French Broad Riverkeeper
Founded in 2001, the French Broad Riverkeeper serves as a fundamental protector of the French Broad River watershed in Western North Carolina. The French Broad Riverkeeper is key to MountainTrue’s endeavors to monitor and protect the quality of our region’s waterways. The Riverkeeper fights for safe and healthy waterways for all citizens in the French Broad River watershed by bringing together local residents and communities to identify pollution sources, enforce environmental laws, advocate for stronger environmental laws, engage in restoration and educate and empower the public. The French Broad Riverkeeper serves Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties.
Keep the French Broad Clean
You can help keep the French Broad healthy and clean by volunteering with one of our river cleanups or other events. If you are interested in volunteering, click the button below or email Anna Alsobrook at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Hartwell Carson
French Broad Riverkeeper
Hartwell has been the French Broad Riverkeeper for over six years, dedicated to defending the French Broad, educating locals about the river and getting the community involved in river health. He was instrumental in discovering seepage of toxic coal ash from the Duke power plant into the French Broad River. He is the eyes and ears of the river, ensuring that Clean Water Act regulations are being met so that we can have fishable and swimmable water in the French Broad.
828.258.8737 x 211
hartwell@mountaintrue.org
French Broad River Adventures
MountainTrue and the French Broad Riverkeeper wants everyone to experience and explore the French Broad. MountainTrue provides multiple recreational opportunities to get on the river such as day trips, tube floats, section paddles, our annual French Broad River Paddle Trip (a multi-day paddle-camping adventure), and more. The French Broad Riverkeeper was key in the creation of the French Broad River Paddle Trail that is a recreational watercraft trail created and operated by MountainTrue and RiverLink. The trail is ranked by Outside Magazine as one of the world’s premiere travel destinations. Paddle and camp on over 140 miles of French Broad River, from the headwaters in Rosman, North Carolina to Douglas Lake in Tennessee.
Riverkeeper Beer Series
To support the French Broad Riverkeeper, five local breweries are creating a unique beer based on the French Broad River that will be premiered for a whole month from May until September. This is a great way for all of our locals to get involved in the water protection efforts of MountainTrue and the French Broad Riverkeeper. Release parties are held at the hosting brewery every month and a section paddle trip accompanies the beer release.
French Broad Riverkeeper News
Call For Volunteers For Our Live Staking Days This Winter
Over the next few months, our Riverkeepers are teaming up with volunteers to plant “live stakes” along rivers in our region. We’re calling for potential volunteers like you to join us for a live staking day to help make this project a success.
read moreSept. 8: Take Part in Big Sweep!
Join GreenWorks and MountainTrue’s French Broad, Green and Watauga Riverkeepers for the 2018 Big Sweep – Western North Carolina’s largest single-day river, roadside and creek cleanup. Last year, we broke records for attendance and tons of litter and garbage removed from our rivers, streams and roadsides. This year, help us do even more by taking part in a cleanup event at Westfeldt River Park in Mills River, the Green River Gorge in Saluda, Lake Adger or along the Watauga River.
Cleanups are paired with after parties at Sierra Nevada Brewing in Mills River and Appalachian Mountain Brewery, where cleanup volunteers will gather to celebrate their hard work and enjoy great beer.
read moreWhat’s Going On With the NC Farm Bill?
Last night Governor Roy Cooper vetoed SB711, a dangerous bill that would greatly limit the constitutional right of North Carolinians living near industrial hog farms to seek justice in the courts for nuisance and pollution of their air and water. This is when we need your calls more than ever. Will you make a quick call to your state representative now to make sure Governor Cooper’s veto of SB711 stands?
read moreMichael Franti Returns to Asheville July 27 to Headline the Riverkeeper Beer Series
“Michael Franti & Spearhead brought such amazing energy to Asheville last year that it was a no-brainer to bring him back for this year’s French Broad Riverkeeper Concert,” says French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson. “Asheville loves Michael and he seems to love us back. Last year he took a surprise tubing float down the French Broad before jumping on stage.”
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