French Broad Riverkeeper
Founded in 2001, the French Broad Riverkeeper serves as a fundamental protector of the French Broad River Watershed in MountainTrue’s Central Region in Western North Carolina. VolunteerAbout
MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper, Anna Alsobrook, fights for safe and healthy waterways for all residents of the French Broad River Watershed by bringing together local residents and communities to identify pollution sources, enforce and advocate for stronger environmental laws, engage in aquatic ecosystem restoration, and educate and empower the public. The French Broad Riverkeeper serves communities in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties.
Want to explore the French Broad River? MountainTrue provides multiple river recreation opportunities 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 which 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 premier 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. Click here to visit the Paddle Trail website.
The French Broad Riverkeeper is a program of MountainTrue’s Central Regional Office and a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Meet Anna
As MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper, Anna facilitates water quality monitoring, citizen science, and improvement programs in the French Broad River watershed. Prior to moving to WNC and working for MountainTrue in 2014, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Senegal and attained her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of TN, Knoxville. >>more
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 French Broad Riverkeeper Instagram and Facebook Page or email anna@mountaintrue.org to receive the most up-to-date information on event changes/cancellations.
French Broad Riverkeeper News
Michael Franti & Spearhead Headline Riverkeeper Beer Series with Benefit Concert at Salvage Station on August 3
MountainTrue, the French Broad Riverkeeper, Blue Ridge Orthodontics and Mix 96.5 are pleased to announce the 2017 Riverkeeper Beer Series, including the French Broad River Concert on August 3 starring Michael Franti & Spearhead. Each Riverkeeper Beer Series, presented by MountainTrue and Blue Ridge Orthodontics and sponsored by Mix 96.5, will organize folks for a fun and easy float down the French Broad River or a river cleanup near one of the premier breweries in the region, including New Belgium Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Wedge Brewing Company, Hi-Wire Brewing and Wicked Weed Brewing.
Riverkeeper Beer Series Launches with River Float, Clean-up and Mango IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing
Saturday, June 17 the French Broad Riverkeeper Beer Series presented by MountainTrue and Blue Ridge Orthodontics and sponsored by Mix 96.5 launches its second summer full of great beers and fun in the water. Pick, paddle and party this summer. The kick off event will take place at HiWire’s Big Top location in Biltmore Village, and participants will have the choice of taking part in either a river clean-up on the Swannanoa River or a float trip on the French Broad River, and everyone is invited to meet back up at the release party of Hi-Wire Brewing’s new, limited-release MountainTrue Mango IPA.
Kids in the Creek Students Get a Surprise Visitor!
On the last school day before Spring Break, dozens of Rugby Middle School students got a rare treat. Instead of staring out the classroom window and counting the hours until Summer vacation, the 8th graders were out in the early spring sunshine at the annual Kids in the Creek event learning about river ecosystems and water quality.