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MountainTrue University: A history of environmental extraction and activism in Appalachia

Join us on March 11th from 12 pm- 1 pm to hear from our AmeriCorps Water Quality Administrator, Grace Fuchs, about the history of environmental extraction and activism in Appalachia. We will begin by defining the cultural and geographic boundaries of Appalachia, from there we will take a closer look at the environmental impacts of the timber, coal, and fracking industry in the region. We will then move to a historical analysis of Appalachian activists who have fought long and hard to protect their communities in the face of cultural and ecological destruction.

Winter Bird Watch on Lake Chatuge

MountainTrue will host the 15th annual Winter Bird Watch outing on Lake Chatuge, Saturday, March 13th, starting at 7:30 AM. This year we will meet at Chatuge Dam and caravan to various sites around the lake shoreline to view a wide variety of birds. Typically, 18-25 different species are observed on the outing, ranging from small songbirds to larger birds of prey and wintering waterfowl typically associated with more northern climes.

Western Region Winter Tree ID Workshop

Join MountainTrue's very own Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward, on March 20th from 10 am - 12 pm, for our Winter Tree ID hike at Lake Chatuge. The 1.2-mile loop trail at the Lake Chatuge Recreation Area Trail offers a tour along the lake shoreline which holds a wide diversity of native trees perfect for identification! During this hike, we will discuss the different ways that you can identify trees in your area. This hike is open to all skill levels of tree identifiers so we hope to see you there!

$10 – $20

Live Staking Workday

Love our rivers? Come join the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue as we combat sediment erosion in our local waterways. Sediment is a major polluter in our river basin, clogging fish and aquatic habitats, increasing water temperatures, and transporting toxic substances. We are helping to reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding riverbanks. As these stakes grow into trees, they stabilize the sides of the rivers and creeks where we plant them and reduce the overall amount of sediment getting into the river. Come plant with us!

Signs of Spring Hike

This is a great late winter hike that follows the Green River offering continuous views of its quiet stretches to its most intense rapids. We'll look for early wildflowers and migrating warblers. Because it lies at lower elevations than more northerly mountain counties, temperatures should be mild and spring vegetation will be farther along.

Earth Day Clean Up Challenge 2021

Challenge yourself to clean up trash at a local park, roadside, or streamside area in need. Share your before and after clean-up photos on Facebook and Instagram by tagging @mtntrue with the hashtag #MTEarthDayChallenge. The person in each of our four MountainTrue regions who collects the most trash in the photo shared with us will win a prize announced at 7 pm on 5/4. During this time we encourage you to collect trash individually, or with your household members.

MountainTrue University: How Local governments are responding to Climate Change

Join MountainTrue's very own High Country Regional Director & Watauga Riverkeeper, Andy Hill for a High Country Sustainability discussion with George Santucci. George served as the long-time Director of the New River Conservancy. George has brought his decades of environmental experience and a unique and valuable perspective to his new role as Sustainability and Special Projects Director for the town of Boone. Join us for an informative discussion about how MountainTrue and the town of Boone have partnered to address energy use, climate change, stormwater, and microplastic pollution.

Solarize Asheville-Buncombe Launch Event

Solarize Asheville-Buncombe will kick off our long-awaited community-based group purchasing campaign to help local property owners access affordable solar power with a virtual launch event on April 7. The event will feature Vice-Mayor Sheneika Smith, Buncombe County Commission Chair Brownie Newman, local campaign organizers and others!

Spring Headwaters & Wildflower Hike

Join our MountainTrue Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, and Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, as we explore two trails in the North Pacolet sub-basin, a tributary of the Broad River. David will discuss the value and concerns associated with headwater streams, while Bob informs us all about the flowers, plants, and animals we find there.

$5 – $15

Socially Distant Green River Spring Cleaning

Join MountainTrue's Green Riverkeeper and Liquidlogic Co-founder Shane Benedict for the 11th Annual Green River Spring Cleaning! For obvious reasons, we'll need to take additional precautions to keep everyone safe and healthy this year, including wearing masks in parking lots and anytime you can't maintain 6 feet of distance, avoiding paddling in large groups, and shuttling with household groups. Check in at Fishtop Access (2302 Green River Cove Rd, Saluda, NC 28773) between 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, April 10 to pick up trash bags and get your coupon for a free beer from Catawba Brewing!

Join a small group or navigate the river on your own, grab as much trash along the way as you can safely, and return it to the dumpster at Fishtop. Use the hashtags #greenriverspringcleaning or #greenrivercleanup and tag Green Riverkeeper and Shane Benedict in your social media posts with photos of your haul. We'll judge the entries and send prizes to the best, biggest, weirdest, and most trash finds. Show us what you got! Pre-register here and select which section you would like to paddle to be assigned to a small group leader.