From: RiverLink [volunteer@riverlink.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 2:18 PM
To: Kathryn Blau
Subject: RiverLink Newsletter January 2007

RiverLink Newsletter January 2007 ©2007 RiverLink.org
RiverLink is a regional non-profit spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live and play. Since 1987 we have engaged in simultaneous efforts to address water quality concerns throughout the French Broad River basin, expand public opportunities for access and recreation, and spearheaded the economic revitalization of Asheville's dilapidated riverfront district. We hope you find this newsletter informative and enjoyable. To unsubscribe please click here.
In this issue...

Tribute to Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006)

RiverLink in Schools: 2007 Environmental Education Program

River Cleanup Highlights- December

Volunteer Opportunities- January
    • NEW positions: Archiving/ scanning . Filming/ broadcasting . GIS mapping
    • Internships: Environmental Education . Media . RiverKeeper . Office Assistant . Volunteer Assistant
    • Natural Resources Advisory Committee: Forestry/ Botany . Soil quality/ Land use . Biology/ Wildlife . Air Quality (filled)
    • CreekKeeper Training: Spring 2007
Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006)

The author of the groundbreaking book "The French Broad" and inspiration for the Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan passed away on December 22 at the age of 86.

Click to read about Wilma's life and contributions to conservation.


Wilma Dykeman was right.

She was right about "who" and "what" killed the French Broad.  She was right about our need to be fearful about the use of pesticides in our food chain. She was right about the need for better racial communications and understanding and the impacts of population explosion. She was right about the diversity of our land, climates, plants and people. She was right to worry that we would squander our legacy. And, she was not only right, but insightful about all these things nearly 50 years ago, when no one was talking or thinking about pollution, pesticides or race relations.  In The French Broad she says, "The choices of how we change and how we remain will determine the survival of our rich human resources during the next fifty years."

As we move towards the next fifty years - we should be asking ourselves and our leaders if we have heeded her advice and insights. 

We have compiled for this issue, in Wilma's memory and honor, a number of the news stories and editorials that resulted from her passing on December 22, 2006. Over the next six months, we hope to add a new feature to our webpage: a pictorial history of Wilma Dykeman as well as your personal remembrances and testimonials.

Please send us your pictures, thoughts and memories so we can post them on the web.  Now would be a great time to read (or re-read) her books and introduce your friends and family to the writings and legacy of Wilma Dykeman.

Karen Cragnolin
Executive Director, RiverLink, Inc. & longtime friend of Wilma Dykeman

Be a part of the RiverWay development...

Purchase your Deed of Support for the
Wilma Dykeman Missing Link EDACO fund!

For $50  per linear foot you can help acquire the EDACO property as well as other "Missing Links" in the RiverWay, and to promote implementation of the RiverWay. These certificates of support are suitable for framing and the RiverLink board hopes will be bought by individuals as well as given as gifts for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. These are gifts for the future of our rivers.
RiverLink in the News

The 17-mile Wilma Dykeman Riverway, a continuous greenway linking the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, just got a big step closer to becoming a reality thanks to a $500,000 grant to RiverLink from the Janirve Foundation... continue reading this Citizen-Times article
RiverLink thanks the Janirve Foundation for their generous support of the
Wilma Dykeman Riverway!
RiverLink in Schools: 2007 Environmental Education Program

The Environmental Education program utilizes trained college and graduate level interns and volunteers to facilitate environmental education programs in K-12 classrooms.  We work with both public and private schools and can also offer group home school lessons. 

RiverLink's Environmental Education program offers lessons based around water education that promotes environmental awareness, appreciation, stewardship, and activism.  The curriculum used for this program is adapted from the nationally known Project WET curriculum.

RiverLink envisions the Environmental Education program as a way to bring educational and innovative classroom-ready lessons to students.  It is our goal to provide students with quality lessons that relate to the North Carolina state curriculum and the French Broad River watershed environment in which they live. 

Please contact RiverLink for a full list of lesson plans for all grade levels that we are offering in 2007.  We are also available to schedule field trips and follow-up lessons in the field.

We are taking applications for Environmental Education Interns to participate in this program for Spring 2007- college students and graduates are encouraged to apply! Contact volunteer@riverlink.org for more information.

River Cleanups

On Friday, December 15 seven volunteers from Warren Wilson College along with home school student, Joe Vickers and his mother, Karen, participated in a river cleanup on the Swannanoa River.

The nine volunteers contributed a total of 18 hours of service and collected about 20 bags of trash from the river and Swannanoa River Road. Renee Sniegocki of Warren Wilson found an old oil drum in the river, which RiverLink will haul out with heavier equipment than the litter sticks that volunteers used on Friday.

For upcoming river cleanups and other volunteer opportunities please visit www.riverlink.org.


Look for more River Cleanup dates coming this spring!


January Volunteer Opportunities


NEW positions: Archiving/ scanning . Filming/ broadcasting . GIS mapping


Monthly volunteer info/ training sessions
Second Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm
January 10
RiverLink offices, 170 Lyman St.
Open to the public- please RSVP to volunteer@riverlink.org

Come to RiverLink to find out all about how YOU can get involved in our efforts to revitalize the French Broad watershed! A 30 minute presentation will give an overview of ongoing and special events volunteer opportunities. You will have a chance to ask questions, fill out a volunteer application, and speak with the Volunteer Coordinator about your interests and availability.

Become a CreekKeeper!

Are you concerned about development in your area? Are you worried about the health of the streams that we all use for numerous types of recreation? Are you interested in learning the tools to help protect our local waterways?

RiverLink is organizing a Creekkeeper Training this spring to give local citizens the knowledge and tools to protect and restore our valued waterways. A panel of experts will present information on:

  • threats to our streams
  • erosion and sedimentation laws and regulations
  • stream monitoring
  • what a healthy stream should look like
  • how to recognize pollution
  • how YOU can help protect and improve your favorite stream!

    This is a great opportunity to become the local expert for your stream. Contact RiverLink's French Broad Riverkeeper for more information or to reserve your spot, 828-252-8474 ext. 114 or riverkeeper@riverlink.org.
Internships: Time commitment: varies; 10-15 hours/week, flexible.
Rolling application. Academic credit possible, call for details.

This is a great resumé builder and a chance to get involved with exciting projects!
Environmental Education . Media . RiverKeeper . Office Assistant . Volunteer Assistant

For more information and an application, email volunteer@riverlink.org.

Natural Resources Advisory Committee: Time commitment: several hours/ month, biannual committee meetings

RiverLink is forming a new Natural Resources Volunteer Advisory Committee, whose mission will be to expand on RiverLink's efforts to revitalize the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live and play by providing expert advice on natural resources that are relevant to the French Broad watershed.

Naturally, RiverLink's primary focus is water quality, but we all know that in any ecosystem water quality is affected by (and affects) other natural resources. RiverLink is recruiting a committee of experts who will be called upon to assist with watershed issues pertaining to a range of natural resources, including:

Forestry/ Botany . Soil quality/ Land use . Biology/ Wildlife . Air quality (filled)

On December 20 RiverLink filled the Air Quality expert position and welcomed the first member of the committee. Keith Bamberger, NC DENR Information and Communication Specialist for the Asheville office of the NC Division of Air Quality, will assist RiverLink and educate the public about how air and water quality are related. He brings with him extensive knowledge of air quality as well as outreach and education experience. Welcome, Keith!

RiverLink is still recruiting for the other three positions. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled, and we expect to hold the first meeting in early 2007.


RiverLink, Inc.
P.O. Box 15488
Asheville, NC  28813-0488
Office: (828) 252-8474 x118
Fax: (828) 253-6848

Check us out on MySpace!
www.myspace.com/riverlink
  News
GET RIVERLINKED Blog!
Check out our new blog and tell us what YOU think about issues affecting the rivers!!!

Visit http://getriverlinked.blogspot.com/ to find out about the latest news from the river and discuss with the community!




RiverWise Award Nomination deadline extended to Jan. 15

Do you know an individual, a commercial development or an institution like a school or government in the French Broad River watershed that has done an outstanding job protecting and preserving water quality?

Then nominate them for a RiverLink RiverWise Award.  Each year RiverLink seeks to acknowledge and celebrate good RiverWise practices. You can nominate yourself or someone else.

Go to our website to fill out a nomination form. Submit your nomination to
Karen@riverlink.org or RiverLink, RiverWise Awards, P.O. Box 15488, Asheville, NC 28813-0488.

RiverFront Bus Tours
Next tour: JANUARY 18
Third Thursdays 12:00-2:00pm
Free for members
$15 for non-members
Starting in February RiverLink will offer the tour on a Saturday in addition to third Thursdays.

Take a tour of Asheville's urban riverfront and learn about Asheville's river district, history, and the involvement of RiverLink in the development of the urban riverfront.

The tour includes many interesting sites, such as historic Richmond Hill Inn, with new dining hours in 2007 at the Ambassador's Grille and Gabrielle's. (Starting February 9th Gabrielle's will be open Wednesday through Monday -6:00pm to 8:30pm and closed on Tuesdays. Please visit www.richmondhillinn.com)

To register for the bus tour call 252-8474 x.118 or email volunteer@riverlink.org.

Members click here to register online.

GET RIVERLINKED!
We are pleased to present a new feature of our newsletter that aims to educate you about the French Broad River watershed and get you RIVERLINKED!
River Fact
of the month

The French Broad River is the 3rd oldest river in the world! Only the Nile River & the New River (also in North Carolina) are older.

Read more about the French Broad River Basin

River Photo
of the month

The French Broad River

Photo taken by French Broad RiverKeeper Hartwell Carson on his Tour de French Broad trip
River Quote
of the month
"For the French Broad is, above all, a region of life, with all the richness and paradox of life. Water, forests, plants, animals, people: thronging here in rare and wonderful variety." Wilma Dykeman, "The French Broad"
Readers are welcome to submit river facts, photos, quotes, and anything else related to the rivers!
Email volunteer@riverlink.org

 ©2007 RiverLink

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