Central Region News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Join the MountainTrue team: Healthy Communities Spring 2024 internship

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

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

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

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Buncombe, Cherokee, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, as well as several other counties across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Property owners: click here to review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program.

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

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

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

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

Envisioning a new Patton Avenue

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

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

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

High Country News

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

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

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

High Country live staking workday​

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

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

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

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

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

Trash Trout update

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

Turtle Island Preserve outreach

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

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

Dam Removal Training with American Rivers

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

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

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

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

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

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

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

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

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

Southern Region News

A note from Nancy Díaz, Southern Regional Director:

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

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

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

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

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

Join the MountainTrue team: Healthy Communities Spring 2024 internship​

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

December Hendersonville Green Drinks

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

Save the date: Holiday Recycling 2024!

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

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

A message from Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell:

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

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

MountainTrue volunteers + habitat restoration

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

Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks on the 2023 Green Race:

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

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

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

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

Cleveland County receives support from the Great Trails State Program

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

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

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Buncombe, Cherokee, Haywood, Henderson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, as well as several other counties across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Property owners: review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program here.

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

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

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

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

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

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

Western Region News

A note from Callie Moore, Western Regional Director:

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

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

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

Nominations are open for the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award​

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

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

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

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

Cleaning up the Lake Chatuge shoreline

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holiday gifts that protect our environment

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

Septic system repair grants available for qualifying property owners

MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and local health departments to provide septic system repair grants to qualifying property owners in Cherokee County and others across WNC. Residents of rural areas outside of town are highly likely to have onsite septic systems. Problems with septic systems usually arise as systems age or when maintenance is neglected. Cherokee County is being prioritized because a long stretch of the Valley River is not safe for swimming due to bacterial contamination and leaking septic systems in older neighborhoods has been identified as one part of the problem. Macon County is also being prioritized based on new Swim Guide data in the Little Tennessee River in Franklin. Property owners: review eligibility requirements and apply for the repair program here.

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

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

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

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

Registration is open for the 2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium

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