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RiverLink
Annual Fund
Your past gifts have helped spearhead the economic and environmental
revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as great
places to work, live and play. 85%
of all donations are spent on Watershed and Riverfront projects, so you
can be sure that your donations do make a difference.
A generous donor has offered to match your gift on a one-to-one basis,
so every dollar you contribute before June 30th will bring RiverLink
another dollar as a matching gift. Your support is crucial, for we
still need to raise $95,000 to meet our $200,000 goal.
In addition Southern Waterways has donated 50 float
trips through the Biltmore Estate to encourage donors to participate in
RiverLink's annual fund and to encourage you to enjoy and utilize the
French Broad River this summer. We
are please to announce the winners of the most recent Southern Waterways
paddle trip raffle - donors Mr. and Mrs. Starnes and the Weigel
family. Thank you for your generous donation to RiverLink and enjoy
your paddle trips!
Water - a precious resource.
Please help RiverLink protect the environmental health of
our region's rivers and streams and guide the growth and sustainability
of our economy. Thanks so much.
Click here to pledge now!
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THE FRENCH BROAD
RIVER YACHT CLUB™ INVITES YOU TO
GET LUCKY ON THE RIVER
on Friday,
June 13th -
Join
Us in Celebration of the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay
with dancing, local
savory fare, beer and wine and tours of a new, completely sold-out
eco-friendly community on the Swannanoa River.
Friday,
June 13
Fun starts at 7pm at The Lofts at Mica Village
at 75 Thompson St. in
Biltmore Village
$25/person advance RSVP
$30/person at
the door
Ticket is food & beverage inclusive
RSVP
- email volunteer@riverlink.org
include
in email # of people in party and method of payment:
online, paying by
mail or at door
CLICK HERE TO PAY
ON-LINE
PAY
BY MAIL make check payable to RiverLink
and write Yacht Club in memo line and mail to
PO Box 15488 Asheville, NC 28813-0488
PAY
AT DOOR give name at guest check-in table
Enter
our raffle for a chance to win some lucky prizes!
Casual
"yacht club" attire
All
proceeds will benefit RiverLink's
efforts to revitalize the French Broad River and its watershed.
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Paddlin'
the Pigeon Update 
The Pigeon River Watershed has struggled to improve its
water quality for several decades, but the Clean Water Act of 1972
combined with improvements in the Canton Paper Mill has drastically
cleaned up the watershed over the years. However, for the first time in
decades the water quality in the Pigeon River is now on the decline.
In the Division of Water Qualities latest assessment the amount of
failing or impaired streams in the Pigeon River Watershed has increased
by 60% from 2006 to 2008. This mirrors a similar decline in water quality
in the French Broad River and around the state of North Carolina.
As part of RiverLink's continued effort towards the environmental and
economic revitalization of the French Broad Watershed we went,
"Paddlin the Pigeon" to raise awareness about the challenges
that face the Pigeon River and our watershed. This trip took the French
Broad Riverkeeper over 70 miles from Lake Logan, through Canton, Clyde,
Newport, and into the French Broad River in Tennessee over six days. This
trip is part of a series of trips to improve the French Broad Watershed.
In 2006 the Riverkeeper paddled the entire length of the French Broad
River and the next summer we plan to navigate the Nolichucky River.
 The "Paddlin the Pigeon" trip
involved paddling with elected official, taking a tour of the paper mill,
and performing health assessment of the river. This included
monitoring pollution, such as sediment runoff and industrial pollution
while taking water quality samples along the way. The journey uncovered
an incredibly beautiful river, but one that still requires lots of
cleanup. Trash dumps, eroding construction sites, illegal mining,
stormwater runoff, and effluent from the mill all still have a major
impact on the river. Five major trash dumps and four sites with sediment
and erosion control problems were uncovered. One trash dump was
over 30 feet tall, but the culprit left behind their mail enabling us to
track them down. The slime and sheen on Waterville Lake was another major
area of concern. This lake acts as the end of the drain, catching and
storing much of the pollution from the Canton paper mill and polluted
stormwater runoff.
Our monitoring and documentation has already resulted in sheriff visiting
a dump site to enforce illegal dumping. Over the next weeks and months we
will be working to cleanup each of these important pollution concerns.
To see pictures and read more about our trip visit our blog at www.riverlink.org/riverlinkblogs.asp
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 Americorps Project
Conserve
RiverLink is hiring!
Project Conserve website
RiverLink is hiring two Americorps members for September 2008- July 2009!
Click below for position descriptions.
RiverLink Americorps
Riverkeeper Assistant
RiverLink Americorps
Education Coordinator
AmeriCorps is a federally-supported program of the Corporation for
National and Community Service that helps communities across the country
meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the
environment. Administered by the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, a
local conservation organization based in Hendersonville, NC, Project
Conserve is one of 15 AmeriCorps programs supported by the North Carolina
Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
Project Conserve seeks dedicated individuals to fill 20 full-time and one
half-time positions serving the critical conservation needs of western
North Carolina. The program places AmeriCorps "members" in
service with one of 13 organizations working to protect the unique
natural resources of the southern Blue Ridge Mountain region. During an
11-month term of service Project Conserve members will promote
conservation through education, volunteerism and direct service.
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French Broad River Camps
Space still available-
REGISTER NOW!
"Educating
and empowering the next generation of watershed stewards"
~ Environmental Education ~
~ River Recreation ~
~ Service Learning~
Click here for more details
and to register before June 16!
Thanks to our generous sponsor!
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River News
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Upcoming Events
for French Broad River Yacht Club Party on June 13
Click on link above for meeting location
meet at Botanical Gardens Parking lot
at Mica Village Eco Lofts. Volunteers still needed -
click here for details.
location to be determined
meet at French Broad River Park
location to be determined
more details will be posted on our website soon!
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Asheville Citizen Times, May 21.
Nantahala Outdoor Center website, April 30.
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RiverLink
Magazine
Check out the latest issue of
RiverLink's magazine insert in Citizen Times!
Paper copies available at RiverLink's
offices and throughout the watershed at restaurants, coffee shops, and
bookstores.
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River
Fact
its
name from the passenger pigeon, an extinct bird, that was once abundant
in the region.
River
Photo
River
Quote
"To
put your hands in a river is to feel the chords that bind the earth
together."
-
Barry Lopez
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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RiverLink
Volunteer River Cleanups
May River Cleanup
Tally
246 Volunteers
534 volunteer
hours
284 Bags
22 tires
A big thank you to all our awesome river cleanup volunteers!
French Broad Music Festival Cleanup sponsored by RiverLink
& Nantahala Outdoor Center
French
Broad River Section 10
Hanger
Hall Adopt-a-Stream Team
Jean
Webb Park
Starbucks
Employee River Cleanup
Swannanoa
River by Swannanoa River Rd./Tunnel Rd. intersection
Carolina Day
School Adopt-a-Stream Team
French
Broad River along Ledbetter Rd.
Burke
Mountain Ski Academy River Cleanup via boat
French
Broad River - Biltmore Estate to Southern Waterways
Buncombe
County Early College Adopt-a-Stream Team
Swannanoa
River from Biltmore Ave. to Decatur St.
Cranbrook
Apartments Adopt-a-Stream Team
French
Broad River along Brevard Rd. at Bent Creek Park
Boy
Scout Troop 510 River Cleanup
Murray
Branch Park to 25/70 Bridge in Hot Springs
Metropolitan
Sewage District Adopt-a-Stream Team
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