Enter your chances to win great outdoor products and services!
This is your chance to save the planet and win some great outdoor gear and other prizes valued at over $4000. Buy a $10 raffle ticket and be entered to WIN ONE OF EIGHT prize packages. The winners will be selected monthly starting in May and ending in December. Step up, do your part.
The prize packages include some sweet gear from Osprey, La Sportiva, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Ahnu, Watershed, High Gear, Cascade Designs and Ex Officio. The prize packages also include gift certificates, tickets, lodging, and services from local Asheville businesses. All proceeds from the raffle go directly to RiverLink to help us keep the French Broad River and its watershed a destination to live, work and play!
First drawing is May 9th at the French Broad River Fins & Gills Fishing Tournament - buy your ticket online before May 9th or at the fishing tournament. Good luck! |
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Paddlin the Nolichucky
May 23rd - June 6th
 Paddlin the Nolichucky is a two week monitoring, education, and outreach trip. The trip will start at Riverside Park on the North Toe River in Spruce Pine, NC and finish at the mouth of French Broad River 140 miles down stream.
This trip is designed to monitor the water quality of the river, but to also educate the public about the challenges facing the river and highlight the river as a world class recreation destination.
The trip will feature a variety of activities for the public to join in the fun. From a camping trip to RiverFest, Kick-off events and lessons at local schools, make sure you don't miss the fun!
May 23rd - 11-1pm - Kick Off Event in Riverside Park, Spruce Pine, NC Event will feature music, speakers, grilled food, raffle, and boating on the N. Toe River. Bring your own boat or rent one in the park.
May 23rd - 25th - Paddling camping trip from Spruce Pine, NC to Loafers Glory.
Sign up to join the Riverkeeper for a 1 or 2 day camping trip down 19 miles of the N. Toe and Nolichucky Rivers. Bring your own boat and gear and get ready for an exciting paddle trip. Click here to RSVP
 May 26th - Rafting/paddling/Film Festival on the Nolichucky.
1pm - Bring your own boat or jump in a raft for an exciting ride down class II-IV rapids. 8pm - Hang around that night for food and a paddling film festival at the NOC on the banks of the Nolichucky. Films will start at dark and feature kayaking films from Rapid Transit Video along with additional environmental films.
May 30th- 10-6pm - Riverfest in Davy Crockett State Park near Greenville, TN.
A huge variety of demonstrations including catching fish and bugs in the river, making rain barrels, food, vendors, and fun!
June 2nd - 10am 12 - Rain Barrel construction workshop in Greenville, TN. Don't you wish you could keep these spring rains around for the summer? By learning to build a rain barrel and taking home your very own, you can. A rain barrel captures rain runoff from your roof and can then be used to water your garden, flowers, or lawn. $60 gets you a rain barrel and the knowledge to build others. This a great way to also help the drought. Click here to sign up and pay!
June 6th - 8am - Rankin Bottoms Wildlife and Bird Tour
The French Broad and the Nolichucky River come together to form Douglas Lake, and Rankin Bottoms is a skinny peninsula that sticks its nose right into the middle of things. It is the best example of river bottomland in East Tennessee. Fish get trapped here, and waders, ospreys and eagles have a fine old time. It is one of the best birding areas in the state. Join a naturalist for a guided tour of this beautiful wildlife habitat. RSVP to sign up and for directions. Stay tuned for much more information! or contact the French Broad Riverkeeper at 828-252-8474 ext. 114 or at riverkeeper@riverlink.org
This trip is made possible by our generous sponsors including:
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RiverLinked on Earth Day
 RiverLink's Earth Day was a big success with a sold out rain barrel construction workshop, river cleanup and free watershed education programs in Carrier Park. Armed with power tools and glue guns, participants kicked off Earth Day with constructing rain barrels during a workshop led by RiverLink's French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson.
 Following the workshop, local residents donned the ever popular and easy recognizable bright yellow RiverLink volunteer vests and gloves to cleanup a French Broad River tributary along the property of Asheville Outdoor Center. The Earth Day river cleanup was originally supposed to take place in the river with canoes but high water levels, muddy water and low amounts of trash led to a change in plans. Cleanup volunteers were not deterred by the change of events as evident by the large pile of debris collected and removed from the stream that included a large oil drum, 15 over-sized pieces of metal and several large pieces of wood.
RiverLink concluded Earth Day with a free watershed education program in Carrier Park where families collected and identified macroinvertebrates from the rain garden. Children and adults had fun viewing the small creatures wriggling and swimming around on the large screen outfitted in the ROVER technology van.
Make everyday Earth Day with RiverLink by participating in a river cleanup, volunteering to help out with a watershed education program or staffing a RiverLink information booth at one of our many special events! Check out the above upcoming events section to learn how you can get RiverLinked and help us achieve our mission to make the French Broad River and its watershed a place to live, work and play! |
 RiverCamps
Accepting Applications Now!
(Don't Miss Out! Last Year's Camps were completely filled with waiting lists!)
1st Submission deadline:
May 25th
 
Environmental Education! River Recreation! Service Learning!
Plan you Child's Summer Adventure with RiverLink!
~ Kids in the Creek ~ River of Words & Art ~River cleanup ~ Tree plantings ~ Canoe, kayak or raft trip ~ Tour of River Parks, stream restorations, and rain gardens ~ Rockin' RiverFest ~ And much more! ~
Many thanks to the French Broad River Garden Club Foundation and the Friends of the Earth Garden Club for their generous contributions to provide 10 inner city children with scholarships to participate in the RiverLink's River Camps! For more information or to register your child please visit the following link: http://www.riverlink.org/camps.asp |
Watershed Education Reaches Out and Dives In
 This month, RiverLink's Watershed Education Program stretched its arms as never before. Collaborating with REI's PEAK Program and the UNCA and the NC Arboretum's ROVER van, RiverLink offered diverse, interactive, environmental programs to schools as far away as Hot Springs and McDowell County. Kids of all ages and backgrounds experienced the watershed like never before as they used the outdoors as their classroom. Reynolds MS students test Bent Creek for Aquatic Life "The kids had a blast. I've never seen them have so much fun!" exclaimed Lisa Burlison, 5th grade teacher from Hot Springs Elementary who received grant money to fund her students' field trip to Bent Creek for a day of Watershed Education. Thank you to the following schools and organizations for helping to prepare our future generation of environmental stewards and participating in our fun, interactive and hands on education programs; Reynolds Middle School, Hot Springs Elementary School, All Souls Church, Evergreen CCS ______________________________________
Volunteer Opportunities
 
Whether you're an artist or a teacher, an outspoken director or a behind the scenes worker, there is a place you will feel at home in our watershed education program. Read below and contact Ashley Brown, Education Coordinator with any questions at education@riverlink.org or 252-8473 x111.
Watershed
Education
_____________________________________
Evergreen
and RiverLink
When: May 12th, 2009, 10am-12noon
Where: Davidson
River, Sycamore Flats
Rec. Area
What: Kids in the Creek.
Black Mtn.
Primary School and RiverLink
When: May 14th, 2009, 9:30-11am
Where: Black Mtn. Primary School
What: River of Words and Art, Kids in the Creek
Art Related
Projects
Evergreen
and RiverLink
When: May 19th, 10am-12noon
Where: Evergreen CCS
What: All the Way to the Ocean, Kids in the Creek. We need
someone to teach 1 group of approx. 20,2nd graders, the 30-45 minutes Kids in
the Creek lesson and/or All the Way to the Ocean.
Bee Log and
RiverLink
When: May 27th, 2009, 9:30-2:30am
Where: Bee Log Elementary School
Who: RiverLink staff and volunteers
What: Kids in the Creek in a beautiful rural schoolground
setting. We need someone to assist teaching the class, take pictures, and
help load and breakdown supplies. We can carpool!
Festivals
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WOW (World Olympiad of Water) Festival
When: May 16th, 8am-3pm
Where: YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly
Who: RiverLink staff and volunteers
What: A kid friendly and family oriented day based around celebrating
water in creative and fun ways! We will need help with an information booth
and Kids in the Creek lessons. A great chance to spend some time outside
and teach in a more casual setting.
Website: http://www.wowfestival.org/
Toe Cane Festival
When: May 28th and 29th, 9am-1:30pm
Where: on the South
Toe River
Who: RiverLink staff and volunteers
What: A watershed festival that will bring every Yancey County 4th
grader out to the South
Toe River
to learn about the river and water quality. We need help teaching the Enviroscape
lesson all day!
Art Related Projects
______________________________________
REI Earth
Day Art Contest Breakdown
When: Flexible, Anytime after 9am, Friday May 1st
What: Help Breakdown an Art Exhibit and pick up some cool outdoor supplies while you're at it.
Mural Making Project
When: Flexible, Anytime between 9-5pm
Where: RiverLink offices
What: We are creating an interactive Velcro mural for
elementary age students to understand how to clean their river, what to look
for, and feel a sense of empowerment. Students will be able to spot trash,
unvelcro trash and sediment from the river mural, and then pin on fish and
plants. All materials and supplies are provided, we just need a willing and
creative spirit to help us with it!
Don't Take My Word For It!
Click here to read comments from
students and teachers on their experiences participating in RiverLink's
environmental education programs.
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Fun on the French Broad River with Cleanups and Concerts
 April 25, Brevard, NC - With warm weather and blue skies, RiverLink volunteers and students from Brevard College's paddling club launched their canoes and kayaks to cleanup the French Broad. Though the water was high and swift from recent rains, the cleanup crew managed to extract about 20 bags of trash, several tires, a rusted bicycle frame and even a porcelain commode from the French Broad stretch in Brevard between Rawlings Rd. and Hap Simpson Park. The cleanup was sponsored and organized in part by Duck Pond Pottery of Brevard, NC whose studio is located along this stretch on the banks of the French Broad.  Following the cleanup, volunteers, friends and music fans joined us for fun and festivities at the Duck Pond Pottery studio. This was a great chance for RiverLink to reach out to the Brevard community and engage so many folks in cleaning up and enjoying the river and sharing RiverLink's mission. Festivities included a live acoustic jam with excellent local musicians including members of The Moonshine Babies, The Mason Jar Drinkers, Shannon Whitworth Band, The Trophy Husbands and Jon Stickley Trio.
Thanks to  and  for generously donating delicious food and locally crafted beers.
Stay tuned, we had so much fun that RiverLink hopes to make this a bi-annual event! |
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Volunteer Spotlight shines on Norm & Jeannie Herrmann!
 Norm & Jeannie Herrmann have participated in several RiverLink river cleanups including the Earth Day and Duck Pond Pottery sponsored cleanup in Brevard. Jeannie & Norm worked hard during both cleanups to remove heavy items from the French Broad River including a large oil drum and entire toilet commode for which they won the most unique piece of trash award and received handmade mugs from husband/wife team Nick Friedmand and Jennifer Kelly of Duck Pond Pottery for their efforts.
When asked why they wanted to volunteer to RiverLink, Norm said, "We like canoeing and have seen firsthand the trash that people thoughtlessly toss into the creeks and rivers of North Carolina. It's not a bad idea to protect one's water supply. We've wanted to do something to help for at least a few years and have finally decided to make the time. We enjoyed the fellowship with such nice and thoughtful people sharing an interest in protecting a valuable resource."
Norm and Jeannie moved to Asheville in 1996 from southeast coast of Florida where they enjoyed canoeing and camping. They have since been introduced to whitewater rafting and have enjoyed the relaxation only afforded by class V rapids. They have two grown children, two adult parents and an adult brother living in the WNC area. With a background in architectural consulting, Norm specializes in the design of decorative fountains and waterfalls with Liquid Studios. Jeannie volunteers full time as the President and Foster Coordinator of Foothills Golden Retriever Rescue. When not volunteering with RiverLink, Norm and Jeannie enjoy spending their time with their dogs, motorcycles and playing music.
Thank you Norm & Jeannie!
The next Volunteer Spotlight could be on you! To learn more about volunteering with RiverLink, please come to our Volunteer Information Sessions the 2nd Wed of each month at 10am and 5pm at our offices. Please contact Rachel Doebber, the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, at volunteer@riverlink.org or 828-2852-8474 ext. 118 to RSVP for the information session. |
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Asheville Middle School 8th Grade Raises $1000 for RiverLink
Asheville Middle School 8th grade students and staff present $1000 check from funds raised through FLOW 5K to RiverLink.
More than 200 people gathered on Saturday, March 7th at Carrier Park to run, walk and cheer in support of the 8th grade class' effort to raise money to support RiverLink and its efforts to cleanup and protect the French Broad River.
Pictured left to right; RiverLink Executive Director Karen Cragnolin; Literacy Coach Melissa Hedt; 8th grade student Leah Everist; AIG Specialist Jo Peterson Gibbs; 8th grade students MacKensie Kvalvik, Erin Daly and Ruth Mays; 8th grade Assistant Principal Ron Coleman; 8th grade student Terrence Lynch; Technology Applications teacher Terry Wright and RiverLink Volunteer Outreach Coordinator Rachel Doebber.
The 8th grade students were involved in all aspects of race planning from the behind the scene tasks of designing race brochures and website and recruiting prize sponsorships to the important race day logistics of setting up the race course, volunteer check in and orientation and announcing of race winners. "We're just thrilled with this," said Karen Cragnolin, RiverLink's Executive Director, who was very impressed with the students' involvement and dedication. "One of our missions is to empower the next generation of stewards for the river, and the kids from Asheville Middle School put this whole thing together."
The 5K race is one of several projects part of the Asheville Middle School's FLOW, For the Love of Water, unit their 8th grade class has been studying that raises such questions as how does the water cycle work, how are people and water connected and who owns water. This integrated unit of study incorporates community service projects providing opportunities for the students to realistically apply water conservation methods they have learned about. The students also sold rain barrels and race tshirts with proceeds benefiting RiverLink. In addition to the race, students have participated in such environmental stewardship projects as constructing rain barrels and river cleanups. |
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What is Muddy Water Watch (MWW)?
MWW is a state-wide initiative to reduce sediment runoff from construction sites by providing training workshops and materials to help volunteers understand erosion control violations, and how they can help prevent our biggest polluter - sediment.
How can you help?
RiverLink's MWW organizers are looking for volunteers.
No previous knowledge of erosion and sedimentation is needed, just a motivation to learn. We are looking for people to:
-monitor construction sites and take pictures of potential violations
-document and report streams, creeks, and other waterways that are polluted with excessive sediment
-learn how to use several data storage websites
-take photographs after heavy rainfalls
Check our website for upcoming MWW Trainings
How to learn more about MWW?
Visit www.riverlink.org or www.muddywaterwatch.org
Here you will find directions, job descriptions, contact information, workshop dates and locations, and much more.
To sign up, contact Hartwell Carson, RiverLink's French Broad Riverkeeper at 828-252-8474 ext. 114 or email Riverkeeper@riverlink.org | |
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Quick Links
River News
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Karen Cragnolin Park Update
Karen Cragnolin Park continues to attract funds and awards. The French Broad River Garden Club Foundation nominated KC Park for a Garden Club of America Award. 17,000 GCA members from all across the county voted and ----Karen Cragnolin Park won! The $25,000 award will be used to partially fund the master plan for the new park that is Amboy Roads "missing link" in the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay.
More good news, LOS and the NC Brownfield's program have worked with RiverLink to submit a grant request to the EPA under the stimulus package to follow up the Phase II testing results at Karen Cragnolin Park with a duel approach to the clean up. Testing has shown elevated levels of gas, oil and diesel fuel in the soil at KC Park. RiverLink will use phytoremediation (plants and shrubs) and soil removal to get the site ready for planning and development. According to RiverLink board Chair, Margie Eblen, "RiverLink wants to get the site as clean as possible to reduce any land use restrictions so that we can design a park without having to work around any soil contamination issues. Plus we are excited to have another educational opportunity to use the "river as teacher" like we did at Carrier Park. This phytoremediation clean up could be replicated to clean up many of the junkyards that line the river in other spots. With everything we do we try to create a process that can be replicated."
Remember that we are still raising money for the testing and acquisition of the land at Karen Cragnolin Park. You can own a piece of this future public greenway and "missing link" in the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay by purchasing a Deed of Support for $50 a foot. RiverLink will spend 100% of your donation on the park and give you a Deed suitable for framing inscribed with your name. Click here to purchase a DEED today!
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 Support RiverLink and enjoy your coffee all in one cup!
RiverLink's French Broad River Coffee Blend from locally based roaster, Blue Smoke Coffee, is now available at these fine establishments in the Asheville area where $1 from every bag sold goes directly to RiverLink.
- Greenlife Grocery on Merrimon Ave.
- Grove Corner Market in the Grove Arcade
- Red Bike Deli in the Grove Arcade
- New Bridge Market at 1311 Tunnel Rd in East Asheville area
- Laurey's Gourmet on Biltmore Ave near the Orange Peel
- Sunshine Pharmacy in Black Mountain
You can also purchase the coffee blend online from Blue Smoke Coffee.
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Upcoming Events
5/16/09
6/6/09
River Cleanup with The Underground Church Adopt-a-Stream Team SAVE THE DATE 8/1/09
Rockin' RiverFest '09 featuring the ever popular raft race, local music competition, kids parade & activities, local food & beverages, kayak demos, corn cole competition, frisbee golf and more! Start making your "Yacht" for the Rockin' RiverFest Raft Race.
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We want your input for the new Karen Cragnolin Park!
If you have some ideas about this "missing link" in the Wilma Dykeman, click here to take the survey and give us your suggestions too!
Click here to purchase a Deed of Support to help us continue to make the Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan a reality!
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River News
link to news page
Asheville Citizen Times, April 25.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 22.
Hendersonville Times News, April 22.
Ashevegas, April 20.
Hendersonville Times News, April 18.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 18.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 17.
Mountain Xpress,
April 15.
French Broad River Academy, April 14.
Kid Friendly Asheville, April 14.
Kid Friendly Asheville, April 14.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 14.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 13.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 11.
Asheville Citizen Times, April 9.
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River Fact
The French Broad River has several characteristics that are unusual for rivers of the southern Appalachians. Due to the nature of southeastern Blue Ridge topography, the river flows in a northward semicircle, cradled between the Tennessee Valley Divide and the Pisgah Ridge. Beginning at the junction of its first three major tributaries, the North, West, and East forks, the river flows first to the northeast, then turns north to Asheville, and finally sweeps to the northwest toward Tennessee.
River Photo
 Hannah Fields Utz Rainbow Mountain Children's School 3rd Grade Earth Day Art & Poetry Contest 1st Place 2d winner
River Poem
How Do you Think The Rain Goes Up? by Gennie Bassett The Learning Community School 4th grade Earth Day Poetry Contest Grand Prize Winner
How do you think the rain goes up?
to the clouds
how?
does it go up in a boring old line
or does it go up in a loopdy doop or in a swirly whirly way, for rain belongs to everyone. When the rain come all the way
down
down
down, until splash! It hits the surface of the river now only one out of many. Now you would never be able to get your raindrop back. Now the raindrop goes down the river just going
down
down
down, the
mountain until the drop goes into the ocean but
then
how do you think the rain goes up?
how?
Well I'll tell you, each and every drop
of rain that goes up and down and
then up again has its own way to go
whether it be up and down to round and round. I'll tell you it has its way.
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Drought Update
Does the current drought have you wanting to conserve more water? If you have questions or want to discuss how to build a rain barrel or install a cistern, log on to the community water harvesting. Send an email to the moderator to join.The French Broad River watershed is currently in an Moderate Drought. For more on the drought visit www.ncdrought.org/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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RiverLink Volunteer River Cleanups
Cliffs at Walnut Cove Owner's Association Team members pose with their loot from their April 28 cleanupApril River Cleanup Tally 240 Volunteers689 volunteer hours287 Bags of Trash
69 tires
A big thank you to all our awesome river cleanup volunteers!
Asheville Middle School
8th Grade Class
Swannanoa River
Episcopal Church of Asheville
Adopt-a-Stream Team
French Broad River
RiverLoafers at Loafers Glory NC Adopt-a-Stream Team
Toe River
Army Corp of Engineers
French Broad River
DENR NC Division of Water Quality Adopt-a-Stream Team
Swannanoa River
St. Mark's Church Youth Group
Adopt-a-Stream Team
Glenn Creek
Metropolitan Sewerage District
Adopt-a-Stream Team
French Broad River
UNCA Outdoors Program
Adopt-a-Stream Team & Clyde Erwin High School
Lee Creek
Asheville Middle School River Corps
Adopt-a-Stream Team
Clingman Forest Stream
Cliffs at Walnut Cove Owner's Association Adopt-a-Stream Team
French Broad River
Earth Day River Cleanup Volunteers
French Broad River tributary
April 25th Volunteers &
Duck Pond Pottery
French Broad River
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| REUSE AND RECYCLE!!! At the Blue Buildings
 Now that the weather is getting better, we hope to see more progress at the Blue Buildings demolition. This is another "Missing Link" in the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay between 12 Bones and the Smith Bridge along Riverside Drive. Many thanks to Critical Link award winners Sean Pace and Mark Guilbeau's prominent River District Artists who are leading the charge to recycle and reuse the materials from the Blue Buildings to create new and affordable artist studio space on the river. To get involved, please contact us at 828-252-8474 ext. 110
Click here to see all photos of The Blue Buildings demolition!
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