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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.
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.
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Paddlin' the Pigeon
As part of RiverLink's continued effort towards the
environmental and economic revitalization of the French Broad Watershed
we are "Paddlin' the Pigeon" to raise awareness about the
challenges that face the Pigeon River and our watershed. This trip will
take the French Broad Riverkeeper from Lake Logan through Canton, Clyde,
Waynesville, Newport, and into the French Broad River in Tennessee over
six days.
We need you to make the trip a success
- join the Riverkeeper for a lunch and day of whitewater rafting, lunch
and a tour of Blue Ridge Paper, a day of canoeing, or to catch and cook
your own trout dinner. All the events are free (except trout
dinner).
Tuesday May 6th:
Canton, tour of Blue
Ridge paper
12:30pm - We meet at Canton Recreation Park
for a free picnic lunch and then take a tour of the facility. The tour
will help better understand some of the water quality challenges the mill
faced in the past and some of the improvements that have been made over
the years. The public is invited (but no media).
Friday May 9th:
Lunch and whitewater
rafting courtesy of Smokey Mountain Outdoors
12:00 lunch and 1:00pm
rafting trip in Hartford, TN at the Smokey Mountain Outdoors shop.
Saturday May 10th:
1pm - Paddle final stretch of Pigeon River into the French
Broad River to Rankin Bottoms. We will meet 1:00 at a primitive boat
launch on River Street approximately ½ a mile up stream or west from the
where Hwy 321 (North Street) crosses the Pigeon River in Newport, TN.
This family friendly 8 mile canoe trip will take us to the Rankin Bridge.
Some boats will be provided but bring your own if you can. Click for Map
7:00pm Come catch your own trout at English Mountain Trout Farm
and celebrate the successful conclusion of the Riverkeeper's successful
paddle. This restaurant features a trout pond where you can catch your
own dinner for them to cook, or you can order off the menu. Beer and wine
will be provided.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend any of the above event or
for more information contact riverkeeper@riverlink.org
or 828-252-8474 ext. 114
Thank you to our sponsor Smokey Mountain Outdoors.
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RiverLink Recognizes AvL
Technologies with River Business Award
Each year the RiverLink Board of Directors recognizes
businesses within the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay that, through their
daily operations, they are helping to fulfill the vision of the Dykeman
Plan and are making the river a destination for working, living and
playing. This year we are proud to recognize AvL Technologies, a
high tech locally grown, small business with worldwide distribution and
sales that provides high paying jobs in the middle of the river arts
district.
AvL
Technologies, Inc., located in the River District of Asheville, NC, is a
privately-owned, high-tech satellite communications company employing 120
people. "On the River" at 130 Roberts Street since 2000,
AvL designs, engineers, markets, sells, manufactures and provides
customer service on transportable 2-way broadcast antennas that provide
satellite news gathering (SNG) and satellite communications from remote
locations.
RiverLink executive director, Karen Cragnolin said,
"The greenways and parks along the river will continue to attract
businesses like AvL Technologies as well as artists and others to what is
fast becoming a campus like setting. The riverfront offers
restaurants, living spaces, more and more recreational
opportunities and with the greenway an opportunity to exercise close to
where you work, live and play. That is a very inviting combination
of amenities no matter what your business, even if you are retired.
"
Click here to learn more
information about AvL Technologies
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RiverLink Executive Director receives Rock the Earth's
Grassroots Activist Planet Defender Award
Karen Cragnolin,
executive director of RiverLink,
was selected as the winner of the Grassroots Activist award by Rock the Earth, a
national environmental non-profit working with the music community. Other
Planet Defender awards went to the Dave Matthews Band for Artist
category.
Through her efforts, the organization is engaged in simultaneous efforts
to address water quality concerns throughout the French Broad River
basin, expand public opportunities for access and recreation, and promote
the economic revitalization of Asheville's dilapidated riverfront
district.
She currently serves as the acquisitions chair for the Clean Water
Management Trust Fund, Buncombe County's Conservation and Environmental
Boards, the City of Asheville's Watershed Advisory Board and ex-officio
member of the Asheville Tree and Greenway Commission, the French Broad
River Garden Club and Foundation Board, and the Warren Wilson College
Board of Visitors. Her actions in preserving open space and developing
greenways along the river corridors for all to enjoy makes her a
wonderful choice for the Planet Defender Award in Grassroots Activism.
"I am honored that my work
to protect the environment has been recognized with a Planet Defender
Award and support what Rock the Earth is doing 100%. Clean water and
clean air are neither a democrat or a republican issue - it is all of us.
We have to work together to make sure our children and grandchildren and
their children and grandchildren can drink the water and breathe the air,
too. We have rights as individuals, but also have a clear collective
responsibility to make sure that Mother Earth can continue to support us
all, no matter what our political affiliation. There is nothing either
conservative or progressive about breathing clean air and drinking clean
water. The environment is the ultimate bipartisan issue." ~Karen
Cragnolin
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RiverLink
Volunteer River Cleanups
April
River Cleanup Tally
386 Volunteers
566 volunteer
hours
331 Bags
35 tires
A big thank you to
all our awesome river cleanup volunteers!
St. Mark's Church
Youth Group Adopt-a-Stream Team
Glenn Creek in Weaver Park
Asheville Middle
School 8th Grade Class Cleanup
Swannanoa River from Biltmore Ave to Tunnel Road
Diamond Brand
Outfitters Adopt-a-Stream Team
French Broad River from Ledges Whitewater Park to French
Broad River Campground
Dancing Springs
Homeschool Group Cleanup
Sugar Creek (tributary to Ivy River)
I Have a Dream
Pisgah View Adopt-a-Stream Team
French Broad River in Carrier Park & State Street Stream
Altamont
Environmental, Inc. Adopt-a-Stream Team
Reed Creek from Cauble Street to Ocala Street
WNC Geocachers
Adopt-a-Stream Team
Swannanoa River from Biltmore Ave to Glendale Ave.
UNCA Collegiate
Scholars Adopt-a-Stream Team
Glenn Creek along Weaver T. Blvd.
Project Power
& Children First Cleanup
French Broad River along Lyman St from Riverside Dr to Amboy
Rd.
_____________________________________________
May River Cleanups
(see more details
under Upcoming Events section in right side bar)
Friday May 16 starting
at 11am
French Broad River with Metropolitan Sewerage District Adopt-a-Stream
Team
Meet at 2020 Riverside Drive
Saturday May 17 starting
at 10am
French Broad River with Cranbrook Apartments Adopt-a-Stream Team
Meet at Bent Creek Park
Thursday May 22 starting
at 3:30pm
French Broad River with Latino Mentoring Program Adopt-a-Stream Team
Meet at parking area along Emma Rd. near railroad bridge
(near intersection at Craven St.)
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RiverLink
Volunteers honored at Volunteer Luncheon
Jack Saye and Mark Vanderhoff were recently honored at the
DOVIA Volunteer Recognition Luncheon for their dedication and years of
service with RiverLink.
Mark Vanderhoff has proven to be a consistent valuable RiverLink
volunteer. He has lent a hand with everything from special events
and editing press releases to conducting environmental education programs
and pollution monitoring. Mark is very dependable and approaches
all volunteer opportunities with great energy and enthusiasm.
Jack Saye's consistent devotion to volunteering has been
extremely valuable for our small non-profit. He volunteers for many of
our events and river cleanups, leads monthly bus tours, and overall is a
positive example of the great impact a volunteer can have on an
organization and the community.
Thank you to Jack, Mark and all of our great volunteers for
their time, energy and dedication to RiverLink and the French Broad
River!
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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~
Sessions:
July
7 - 11 (3rd-5th)
July 14 - 18 (3rd-5th)
July 21 - 25 (6th-8th)
July 28 - Aug.1 (6th-8th)
Age:
Rising
3rd- 8th grade
Type:
Day
camp
Location:
Asheville
& field trips around the watershed
Cost:
$100/
session
Registration:
Click here
Click here for more details
and to register!
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River News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Upcoming Events
Earth Day River Art &
Writing and Jeff Rich French Broad Watershed photography
Through May 4 at Pack Place Community Gallery
RiverWay Walking Tour
May 6, 8am
Meet at French Broad River Park
Paddlin the Pigeon for a
Cause
May 5-10
Volunteer Information Session
May 7, 5pm
RiverLink office
RiverFront Bus Tour
May 15 noon-2pm
Meet at City Hall
Register online
River Cleanup with MSD Adopt-a-Stream
Team
May 16 starting at 11am
Meet at 2020 Riverside Drive
River Cleanup with Cranbrook
Apartments Adopt-a-Stream Team
May 17 starting at 10am
Meet at Bent Creek Park
River Cleanup with Latino
Mentoring Adopt-a-Stream Team
May 22 starting at 3:30pm
Meet at parking area along Emma Rd near railroad bridge
(near intersection with
Craven St.)
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River
Fact
From Canton, NC to
Hartford, TN the Pigeon River will drop from an elevation of 2580' to
1260' above sea level. Over the course of this 40 mile path, this
represents an average drop of 33 feet per river mile, a descent rate
matched by few rivers in the US.
Learn more about the
"Dirty Bird," a tributary of the FBR
River Photo
River
Quote
"We
let a river shower its banks with a spirit that invades the people living
there, and we protect that river, knowing that without its blessings the
people have no source of soul."
- Thomas Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Watershed
Education
Click here for program info
Rainbow Mountain Children's School
Third grade
Evergreen Community Charter School
Second grade
Dancing Springs Learning Cooperative
Pisgah View I Have a Dream
Earth Day Contest reception
Earth Day at All Souls Church
Field Day at Warren Wilson College
Fifth Grade
Clear Creek Elementary School
Fifth Grade
Maccabi Academy
YWCA Afterschool
No picture
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