The French Broad Riverkeeper’s best friend, June Bug, keeps watch on the water.
WNCA is looking for a volunteer with graphic design experience to help create a State of the River Report for Henderson County.
You’ll work directly with French Broad Riverkeeper to distill data from current reports into a simple, attractive and easy to understand information graphic for the general public to consume.
Examples of previous reports will be provided.
If you’re interested, please email Hartwell@WNCA.org with the subject line: State of the River Report.
Western North Carolina Alliance is pleased to announce the launch of the French Broad River Paddle Trail App, sponsored by our friends at Oskar Blues Brewery.
To download it today, text “paddle” to “77000” to view a map featuring campsites, access points, outfitters, restaurants and more.
The French Broad River Paddle Trail App will keep you up to date on French Broad events, send river reports, and help you make a reservation on the French Broad River PaddleTrail, a series of campsites and access points that link more than 140 miles of the French Broad River from Rosman, N.C., to Douglas Lake, Tenn.
We’ll celebrate the launch of the app and our partnership with Oskar Blues Brewery from 5:30-8 p.m., July 30 at the brewery’s facility in Brevard (342 Mountain Industrial Drive).
There will be live music, a food truck, Oskar Blues’ craft beer, and WNCA staff members who can share more information about the world-class French Broad River PaddleTrail, which officially opened in 2012.
Those who download the app can enter a raffle at the party to win a watershed dry bag and a waterproof Paddle Trail map.
The Oskar Blues trolley will be available from Asheville, leaving from the Aloft Hotel (51 Biltmore Ave.) at 5:30 p.m., and returning to the Aloft around 9 p.m. The trolley is free, but you must RSVP for a seat to Hartwell@WNCA.org.
The French Broad River Paddle Trail project was born out of the public’s desire to explore the entire French Broad River by boat and WNCA made that possible, as the entiretrail is composed of paddle-in-only campsites.
Learn more about the French Broad River Paddle Trail at www.wnca.org/paddle.
Learn more about Oskar Blues Brewery at http://brew.oskarblues.com/
Download the French Broad River Paddle Trail App here:
For Android phones:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avlradio.paddletrail
For iPhones:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/french-broad-paddle-trail/id893265682?mt=8
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For more than 30 years, the Western North Carolina Alliance has been a trusted community partner, marshaling grassroots support to keep our forests healthy, our air and water clean, and our communities vibrant. Utilizing a combination of policy advocacy, scientific research, and community collaboration, the Alliance and its chapters throughout Western North Carolina unleash the power of citizens’ voices to protect the natural heritage of our region so that people and the environment can thrive. For more information, please visit www.WNCA.org.
About Oskar Blues Brewery
Founded as a brewpub by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002 using a tabletop machine that sealed one can at a time. In 2008, the makers of the top-selling pale ale in ColoRADo, Dale’s Pale Ale, moved into a 35,000-square-foot facility in Longmont, ColoRADo. The brewery has since experienced explosive growth—packaging 59,000 barrels of beer in 2011 and 86,750 barrels in 2012. In December of 2012, Oskar Blues opened the doors to an additional brewery in Brevard, North Carolina. Together, the breweries packaged 119,000 barrels of beer in 2013, and now distribute their trailblazing craft brews to 35 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
©Jeff Rich/WNCA STFB 2012
Join the Western North Carolina Alliance and our French Broad Riverkeeper on a unique journey down the French Broad River!
This guided trip will take participants from the headwaters on French Broad River over 115 miles into Tennessee, camping out along the French Broad River Paddle Trail℠.
Leaving the food, boats, shuttle and logistics up to us and just enjoy a scenic relaxing float down the French Broad River. The French Broad River is one of the oldest rivers in the world and the paddle trail, that was recently opened by WNCA, was recently featured top four must-do activities in the region by Blue Ridge Outdoors.
We now have a two, four-, and five-day trip options, so book your trip today because we always sell out quickly!
We need you to help maintain and improve the world-class French Broad River Paddle Trail℠℠. If you want to lend a hand, please contact Kirby Callaway, assistant French Broad Riverkeeper, by calling (828) 258-8737, ext. 212, or email Kirby@WNCA.org.
April 10
10 a.m-4 p.m.
Meet: At the Marathon Gas Station on Highway 64 (map)
Bring: Loppers, gloves, lunch, water. If you don’t have any tools, let Kirby know and we will provide extra.
Project: At the Little River Campsite, we will be completing work on our new composting toilet, building a new picnic table, and cleaning up invasives around the property.
April 22
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Meet: In Marshall (map)
Bring: Personal boat, weed-eater, loppers, gloves, lunch and water. Let Kirby know if you do not have these items and we will provide them.
Project: We will be cleaning up the Evan’s Island Campsite. General maintenance will include weed-eating, mowing, and clearing debris from the tent sites. We will also be repairing tent sites and leveling them for the summer. Evan’s Island is a paddle-in only site, so we will put in the river a few miles above and paddle to the site.
April 29
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Meet: Ingles parking lot (6478 Brevard Road in Etowah)
Bring: Chainsaws, loppers, gloves, lunch, water. Let Kirby know if you do not have these tools.
Project: At the Rhodes Ranch Campsite we will be building a trail throughout the campsite, cleaning up invasives along the riverbank, and sawing logs in the river that are obstructing the trail.
