RiverLink.org �

• RiverLink Annual Fund Drive
  
  
• RiverLink benefit concert ~ May 17 @ the Grey Eagle
  
  
• Name That Creek contest winner: BUTTERMILK CREEK
  
  
• RiverLink in Schools
• French Broad River K-12 art & poetry contest winners
  
• Warren Wilson and RiverLink combine forces
  
  
• River cleanups
• April cleanup highlights
• May cleanup dates
• National River Cleanup Week (June)
  
  
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer orientation
• River cleanup coordinators
• Outing guides
• Outreach events
  

Earth Day is about stewardship of our natural resources, and this Earth Day, April 22, 2007, the residents of West Asheville gathered at Malvern Hills Park as stewards of a local nameless creek that runs through the park.

After a close vote, the creek was unofficially dubbed Buttermilk Creek. Resident and RiverLink volunteer Doug Barlow explained why he voted for this name: “The milk company used to overload the sewers, which would cause sewage to back up into the houses along the stream, and the creek would have a buttermilk smell for weeks. Calling it Buttermilk Creek reminds us of the damage done in the past and why we need to protect this creek.”

Local volunteers and students from Rainbow Mountain Children’s School in West Asheville will be doing a creek cleanup at Buttermilk Creek on May 11 at 11am. 

If you know of a tributary of the French Broad River that is nameless, let us know!
Starting with the unnamed creek in Malvern Hills Park in West Asheville, Riverlink is holding creek naming contests for tributaries throughout the French Broad Watershed. We are currently seeking submissions of creeks in North, South, and East Asheville. Send suggestions to volunteer@riverlink.org.

  French Broad River K-12 art & poetry contest winners

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 to celebrate our Earth and the wonders it provides and to recognize and address the problems facing it.  RiverLink invited students to continue this tradition by exploring the French Broad River watershed, then showing what they discovered through a poem or artwork. Over 100 wonderful submissions were received. Preference was given to pieces that focused specifically on our local natural resources related to the French Broad River rather than nature in general.

Entries are grouped in categories by either poem or artwork and grade: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  Entries were judged by RiverLink staff and volunteers with art and poetry backgrounds.

Warren Wilson and RiverLink combine forces

By Alex Morris, Warren Wilson student

     (Asheville, NC) Warren Wilson journalism students are collaborating with RiverLink to get the word out about the organization.
    “Now I feel like I know Asheville better than my hometown,” Warren Wilson College freshman Laura Dison said after participating in the River District Bus Tour which takes visitors on a monthly tour of Asheville.
    Dison is one of nine students in Professor John Bowers’ Writing for the Media class.
    The two-hour Riverfront bus tour she participated in shows improvements, local history and development projects of the French Broad River.
    “I was excited to share newly learned historical aspects and stories about the city,” Dison said, “as well as inspired to encourage others in supporting RiverLink’s efforts to improve the quality of life in Asheville.”
    Bowers, also the college’s communication director, got the idea of incorporating RiverLink with the class after meeting with the college’s Service Learning Program director, Franklin Tate.
    Unlike most colleges, community service is one of three major requirements for students enrolled at Warren Wilson.  The college also strives to maintain environmental consciousness, which was one of the factors that helped Bowers decide RiverLink was the choice agency… read more

To view projects please visit http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~jbowers/riverlinkprojects.
They will soon be included at www.riverlink.org

Asheville Middle School RiverCorps graduation

The Asheville Middle School RiverCorps finished up their year of service with a closing ceremony that featured RiverLink Executive Director, Karen Cragnolin. She applauded the effort the students put forth this year. Their accomplishments included doing a river cleanup, tree planting, building a rain garden, participating in a wetlands scavenger hunt, and learning about wetlands and non-point source pollution. Officers were elected and they will be ready to start up their work towards restoring the French Broad again next year. French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson said, "the work of this group has made a real difference toward protecting the river."