Green Riverkeeper
The Green Riverkeeper is the key protector and watchdog of the Green River Watershed in MountainTrue’s Southern Region in Western North Carolina. VolunteerAbout
MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper fights for safe and healthy waterways for all communities in the Green River Watershed by bringing together and empowering local residents and communities to identify pollution sources, advocate for and enforce environmental laws, and participate in restoration projects. The Green Riverkeeper serves the Green River Watershed beginning at the river’s headwaters on the eastern slope of DuPont State Recreational Forest, which drain to the south and east into Henderson County before flowing across Polk County and eventually joining the Broad River on the border with Rutherford County.
The Green Riverkeeper is a program of MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Office and a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Meet Erica
A longtime MountainTrue Swim Guide volunteer, Green River enthusiast, and an all-around wonderful human, Erica now serves as the Green Riverkeeper and Watershed Outreach Coordinator in MountainTrue’s Southern Region. >>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 Green Riverkeeper Instagram and Facebook Page or email erica@mountaintrue.org to receive the most up-to-date information on event changes/cancellations.
Green Riverkeeper News
The Not-So-Micro Issue of Microplastics
In our most recent blog post, our High Country Water Quality Administrator Hannah Woodburn explains that while personal change is important, our consumer choices alone are not enough to fix the plastics pollution crisis. Check out Hannah’s post to learn more about the history of plastic pollution, ongoing legislation to combat the issue and our sampling program to identify microplastics in WNC’s waters.
DEQ: It’s Time to Modernize NC’s Pollution Spill Notification System
Millions of people across North Carolina take to our beaches, rivers and lakes to cool off, swim, paddle, and fish, but most are unaware that nearly 16 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled into our waterways during a two and a half month period this summer. North Carolina desperately needs to update its public spill notification system. Act now.
MountainTrue Pollution Tip Leads to Enforcement Action Against Tryon International Equestrian Center
On July 27, MountainTrue followed up on a public complaint of sediment flowing into White Oak Creek from the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TEIC). Video showed a significant discharge of muddy water flowing off the site into the creek. MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper reported the issue to the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) and DWR sent an inspector to the equestrian center where they witnessed site contractors flushing sediment into the center’s stormwater drainage system, and failures in their stormwater management system.