Our Rivers Need You
North Carolina’s rivers teem with life and provide important habitats for native forest animals, fish, bugs, and all kinds of other critters. They’re where we paddle and play with our friends and families.
Unfortunately, our rivers are threatened, and many fail to meet basic water quality standards — especially after heavy rainstorms.
With your help we can protect our waterways. Together, we can change the way our local governments and regulatory agencies operate, get more funding to help solve the problems, and win the support of elected officials in Western North Carolina and Raleigh. But to win, we need you.
Featured Action
TAKE ACTION TO FIGHT E. COLI POLLUTION IN OUR RIVERS
DNA testing conducted by the French Broad Riverkeeper of the French Broad River, one of our region’s most polluted waterways, has confirmed that cattle followed by faulty or inadequate sewer, septic or water treatment infrastructure are the major sources of E. coli pollution. We’ve done the DNA testing. We know the sources. Now we have the solutions to clean up our rivers.
Stand up for science-based policies to help farmers fence cattle out of streams and property owners fix their septic systems and major investments in water infrastructure.
Our Three-Step Plan To Clean Up Our Rivers
Step 1: Fix Leaky Sewers & Septic Systems
Learn more and take action.
Step 2: Reduce Farm & Nutrient Runoff
Learn more and take action.
Step 3: Keep Plastic Out Of Our Rivers
Learn more and take action.
More Clean Water Actions & Updates
Stop The Bluffs At River Bend
Help fight a planned mega-development that would be built on 80 acres of intact forest directly next to Richmond Hill Park, increase traffic and pollute the French Broad River.
One Million Gallons of Sewage Overflowed into Western North Carolina Waterways during Six Month Period
More than one million gallons of sewage overflowed from inadequate wastewater infrastructure into the French Broad River and other area waterways in Western North Carolina according to state data acquired and analyzed by MountainTrue. The data was collected from August 3, 2020 until March 4, 2021 by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Asheville Regional office and is the best available estimate of the amount of sewage that overflows from wastewater infrastructures such as pipes and manhole covers into area rivers and streams across 19 counties of western North Carolina.
DNA Testing Indicates Animal Agriculture and Sewer Infrastructure are Major Pollution Sources for French Broad River
Some of it comes from cows, some from humans and dogs. But it’s all poop and it doesn’t belong in our rivers. Find out how MountainTrue and the French Broad Riverkeeper used DNA to determine the sources of E. coli pollution to the French Broad River.
Stand Up Against the Asphalt Plant Proposed for East Flat Rock!
Update: SE Asphalt Renews Its Effort to Build an Asphalt Plant in Residential Area. On April 15, our community successfully organized to get the Henderson County Planning Board to recommend that the County Commissioners deny the asphalt plant proposal. Thanks to...
The Not-So-Micro Issue of Microplastics
In our most recent blog post, our High Country Water Quality Administrator Hannah Woodburn explains that while personal change is important, our consumer choices alone are not enough to fix the plastics pollution crisis. Check out Hannah’s post to learn more about the history of plastic pollution, ongoing legislation to combat the issue and our sampling program to identify microplastics in WNC’s waters.
Help Make the Pigeon River Healthier
Speak up for stricter discharge permits and a healthier and cleaner Pigeon River. Email DEQ with better recommendations today.
Protect The Watauga River From Another Sewage Treatment Plant
The Town of Seven Devils has been approached to consider annexing a proposed development and sewage treatment plant along the Watauga River. This is bad news for water quality, trout, and all of us who depend on the Watauga for work and play. Will you make your public comment below to oppose this proposal?
DEQ: It’s Time to Modernize NC’s Pollution Spill Notification System
Millions of people across North Carolina take to our beaches, rivers and lakes to cool off, swim, paddle, and fish, but most are unaware that nearly 16 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled into our waterways during a two and a half month period this summer. North Carolina desperately needs to update its public spill notification system. Act now.
Update: City of Asheville Agrees to Stormwater Task Force!
Call on Asheville City Council to do its part to clean up the French Broad River, starting with the establishment of a Stormwater Task Force to address the City’s water pollution problems. Not only does the City have a legal obligation to protect water quality, Council’s commitment to racial equity demands action to protect residents of the Southside neighborhood from the highest pollution levels in the city.
Take Action To Protect The Clean Water Act From Polluters
MountainTrue’s Clean Water Team works hard to monitor and improve the quality of water in the region, but the so-called “Navigable Waters Protection Rule” would create a huge challenge for our daily work. Will you call on your Representatives to say no to this rule?
