Broad Riverkeeper
The Broad Riverkeeper is the primary protector and spokesperson for the rivers and streams of the Broad River Watershed in the Western and Piedmont regions of North Carolina. VolunteerAbout
MountainTrue’s Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, works with communities and citizens in Rutherford, Polk, and Cleveland counties to monitor water quality and advocate for best management practices that will improve our waters for drinking, swimming, and fishing. From its headwaters along the Eastern Continental Divide and the South Mountains, these streams and rivers which join and flow into the “Big” Broad above the South Carolina state line are a treasure to be enjoyed and cared for.
The Broad River Watershed includes 5,419 square miles within both North and South Carolina. Five Natural Heritage Program Priority Areas are in the basin: the Rollins/South Mountains Natural Area, Hickory Nut Gorge, the Green River Gorge, the Pacolet River Gorge, and Pinnacle Mountain. These areas provide habitat for more than 100 rare plant and animal species and 24 rare natural communities.
The Broad Riverkeeper is a program of MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Office and a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Meet David
David moved into the Broad River Watershed in 1987 after receiving an Engineering degree from Clemson University. He worked in manufacturing for several years in Shelby and has been fishing, paddling, and exploring the watershed’s rivers and tributaries for over three decades now. >>more
Interested in exploring the Broad River? David is always willing to take folks out on the Broad and First Broad rivers for half or full-day paddles. A limited number of boats can be provided and no experience is necessary. If you’re interested in scheduling a paddle, send David an email.
Volunteer
We have many regular volunteer opportunities throughout the warmer months. Please note that volunteer event dates and times are subject to change due to weather conditions with short notice. Follow the Broad Riverkeeper Instagram and Facebook Page or email david@mountaintrue.org to receive the most up-to-date information on event changes/cancellations.
Broad Riverkeeper News
Tell DEQ to Stop Duke’s Water Pollution at Cliffside
It seems like the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) just can’t get it right when it comes to getting Duke Energy fix their polluting coal ash dumps. Time and time again we see the agency fall short of making the progress needed to protect our waterways and communities and the new draft wastewater discharge permit for the Rogers Energy Complex (a.k.a. Cliffside power plant) in Rutherford and Cleveland Counties is no different.
Join us for the MountainTrue Fall Gathering at New Belgium!
Wednesday, October 26, join us at New Belgium Brewery in Asheville for our annual Fall Gathering. Expect great beer, delicious food and some sweet, sweet jams from Asheville’s very own The Midnight Plowboys. With our proud mountain heritage, beautiful mountain vistas, lush forests and rushing streams, Western North Carolina is an amazing and special place to call home. The support of our members has helped us fight for our communities and protect one of the richest environments in the world. Come and help us recognize the hard work of our members and volunteers, and to celebrate our accomplishments over the past year.
Henderson County Big Sweep Hauls 4,400 Lbs of Trash from Local Rivers and Streams
This year’s Henderson County Big Sweep was a huge success. Volunteers banded together to clean up 11 miles of local rivers. We picked up 24 tires and 81 bags of trash for a grand total of approximately 4,400 pounds of trash and recycling. MountainTrue wants to thank all of the volunteers who gave so much of their time and made this event possible! An important part of calling a region home is taking the time to care for it.
