RiverLink is a membership-driven organization.

WaterRICH French Broad River Paddle Trail Stream Restorations Stormwater Best Management Practices Riparian Easement Pollution Hotline

Why Become Certified?

o It can lower your summer water and sewer bill

o It can increase property values and assist in preventing water issues in the home.

o Incrementally improve water quality of the French Broad River Watershed.

WaterRICH is a RiverLink Initiative to assist homeowners in understanding rainwater management.  Through the program, RiverLink will provide an on-line resource designed specifically for smaller sites and private individuals. 

We are currently looking for 75 residential homes in Buncombe, Madison or Haywood Counties, or communities to become part of the WaterRICH program in our pilot project! Come be the first in your neighborhood to be WaterRICH!

• Overview of the WaterRICH Program-Click Here
• Getting Started-Click Here

The WaterRICH program is an easily accessible, comprehensive resource for understanding how to manage water in the residential setting.  WaterRICH will teach you how to harvest rainwater, create garden features which promote water seeping into the soil (stormwater features), and reduce outside water needs.  The Program offers hands-on workshops that teach site analysis and introduce design tools needed to select water quality and infiltration mechanisms to use right in your backyard.

The WaterRICH Program is a program built to help residents understand how they can be good stewards of our natural resources. The goal of the project is to increase infiltration of stormwater into the ground and the water table, reduce the use of potable water, improve water quality in the French Broad River Watershed and reduce pressure on the existing stormwater system.

What WaterRICH can do for you:

• Reduce use of potable water on landscapes, and your water bill.
• Increase property values and prevent or fix existing water issues.
• Assist in reducing pollution into our creeks and the French Broad River, which serves over 1 million people with drinking water and is widely used for recreation.
• Access the online handbook with step-by step instructions for creating a WaterRICH landscape.
• Learn to design and construct water quality features, such as raingardens, through hands-on workshops and trainings.
• Access to consultation by stormwater professional (1hr free for the first 75 homes).
• Access to design professionals.
• Have your home certified WaterRICH.
  

  Click Here to Enroll Today!

Handbook:

The Handbook is designed to walk a homeowner through a step-by-step process to learn how to manage the stormwater on there property to maximize reuse, infiltration and conservation.  Along with the handbook, RiverLink offers a series of workshops to assist homeowners in this process, including workshops on site analysis, how to calculate your stormwater runoff, BMP selection and construction.

Download the entire Manual:

WaterRICH Handbook -full download - DRAFT - email comments to nancy@riverlink.org

Workshops:

WaterRICH Series 1 Site Inventory, Analysis and Calculating your Stormwater runnoff

Workshop 1 Presentation-Click Here

February 18th, Saturday 8am-Noon- Click Here to Register

February 22nd, Wednesday 5pm-8pm- Click Here to Register

This Workshop will walk you through the site inventory and analysis process for your site. We will use online tools to begin this process and review at home techniques to determine slopes and soil drainage qualities. The class will also assist you in calculating your stormwater runoff volume on your residential property.

Please bring:

• Scaled plat or aerial imagery of property
• Laptop Computer
• Calculator

WaterRICH Series 2 Stormwater BMP Construction Techniques

March 10th, Saturday 8am-Noon- Click Here to Register

March 14th, Wednesday 5pm-8pm- Click Here to Register

This Workshop will walk residents through the step-by-step istructions for layout, design, and construction techniques of residential stormwater BMPs. You will be able to ask detailed questions to professionals, so come with your ideas in hand!

Please bring:

• Site Plan
• Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where do I start?
Right here.  You can download the entire handbook below. Then if you are interested in becoming certified call the Nancy Hodges, Watershed Resources Manager at 828-252-8474 x. 14  or email Nancy at Nancy@riverlink.org.

How do I sign-up?
Interested in becoming certified call the Nancy Hodges, Watershed Resources Manager at 828-252-8474 x. 14  or email Nancy at Nancy@riverlink.org.

How and why do I do a Site Inventory and Analysis?
Site Inventory and Analysis are critical steps in planning and designing your stormwater management system.  It is taking stock of the existing conditions on your property.  It includes social, environmental, and constructed features.  It can identify problems such as erosion, drainage issues, and unsightly elements, or identify positive attributes such as specimen plants or a good view.  You can follow the step -by-step process in Chapter 1-2 Site Inventory and Analysis.

How do I tell how well the soil drains on my property?
To determine soil porosity follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 2-3 Percolation Test.

How do I create measure the steepness of my property?
To measure the slope of your property follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 2-2 Measuring Slope.

How do I calculate my stormwater runoff volume?
You can learn how much rain water runs off or through your property in Chapter 1-3 Calculating your Stormwater Runoff Volume.

How do I select the correct stormwater BMP?
For assistance in selecting the correct BMP review the information in Chapter 1-4 BMP Selection.

How do construct Berms and Swales?
To build a berm and swale system check out Chapter 3-1 Berms and Swales.

How do I build a Check Dam?
To build a Check dam review Chapter 3-2 Check Dams.

How do I construct an Enhanced Swale?
You can follow the step -by-step  instructions in Chapter 3-3 Enhanced Swales.

How do I install French Drains?
To measure the slope of your property follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 3-4 French Drains.

How do I build a Rain Barrel or Cistern?
To measure the slope of your property follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 3-5 Rain Barrels. 

How do I build a rain garden?
To determine soil porosity follow the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 3-6 Rain Gardens.

What if I want to build a Bio-retention, Wetland or install pervious pavers?
We suggest contacting a profession for assistance with these specific types of stormwater BMPs, to find out more information see Chapter 4-1 Consults the Experts.

Where do I find contractors or professionals for assistance?
Check out our list of others who can help.  Appendix C

What Plants are good to use in  stormwater BMPs?
Check out our suggested Plant List.

Workshops:

WaterRICH Series 1.1 - Site Inventory and Analysis

Tuesday, September 13th at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices at 170 Lyman St. Monday, September 26th at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices at 170 Lyman St.

This Workshop is an 1.5 hour class that will walk you through the site inventory and analysis process for your site. We will use online tools to begin this process and review at home techniques to determine slopes and soil drainage qualities. Please bring your laptop with wireless networking if possible.

WaterRICH Series 1.2 - Stormwater Calculations

Thursday, September 15th at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices at 170 Lyman St. Wednesday, September 28th at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices at 170 Lyman St.

This Workshop is an 1.5 hour class which will assist you in calculating your stormwater runoff volume on your residential property. Please bring your site analysis or a scaled plat or aerial imagery, and a calculator to the class.

WaterRICH Series 1.0 - Site Inventory, Analysis and Stormwater Calculations

Saturday 24th at 8:30 am - 11 am at the RiverLink Offices at 170 Lyman St.

This workshop is the entirety of the WaterRICH Series 1 workshops. We will be working through the site inventory and analysis process for your site. Then will use online tools to begin this process and review at home techniques to determine slopes and soil drainage qualities. Following the site analysis we will calculate the stormwater runoff volume for your property. Please bring a scaled plat or aerial imagery (if possible), and a calculator to the class. Also please bring your laptop with wireless networking if possible.

Resources:

RiverLink sells Rain Barrels!    Fully assembled the 55 gallon rain barrel: $50 each    Un-assembled 55 gallon rain barrel kit: $30 each    55-gallon pre-drilled rain barrel without parts kit: $15 eachClick here to learn to build your own rain barrel!

Rain Barrel Construction Instructions

Certification:

RiverLink is seeking to register over 75 residences in Asheville or surrounding municipalities as WaterRICH Certified.  Contact the Watershed Resources Manager for more information at nancy@riverlink.org, or 828-252-7484 ext. 14