MountainTrue

French Broad River Hurricane Helene Clean-up in Marshall, NC 3/19
2025-03-19 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | NC
Please join the French Broad Riverkeeper team as we partner with the National Forest Service to reopen the Stackhouse parking point. We will work to remove mud from the stairs and ramp area and clean trash in and around the access point. If you have shovels, rakes, and mud boots, please bring them. Please note this will be a land-based clean-up.
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 afterward 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.
LOCATION: Stackhouse Takeout Marshall, NC 28753

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MountainTrue & Rutherford Outdoor Coalition Helene Clean-up along the Upper Broad River below Lake Lure 3/20
2025-03-20 11:00 - 15:00 | NC
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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Live Staking Work Day with MountainTrue and Mast General Store in Banner Elk, NC 3/21
2025-03-21 09:00 - 15:00 | NC
We are so excited to partner with Mast General Store in Honor of World Water Day to plant live stakes along a treasured tributary of the Watauga River, Dutch Creek. This service day is open to all Mast General Store, as well as the public!
We will be hosting two planting “shifts”, the first one from 9am-11am and the second from 12pm-3pm. We will have live stakes from Foggy Mountain Nursery- they offer a variety of native riparian species we will plant along the banks to stabilize the creek. This is great for water quality, bank stabilization, and providing habitat for pollinators and aquatic species alike!
MountainTrue will have livestakes, tools, waders, gloves, etc. to offer volunteers throughout the day, but as always, if you have gear or a favorite pair of gloves, you may be more comfortable bringing those!
Children are welcome as long as accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please no pets.
Location: Mast General Store Annex 2918 Broadstone Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604, parking available
We are looking forward to planting with you soon! https://mountaintrue.org/mountaintrue-faq-live-staking/

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Community Invasive Plant Workday on Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC 3/21
2025-03-21 13:00 - 16:00 | NC
MountainTrue, in partnership with the Mainspring Conservation Trust, is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and Multiflora rose then treating the stumps.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate. Please, no pets.
RAIN DATE: MARCH 28th
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes (required)
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water and snacks
Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and natural beauty of the Greenway!!
Contact Western Region program associate Kate Bridgers with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).

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North Toe River Clean-up in the High Country (NC) 3/22
2025-03-22 09:00 - 15:00 | Powdermill Baptist Church, 268 Powder Creek Rd., Newland, NC, 28657
Come join Mountain True as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas. Please note this will be a land-based clean-up.
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 afterward 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.
Meet-up location:
Powdermill Baptist Church
268 Powder Creek Rd.
Newland NC 28657
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.
**All volunteer opportunities are subject to change based on weather and circumstances. Please be patient with our team and community as we all recover from the storm.**
Children aged 14 and are older are welcome. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the event.

Live staking Workday in partnership with the Middle Fork Greenway in Blowing Rock, NC 3/22
2025-03-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Tweetsie Railroad, 300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln., Blowing Rock, NC, 28605
Join us Saturday 3/22 from 10 am-1 pm for a stream repair workshop! We will be planting live stakes along the Middle Fork Greenway, near Tweetsie Railroad! We will have a variety of native riparian species that we will plant along the Middle Fork, a tributary of the South Fork of the New River, to help stabilize the river banks, prevent erosion, and provide habitat and food for pollinators and aquatic species.
A special thank you to The Middle Fork Greenway for permission to plant, Tweetsie for allowing parking, and Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church for sponsoring this workday. We are grateful for our partners and collaborators who make these opportunities possible!
MountainTrue will have live stakes, tools, waders, gloves, first aid kit, etc. available for volunteers, but you are always welcome to bring your own gear to be more comfortable.
Please bring: Plenty of water, lunch/snacks, warm layers & gloves (we’ll be in and around the creek, so dress for the weather and make sure you bring items you don’t mind getting dirty), rubber boots and/or waders and an extra set of dry clothes.
Parking: Park at the far end of the Tweetsie parking lot here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/neoLrZ8NLZNkaJQx9 36.168199, -81.647677
General address to the parking lot: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 (take a left into the Tweetsie parking lot and we will be in the far left corner of the lot near the Middle Fork of the New River).
We are looking forward to planting with you soon! https://mountaintrue.org/mountaintrue-faq-live-staking/

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Help Memorialize the old-growth forest at Brushy Mountain near Cashiers, NC 3/22-CANCELED
2025-03-22 10:00 - 16:00 | The Village Green Playground, 71 US-64, Cashiers, NC, 28717
The top of Brushy Mountain had a very old forest that MountainTrue unsuccessfully tried to protect from a logging project by Nantahala National Forest. The site was logged in the fall of 2024. We are seeking volunteers to help document the age of the trees by counting rings on cut stumps. This information will be compiled in a report that we will use to memorialize the forest and raise awareness of the value of old growth.
Children are welcome if they can hike 4 strenuous miles and are accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing. This is a strenuous hike. As much as we love our furry friends, pets are not allowed.
Meet-up location:
We will meet in Cashiers at the Village Green at 10 a.m. https://maps.app.goo.gl/hydHoEXYBMczpwt38 Then we will carpool to Brushy Mountain. We will be back to Cashiers by 4.
This event has regretfully been canceled.
Please bring: Water, Sturdy Hiking Shoes, Hiking Stick/Pole, Warm layers, Snacks/Lunch

French Broad River Hurricane Helene Clean-up in Hot Springs, NC 3/27
2025-03-27 10:00 - 14:00 | NC
Please join the French Broad Riverkeeper team as we partner with the National Forest Service to reopen the Murray Branch River access park. We will work to remove trash and debris from the riparian area in and around the park. 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 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 afterward 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.
LOCATION: Clean-up was originally scheduled for Asheville, NC but has been moved to Murray Branch Park 935-2392 River Rd, Hot Springs, NC 28743

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Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a Trail Workday near Asheville, NC 3/28
2025-03-28 08:30 - 14:30 | Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, 195 Hemphill Knob Rd., Asheville, NC, 28803
Join MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club for a day of trail maintenance work! You’ll help clear and repair national forest trails damaged during Hurricane Helene.
Please bring lunch, plenty of water, and any medications you may need. MountainTrue and Carolina Mountain Club will provide trail work equipment, but you may prefer to bring your personal work gloves. We will have snacks available. Remember to wear appropriate attire for trail maintenance (pants, closed-toe shoes) and bring sunscreen/bug spray/etc.
Meet-up: Meet at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (195 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803) at 8:30AM. We will carpool to the work site from there to make parking easier.
Children that are able to hike in and out to the worksite are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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Helton Creek Clean-Up with New River Conservancy in Grassy Creek, NC 3/29
2025-03-29 10:00 - 14:00 | 1850 Big Helton Rd., Grassy Creek, NC 28631, 1850 Big Helton Rd., Grassy Creek, NC, 28631
Join MountainTrue and other awesome organizations in Grassy Creek, NC for a clean-up on Helton Creek. This clean-up is a collaboration between New River Conservancy, MountainTrue, Keep Ashe Beautiful and Trout Unlimited.
Please bring: food, water and dress in layers for the cold weather. Rubber boots are best for trudging around this area.
Meet at: 1850 Big Helton Rd., Grassy Creek, NC 28631
RAIN DATE in case of inclement weather is 4/5/25
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/ACfr5HJq7NLYaDCn6
https://newriverconservancy.org/events/
Anyone age 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the clean-up, but kids are welcome.

Invasive Plant Removal Workday at Little Tennessee Greenway, Franklin, NC 3/29
2025-03-29 13:00 - 16:00 | 803 Ulco drive, TASSEE SHELTER 803 Ulco Drive, Franklin, North Carolina, 28734
MountainTrue, in partnership with the Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Greenway (FROGs), is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitats at the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin, NC.
We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive plants like Chinese privet, Autumn Olive, Kudzu and Multiflora Rose.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate. Please leave pets at home.
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes (required)
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water
Medications you may need
Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and native plant heath of the Little Tennessee Greenway!
Contact western region program associate Kate Bridgers with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).
RAIN DATE: APRIL 5th
SIGN UP HERE

Black Mountain Parks Clean up with MountainTrue and Black Mountain Recreation & Parks 4/2
2025-04-02 10:00 - 14:00 | NC
Come join the French Broad Riverkeeper and the Black Mountain Recreation and Parks team as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas.Please note this will be a land-based clean-up.
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 afterward 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.
LOCATION: Buncombe County Exact location TBD (Awaiting ACOE to finish at City of Asheville sites). Once confirmed, the location will be updated in the event listing and will be emailed to registered participants.
Kids aged 14 and up are welcome to join as long as supervised by a parent or guardian.

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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)

MountainTrue Invasive Plant Removal at Hominy Creek Greenway in Asheville, NC 4/5
2025-04-05 12:00 - 16:00 | Hominy Creek Greenway Parking, 80 Shelburne Rd., Asheville, NC, 28806
Join MountainTrue and Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway for an afternoon of removing non-native invasive plants! We’ll meet at noon at the Hominy Creek Greenway parking area, distribute supplies, then walk together to our work site.
MountainTrue has work gloves available for those who do not have their own. Please bring plenty of water, any snacks you may want, and sunscreen/bug spray. Remember to wear pants and closed-toe shoes – a long-sleeved shirt may be more comfortable as well.
The RAIN DATE for this event is April 12th. Please save both dates on your calendar.
Children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This event requires walking and semi-strenuous hand-pulling of invasive plant species.

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2025 Spring Green Kayak Raffle to support the Green Riverkeeper
2025-04-09 - 2025-05-03 | NC
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.

Support the Watauga Riverkeeper at NC Conservation Network Earth Day Event in Boone, NC 4/9
2025-04-09 12:00 - 15:00 | NC
Come visit our table on Sandford Mall, among others, for NC Conservation Networks’ Campus Fellow Earth Day Event. This semester’s campaign is all about saving North Carolina’s wetlands. Our team will be there to talk about all things MountainTrue, Watauga Riverkeeper, and wetlands (our favorite!).
Swing by for a sticker, merch, just to say hi, or to learn something new! Thank you to our partners at NC Conservation network on hosting another great educational event!
The Expo will take place at Appalachian State University’s Sanford Mall: 300 Locust St, Boone, NC 28608
Parking is available on King Street.

MountainTrue River Clean-up in Buncombe County, NC 4/10-CANCELED
2025-04-10 10:00 - 14:00 | NC
Due to bad weather, this event is CANCELED. Please check out our other upcoming clean ups!
Come join the French Broad Riverkeeper as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas. This is a land-based clean-up.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, lunch/snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward 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.
LOCATION: The exact location will be emailed to participants closer to the date. (We are waiting to find out where the Army Corps has already cleaned). Thank you for your patience. We expect to be close to the Asheville, NC area.

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.

Invasive Plant Workday at Rivers Park House near Boone, NC 4/11
2025-04-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Rivers Park House, 150 Clay House Dr, Boone, NC, 28607
To celebrate the Northern Peaks State Trail coming to Boone, join us for an afternoon of eradicating invasive plants on the property! In partnership with The Town of Boone and Blue Ridge Conservancy, this workday focuses on the history, eradication, and uses of some of the plants we’ll see. As the new southern terminus of the Northern Peaks State Trail (NPST) in downtown Boone, we are excited to revitalize the property and allow native flora to begin finding new life at the site! Flora and fauna expert Will Bennett, our friends from Blue Ridge Conservancy, and Town of Boone folks will be joining us for both workdays. Our main focuses will be garlic mustard and oriental bittersweet.
Please bring snacks and water. It is recommended to wear long pants and sturdy boots for all invasive plant workdays. Some hand tools will be provided, but if you have your own gardening gloves, loppers, or shears, please bring them!
PARKING: Limited parking is available on-site for those needing accessibility. If you are able, it is recommended to find parking downtown and walk to the site.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the workday.

Register Now!

North Fork New River Clean Up with New River Conservancy in Creston, NC 4/12
2025-04-12 10:00 - 15:30 | Creston Fire Station, 167 3 Top Rd, Creston, NC, 28615
Join MountainTrue and New River Conservancy in Creston, North Carolina for a North Fork clean-up on April 12, 2025. This will be a floating cleanup so folks will need to prepare to be on the water for ~5 hours.
Please Bring: snacks, water, and waders if you have them!
Meet at: the Creston Fire Station (167 3 Top Rd, Creston, NC 28615)
(36.42990307013774, -81.62010433035957)
Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/QX6SPJGAHFuoc5g16
https://newriverconservancy.org/events/
RAIN DATE: 4/19/25

MountainTrue Helene Clean-up along the Upper Broad River below Lake Lure 4/13
2025-04-13 13:00 - 17:00 | NC
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

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MountainTrue Invasive Plant workday in Blairsville, Georgia at Union County Farmers Market 4/17
2025-04-17 13:00 - 16:00 | 290 Farmers Mkt Wy, Blairsville, GA 30512, 290 Farmers Mkt Wy, Blairsville, GA, 30512
MountainTrue, in coordination with Union County Government, is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitats along Butternut Creek, in preparation for more trail development and planting of native plants. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive plants like Chinese privet, Autumn olive, kudzu and multiflora rose. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training.
The RAIN DATE for this event is April 24th , 2025. Please save both dates on your calendar.
Tools and gloves are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own if you would like.
Please bring:

Closed-toed shoes (required)
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water and snacks
Any medication you might need

While we love our furry friends, pets are not allowed at this workday. Anyone under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the event.
Pre-registration is required. Register here.
Contact Tony Ward with any questions about the event.

MountainTrue Earth Day River Clean-up and Plastics Audit near Asheville, NC 4/19
2025-04-19 10:00 - 15:00 | NC
Come help us celebrate Earth Day as we clean our rivers. In the process, we’ll inventory all the types of plastic we find, creating a database of all the types of plastic litter we see.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, lunch/snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward 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.
LOCATION: The exact location will be emailed to participants closer to the date. (We are waiting to find out where the Army Corps has already cleaned). Thank you for your patience. We expect to be close to the Asheville, NC area.

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Invasive Plant Removal Workday at Little Tennessee Greenway, Franklin, NC 4/19
2025-04-19 13:00 - 16:00 | 803 Ulco drive, TASSEE SHELTER 803 Ulco Drive, Franklin, North Carolina, 28734
MountainTrue, in partnership with the Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Greenway (FROGs), is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitats at the Little Tennessee Greenway in Franklin, NC.
We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive plants like Chinese privet, Autumn Olive, Kudzu and Multiflora Rose.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t need to be able to do strenuous physical labor in order to participate. Please leave pets at home.
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes (required)
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water
Medications you may need
Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and native plant heath of the Little Tennessee Greenway!
Contact western region program associate Kate Bridgers with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).
RAIN DATE: TBD
SIGN-UP HERE

MountainTrue River Clean-up in Buncombe County, NC 4/22
2025-04-22 10:00 - 14:00 | NC
Help the French Broad Riverkeeper celebrate Earth Day as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas. This is a land-based clean-up.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves (and waders if you have them), and bring drinking water, lunch/snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward 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.
LOCATION:
We will be in Biltmore Village.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YivdYBVdktAo4ui76?g_st=ac
Coordinates:
35°34’05.7″N 82°32’33.6″W

Everyone can park in front of the (closed) Ichiban resturant.
2 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

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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!

Black Mountain Parks Clean up with MountainTrue and Black Mountain Recreation & Parks 4/23
2025-04-23 09:00 - 12:00 | NC
Come join the French Broad Riverkeeper and the Black Mountain Recreation and Parks team as we clean up the trash left behind by Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County. We will be removing trash and debris along the riparian areas.Please note this will be a land-based clean-up.
Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves, and bring drinking water, snacks, and perhaps a change of clothes for afterward 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.
LOCATION: Black Mountain, NC
Kids aged 14 and up are welcome to join as long as supervised by a parent or guardian.

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Hickory Springs Clean-up near Micaville, NC with MountainTrue and Partners 4/27
2025-04-27 13:00 - 16:00 | NC
Join the French Broad Riverkeeper team and our partners, The South Toe Conservation Fund, Rural Reach WNC, Beacon Network, and the South Tote Trash Team as we clean up an area near Micaville, NC. We will work to clean up a stretch of Ayles Creak and other small creeks in the area. This community was hit hard by Hurricane Helene and needs our help to remove trash and debris from the creek and riparian areas.
Kids 14 and up are welcome. A parent or legal guardian must sign their waiver. The parent or legal guardian must be onsite with the minor at all times.
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 afterward 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.
LOCATION:455 Hickory Springs Rd, Micaville, NC 2875535.879773, -82.222487We will meet in the gravel lot of Hickory Springs Manufacturing.
To extend our appreciation for MountainTrue volunteers, all volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership. To accept your membership, please email members@mountaintrue.org
Our Partners:

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Fly Fishing Film Festival in Boone, NC 4-27 benefiting MountainTrue and the Watauga Riverkeeper
2025-04-27 18:00 - 22:00 | Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, 559 West King Street, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
The 2025 International Fly Fishing Film Festival, sponsored by Boone’s Fly Shop and benefiting MountainTrue and the Watauga Riverkeeper, is coming to the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country on Sunday, April 27th.
IF4™ is the world’s leading fly-fishing film event, consisting of films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe and showcases the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. It is the gathering place of the fly-fishing community and a celebration of friendship, fly-fishing stories and stoke.
This year’s event kicks off with a pre-screening concert performance with Mad Tom & The Chubs from 6 to 7 PM. The film festival film screening begins at 7 PM.
Be sure to snag tickets from The Appalachian Theatre ASAP! Please visit MountainTrue in the lobby for raffle tickets prior to the show. Fly fishing gear like rods and Hellbender swag will be raffled during intermission.
Click here for full event information or to buy tickets.
