5th Annual Virtual Broad River Fishing Tournament
2024-08-24 00:00 - 2024-09-02 23:59 (America/New_York) | virtual
Want to register for the 5th Annual Virtual Broad River Fishing Tournament? Go on your own or with your friends to your favorite locations on the Broad River or any tributary. You can fish one day or all week long! The Bass Shack and The Depot Cafe in Lattimore are sponsoring the event this year and offering prizes for Broad’s Best Angler, Biggest Bass, Biggest Panfish, and Biggest Catfish.
Recognition as the “Broad’s Best Angler” will be given to the fisherperson with the highest combined total length of their three biggest fish. We will also recognize winners for catching the biggest bass, biggest catfish, biggest panfish (bream or crappie), and most unusual fish.
Here’s how it works. When you catch a “nice one”, take a photo of the fish lying on a fish ruler and send it via e-mail to david@mountaintrue.org. We will tally up the fish measurements after Labor Day, the last day of the tournament, and announce winners that week.
Happy Fishing!
Photo: David Englehardt: Broads Best Angler 2023

French Broad River Clean-Up – Paddling Pisgah Forest to Penrose w/ The Hub
2024-08-29 10:00 - 16:00 | Penrose Boating Access Area, Apac Drive, Pisgah Forest, NC, 28768
Come help MountainTrue and The Hub clean up the French Broad River in Transylvania County between Pisgah Forest River Access and Penrose Boating Access Area. This will be a boat-based cleanup on a 5.5-mile section of calm water with the option to clean access points if you do not wish to be on the water.
MountainTrue will provide a limited number of canoes to volunteers with previous paddling experience, but attendees are otherwise welcome and encouraged to bring their own boats and gear. If you don’t have a boat, or have limited paddling experience, you are welcome to join and help clean up the access points.
Children are welcome to attend this event as a Paddle Access volunteer. They may be on the water if they have prior paddling experience. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.
Please remember to bring:
Clothes that can get dirty and wet during the event
Change of clothes for after the event
Drinking water
Snacks
Lunch
Gloves
PFD/boat/gear if bringing your own boat
MountainTrue and The Hub will provide:
– Canoes
-PFDs and paddles to those who signed up to borrow a boat
– Trash bags
– Disposal of trash afterwards
– Shuttle of people and gear between the put-in and take-out
This event will be rain or shine (with the exception of heavy rain). The event will be canceled if water levels are too high or too low.

9th Annual Sarah Sweep and First Broad River Festival near Lawndale, NC
2024-09-07 10:00 - 21:00 | Double Shoals Mill, 199 Old Mill Rd., Shelby, NC, 28150, United States
All are welcome to join us on this lovely section of the river that Sarah Spencer held dear to her heart. While paddling the shallow, shaded, cool waters between rock cliffs and rhododendrons, Sarah would always stop to pick up any litter along the way. Sarah, Beejay, Billy, and Davey died tragically in 2016 in a car accident. This event is in remembrance and honor of these friends and their love for our river.
Meet us behind Double Shoals Mill at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 7th (35.381188, -81.544954). We will drop our boats there beside the river and take vehicles down to Zion Church Rd., then catch a shuttle back to the mill to begin.
Please remember to bring: your boat, paddle, lifejacket, water, lunch, sunscreen, gloves, sturdy water shoes or sneakers (no flip-flops), and a dry change of clothes. We have some extra kayaks available only if you reserve them in advance.
After the clean up we will head back to the Double Shoals Mill for an evening of fabulous local music and food at the First Broad River Festival. We hope you will stay and join us. More details will be sent out to participants who register below.
Volunteers and kids under the age of 8 eat FREE. If you are not volunteering but want to join for music and food, you can purchase a ticket for $20.

Anyone under the age of 18 who is comfortable paddling is welcome to volunteer if a parent or guardian accompanies them for the entire duration of the outing.
The rain date for this sweep and festival will be September 21st!

Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC: Localization; the answer to more than just the environmental crisis?
2024-09-12 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
The post-World War II of the 40’ and 50’s shifted the food paradigm from local to high-yield crops and grocery stores. Steeped in an economy of convenience, this system provides on-demand food, but has shown devastating impacts on the environment, health, and community. Could a shift back to local be the answer to these 3 top issues faced today?
Join us for a discussion entitled, “Localization; the answer to more than just the environmental crisis?,” from Tia Wackerhagen, RN, BSN, Food and Agriculture Committee Co-chair, and member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. Tia is a registered nurse for Roof Above in Charlotte, North Carolina, serving individuals who have recently come out of chronic homelessness. She is passionate about equality not only in health care but in food systems. To further strengthen this passion, Tia is pursuing her doctorate in nursing practice in family nurse practitioner specialty at East Carolina University. She serves as co-chair for the Alliance for Healthy Nurses food and agriculture committee.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.

MountainTrue 2024 Annual Gathering in Asheville, NC
2024-09-14 15:30 - 17:30 | Devil’s Foot, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
You’re invited to the Annual MountainTrue Member Gathering on Saturday, September 14th. We will be back at Devil’s Foot Beverage in Asheville, NC this year.
Come early at 3 pm to meet our Board Members. General programming will begin at 3:30 pm and will include reflecting on our achievements to date in 2024 and honoring outstanding Volunteers. We will have heavy snacks and MountainTrue will cover the cost of your first beer, wine or n/a beverage.
The fun doesn’t stop there. Stick around after the business wraps for a fiery round of MountainTrue-themed trivia.
This event is open to current members of MountainTrue. Check your current membership status here or by emailing members@mountaintrue.org. If you’re not a current member, we would love to have you join us — You don’t want to miss out on the fun!
Come raise a glass with us to another year of being stronger together!
This event is free to current members but, if you would like to help us cover the cost of the event, the suggested donation per attendee is $25. This can be made as an additional donation on the registration form.

Fall Float on the French Broad Paddle Trail with MountainTrue and Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman, NC
2024-09-21 10:30 - 15:00 | Headwater Outfitters Outdoor Adventures, 25 Parkway Rd, Rosman, NC, 28772
Come float the headwaters of the French Broad River with Headwaters Outfitters, MountainTrue, and local partners in celebration of North Carolina being the Great Trails State. The French Broad River was designated a Tennessee State Scenic River in 1968, a North Carolina State Trail in 1987, and officially launched as the French Broad Paddle Trail by MountainTrue and RiverLink in 2012. MountainTrue is North Carolina State Parks’ Partner Organization for the French Broad River State Trail and leads watershed-wide Paddle Trail efforts through its French Broad Riverkeeper program based in Asheville.
While the French Broad Paddle Trail flows for over 140 miles in both North Carolina and Tennessee, the upper sections in Transylvania County have become especially popular due to the plentiful access, calm water, and opportunities for wildlife viewing. This float will experience all of these factors as we travel from the river’s beginnings in Rosman to Headwaters Outfitters’ Hannah Ford Campground, a distance of 8 miles and approximately 3 hours. Before the float, we’ll present some light programming to cover the history, present status, and future plans for the Paddle Trail, and afterward – there’s an option to attend the annual “Paddle to the Pork Bluegrass Festival” happening at Hannah Ford Campground or be shuttled back to your car and head into Brevard for an evening of your choosing.
Participants should have prior paddling experience and be comfortable navigating their boat of choice in moving water. Boats and gear can be rented from Headwaters Outfitters, or you’re welcome to bring your own. Lunch will be eaten along the river, so plan to pack your own or reserve a catered option.
We hope you’ll join us for a beautiful start to autumn here on the French Broad River in Transylvania County.
Feel free to reach out to Jack Henderson, MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager, at jack@mountaintrue.org with any questions.
Click this link for ticket options and to book your trip: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/headwatersoutfitters/items/544504/availability/1448057332/book/?flow=no&full-items=yes

Catch MountainTrue at Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) Oktoberfest in Mills River, NC on 9/21
2024-09-21 11:00 - 21:00 | AMB Mills River, 46 N Mills River Road, Mills River, NC, 28759
Oktoberfest is back and better than ever! Get ready for an all-day celebration filled with brews, brats, and belly-laughing fun! Come visit the MountainTrue table for some fun games, new merch and more information on all the activities we have planned this Fall and Winter.
Full event information can be found here.

**CANCELED** Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC: Conserving Carolina’s Trails – Conservation and Recreation
2024-10-10 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
DUE TO THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE HELENE, THIS EVENT IS CANCELED FOR OCT 10.
Join Conserving Carolina’s Trails and Land Management Coordinator, Max Howes, for an update on Conserving Carolina’s trail systems! Conserving Carolina has built and maintains ~39 miles of trail in the region, showcasing many acres of, and scenic views from, protected land. He will review what makes trails sustainable, why they are important to the region, what it takes to build and maintain trails, trail history, Conserving Carolina’s involvement with the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail, and more! There will be an update on current trail projects and opportunities to get involved with trail expansion and maintenance.
Max was born and raised in North Carolina, visiting areas across the state while calling Chapel Hill his home until he left for college. He attended Denison University in Ohio, earning a B.A. in environmental studies with a minor in geoscience. Knowing he wanted to return to North Carolina after graduation, he served two terms with AmeriCorps Project Conserve as Conserving Carolina’s Habitat Restoration and Volunteer Coordinator. He gained a great appreciation for the diverse flora and fauna as well as the mountain trails in the area. He is now Conserving Carolina’s Trail and Land Management Coordinator. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, disc golf, biking, and watching college basketball.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. 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.

Broad River Fall Float near Shelby, NC 10/12--CANCELED
2024-10-12 10:00 - 16:00 | Broad River Greenway Canoe Access, 126 Broad River Drive, Shelby, NC, 28152, United States
DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS RECENTLY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, THIS EVENT IS CANCELED. MOUNTAINTRUE IS FOCUSED ON RECOVERY EFFORTS. STAY TUNED FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP. Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell for a fall float along the Broad River. We will be paddling a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to paddle and enjoy! The first half of the trip will have some fun, easy class I and II rapids. The second half of this section is in slow-moving and still water, so we will need to paddle some (not just float) to reach the takeout on time. It is about a 4 to 5-hour trip.
Because of the rapids on this section of the river, all participants must be 18 and older and comfortable in a boat.
Please bring: your boat, paddle, and lifejacket, water, lunch, snacks sunscreen, sturdy water shoes or sneakers (no flip-flops), and a dry change of clothes. If you want to enjoy the scenery, you are encouraged to bring binoculars as well.
If you reserve a boat, please call David at 704-300-5069 to confirm PFD (life jacket) size.
The RAIN DATE is October 19th. Please reserve both dates on your calendar.

Green Riverkeeper Open House & Party in Saluda, NC
2024-10-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Green Riverkeeper Office, 7347 Ozone Dr, Suite 4, Saluda, NC, 28773
MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper office has recently moved to Saluda, NC, and is hosting an open house to celebrate with the community. Come out to see the new space, mingle with fellow MountainTrue supporters, build new relationships, and support local businesses in the area.
We’ll have snacks from Sara’s Event Services, drinks donated by Oskar Blues and served by Spruce and Pine Bar Company, music from local fiddlers and banjo players, and live painting by local artist, Kristen Mode, co-owner of EARThly Minds Gallery— you don’t want to miss it!
No RSVP is required but we will have a limited number of free snacks and drinks (limit 2 drinks per person).
We are very grateful to our local businesses and supporters welcoming us to the community, so when we are out, we’re out!

City of Hendersonville Water Treatment Facility Tour-CANCELED
2024-10-29 14:00 - 15:30 | City of Hendersonville Water Treatment Facility, 4139 Haywood Road, Mills River, NC, 28759
Due to the catastrophic events of Hurricane Helene, this event has been canceled. Stay tuned for information about events in 2025. Have you ever wondered about the journey your morning glass of water takes, from source to tap? Come learn about this process from one of the largest utility systems in North Carolina. The City of Hendersonville treats drinking water for over 80,000 people, operates and maintains of over 683 miles of water mains, 54 water pumping stations, and 24 water storage tanks. Join us in a tour of this municipal water treatment facility.
We will be walking indoors and outdoors so fall layers and closed toe walking shoes are recommended. Also, there is limited parking at the facility, carpooling is encouraged.
*Children are welcome with a supervising adult.

Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC: Green Built Alliance-CANCELED
2024-11-14 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Due to the catastrophic events of Hurricane Helene, this event has been canceled. Stay tuned for information about events in 2025. Green Built Alliance has a 22-year history of advancing sustainable living, green building and climate justice through inspired action, community education and collaborative partnerships in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Jamie Wine, Clean Energy Program Manager, will talk about how the membership-based nonprofit makes sustainability more accessible to the community through its efforts to distribute 25,000 copies of the annual Green Home & Living Guide (formerly known as the Green Building Directory); coordinating the Appalachian Offsets carbon-offsetting program; managing the Blue Horizons Project community campaign to help create our region’s clean energy future; and administering green-building certifications through the Green Built Homes program.
Jamie Wine joined Green Built Alliance in the spring of 2022. He hails most recently from New Orleans where he managed an education and outreach program for energy efficiency and building science across Louisiana. Before that, in Seattle, California, and Boston, he developed nonprofit programs for varied audiences like students in grades K-12, ocean advocates, traffic engineers, community organizers, adults, families and youth. Jamie is deeply committed to community empowerment through education, fighting the climate crisis, and bringing environmental peace to disadvantaged communities. While an executive decision is often easier, he believes a collaborative approach yields a more satisfying result. Jamie studied marine biology and environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds professional certifications in building performance, leadership development, public speaking and real estate.
You can learn more about Green Built Alliance at greenbuilt.org.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. 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.

Green Clean in Saluda, NC on 12/14
2024-12-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Green Riverkeeper Office, 7347 Ozone Dr, Suite 4, Saluda, NC, 28773
We will be working down on the Lower Green to clean up trash along the roadside. This is NOT A RIVER CLEANUP! We will NOT have volunteers in the water. Volunteers should be prepared to clean up large metal debris, sharp objects, heavy household items and more.
We will announce the areas we will be working on the morning of the cleanup. Folks with chainsaw skills are encouraged to attend, but need to know the skills may not be needed once we get down into the Cove. Volunteers should be flexible as to the schedule and needs of the day as they can change quickly. The environment we will be working in is somewhat dynamic with hazards to be considered. That being said, all of this work to clean along the river will require a high level of focus on safety.
It is worth noting for anyone who has not yet been to a hard-hit disaster zone that the scale of destruction in the Green is hard to fathom. One should prepare for the day to not only be physically difficult but emotionally taxing as well. Please know your limits for this day of service. We will have many volunteer opportunities within the year to come so if this isn’t the time for you to volunteer, there will be more options in the future for other skill levels!
Volunteers will meet at the Green Riverkeeper office to grab cleanup supplies and carpool down into the Green to limit our footprint with vehicles. Upon sign-up you will receive an email with what to bring with you the day of.

Christmas Tree Recycling in Hendersonville, NC Jan 6-10th; return for mulch on January 11th CANCELED
2025-01-06 09:00 - 2025-01-10 16:00 | Jackson Park Ball Field, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Due to inclement weather, the recycling event has been canceled.
Recycle your live Christmas trees & wreaths this season!
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.
Henderson County residents can drop their trees off at Jackson Park from Jan. 6-10, and plan to return and load up on mulch January 11, 2025, from 9 to 2 p.m. at Jackson Park (801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC). Ball Field # 6.
The Henderson County 4-H Club will also be collecting holiday lights during the event as a fundraiser for their programs. Bring your holiday lights, in any working order and support our young farmers!

French Broad River Livestaking Workday near Fletcher or Brevard 1/23 CANCELED
2025-01-23 10:00 - 15:00
Due to the incredibly cold temperatures in the area this week, this event has been canceled. Please check out one of the other upcoming Live Staking dates! Come help us start to restore riverbanks of the French Broad after Hurricane Helene. We’ll plant stakes that will eventually grow into trees.
Please bring:

Lunch/snacks
Warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather and make sure it’s things you don’t mind getting dirty)
Rubber boots and/or waders
An extra set of dry clothes

We will email you with the exact location and more details closer to the event date.
We’ll decide where we’re planting based on that week’s weather and will be in touch about final location. Expect work locations to be either in Fletcher or in the Rosman/Brevard areas. Depending on the warmth that day, we may be paddling, so there could be an opportunity to canoe down and plant as we go, but we will let you know beforehand.

French Broad River Live Staking Workday near Fletcher or Brevard 1/25-CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
2025-01-25 10:00 - 15:00
Due to the blast of cold weather that has hit our region, the ground is frozen in the areas that we planned to work. This event will be canceled. Please check our Events Calendar for upcoming workdates in February. Come help us start to restore riverbanks of the French Broad after Hurricane Helene. We’ll plant stakes that will eventually grow into trees.
Please bring:

Lunch/snacks
Warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather and make sure it’s things you don’t mind getting dirty)
Rubber boots and/or waders
An extra set of dry clothes

We will email you with the exact location and more details closer to the event date.
We’ll decide where we’re planting based on that week’s weather and will be in touch about final location. Expect work locations to be either in Fletcher or in the Rosman/Brevard areas. Depending on the warmth that day, we may be paddling, so there could be an opportunity to canoe down and plant as we go, but we will let you know beforehand.

Everett Rd. Transylvania County Clean-up with MountainTrue & Conserving Carolina 2/8
2025-02-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Everett Rd. Clean-up, 44 Everett Rd, Pisgah Forest, NC, 28768
Come join the French Broad Riverkeeper team and Conserving Carolina as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Transylvania County. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas upstream and downstream. Please note this will be a land-based clean up.
Please wear long sleeves, long pants, work boots, rubber boots and/or waders. (Expect to get dirty!) We will have protective equipment available (gloves, glasses), but feel free to bring your own as well. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring tools (loppers, saws, shovels, ladders, etc.) to help dislodge and collect garbage.
Please bring water and snacks and any food or drinks that you need.
Volunteer Safety Reminder: Always Wear Your PPE During Cleanups!
As more volunteers participate in river clean-ups and other recovery activities, many will be coming into contact with mud, sludge, sediment, and dust left behind by the storm. These materials may contain higher levels of pollutants and contaminants, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.
To work safely, we recommend using the following personal protective equipment (PPE):
✔️Rubber boots that can be easily cleaned to prevent cross-contamination.
✔️Rubber gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with contaminated materials.
✔️N95 masks (or better) to reduce inhalation of harmful dust and particles.
✔️Long sleeves to protect your arms from direct contact with potentially harmful substances.
✔️Waterproof bandages to cover any cuts or abrasions, reducing the risk of infection.
✔️Safety glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from mud particles and dust.
After your clean-up activities, be sure to shower as soon as possible to remove any remaining contaminants from your skin and clothing. Given the lack of running water in many areas, you may want to arrange your shower plans before signing up for a clean-up. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot.
By following these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety while helping our community recover.

Green Drinks: Restoring Natural Floodplains – Building Resilience for Communities and Ecosystems 2/13
2025-02-13 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Restoring natural floodplains offers transformative benefits for both communities and ecosystems. Conserving Carolina’s Natural Resources Director, David Lee, will highlight Conserving Carolina’s innovative floodplain restoration projects along the French Broad River, focusing on their important role in mitigating flood risks, improving biodiversity, and enhancing water quality. Using real-world examples, such as the Pleasant Grove and Kings Bridge restorations, we’ll explore strategies to restore natural functions to floodplains and build resilience against extreme weather events like Tropical Storm Helene. Attendees will gain insights into effective restoration techniques, the power of community partnerships, and the importance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge. Join us to learn how these projects serve as a model for creating thriving, sustainable landscapes that support both people and nature.
David lived most of his life in Florida, but he spent many vacations camping, hiking, and enjoying nature in the southern Appalachians. These experiences instilled in him a sense of appreciation for the environment that led to a strong commitment to conserve it. After earning a BS in Environmental Science from the University of West Florida, David relocated to Asheville where he worked as a Bog Steward for The Nature Conservancy. He then served two consecutive terms with AmeriCorps Project Conserve with Conserving Carolina’s Weed Action Coalition of the Hickory Nut Gorge (WAC-HNG) where he preserved the natural habitats and scenic beauty of the Gorge through management of non-native invasive plants. He joined the staff in 2014 where he works to keep our protected lands healthy, which means a good deal of non-native, invasive species management.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.

French Broad River Live Staking Workday near Fletcher or Brevard 2/20-CANCELED
2025-02-20 10:00 - 15:00
Due to extremely cold weather, we are forced to cancel this event. The ground will be too cold. Please check out our other live staking event on February 22nd! Come help us start to restore riverbanks of the French Broad after Hurricane Helene. We’ll plant stakes that will eventually grow into trees.
Please bring:

Lunch/snacks
Warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather and make sure it’s things you don’t mind getting dirty)
Rubber boots and/or waders
An extra set of dry clothes

We will email you with the exact location and more details closer to the event date.
We’ll decide where we’re planting based on that week’s weather and will be in touch about final location. Expect work locations to be either in Fletcher or in the Rosman/Brevard areas. Depending on the warmth that day, we may be paddling, so there could be an opportunity to canoe down and plant as we go, but we will let you know beforehand.

French Broad River Live Staking Workday near Fletcher or Brevard 2/22
2025-02-22 10:00 - 15:00
Come help us start to restore riverbanks of the French Broad after Hurricane Helene. We’ll plant stakes that will eventually grow into trees.
Please bring:

Lunch/snacks
Warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather and make sure it’s things you don’t mind getting dirty)
Rubber boots and/or waders
An extra set of dry clothes

We will email you with the exact location and more details closer to the event date.
We’ll decide where we’re planting based on that week’s weather and will be in touch about final location. Expect work locations to be either in Fletcher or in the Rosman/Brevard areas. Depending on the warmth that day, we may be paddling, so there could be an opportunity to canoe down and plant as we go, but we will let you know beforehand.

Conservation Conversations with MountainTrue in Brevard, NC 2/26
2025-02-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Ecusta Brewing, 451 Ecusta Rd., Brevard, NC, 28712
Meet the organizations in your community working to conserve our forests and rivers. We’ll provide time for socializing and sipping, then jump into a conversation on the current conservation issues and what we’re doing to address them.
Ecusta Brewing Co. offers food and a variety of beverages (including non-alcoholic options). No outside food or beverages are permitted.
Youth are welcome as long as accompanied by a parent/guardian the entire time. Please note: after 7 pm, the room used for the event is 21+.

Green Drinks: Advantages of Supporting a Hyper-Local Food System (Hendersonville, NC) 3/13
2025-03-13 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Making intentional purchases from local small-scale farmers, farmers’ markets, and grocers does more than just make us feel good; it directly influences significant regional environmental concerns and amplifies the local economy.
Alicia and Kevin Stump are the owners of Stump Farms, a small-scale family farm located in Hendersonville, NC. Established in 2017 as first-generation farmers, they prioritize sustainable and regenerative practices in their cultivation of vegetables, gourmet mushrooms, and more. Additionally, they draw inspiration from heirloom produce and herbs to create a range of canned goods and all-natural skincare products.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.

MountainTrue Helene Clean-up along the Upper Broad River below Lake Lure 3/16
2025-03-16 13:00 - 17:00
Join MountainTrue’s Broad Riverkeeper and River Clean-up Coordinator, along with help from Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, as we clean up trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Rutherford County along the Upper Broad River, about 5 miles below Lake Lure.
We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas and on an island. This is a land-based clean-up, with some of us wading across to the island.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterwards in case you get wet or dirty. We will have plenty of trash bags, gloves, safety glasses, and buckets for use, along with some hand tools such as shovels, loppers, hand saws, rakes, etc., however, feel free to bring your own if you would like. We will have our dump trailer there for the removal of collected garbage and recyclables.
For safety reasons, no participants under the age of 18 are permitted. Please check out our other volunteer opportunities for kid-friendly events.
LOCATION:
5563 US 64/74a Hwy
Rutherfordton, NC 28139

Register Now

MountainTrue & Rutherford Outdoor Coalition Helene Clean-up along the Upper Broad River below Lake Lure 3/20
2025-03-20 11:00 - 15:00
Join MountainTrue’s Broad Riverkeeper and River Clean-up Coordinator, along with help from Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, as we clean up trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Rutherford County along the Upper Broad River, about 2 miles below Lake Lure.
We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas and on an island. This is a land-based clean-up, with some of us wading across to the island.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterwards in case you get wet or dirty. We will have plenty of trash bags, gloves, safety glasses, and buckets for use, along with some hand tools such as shovels, loppers, hand saws, rakes, etc., however, feel free to bring your own if you would like. We will have our dump trailer there for the removal of collected garbage and recyclables.
For safety reasons, no participants under the age of 18 are permitted. Please check out our other volunteer opportunities for kid-friendly events.
LOCATION:6750 US 64/74a HwyLake Lure, NC 28746

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Hurricane Helene Recovery Panel & Discussion at NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC 4/3
2025-04-03 17:30 - 19:30 | NC Arboretum Education Center, 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
Join MountainTrue and a panel of experts to discuss recovery in our area after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Panelists will address the impacts of natural disasters, what recovery means for our region and how the community can support these efforts.
This event is free of charge, but if you feel moved to make a donation to support critical work in our area, we invite you to do so when you register. The North Carolina Arboretum is generously donating use of the Education Auditorium for this event. All donations associated with the registration of this event will be split 50/50 with the NC Arboretum. Click here to learn more about the NC Arboretum.
The event will kick-off with social time from 5:30 to 6 pm with snacks and beverages provided for attendees. The panel will run from 6 to 7:30 pm.
**IF this event is FULL, please email amy@mountaintrue.org to be placed on the waitlist. You MUST be pre-registered to be granted admission to this event.
It is our hope to record this event as a resource for the community. If you cannot attend and wish to receive a link to the video, please click here to receive a notification when it is available.
About the Panelists and topics to be covered:
Moderator:
Jack Igleman of Carolina Public Press

Jack Igelman is the lead environmental reporter for Carolina Public Press and teaches economics and environmental studies at Warren Wilson College. During his two decades as a reporter, he’s written dozens of articles about people’s relationship to our landscape.
Floodplain Policy & Resilience:
Jenny Brennan-Climate Analyst, SELC

Jenny Brennan works to translate climate science and community needs into local, state, and federal policy changes that increase resilience to climate impacts. Jenny is from South Carolina and currently lives in Virginia, and through her work at the Southern Environmental Law Center she gets to focus her advocacy on her home region. As a Climate Analyst within SELC’s Climate Initiative and Co-Leader of Resilience work for the organization, Jenny focuses on disaster recovery reform, flooding policy, extreme heat, nature-based solutions, land use, climate justice, and applied climate science. Jenny is a proud alum of the College of Charleston and Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.
Housing Needs:
Meg Fenton Lebeck- Executive Director of Housing Assistance Corporation

Margaret Fenton Lebeck is Executive Director of Housing Assistance Corporation, which has nearly doubled its staffing in response to this disaster. Founded as a home repair program in 1988, the organization has produced a dozen affordable housing complexes and builds single-family homes. Lebeck has previously served as executive director for Love Light + Melody, as chief of staff for Global Ministries of The UMC/ UMCOR, and as a researcher for UNICEF. Lebeck holds a master’s degree in Peace, Conflict and Development and is the recipient of Fulbright and Rotary International World Peace Fellowship awards.
Legislation & MountainTrue Programs:
Gray Jernigan-MountainTrue Deputy Director and General Counsel

Gray Jernigan is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Vermont Law School. He joined MountainTrue in 2016 as Southern Regional Director. A year later, he founded the Green Riverkeeper program and assumed that title in addition to his regional director duties. In 2023, he stepped into the role of Deputy Director & General Counsel where he oversees regional and programmatic goals of the organization across its entire service area and leads MountainTrue’s legislative advocacy efforts.
Recreation Economy:
Amy Allison-State Director of Outdoor Economy

Amy Allison is the Director of North Carolina’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Office, within the North Carolina Department of Commerce. In this role, she leads efforts to strengthen and grow the state’s outdoor recreation economy by fostering collaboration with outdoor businesses, local governments, and communities that depend on North Carolina’s diverse and abundant outdoor landscapes. Her office focuses on key areas including economic development, conservation, education and workforce training, as well as public health and wellness to ensure the state’s strategic growth as a place where residents, outdoor businesses, and recreation communities can thrive.
Throughout her dedicated career in the outdoor recreation sector, Allison has built strong ties within North Carolina’s vibrant outdoor community and beyond. She proudly calls Western North Carolina home. When she’s not working, Allison enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exploring the outdoors, and seeking out new adventures.
Resilient Forests:
Greg Cooper-Sustainable Forests Initiative

Greg Cooper is the Director of Conservation Implementation with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative where he works on topics related to biodiversity, climate-informed forestry and how they relate to forest certification. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina and is a Registered Forester. As a forester, he has worked for The Nature Conservancy and the United States Forest Service. He has experience living and working in Appalachian Forests from Maine to Georgia and is especially interested in protecting the biodiversity within and promoting the resilience of our forests. Greg has a Master of Forestry and Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and an
undergraduate degree in Biology from Drew University in New Jersey.
Access to the Arboretum: Your on-site program registration grants you admission to the Arboretum the day of your program. You are welcome to come before, or remain after, to explore the grounds. If you are not a member, please let the Gatehouse attendant know you are here for the program. Please arrive early to allow time for entry, parking, and taking care of any other needs before your program. Restrooms are available in the Education Center, Baker Center, and portable toilets are scattered in the landscape. While this program takes place at a public location, please do not bring any pets or unregistered guests, including children, with you.
If you’re using GPS to get to the Arboretum, make sure you’re heading to 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville NC, 28806. Campus map linked here.

MountainTrue Spring Wildflower & Headwaters Hike in Bostic, NC 4/4-CANCELED
2025-04-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Golden Valley Community Club, 127 Jonestown Rd, Bostic, NC, 28018
We regret that this event has been canceled. Join your Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, and MountainTrue’s Resilient Forest Director, Josh Kelly, for a half-day hike up one of the Old CC Roads in the South Mountains. These roads were originally built in the 1930s as Civilian Conservation Corps projects during the Great Depression. They now lie in the 21,000 acre South Mountain Game Lands.
We’ll speak about the importance of maintaining these pristine headwaters of the First Broad River, which is Cleveland County’s drinking water supply. Josh will discuss our Forest programs and help us identify flora and fauna.
Meetup is at 10 am sharp at the Golden Valley Communtiy Center: 35.517449, -81.755543
We will then carpool into the remote Game Lands for our hike.
This is a fairly strenuous hike of about 5 miles and 1000 feet of elevation gain.
While we love our furry friends and kids, please no dogs or children on this hike.
Please bring:

Appropriate outerwear
Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
Water
Lunch and snacks
Walking stick (if you have one)

2025 Spring Green Kayak Raffle to support the Green Riverkeeper
2025-04-09 - 2025-05-03
Support MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper with your raffle ticket purchase. Enter to win a brand new Liquidlogic Torque.
MSRP: $1,399
What Liquidlogic has to say about the Torque:
“The Torque is the boat you will choose 9 times out of 10 to go run the river and play your brains out.
We took the Hot Whip concept and tuned the play performance to a whole new level. Dropped chines and stern rocker make it carve harder, drive faster, and spin more loosely on a wave. We also dropped the bow volume enough to make it a cartwheel machine. But we didn’t drop the bow rocker… much. That’s the magic that makes this high performance long playboat also a great river runner. Essentially, the Torque is a high performance longer playboat with a good dose of river running thrown in.
You might not paddle another boat once you’ve given this thing a little Torque.”
For product specs, download the Torque one-sheeter [pdf].
HOW TO ENTER THE RAFFLE:
1. Enter online by completing this form and paying with a credit card OR
2. Pay cash in person at the event on May 3
**No tickets are needed for the block party. Tickets are only for the raffle.
Color for illustration. Color choice depends on Liquidlogic’s available stock.

Green Drinks: Ecusta Trail – Rebranding and the Latest Updates (Hendersonville, NC) 4/10
2025-04-10 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Mark Tooley, president of Friends of the Ecusta Trail (FOET), will provide an overview of the rebranding of the Ecusta Trail and the new website. He will also provide an update of the latest activity concerning design, engineering, and construction of the trail including amenities. The more connectivity a trail has to other trails and popular destinations, the more useful and desirable it becomes. We will take a look at other trail activity that is planned or already occurring in the region that will provide some of that connectivity.
The Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) has been in existence for 15 years as an advocacy organization to create a rail trail on the unused rail line between Hendersonville and Brevard. FOET has worked with local governments, private businesses, non-governmental organizations, and non-profits to gain community support for the trail during that time. After Ecusta Rails2Trail LLC. (a subsidiary of Conserving Carolina) purchased the rail line in 2021, FOET has worked with Conserving Carolina to raise private funds to provide required local matching funds for the federal grants that have been received. Those grants that have been awarded, totaling nearly $46 million, will be used to build the entirety of the Ecusta Trail in the next several years. Mark is a past board member of Conserving Carolina and has been a board member of FOET for 10 years. He has been FOET’s president for the past three years and resides in Transylvania County.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.

MountainTrue Helene Clean-up along the Upper Broad River below Lake Lure 4/13
2025-04-13 13:00 - 17:00
Join MountainTrue’s Broad Riverkeeper and River Clean-up Coordinator, along with help from Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, as we clean up trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Rutherford County along the Upper Broad River, about 4 miles below Lake Lure.
We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas and on an island. This is a land-based clean-up, with some of us wading across to the island.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterwards in case you get wet or dirty. We will have plenty of trash bags, gloves, safety glasses, and buckets for use, along with some hand tools such as shovels, loppers, hand saws, rakes, etc., however, feel free to bring your own if you would like. We will have our dump trailer there for the removal of collected garbage and recyclables.
For safety reasons, no participants under the age of 18 are permitted. Please check out our other volunteer opportunities for kid-friendly events.
LOCATION:5911 US 64 74A HwyLake Lure, NC 28746coordinates: 35.419832, -82.138415

Register

Earth Day Riverside Cleanup with Thomas Jefferson Academy near Rutherfordton, NC on 4/22
2025-04-22 15:30 - 17:30 | Public Boating Access on the Broad River at Hwy 221A 35.217227, -81.779467, 35.217227, -81.779467, NC
Join your Broad Riverkeeper and students from Thomas Jefferson Academy for a riverside litter sweep at our newest public river access. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has added another public boating access to the Broad River Paddle Trail and we want to give it a good spring cleaning.
Please bring: water, any snacks needed, gloves, sturdy close-toed shoes and be prepared to get dirty.
This event is rain or shine. Youth are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration.
Meet-up location: Public Boating Access on the Broad River at Hwy 221A
35.217227, -81.779467
We appreciate you and the time you spend volunteering to protect the places we love and share. To show our gratitude, we’re offering MountainTrue volunteers a complimentary, one-year membership. To become a member of MountainTrue, simply email members@mountaintrue.org and request a complimentary membership. If you wish to donate to support our work, you can do so here. Thank you for all the work that you do to protect our environment!
Sign-up now!
