High Country Office
MountainTrue's High Country Office is located in Boone, serving communities in the Watauga, New, and Elk river watersheds. VolunteerAbout the High Country Office
164 Depot Street
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 278-9821
The High Country Office partners with and protects communities in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Burke, Watauga, and Wilkes counties through the following programs, events, and initiatives:
- Watauga Riverkeeper
- Water monitoring programs
- Riverkeeper Float Fest
- Muddy Water Watch and reducing sediment pollution in the Watauga River Watershed
- Sustainable land use
- Sustainable transportation alternatives — improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and better public transportation
High Country Team


Volunteer with us!
We have many regular volunteer opportunities throughout the warmer months. Below are some of the ways you can get involved. Click the images to add your name to our volunteer roster. Please note that volunteer event dates and times are subject to change due to weather conditions with short notice. Follow the Watauga Riverkeeper Instagram and Watauga Riverkeeper Facebook Page or email hannah@mountaintrue.org to receive the most up-to-date information on event changes/cancellations.
High Country News
Halfway Through Swim Guide Season 2022 – Watauga Riverkeeper
Watauga Riverkeeper Report:Swim Guide Season 2022We're officially halfway through this year's Swim...
Riverkeeper Float Fest Returns on August 20, 2022!
2022Riverkeeper Float FestCome out on Saturday, August 20, for the long-awaited return of the...
What do Healthy Mountain Rivers Mean to You?
Protecting our mountain waters wouldn't be possible without the help of members, volunteers, and...
Get Your Gardening Gloves on Our New Native Planting Guide
MountainTrue has published a brand new guide to help you replace harmful non-native invasive plant species with native alternatives that benefit wild birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife. This beautifully designed and durable guide conveniently folds up to fit in your wallet — perfect for your next visit to the garden center or nursery.
2021 State of the River Reports
The 2021 State of the River reports are finally here! In this blog, we’ll discuss the cleanliness and water quality of the French Broad, Broad and Green, and Watauga River watersheds, trends, methodology, and rank the cleanest and dirtiest sites for each watershed.
MountainTrue is Objecting to the Revised Forest Plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. These are our Reasons.
The U.S. Forest Service released its Revised Forest Plan in late January. Since then, MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly, and Western Regional Director, Callie Moore, have been hard at work crafting our organizational response to the 2000+ paged plan. While there are some bright spots in the Forest Service’s Revised Plan, they are far outweighed by its shortcomings, which can be characterized by the agency’s arbitrary decision-making and prioritization of timber harvest at the expense of old-growth forests, Natural Heritage Areas, and water quality.