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. Below are some of the ways you can get involved with the Broad Riverkeeper. 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 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
Join Us for an Annual Member Gathering in Your Area!
We are excited to be gathering in person this year to connect with you, our members, to celebrate our award winners and see each others’ smiling faces!
In light of the current rate of COVID infections and the situation in hospitals across our region, we have chosen to host multiple, smaller, outdoor events in place of one large gathering. We are also requiring that all attendees be fully vaccinated in order to participate. If you are not vaccinated, you will have an opportunity to vote for new and returning board members online.
July 2021 E-Vistas Newsletter
In our July E-News we celebrate our Bio-Blitz winners, welcome Sarah Ogletree as the new director of the Creation Care Alliance, expose the impacts of clear-cutting at Bottomley Farms, and more.
One Million Gallons of Sewage Overflowed into Western North Carolina Waterways during Six Month Period
More than one million gallons of sewage overflowed from inadequate wastewater infrastructure into the French Broad River and other area waterways in Western North Carolina according to state data acquired and analyzed by MountainTrue. The data was collected from August 3, 2020 until March 4, 2021 by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Asheville Regional office and is the best available estimate of the amount of sewage that overflows from wastewater infrastructures such as pipes and manhole covers into area rivers and streams across 19 counties of western North Carolina.