High Country Office
The High Country Office is located in Boone, serving communities in the Elk and Watauga River basin.

164 Depot Street
Boone, NC 28607
Phone (828) 278-9821
- Watauga Riverkeeper
- Water monitoring programs
- Muddy Water Watch and reducing sediment pollution in the Watauga River Basin
- Sustainable land use
- Sustainable transportation alternatives – improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and better public transportation
High Country News
Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – November 6, 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters, When Mr. Rogers was a boy and would see scary things in the news, his mother would say to him, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ With the devastation all around us and many still struggling, you don’t...
Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – October 30, 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters, More than once I’ve heard the saying that our region’s recovery from Helene is a marathon, not a sprint. Having run a handful of marathons, I can say that preparation is essential; and that during the race you will face inspirational...

Post-Helene Watershed Report: Watauga Riverkeeper
It’s been heartbreaking to witness the loss of life, the destruction, and the overwhelming feeling that we are on the teetering cusp of ecological collapse. Discovering these piles of dead hellbenders hit me harder than any coal ash spill or wastewater system failure....
Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – October 23, 2024
Dear Friends and Supporters, Last night, over a thousand people gathered in Pack Square in downtown Asheville for an interfaith service led by our political leaders to mourn our region’s losses. As the crowd swayed and sang “Lean on Me” led by a local choir, the...

Volunteer Safety Guidelines Post-Helene: Personal Protective Equipment
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...
Hurricane Helene Recovery Update – October 16, 2024
Dear MountainTrue Family, In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we’ve witnessed the incredible toughness and generosity of our community. Thank you. With your help, we’ve raised nearly $60,000 for our MountainStrong Recovery Fund. This includes a $25,000 grant from the...