’s Cherokee Center located at 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801 from 5-7 p.m.

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

MountainTrue’s faith-based program, the Creation Care Alliance (CCA) is happy to announce its 2024 Winter Retreat & Symposium, Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Eco-Justice! Hosted at Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, the symposium will begin on Friday, February 2, and will run through Saturday, February 3. The presentations, workshops, and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all. We can’t wait to dive in and learn together, and we’re particularly excited to hear from this year’s keynote speaker, Mary Crow, of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN). Learn more + register here. Early-bird pricing (available until December 4), group and student discounts, and scholarships are available.

High Country News

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

It was good to see those of you who journeyed to Asheville for our Annual Gathering this year! We realize it was a busy fall weekend, and you could’ve spent your Saturday afternoon in many ways. Special thanks to Pace Cooper, who represented the High Country Region well during MountainTrue’s very first Jeopardy game! We also welcomed new board members Trevor McKenzie, Sara Cooper, and Miller Williams at our Annual Gathering. We’re excited to have their expertise helping guide the High Country and MountainTrue. Those of you who already have your calendars can save the date of September 14, 2024, for next year’s event! 

Scroll down for ways to engage with us this fall. We look forward to seeing you soon!

High Country live staking workday​

Join MountainTrue’s High Country team on Friday, December 15, for another live staking volunteer workday at Wards Mill Dam. Sign up to get outside + plant some trees!

Celebrate #GivingTuesday at No Man’s Land Film Festival​

MountainTrue, Mosaic Realty, and Altura Architects are proud to invite you to No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) – the premier adventure film festival featuring women, transgender, and gender-fluid adventurers in conservation-focused documentary shorts – at New Belgium’s Brewhouse in Asheville, NC, on Tuesday, November 28. NMLFF is free to attend, and the event will also be available virtually for those who can’t attend in person. The NMLFF in-person screening is first come first serve, so be sure to arrive early to get your seats! 

We’re proud to partner with Cold Spring Basecamp and Second Gear to offer an exciting prize for our 2023 NMLFF raffle! One lucky winner will win a $100 gift card to Second Gear, Asheville’s outdoor adventure gear consignment store, and a two-night stay at Cold Spring Base Camp, where adventure potential is endless on this beautiful 38-acre property in Zirconia, NC.  Cold Spring Base Camp is the jumping-off point for biking, hiking, paddling, zip lining, exploring waterfalls, or just enjoying time spent camping, glamping, or relaxing above the forest floor in a treehouse (option coming soon)! 

Photo: Legendary High Country Intern Emma Crider poses for a photo with one of the Tennessee Trash Trouts.​

Trash Trout update

This month, our team checked in on our Tennessee Trash Trouts to prepare for the upcoming cold season. These two Trash Trouts allow us to keep tabs on macroplastics flowing through the Doe River and Buffalo Creek in Eastern TN. Unfortunately, both Trash Trouts need some extra TLC, but the much-needed maintenance work will have them back up and running as intended! We appreciate all the awesome volunteers who consistently show up to keep the Trash Trouts clean, functioning, and sturdy!

Turtle Island Preserve outreach

On October 25, we welcomed our new intern, Haley Whitley, with another day of teaching at Turtle Island Preserve! High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator Hannah Woodburn and Haley met with a homeschool group on a beautiful fall morning to teach about native aquatic stream species, especially macroinvertebrates. The kids got to observe preserved specimens and identify them based on hints about their traits. They showed great enthusiasm and asked stimulating questions that kept the whole group engaged — many thanks to the families and our Turtle Island friends for having us back!

Photo: The view of the free-flowing Watauga River at the recently removed Wards Mill Dam site in Sugar Grove, NC.​

Dam Removal Training with American Rivers

The Watauga Riverkeeper team recently joined in on a dam removal training put on by our friends at American Rivers. The training session focused on the histories, successes, and challenges of dams and dam removals nationwide. Our team is passionate about dam removal projects and their respective restorations, and we connected with many other agencies across the state dedicated to the work. Thank you to our friends at American Rivers for teaching and inspiring North Carolina folks about removing dams in our precious rivers!

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

Looking for the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life this holiday season? Gift your loved ones or friends some MountainTrue Hellbender swag! Proceeds fund MountainTrue’s work to protect the places we share in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Act now before they’re gone! *No items will be mailed between December 22, 2023 and January 2, 2024 – please plan accordingly. 

New gov’t program offers renewable energy tax credits for low-income communities

The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program is now accepting applications. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established the program under section 48(e), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Inflation Reduction Act, to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and benefitting low-income households. The program prioritizes:

• Increased adoption of and access to renewable energy facilities in underserved and environmental justice communities.
• Encouraging new market participants.
• Providing substantial benefits to underserved communities and individuals who have been historically marginalized from economic opportunities and overburdened by environmental impacts.

Click here to learn more about the program, access helpful resources, and apply.

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

MountainTrue’s faith-based program, the Creation Care Alliance (CCA) is happy to announce its 2024 Winter Retreat & Symposium, Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Eco-Justice! Hosted at Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, the symposium will begin on Friday, February 2, and will run through Saturday, February 3. The presentations, workshops, and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all. We can’t wait to dive in and learn together, and we’re particularly excited to hear from this year’s keynote speaker, Mary Crow, of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN). Learn more + register here. Early-bird pricing (available until December 4), group and student discounts, and scholarships are available.

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

During this month of celebrating gratitude, I want to express my gratitude for each of you for the support and encouragement you’ve given MountainTrue this year. I’ve enjoyed sharing time with you at our Annual Gathering, Broad Riverkeeper Open House, Green Drinks, and other programs this fall. I look forward to renewed engagement in the coming months. If the forest fires around us are any indication, our teamwork in protecting the places we share is crucially important. 

While the days get cooler and we huddle together with family and friends for another holiday season, we want to thank you for being part of our MountainTrue community. We couldn’t keep going without your support.

Celebrate #GivingTuesday at No Man’s Land Film Festival​

MountainTrue, Mosaic Realty, and Altura Architects are proud to invite you to No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) – the premier adventure film festival featuring women, transgender, and gender-fluid adventurers in conservation-focused documentary shorts – at New Belgium’s Brewhouse in Asheville, NC, on Tuesday, November 28. NMLFF is free to attend, and the event will also be available virtually for those who can’t attend in person. The NMLFF in-person screening is first come first serve, so be sure to arrive early to get your seats! 

We’re proud to partner with Cold Spring Basecamp and Second Gear to offer an exciting prize for our 2023 NMLFF raffle! One lucky winner will win a $100 gift card to Second Gear, Asheville’s outdoor adventure gear consignment store, and a two-night stay at Cold Spring Base Camp, where adventure potential is endless on this beautiful 38-acre property in Zirconia, NC.  Cold Spring Base Camp is the jumping-off point for biking, hiking, paddling, zip lining, exploring waterfalls, or just enjoying time spent camping, glamping, or relaxing above the forest floor in a treehouse (option coming soon)! 

Join the MountainTrue team: Healthy Communities Spring 2024 internship​

The Healthy Communities intern will work with Healthy Communities Program Director Chris Joyell to research issues involving housing, transportation, land use controls and health, and assist in engaging communities in designing their future. Our work is rooted in the principles of Smart Growth, and we encourage prospective interns to familiarize themselves with these principles prior to engaging with us. A background in design and/or planning is preferred, but students studying health, environmental management, geography/GIS, and economics have also found their niche in our program. This position offers flexible start and end dates and will be based out of our Asheville or Hendersonville offices (though much of the work can be done remotely). Click here to learn more + apply by November 30, 2023!

December Hendersonville Green Drinks

Join us at Trailside Brewing Co. on Thursday, December 14, in Hendersonville, NC. During this event, titled Considering Tradeoffs: A Growth & Development Mapping Exercise, City Planning Staff will lead participants through a mapping exercise where they’ll be tasked to balance housing growth and economic development with choices related to transportation, quality of life and conservation. Participants will have to earn points to unlock game pieces and strive to avoid “raising taxes” in order to “win” the game. This is an opportunity to help inform the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Gen H. Click here to learn more.

Save the date: Holiday Recycling 2024!

Mark your calendars for another tree recycling event: January 6, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jackson Park (801 4th Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC)! As you go out to buy your live trees for the holidays, remember that you’ll be able to bring them to this event and collect mulch for your home gardens and landscaping. Also, are you planning a big appliance purchase for the season? Hold onto that foam! The Henderson County Solid Waste Department will be collecting foam to be recycled at the foam densifier.

Photo: Folks pose for a group photo at the Broad Riverkeeper Open House on October 26 in Shelby, NC.

A message from Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell:

We were blessed to have a big group of volunteers, supporters, and new friends join us for the Broad Riverkeeper Open House at the Biz Hub in Shelby last month! Michael Cheng served burgers on his homemade flatbread, along with delicious sides and brews from Newgrass Brewing Co. MountainTrue staff presented the victories and challenges here in the Broad River watershed. Your support keeps us working to champion clean water, resilient forests, and healthy communities!

Photos: (left) Tracey Baker battling a tangle of bittersweet at Double Head Knob. (right) Jason York and Pete Dixon removing a thicket of tree of heaven at Murray Branch.

MountainTrue volunteers + habitat restoration

In October, MountainTrue worked at three sites to remove nonnative invasive plants from rare habitats that support dozens of rare plants and animals. All three sites are extremely steep and associated with unusual geology. At Doublehead Knob, volunteers removed thickets of bittersweet engulfing one of the few native grasslands remaining in the mountains. At Rock Knob, volunteers worked to remove Japanese spirea, which is outcompeting numerous rare species — including shooting star — on a “mafic outcrop barren.” The Murray Branch Shale Barren is one of North Carolina’s only shale barrens and is home to plants found nowhere else in the state. Volunteers removed hundreds of tree of heaven stems from the site, and their work revealed the showy blooms of the aromatic aster. MountainTrue will continue stewarding these and other rare ecological communities. If you enjoy working in extremely rugged terrain and would like to volunteer in 2024, email Josh Kelly at josh@mountaintrue.org.

Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks on the 2023 Green Race:

The 2023 Green Race did not disappoint! The weather was perfect, water levels were spicy, and the crowd was rowdy! Mostly good lines and fun times for the Green River Narrows race this year. The Green Race is best day of the year down in the Gorge, and I’m always grateful we get to protect a place that brings so many people together to enjoy the magic that Mama Green provides. Not only in this race, but every day to kayakers, hikers, bikers, fisherfolk, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Congrats to everyone who raced and can’t wait for next year!

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

Looking for the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life this holiday season? Gift your loved ones or friends some MountainTrue Hellbender swag! Proceeds fund MountainTrue’s work to protect the places we share in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Act now before they’re gone! *No items will be mailed between December 22, 2023 and January 2, 2024 – please plan accordingly. 

Photos: Lawndale Park — the first phase of the Stagecoach Greenway — under construction.

Cleveland County receives support from the Great Trails State Program

Two greenway projects in Cleveland County, NC, recently received big funding: $2,000,000 to the City of Shelby in Cleveland County for Rails to Trails projects and $1,000,000 to Cleveland County Water for the Stagecoach Greenway Recreation Trail. The City of Shelby and Cleveland County Water are working hard to open these new greenspaces for all of us to enjoy! 

The Great Trails State Program, funded with $12.5 million each year for two years, is a competitive grant program for new trail development and extension of existing trails, including paved trails, greenways, and natural surface trails for biking, hiking, walking, equestrian use, and paddling. The fund is administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. 

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.

New gov’t program offers renewable energy tax credits for low-income communities

The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program is now accepting applications. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established the program under section 48(e), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Inflation Reduction Act, to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and benefitting low-income households. The program prioritizes:

• Increased adoption of and access to renewable energy facilities in underserved and environmental justice communities.
• Encouraging new market participants.
• Providing substantial benefits to underserved communities and individuals who have been historically marginalized from economic opportunities and overburdened by environmental impacts.

Click here to learn more about the program, access helpful resources, and apply.

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

MountainTrue’s faith-based program, the Creation Care Alliance (CCA) is happy to announce its 2024 Winter Retreat & Symposium, Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Eco-Justice! Hosted at Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, the symposium will begin on Friday, February 2, and will run through Saturday, February 3. The presentations, workshops, and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all. We can’t wait to dive in and learn together, and we’re particularly excited to hear from this year’s keynote speaker, Mary Crow, of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN). Learn more + register here. Early-bird pricing (available until December 4), group and student discounts, and scholarships are available.

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

It was good to see those of you who journeyed to Asheville last month for our 2023 Annual Gathering! We realize it was a busy fall weekend, and you could’ve spent your Saturday afternoon in many ways. Special thanks to Katherine Taaffe of Murphy, NC, who represented the Western Region well during MountainTrue’s very first Jeopardy game! Those of you who already have your calendars can save the date of September 14, 2024, for next year’s event. 

The days are getting shorter and cooler, and November marks the season of gratitude as we gather with family and friends for another holiday season. November is also Native American Heritage Month. Designated in 1990, Native American Heritage Month honors the many historic and present cultures, traditions, and achievements of Indigenous Peoples and their ancestors who have stewarded this land for tens of thousands of years. If you’re looking for ways to observe the occasion locally, I personally recommend the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee, NC. Cherokee offers many other ways to experience, honor, and celebrate the Cherokee People; click here to plan your visit! 

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter this month and for being MountainTrue!

Nominations are open for the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award​

Each year at our Watershed Gala, we present the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award to honor the person or group that has done the most to advance the mission of sustaining good water quality in the upper Hiwassee River watershed. The award is named after Bill Holman because of his persistent, constructive leadership, accomplishments, and sincere commitment to the environment and clean water throughout his career. Submit your nominations by December 6, 2023. Read more about the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award, see a list of past recipients, and submit your nominations here. And mark your calendars for next year’s Gala set for February 29, 2024!

Photo: Streambank restoration work was completed in mid-October along the Tuckasegee River at Bryson City’s Island Park.

Habitat restoration work continues at Bryson City’s Island Park​

MountainTrue and the Town of Bryson City recently completed a project to re-grade and stabilize eroding banks at Island Park on the Tuckasegee River. An area at the upstream end of the island where a portion of an old stone wall had broken apart and fallen into the river was also restored. MountainTrue received a grant from the North Carolina Land & Water Fund for the restoration work. The Town of Bryson City, MountainTrue, volunteers, and Wildlands Engineering all provided matching funds for the project. Read more about this multi-year project to restore habitat at Island Park on the MountainTrue blog. 

Cleaning up the Lake Chatuge shoreline

The 13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup was one for the books! This year, 48 volunteers picked up 1,050 pounds of trash from lakeside public lands on both sides of the state line. The 13-year total is now 15.5 tons of trash. Thanks to everyone who participated, and extra gratitude to Tennessee Valley Authority for sponsoring the event. Also, the US Forest Service, Blue Ridge Ranger District, Towns County Government, and Clay County Parks and Recreation for transporting the trash to appropriate disposal sites. We especially appreciate the participation of the Rotary Club of Lake Chatuge-Hiawassee again this year, as well as several students from Young Harris College.

Photos: (left) Native aquatic plants behind the pickleball courts in Towns County, GA. (right) Invasive parrot feather.

Speaking of Lake Chatuge, not all weeds are parrot feather!

Word is spreading fast about parrot feather — the invasive aquatic plant infesting the southernmost headwaters of Lake Chatuge. While this is a serious issue for the relatively small portion of the lake affected, it’s important to remember that there are several native and beneficial aquatic plants in Lake Chatuge, which fish and other aquatic life rely on for food and cover from predators. Lake Chatuge is a great lake for fishing; part of the reason is because of its native aquatic plants. If people have concerns about a weed they see in the lake, they should contact MountainTrue Western Region Program Coordinator Tony Ward at tony@mountaintrue.org or 828-837-5414 ext. 3 and he’ll help get it correctly identified. And in case you missed it last month, click here to read our blog post about the recommendations for controlling parrot feather.

Celebrate #GivingTuesday at No Man’s Land Film Festival​

MountainTrue, Mosaic Realty, and Altura Architects are proud to invite you to No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) – the premier adventure film festival featuring women, transgender, and gender-fluid adventurers in conservation-focused documentary shorts – at New Belgium’s Brewhouse in Asheville, NC, on Tuesday, November 28. NMLFF is free to attend, and the event will also be available virtually for those who can’t attend in person. The NMLFF in-person screening is first come first serve, so be sure to arrive early to get your seats! 

We’re proud to partner with Cold Spring Basecamp and Second Gear to offer an exciting prize for our 2023 NMLFF raffle! One lucky winner will win a $100 gift card to Second Gear, Asheville’s outdoor adventure gear consignment store, and a two-night stay at Cold Spring Base Camp, where adventure potential is endless on this beautiful 38-acre property in Zirconia, NC.  Cold Spring Base Camp is the jumping-off point for biking, hiking, paddling, zip lining, exploring waterfalls, or just enjoying time spent camping, glamping, or relaxing above the forest floor in a treehouse (option coming soon)! 

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

Looking for the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life this holiday season? Gift your loved ones or friends some MountainTrue Hellbender swag! Proceeds fund MountainTrue’s work to protect the places we share in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Act now before they’re gone! *No items will be mailed between December 22, 2023 and January 2, 2024 – please plan accordingly. 

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 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: review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program here.

New gov’t program offers renewable energy tax credits for low-income communities

The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program is now accepting applications. The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established the program under section 48(e), which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Inflation Reduction Act, to promote cost-saving clean energy investments in low-income communities, on Indian land, as part of affordable housing developments, and benefitting low-income households. The program prioritizes:

• Increased adoption of and access to renewable energy facilities in underserved and environmental justice communities.
• Encouraging new market participants.
• Providing substantial benefits to underserved communities and individuals who have been historically marginalized from economic opportunities and overburdened by environmental impacts.

Click here to learn more about the program, access helpful resources, and apply. 

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

MountainTrue’s faith-based program, the Creation Care Alliance (CCA) is happy to announce its 2024 Winter Retreat & Symposium, Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Eco-Justice! Hosted at Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, the symposium will begin on Friday, February 2, and will run through Saturday, February 3. The presentations, workshops, and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all. We can’t wait to dive in and learn together, and we’re particularly excited to hear from this year’s keynote speaker, Mary Crow, of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN). Learn more + register here. Early-bird pricing (available until December 4), group and student discounts, and scholarships are available.

Central Region News

A note from Bob Wagner, Executive Director: 

I can’t help it; I like to win! Just ask any of our staff after a friendly game of kickball or wiffleball. I grew up playing, watching, and learning about sports. I learned the value of being a team as well as many other wonderful life lessons while doing my best to win. 

Increasingly, however, I see that “winning at all costs” is a big part of our society’s problem. Our public rhetoric has become more incendiary. It’s a winner-take-all mentality. Many politicians — most of whom were elected by not much more than 50% of the vote — don’t see a need to listen to the nearly 50% of the people who didn’t vote for them. And, by definition, winners create losers. Losers aren’t happy, and will frequently subvert the winner. We need to do better, and there is another way.

The theme for MountainTrue’s Annual Gathering this past Saturday was We are all interconnected. We all need to do a better job of listening to each other, being willing to disagree but not vilify, debating ideas, and considering ways to accommodate diverse ideas in the solution. MountainTrue did this with 30 partners representing different interests when making a recommendation on the Nantahala Pisgah Forest Plan. We also engaged and included ideas from diverse stakeholders when making our anti-single-use plastics recommendation to Asheville and Buncombe County. Going forward, we remain committed to listening and bringing more people into the tent as we tackle the next big issue.

The Endemic Species Pub Crawl returns on October 28​

Join us at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, to enjoy some tasty brews in South Asheville while dressed as your favorite endemic or native species! You don’t have to drink to join the pub crawl; come out to talk about endemic species with local experts and enthusiasts. All three locations (Hillman Beer, 7 Clans Brewing, and Village Pub) are dog-friendly, so feel free to coordinate your costume with your well-behaved pups and bring them along for this fun, free Halloween celebration! Need some costume inspiration? Click here to register + browse an extensive list of endemic flora and fauna species.

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Click here to find out more.

Join the MountainTrue team: Spring 2024 internships

We’re hiring one to two interns for our newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC (N4MN)! This position will begin in January 2024, with a flexible end date. The N4MN intern(s) will support program goals by creating social media content, conducting general program outreach, event planning, research on best practices in the pro-housing movement, and more. Click here to learn more + apply by October 30, 2023!

We’re also hiring a Healthy Communities Intern for spring 2024 — learn more + apply for this position here (application deadline is November 30).

Incoming bike lanes and pedestrian improvements in Downtown Asheville

We’re excited that Asheville City Council voted to move forward with multi-modal transportation improvements on College St. and Patton Ave. There was heated opposition to this project, and without the support of over 200 responders to our call to action, this project would have died despite years of studies, plans, and work to get it passed. Improvements like these create safer options for more users of our roads — including biking, walking, riding transit, or driving — and that paves the way for increased residential density in our city centers.

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC supports Project Aspire

We believe that dense, multi-use development located in our city centers is part of the solution to meeting both our housing crisis and our climate crisis. Read our letter to Asheville City Council to learn about why we support Project Aspire on the Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC blog.

Hot Springs and the French Broad River

Come out to Pine Hall in Hot Springs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, to hear MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, Jack Henderson, talk about access, stewardship, water quality, and partnerships focused on the French Broad River in and around Hot Springs and Madison County. Click here to learn more about this event sponsored by Friends of the Hot Springs Library.

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

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: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

High Country News

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

It was so lovely to see many of you at our MountainTrue Annual Gathering in Asheville! Fall is here in the High Country, and we’re transitioning to our seasonal work projects. We enjoyed conducting habitat surveys with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and App State during hellbender breeding season. Work is progressing nicely on our dam removal projects. We hope you can join us this season to plant some live stakes and treat some nonnative invasive plants. Keep reading to learn about our upcoming engagement opportunities and what else we’ve been up to.

MountainTrue & the 105 Broadstone Bridge Replacement​

We’ve been in consultation with the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on managing environmental impacts associated with 105 Bridge Replacement. MountainTrue has been engaged in advocacy on this project for over a decade, from its first inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to the current Best Fit Alternative. We’ll continue to monitor this project. Monitoring hellbender populations and fitting individuals with pit tags for long-term monitoring has been an exciting part of this project. Click here to learn more.

Photo: Hannah Woodburn poses for a photo behind the Middle Fork Trash Trout.

Middle Fork Trash Trout update

The Watauga Riverkeeper team ventured out to the Middle Fork Trash Trout for maintenance and a cleanout this month to ensure its preparedness for the upcoming cold season. Some significant trees, limbs, and brush created flow issues and put the Trash Trout in need of a little TLC. We’re happy to report that it’s back in action and functioning properly! Trash Trout cleanouts allow us to keep tabs on the amount of macroplastics flowing through our rivers and help our downstream neighbors a bit in the process!

Fall + winter live staking in the High Country

As cooler weather starts to move in, our team is getting ready for live staking season! Join us outside this season to help restore and replenish streambanks while meeting new friends and doing some good work for Mother Nature. Live staking involves taking dormant cuttings of a living tree and planting them along the river’s edge. Join us on Friday, November 17, and December 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (location TBD). Email Hannah (hannah@mountaintrue.org) or Emma (hcrointern@mountaintrue.org) for more information!

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Photo: Emma Crider (left) and Hannah Woodburn (right) pose for a fun photo at AMB’s 2023 Oktoberfest. 

Good times at AMB Oktoberfest

This year’s Oktoberfest at Appalachian Mountain Brewery was the best one yet! Brats + beer + meeting new friends = a fantastic day! We were able to spend the day alongside other amazing nonprofit organizations and spread the word about our goals, upcoming events, and community partnerships that help us protect our watershed. With perfect weather for games and outdoor fun, it was nothing short of a perfect day. Thank you to our AMB family for hosting such a fun event!

Turtle Island Preserve stream lesson

Last month, Hannah and Emma spent a day teaching a homeschool group about their watershed at Turtle Island Preserve. It was a beautiful day to experience the natural living experience the space provides for people of all ages. We played with horses, explored a tributary of the South Fork New River, and discussed the processes and challenges of our watershed. The children were so knowledgeable and curious; obviously little scientists in the making! Thank you to all of our Turtle Island friends for having us.

Photo: A serene scene from the recent Watauga Tailwaters guided paddle.  

A summer send-off on the Watauga Tailwaters

Hannah led our annual tailwaters paddle trip in September, which was absolutely wonderful! We had a great turnout and even better weather to soak in the last bit of summer. We’re so thankful for fun days on the water with our river family, taking time to appreciate our awesome watershed. A huge thank you to all those who could come and hang out with us!

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

Cool, crisp weather is finally here, and it’s time to bring out the flannel! Our autumn forests teach us how beautiful it can be to let some things go; I hope this season brings a lot of peaceful reflection to your life. Something we haven’t let go of and are eager to resume is our Hendersonville Green Drinks Series! I appreciate Mike Huffman, Trailside Brewing Company, and Conserving Carolina for their roles in the successful first lecture of this series. Read on for details about next month’s lecture at Trailside Brewing Co.

Photo: Mike Huffman, Stormwater Division Manager for the City of Hendersonville, speaks to the crowd at the first Green Drinks of 2023 on October 12.​

While coordinating the return of Hendersonville Green Drinks, I learned that Green Drinks started in London in 1989 and currently exists in over 500 cities globally, with international events coordinated through greendrinks.org. I look forward to seeing you at future Green Drinks presentations and supporting efforts throughout our region to create more spaces to learn and express our interests in protecting the places we share.

Happy fall, and happy learning!

Float down the Broad River with us this weekend

Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell this Saturday, October 21, for a fall float along the Broad River in Shelby, NC. We’ll paddle and float down a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to enjoy! The first half of the trip will have some fun, easy class I and II rapids. The second half of this section is slow-moving and still water, so we’ll need to paddle some (not just float) to reach the takeout on time. This guided adventure will last approximately four to five hours. If interested, we invite you to bring a fishing pole and binoculars on this trip, as there will be opportunities to fish and see wildlife! Click here to learn more and register.

Come out to the Broad Riverkeeper Open House on October 26

MountainTrue and Biz Hub invite you to learn more about the Broad Riverkeeper Program at this casual drop-in event in Shelby, NC! We’ll be serving food from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with a short program at 5:30 p.m. to hear from your Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell; MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Director, Nancy Díaz; and Biz Hub’s Jeff and Julie Weathers. The Broad River Watershed includes 5,419 square miles within both North and South Carolina. The Broad River Basin includes Five Natural Heritage Program Priority Areas: the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, Hickory Nut Gorge, the Green River Gorge, the Pacolet River Gorge, and Pinnacle Mountain. These areas provide habitat for more than 100 rare plant and animal species and 24 rare natural communities. Join us in being a part of preserving this important local natural resource! RSVP by Monday, October 23, 2023.

Join us at Trailside Brewing Co. for Hendersonville Green Drinks this Fall

Join us at Trailside Brewing Co. on Thursday, November 9, in Hendersonville, NC, for an informative session led by retired MountainTrue ecologist Bob Gale. At this event, Bob will discuss issues related to nonnative invasive plants, methods of control, and ideas for moving your yard toward a more natural ecosystem. Click here to learn more. 

Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, and Trailside Brewing Co. We’re thankful to our gracious hosts, Trailside Brewing Company! Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome — you don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen! Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.

Photos: Sarah Sweep volunteers enjoying each other’s company and showing the First Broad some love by removing river trash (left). Sarah Sweep volunteers pose for a photo with their impressive haul of river trash (right).

The 8th Annual Sarah Sweep was one for the books!

Mother Nature must have known our crew’s good intentions for the First Broad River and our community at the 8th Annual Sarah Sweep last month; she held back the thunderstorms that the weatherman promised, and we had a lovely day on and off the water. Fifteen volunteers on the water removed a dump truckload’s worth of tires and garbage from the First Broad River! We then returned to Double Shoals Cotton Mill for an evening of good food, friends, and local music.

Save the Date: No Man’s Land Film Festival

MountainTrue is excited to once again present No Man’s Land Film Festival as part of GivingTuesday on Tuesday, November 28, at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville, NC. The films will be available both in-person and for virtual screening. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Join the MountainTrue team: Spring 2024 internships

We’re hiring one to two interns for our newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC (N4MN)! This position will begin in January 2024, with a flexible end date. The N4MN intern(s) will support program goals by creating social media content, conducting general program outreach, event planning, research on best practices in the pro-housing movement, and more. Click here to learn more + apply by October 30, 2023!

We’re also hiring a Healthy Communities Intern for spring 2024 — learn more + apply for this position here (application deadline is November 30).

Clear Creek Wastewater Discharge Permit – comments submitted

Last month, NCDEQ shared a draft wastewater discharge permit and held a public comment period for a new proposed Henderson County Clear Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Clear Creek is a tributary to Mud Creek that ultimately flows into the French Broad River and is listed as impaired on the state’s 303(d) list of impaired streams. Henderson County is proposing construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and expansion of sewer service to the Edneyville area. MountainTrue is opposed to this permit because a new discharge to an impaired stream is unlawful and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant is unnecessary given the option available to connect to the existing plant operated by the City of Hendersonville. However, any sewer expansion to this part of Henderson County could open the doors to sprawling development, so appropriate land use protections need to be implemented before facilitating unchecked development. Thank you to those of you who submitted comments through our action alert (tag alert). MountainTrue also submitted technical comments with support from the Southern Environmental Law Center, and we will continue to monitor this issue. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Diaz (nancy@mountaintrue.org).

Photo: The NC Danza Chichimeca poses for a photo on the French Broad Riverkeeper canoe after a spirited performance.​

Many thanks to our community partners

A few weeks ago, FIND Outdoors hosted the first Latino Heritage Festival at the Cradle of Forestry; the new Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Mills River location held an Oktoberfest celebration and community fundraiser; the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville invited us to be a part of their program; and Trinity Presbyterian of Hendersonville hosted a screening of The River Runs On documentary. We’re so thankful to the many wonderful partners who support our mission and give us opportunities to engage with new audiences in an effort to build our MountainTrue community, and we extend a warm welcome to the new folks who have joined our network!

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote: resources from the NC Conservation Network

NC voters can check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in their communities. Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

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: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

Take this survey to let Hendersonville know your priorities for the future

The City of Hendersonville is developing its 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is called Gen H to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. The Gen H Community Survey is the first opportunity for the public to provide input. The survey is open through November 14 and is an excellent opportunity to share your ideas for Hendersonville’s future. Read our recommendations and take the survey here.  

The Hendersonville Public Works department is updating their master plan too, take the Parks & Greenspace Survey! (Open thru December 2023)

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

Many of you summer lovers won’t share my enthusiasm for October. I love all seasons, but I get really happy when the ragweed dies and the leaves start to fall. In my opinion, it’s perfect hiking weather! And it often means we might see some snow soon. (My colleague, Tony, is groaning right now.) Our on-the-ground work here in the Western Region shifts away from summer E. coli sampling and more towards habitat restoration and invasive plant removal. However, with your help, our advocacy work continues as strong as ever. Emily Bronte shared my view of the season:

Fall, leaves, fall by Emily Brontë

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay

Ushers in a drearier day.  

Happy fall, y’all!

Cherokee County, NC adopts first comprehensive plan, places moratorium on high impact land uses

The Cherokee County commissioners have taken positive and historic steps in recent weeks to protect residential communities from the establishment of more cryptocurrency mining operations and other high-impact land uses. On September 18, Cherokee County adopted its first-ever comprehensive land use plan, establishing a baseline by which private property rights can be balanced with community character. On October 2, the commissioners adopted a moratorium on certain high-impact land uses while they work to develop an ordinance that would provide limitations for these uses in the future. MountainTrue Western Regional Director Callie Moore spoke in favor of the moratorium at the public hearing, applauding the county’s efforts to develop an ordinance requiring a closer look at new and expanding high-impact commercial and industrial operations, including cryptomines. MountainTrue has been working behind the scenes with county residents and partner organizations to push for these changes since the unenclosed Harshaw Road cryptomine came online in the fall of 2021.

Photo: Parrot feather infestation in the south end of Lake Chatuge near the US Hwy. 76 bridge in Towns County, Georgia.​

Controlling nuisance aquatic weeds in the headwaters of Lake Chatuge

For the last two summers, noxious weeds have been an unwelcome presence on the south side of Lake Chatuge in and around the Macedonia area of Towns County, Georgia. The primary culprit, parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), is native to tropical parts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite its highly invasive tendencies in natural waters, it’s still actively promoted and sold for use in ponds and aquariums and has been accidentally introduced to waterways all over the US from these sources. Like many invasive aquatic species, parrot feather can also be transferred to waters on boats and other watercraft. Flourishing in warm water conditions, it grows rapidly in late spring and summer, creating huge mats of rooted vegetation that can cause recreational and navigational issues. Learn more about what TVA is doing and recommending to homeowners here.

Fall volunteer opportunities on the Jackson County Greenway

MountainTrue is again hosting a series of community volunteer workdays this fall to control nonnative invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC. Our partners for these events include Jackson County Parks & Recreation, Mainspring Conservation Trust, and the WCU Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. We’ll pull up roots, cut vines, and use hand tools to remove invasive shrubs (like Chinese privet) and then treat the stumps. No prior experience is necessary; we’ll provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we’ll have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t have to be able to do strenuous physical labor to participate. Please, no pets. Email AmeriCorps service member Eve Davis with any questions. 

• Register for Friday, October 27, 1-4 p.m.
• Register for Friday, November 10, 1-4 p.m.

Photo: Benjamin Davis won the prize for Most Creative Trash Photo in 2020.​

13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup: Saturday, November 4

Join other lake-loving volunteers on Saturday, November 4, for the 13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup, sponsored by Tennessee Valley Authority & Georgia Rivers Alive. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion across from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds where volunteers will get their assigned cleanup locations and be given bags, gloves, and safety information. Coffee and grab-n-go breakfast snacks will be available, along with free Rivers Alive t-shirts for the first 30 volunteers. After two hours of shoreline cleaning at assigned sites, volunteers will meet back at the pavilion at 11:30 a.m. for prizes. Three prizes will be given on the day of the cleanup: Most Trash Collected by a Group, Most Creative Trash Photo, and Most Unique Trash Item Found. Please register yourself or your group so we’ll know you’re coming. 

Live closer to Fontana Lake? The annual Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup sponsored by Fontana Village Marina is also the first weekend in November. Email AmeriCorps service member Eve Davis for details.

Order native trees and shrubs through November 5

There’s still time to order native plants during our 7th Annual Fall Native Tree Sale Fundraiser! Choose from 30 native species, ranging from large shade trees to smaller ornamental shrubs. All plants are quality nursery stock and are available in one to three-gallon pots. Click here to place your orders by November 5, 2023. A few species are nearly sold out, so place your order today! Please note: Your plants must be picked up between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18, at the MountainTrue West office parking lot in Murphy, NC.

Now streaming: The River Runs On

The River Runs On is finally available to stream online! Click here to watch the film — which features an interview with MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly — on Prime Video. Film description: Follow conservationists throughout Southern Appalachia as they struggle to manage two of the most important national forests in America – the Pisgah and Nantahala. The film revolves around a plan the US Forest Service is finalizing that will dictate how these two national forests are managed for the next twenty years. The result is a meditation on our relationship to nature.

Get out the vote

Municipal elections are critically important because we’ll be deciding on decision-makers such as mayors, school boards, and town council members. Here are some helpful resources:

NC voters: check out the NC State Board of Elections webpage to find out when local elections are happening in your communities.

• Find your county’s early voting locations and times here. 
• Find your voter record online. Click here to check your registration, view a sample ballot, and locate your polling place for Election Day.
• A photo ID is now required to vote in NC, but there are exceptions! Click here to find out more.

GA voters: click here to check out this one-stop-shop for voting resources on the Georgia Secretary of State website.

Save the date: CCA Symposium​

Mark your calendar for the Creation Care Alliance’s 2024 Winter Symposium, which will be held February 2-3 at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird pricing, group and student discounts, as well as full scholarships will be available. Stay tuned for registration information coming soon!

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 Cherokee and Haywood 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: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.