Home French Broad RiverkeeperMuddy Water Watch Pollution  Tracker Water Quality Projects Adopt-a-Stream Watershed Ed. Bus ToursWalking Tours Trash Tracker Speakers Bureau Name That Creek Other Initiatives Privacy Site Map

Introduction

The environmental revitalization of the French Broad River Watershed is a central part of RiverLink’s mission and its goal of making the river a place to live work and play. This revitalization is the goal of our many environmental programs.

French Broad Riverkeeper

Launching an international movement
The French Broad RIVERKEEPER®, is a founding member of WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE, an international environmental movement that began on New York’s Hudson River, where commercial and recreational fishermen united to save the river from polluters. There are now over 172 waterkeepers throughout the world that are advocates for the protection of their waterway.

What does it mean to be a WATERKEEPER?
Waterkeepers, whether Riverkeepers, Soundkeepers, Bayoukeepers, or Baykeepers, all share the same mission: to defend their water bodies by responding to citizen concerns, educating the community about water quality problems, advocating compliance with environmental laws, and working to resolve pollution problems that threaten their waterways. The Board of WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE reviews and certifies every program that seeks to call itself Waterkeeper.

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Muddy Water Watch

What is Muddy Water Watch (MWW)?

MWW is a state-wide initiative to reduce stormwater runoff from construction sites by providing training workshops and materials to help volunteers understand erosion control violations, and how they can help prevent impacts from the number one water pollution problem- sediment. Volunteers will be trained to properly identify sedimentation and erosion violations from active construction sites, as well as poorly maintained Best Management Practices (BMP’s). This program is one of many ways that RiverLink is addressing the

challenges of growth in our community.

Taking Action
The MWW Project aims to train citizens throughout the entire French Broad Watershed. The project will expand a model citizen training program to educate citizens who will be able to properly identify erosion control violations and maintenance failures. Citizens will monitor and document active construction sites and report violations to the appropriate enforcement agency. The efforts of volunteers will result in site-specific actions in targeted areas that will improve water quality by reducing mud and sediment loading into rivers and streams. The project also aims to gain media attention statewide about non-point source pollution and the need for financial backing to improve river and stream conditions.

Visit RiverLink's online pollution tracking website at www.imrivers.com/hartwell to view local violations and visit the statewide Muddy Water Watch website to take learn more and take action.

Pollution Tracker

Click the map to view RiverLink's pollution tracker website.

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Water Quality Projects

Take a self-guided tour!

Click here for a printable list of RiverLink's BMPs

In 2001 RiverLink received a cost share grant funds from North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Department of Water Quality/319 Non Point Source Pollution Section to implement urban “best management practices”(BMP’s), to treat nonpoint source runoff from urban areas within the Swannanoa watershed. Non-point source pollution, such as oil from parking lots, fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments is a major threat to the health of our waterways, but by using these BMPs local residents can greatly reduce the amount of pollution that reaches our streams. The goal of these projects is to provide examples and educate residents, developers, and local governments about preventing non point source pollutants from entering our streams and rivers.

Five projects have been installed within in the watershed to demonstrate a variety of measures that can be replicated. These include rain gardens/bio-filters, stormwater wetlands, vegetated swales, stream bank stabilization, rain barrels, conservation easements, and riparian plantings. Below are examples of the "best management practices" that are now a model for treating water quality in the Swannanoa River Watershed.

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Evergreen Community Charter School

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Watershed: Swannanoa
Location: Haw Creek Community
Major Goals:

• Provide treatment of stormwater originating from roofs, parking lots and roadways
• Installation of two rain gardens, one vegetated swale and one stormwater wetland to provide triple treatment of runoff from this site
• Provide expanded educational opportunities for the student curriculum

Project Brief:

The Evergreen Community Charter School project is designed to direct roof runoff from the main facility into a rain garden that can serve dual purposes. The rain garden will provide treatment of roof runoff which contains nutrients such as nitrogen, as well as enhance the educational opportunities for the science base curriculum (i.e. butterfly garden). The parking lot will be sloped to capture and treat stormwater containing gas and oil contaminants in a vegetated swale into a rain garden.

Both systems are designed to capture the first inch of rainfall, which contains the vast majority of pollutants. Overflow from both of these systems, in addition to runoff from roadways will be directed to another vegetated swale to reduce the water’s velocity and treated again in a stormwater wetland. The wetland will provide for additional educational opportunities by providing another biological habitat on campus for scientific studies.

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Charlie Bullman Athletic Facility Haw Creek

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Watershed: Swannanoa
Location: Haw Creek Community
Major Goals:

• Demonstrate stream restoration techniques and reduce the amount of sediment depositing into Haw Creek from athletic field stormwater


• Reconfigure the flow pattern of Haw Creek, stabilize banks with native riparian plantings, and reduce sediment loading through treatment of stormwater runoff from fields utilizing bio-retention cells and vegetated swales

Project Brief:

Sections of Haw Creek were previously straightened to accommodate development, eliminating much of the natural pool and riffle structure that occurs naturally adding oxygen to the stream. The first phase of this project reconfigured the flow pattern of a section of Haw Creek, creating a more meandering pattern to allow more pools and riffles. This not only provides for a more stable stream but also increases biodiversity of habitat for associated aquatic species. Following reconstruction, native riparian plants were planted to help stabilize the stream bank.

The second phase of this project will address sediment runoff from the athletic fields. Sediment is the number polluter in the French Broad River Watershed. This past season approximately 6-8 dump truck loads of clay were needed to maintain the ball fields. This project will eliminate much of the sediment that is currently reaching Haw Creek by using vegetated swales and bio- retention cells to filter the sediment before it reaches the stream.

This site has excellent educational possibilities with students from Haw Creek Elementary and Evergreen Community Charter School within walking distance. This project will provide educational signage and access points for stream related learning experiences.

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Jones Residence Haw Creek Community

Watershed: Swannanoa
Location: Haw Creek Community
Major Goals:

• Create a stormwater wetland and provide streambank stabilization
• Treat stormwater runoff discharged from Haw Creek Road to remove pollutants and stabilize eroding stream banks of Haw Creek to reduce sediment loading
• Demonstrate practical methodologies for homeowners that improve water quality

Project Brief:

The Jones property is bisected by Haw Creek and one of its tributaries. Until now, stormwater runoff from Haw Creek Road has flowed through their property unabated into Haw Creek. A stormwater wetland has been designed to stop direct input into the stream. The wetland is designed to allow the water to slowly pass through the wetland before discharging and is heavily vegetated with native wetland plants. By slowing the water’s velocity and allowing for some percolation, nonpoint source pollution entering the stream is greatly reduced.

Streambank erosion is a problem for many areas of Haw Creek where vegetation is sparse. The second phase of this project will be to remove invasive exotic plant species from the riparian buffer areas and then replant with native trees, shrubs and groundcovers. This will will stabilize the stream bank reducing sediment loading and providing shade to help maintain cool water temperatures.

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Black Mountain Well Lot #6 Parking Area

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Watershed: Swannanoa

Location: Behind Black Mountain Center for the Arts/ Swannanoa Valley History Museum

Major Goals:

• Construct two bio-retention cell (rain garden) and a vegetated swale
• Treat stormwater runoff from roofs of adjacent buildings and redirect parking lot runoff
• Demonstrate current stormwater treatment technologies addressing roof and  parking lot runoff

Project Brief:

Two bio retention cells (rain gardens) will treat roof runoff from adjacent buildings (Black Mountain Center for the Arts and the Swannanoa Valley History Museum). This runoff will be collected and filtered by soil percolation in the two landscaped bio-retention cells. The parking lot will be graded, sloped, and resurfaced to allow for stormwater runoff to be treated in a vegetated swale that will function to slow the runoff velocity. This will remove sediment and the associated parking lot pollutants (i.e., grease, oil, gas, and heavy metals like zinc, cadmium, etc.)

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RiverWalk Park - Black Mountain

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Watershed: Swannanoa

Location: behind Bi-Lo grocery

Construction: May 2004
Major Goals:

• Construct a bio-retention area (also known as a rain garden)
• Construct a stormwater wetland
• Treat stormwater runoff from 1.5 acres of impervious surface to improve water quality
• Provide educational opportunities on wetlands and water quality

Project Brief:

This project was designed to treat stormwater runoff from half of the Bi-Lo roof and parking area. A bio-retention (rain garden) was installed to capture and treat runoff from approximately 1.5 acres of impervious surface. This runoff contains oils, grease, gasoline and sediment. The bio-retention cell was sized to capture the first inch of rainfall and allow sediment and nutrients to settle and filter through soil for approximately 24-48 hours. This will slowly release stormwater and capture pollutants. Sediment is deposited within the bio-retention cell and pollutants are bonded to soil particles.  

An additional bio-retention area and a stormwater wetland were constructed onsite to treat stormwater runoff from the adjacent railroad.  Appropriate native wetland plants were used on all projects to provide for nutrient uptake and aid in the decomposition of pollutants. All of these projects were designed to both educate and demonstrate new stormwater treatment technologies for students, developers and decision makers.

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Swannanoa River at Azalea Park

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Azalea Park and the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex is a 155 acre city owned property in East Asheville on Azalea Road. It is sure to be one of the most utilized parks within the city. With four soccer fields already installed and a master plan that includes baseball fields, it’s important to recognize there is another side to Azalea Park that attracts fishermen, birders, runners and bikers.

RiverLink participated on the park design committee and felt a need to enhance and protect the natural resources that exist in this semi - rural setting within the city limits of Asheville. A logical choice was the Swannanoa River. The main stem of the river flows through the Blue Ridge Parkway property and dissects the park for over a mile. Unfortunately, over time, the river has been abused. It was moved over time to make way for agriculture in the valley, its riparian buffer has been severely diminished in size, and upstream development have taken its toll by adding to the amount of stormwater runoff received.
These changes over time have resulted in severe bank erosion increasing the amount of sediment input to the stream, while lack of sufficient riparian buffers has caused steam temperatures to warm in these hatchery supported trout waters. Both of these have significantly impacted the ability of trout to reproduce in the Swannanoa River. RiverLink received grant monies from the North Carolina Clean Water Mangement Trust Fund to help stabilize banks and improve riparian habitat throughout Azalea Park.

RiverLink, City of Asheville, Wolf Creek Engineering, and North State Environmental are finishing up a large scale restoration project The goal of the restoration project is to improve water quality and enhance both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Much of the in stream work will focus on redirection of stream flows from eroding banks and to create, a series of pools and riffles in appropriate sequences. This will decrease the amount of sediment entering the stream and increase the amount of oxygen in the water. This along with the root wads and logs that will placed in the stream will greatly enhancing aquatic habitat. Once construction is complete updated before and after pictures will be posted.

A conservation easement along both sides of the Swannanoa will help to preserve new buffer plantings and protect them until maturity. A 7.8 acre wetland is also located at Azalea Park, an old oxbow of the Swannanoa cutoff many years ago. This is an excellent sight for birders looking for migratory fowl as well as waders. This area will also be protected with a conservation easement preserving it for future generations.
Plans for greenways throughout the park will offer opportunities for walking and running along the river connecting to the Mountains to Sea Trail. These trails will eventually to be incorporated into the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan, seventeen miles of greeways planned along both the Swannanoa and French Broad River.

RiverLink will have future restoration projects along the Swannanoa at Warren Wilson and Black Mountain Recreation Park.

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Adopt-a-Stream Click here to view team links

What is Adopt-a-stream?

The Adopt-a-Stream program is a hands-on way for local residents and businesses to get actively involved in improving the water quality of the French Broad River Watershed. This a very flexible program that gives you the tools and knowledge to make a difference in your watershed by cleaning up your local stream.

What do I Have to do?

• Minimum of 2 cleanups per year
• Conduct 1 visual monitoring session per year
• Report any water related issues/problems to RiverLink

There are lots of other exciting opportunities including becoming trained as a Creekkeeper for your stream.

Why Participate?

By participating in a Clean Stream Team you are improving one of the region’s greatest natural resources-our creeks and streams!

Everyday pollutants such as trash, used oil, pesticides, fertilizers and yard wastes reach our urban streams.  Although some pollutants are easily detected, some go unnoticed without the watchful eye of concerned and involved citizens.  Stream Teams are crucial in protecting our rivers, creeks, and streams and in reporting water pollution problems. This makes RiverLink’s Adopt-a-Stream Program critical to the continued health and vitality of the French Broad River Watershed.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who is concerned about water quality within the French Broad River watershed can participate!  Clean Stream Teams may include: individuals, communities, families, student organizations, youth and churchgroups, scout groups, civic organizations, businessess and industry.

Want to get Involved?

Step #1

Call RiverLink’s Riverkeeper, at (828) 252-8474 ext. 118 or volunteer@riverlink.org to request information and find out which sections of a stream are available for adoption.  Please specify if you have a specific stream section or area in mind.

Step #2

After a stream section has been determined, Download your Adopt-a-Stream information package complete with Adopt-a-Stream contract, volunteer guide, river cleanup reports and field reports, and participant waivers.  The participating group must complete one river cleanup prior to becoming official members of the Adopt-a-Stream  program.

Step #3

Prior to each scheduled stream cleanup, volunteers are asked to contact RiverLink at 828-252-8474 x. 114 or riverkeeper@riverlink.org to arrange the pick up of gloves, trash and other materials 2 weeks in advance. (The Adopt-a-Stream program asks that volunteers commit to a minimum of two stream cleanups per year. Volunteers must also conduct one visual monitoring session to identify problems within your stream (erosion, hazardous wastes, point and non-point source pollution).

Step #4

Upon completion of each stream cleanup, volunteers are asked to complete river cleanup data sheets and fax (828-253-6846), email, or mail it back to RiverLink.

Step #5

Pat yourself on the back!  Thank you for your time and dedication to help protect and improve the water quality of our streams and lakes!

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Watershed Education

RiverLink K-12 Watershed Education Program

RiverLink seeks to enhance environmental education in the French Broad watershed through water-based environmental education lessons in K-12 grade classrooms adapted from Project WET and EnviroScape™ that will compliment the NC Standard Course of Study.  Our lesson plans focus mainly on the relationship between science education and daily life decision making.

Our lessons will focus on:

• the direct relationship between science education and daily life
• student engagement in scientific investigation
• science as a link to personal decision-making

RiverLink will provide:

• Trained and experienced RiverLink staff, interns and volunteers (college students or college graduates)
• Field trips upon request (well in advance)
• Most materials necessary for classroom lessons
• FUN and educational lessons plans that will generate stewardship and inspire youth to be environmentally aware and active
  

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Kids in the Creek

“Kids in the Creek” provides an outdoor experiential learning opportunity for students and campers to learn about factors affecting water quality of our streams and the aquatic organisms that live there. This is a hands on opportunity for students to learn more about watersheds and their local creeks.

Instructors cover topics ranging from what is a watershed to how land use influences water quality. Students will also conduct water quality tests on samples from the Swannanoa River and test for various water quality factors such as pH and nutrients. Biologists will assist students in collecting and identifying aquatic insects and native fish.

The goal of this program is to help students become better stewards of these valuable resources by educating them on the ecology of streams and the interrelated factors that determine a streams health.

The “Kids in the Creek” program is a collaborative educational effort funded by the Pigeon River Trust Fund, with the assistance of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation Service, UNCA’s Environmental Quality Institute.

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Mobile Technology Classroom

The technology that this mobile class room offers will enable students to obtain a truly unique educational experience. The ROVER van will be outfitted with laptops, a plasma TV, microscopes, an immersion dome for movies, and mobile internet access.

Interactive visualizations such as a fly through of the river or an underwater look at what lives in the river will be applications to use with this technology. Students will be able to enter the immersion dome and watch a movie on water in Western North Carolina in a setting like no other. The dome will surround students, bringing them into the movie. Aquatic insects can be displayed on the TV screen through visual microscopes.

RiverLink can come to your school or use the van as an outdoor classroom at a local creek or river. This is a partnership with the National Environmental Modeling Institute (NEMAC) and several local collaborators.

Click here for a link to the UNC-A NEMAC page

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Enviroscape

EnviroScape is plastic model of a watershed that shows students the effects that pollution can have on water quality. This is a great educational tool that teaches the watershed concept in addition to point and non-point source pollution.

Students learn about different components of a watershed and get the opportunity to decide where to place buildings, roads, animals, and trees. Two waterways flow into a larger water body, which is representative of a lake, river, bay, or ocean. Pollution and runoff are visually apparent when rain falling over the landscape top carries soil (cocoa), chemicals (colored drink mixes) and oil (cocoa and water mixture) through a watershed to a body of water. Stormwater runoff and storm drain function are also addressed.

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River of Words and Art

RiverLink is implementing a program called River of Words and would like for as many schools and classes (K-12) as possible to participate in
creating art and poetry based on our local rivers.

Lessons are offered throughout the school year, and the annual Earth Day River of Words and Art Contest in April offers students a chance to win prizes and recognition, have their entries on display, and be included in a French Broad River of Words and Art book.

This program offers a very exciting and interesting way for children to learn more about their watershed, while also contributing to an informed
appreciation of the natural world. It also helps improve children’s literacy and cognitive skills. This type of multidisciplinary, hands-on approach to education nurtures students’ creative voices as well, through instruction and practice in
art and poetry.

Using all of their senses, students observe their watershed and create a piece of art or poetry based on topics such as fish and wildlife; boating and recreation; pollution and trash; geography; culture and history; water and the hydrologic cycle, or any relevant topic that students wish to address.

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Riverfront Bus Tours

Third Thursdays, 12:00-2:00pm

2008 dates: January 17, February 21,
March 20, April 17, May 15
Register online

Come tour the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers with RiverLink and witness their magic first hand.   This is an opportunity to see the improvements that have occurred and hear what is coming over the next several months and years to make our rivers a better place to work, live and play.   You will also learn some local history and visit some streets and neighborhoods you have never seen before.

If you ever wondered about the river development project – this is your opportunity to see and hear about the plans for the future.   The bus will meet you in front of Asheville City Hall and return to City Hall.

This tour is free for RiverLink members.  Non-members cost $15.00 per person.  Lunch is not provided but you can bring your own.   Reservations are a must – so call us at 828- 252-8474 or click here to make your reservation online.

Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Walking Tours

Join RiverLink for a series of walking tours of the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay!

Learn about the nature and history of the river and parks, and the future plans for the RiverWay. Tours are led in the spring by volunteer guides and RiverLink staff.

For current dates please see our homepage or call 252-8474. To volunteer to lead a tour, contact education@riverlink.org.

Birds spotted at Carrier Park Bird Walk tour:

Kildeer
European Starling
American Goldfinch
Palm Warbler
Yellow rumper warbler
Wood duck
Mallard
Rough winged swallow
Tree swallow
Eastern bluebird
Yellow crowned night heron
Song sparrow
Northern Mockingbird
Cardinal
American Robin
Eastern phoebe
Canada Goose
Mourning dove
Downy woodpecker
Blue jay
American crow
Carolina wren
White throated sparrow
Brown headed cowbird
Marsh wren

Trash Tracker

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RiverLink welcomes your pointing out where trash cleanup is needed.

I would like to report a site that needs cleanup.

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Speaker's Bureau

RiverLink staff and volunteers are available to speak to civic groups, schools, businesses, churches, neighborhoods, and other organizations on the following topics:

• State of the River (Hartwell Carson, French Broad RiverKeeper)
• Tour de French Broad (Hartwell Carson, French Broad RiverKeeper)
• Stream restoration (Hartwell Carson, French Broad RiverKeeper)
• Greenway development/ Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan
  (Karen Cragnolin, Executive Director)
• Sustainable development/ green roofs/ rain gardens
  (Karen Cragnolin, Executive Director)
• Volunteerism- what it’s worth (Volunteer Coordinator)
• Watershed Education- see link to program guide above
  (Kathryn Blau, Education Coordinator)
  
  Please contact volunteer@riverlink.org to schedule a visit today!

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Name That Creek

RiverLink seeks unnamed tributaries of the French Broad River watershed
for ‘Name That Creek’ project

What's in a name? It is difficult to love and protect something that is nameless- that is why RiverLink initiated the “Name That Creek” project.

In an effort to name and protect the nameless tributaries of the French Broad River, RiverLink is holding Name That Creek contests throughout the watershed. These are local, grassroots projects in which the community submits suggestions for creek names and votes for the most fitting name at a creek-naming ceremony. After a name is chosen, it is submitted to the USGS and eventually becomes the official name for the creek.

Since the project began in spring of 2007, RiverLink has coordinated two contests with the help of community volunteers:

• Buttermilk Creek, tributary of Hominy Creek in West Asheville
• Spearheaded by Doug Barlow of Malvern Hills
  
• Big Branch, tributary of Reems Creek in Weaverville
• Spearheaded by Barbara Joshi of Hawk’s Landing

Volunteers can help by bringing an unnamed creek to RiverLink’s attention, passing out flyers to neighbors, and organizing a community ‘creek-naming ceremony.’

We are currently seeking suggestions for nameless creeks throughout the watershed- that includes eight counties in WNC and four in Tennessee.

Please contact education@riverlink.org if you know of any!

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Other Local Initiatives

RiverLink's Community Drought Forum

focusing on the French Broad River watershed
February 22, 2008

Read quotes from interested citizens attending the drought forum

SPEAKERS

click presentation titles to view PDFs

click here for speaker bios

For more information on the drought please visit www.ncdrought.org

Bent Creek Watershed Project/Wesley Branch
Wetlands Restoration Project

Working cooperatively with the US Forest Service and the North Carolina Arboretum, RiverLink has conducted a preliminary assessment of the Bent Creek watershed that includes stream assessment, identification of potential water quality threats, and possible projects. This study has identified the Wesley Branch tributary as one in need of wetlands enhancement and protection. A newly formed Bent Creek Watershed Committee will facilitate a stakeholders group of private landowners within the Wesley Branch portion of the watershed in order to encourage land management in an environmentally sound manner. Buncombe County also owns property within this watershed on which a 10-acre riparian wetland occurs. RiverLink is now working in conjunction with the North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program and Buncombe County to enhance and restore this area for water quality benefits as well as for future educational programs at the North Carolina Arboretum. For more information call RiverLink at 252-8474 or the NC Arboretum at 665-2492.

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Cane Creek Water Quality Project

RiverLink is evaluating the existing and historic environmental conditions of the Cane Creek watershed to provide baseline information that will be used to address ecosystem restoration and maintenance. This evaluation process is focusing on the ecological, hydrological and water quality changes in Cane Creek. A model will be developed and used to identify and prioritize protection and restoration projects.

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Swannanoa River Initiative

RiverLink has taken initial steps to develop partnerships with the Swannanoa Watershed stakeholders and are in the process of conducting a cursory assessment of nonpoint source activities and water quality impacts. It is anticipated that future projects will be identified that address specific problems.

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Degraded Mountain Wetlands of Buncombe and Haywood Counties

RiverLink has identified "degraded" mountain wetland sites within Buncombe and Haywood Counties and has prioritized these sites with regards to restoration potential. This project has developed a GIS methodology that can be used to address an assortment of conservation and land use planning issues. RiverLink is looking for opportunities to partner with landowners on Wetland Restoration Projects. For more information call RiverLink at 252-8474.

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Other Water Quality Related Activities

RiverLink is involved in several other water quality activities including serving as a partner with the Land of Sky Regional Council, French Broad River Voluntary Buffer Partnership. This program seeks land owners to preserve important sections of the watershed in a conservation easement. This allows this land to remain undeveloped for future generations. RiverLink also actively supports greenway development within the French Broad River basin and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter which describes in laymen terms water quality issues throughout the French Broad.

Ross Creek Urban Watershed Restoration Project

Ross Creek is an urban stream, approximately 3 square miles in area, lying predominately within the City of Asheville. Water quality is typical of an urban stream suffering from urban stormwater pollution and resulting in a poor benthic community. LOS Regional Council obtained funding from several sources, including the Pigeon River Fund and a federal 205(j) grant, to address stakeholder awareness of this steam’s urban nature as well as to develop a restoration plan for Ross Creek. Since initial funding of this project, the following activities have been conducted: intensive stream monitoring, a stream cleanup day, placing of curb markings along Ross Creek storm drains, 3 stakeholder meetings, and preliminary identification of locations for stream restoration projects. Future funded activities include continued education of stakeholders and the development of a restoration plan for Ross Creek. For more information call LOSRC at 251-6622.

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Mud Creek Watershed Project

Mud Creek is a complex watershed within which are multiple land uses including agriculture and non-urban development along the headwaters and tributary streams with urban development affecting lower portions. Water quality is impaired with the resulting benthic community characteristic of poor conditions. LOS Regional Council received a federal 205 (j) grant to assemble and educate the various stakeholders about water quality issues within the watershed and to then assist with the development of a restoration and management plan for Mud Creek. The State of North Carolina’s Division of Water Quality also received a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to conduct an in-depth assessment of water quality impacts and sources for the Mud Creek watershed. DWQ and LOS Regional Council plan to work cooperatively in the assessment of issues, development of a restoration and management plan, and ultimately stakeholder ownership of management strategies that will result in water quality improvements within the Mud Creek watershed. For more information call LOSRC at 251-6622 or NCDWQ at 251-6208.

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Mills River Partnership

Participants -- Land of Sky Regional Council, USDA Forest Service, Regional Water Authority, City of Hendersonville, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.

The Mills River Partnership is comprised of various stakeholders who have partnered to improve water quality in the lower Mills River and Wash Creek while maintaining the outstanding quality of the other streams in the watershed. Pooling together funding from various sources, including the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the USDA Forest Service, Regional Water Authority, City of Hendersonville and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, this partnership has initiated a project that works with landowners to maintain and enhance streamside buffers, purchase conservation easements, replace pesticide mixing areas with agrichemical handling facilities, and install sediment control measures. The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is offering assistance with conservation easements as well as education of landowners regarding the various options for long-term protection of streamside buffers. In addition, the USDA Forest Service is addressing sediment control measures on unpaved roads and at creek side camping sites in the Pisgah National Forest that drain to Wash Creek while the Land-of-Sky Regional Council is working with local stakeholders to develop a comprehensive long-term plan for protecting water quality in the Mills River watershed. A survey of the Mills River is underway to identify high priority areas for buffer maintenance or enhancement. For more information about the Mills River Partnership and Project, call the Land-of-Sky Regional Council at 828/251-6622.

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FBR Voluntary Buffer Partnership

Participants -- Land of Sky Regional Council, TVA, local governments in Transylvania and Henderson Counties, landholders, private land trusts, state/federal resource management agencies

This partnership was initiated by the Land-of-Sky Regional Council in December 1997 under grants from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Tennessee Valley Authority to develop a comprehensive plan for protection and restoration of riparian buffers along the main stem of the French Broad River. Partners in this project include landholders, local governments, private land trusts, environmental and business interests, recreational users, and local/state/federal resource management agencies. The project area extends 117 miles from the headwaters of the French Broad to the North Carolina state border with Tennessee. In preparation of the comprehensive plan, a survey of the upper 52-mile priority area in Transylvania and Henderson Counties (origin near Rosman to confluence with Mud Creek) was conducted, identifying 75 sites with active streambank erosion and indicating a total length of affected riverbank of greater than 4 miles. Following the development of a toolbox of possible buffer protection/restoration options, 2 public meetings have been held by the partnership where landowners were presented with possible stabilization/protection options. The partnership is currently seeking additional funding for the implementation phase of this project. Any new funds will be directed towards specific actions that will stabilize, restore, and protect targeted streambank and buffer areas along the main stem of the upper 52 miles of the French Broad River.

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Little Ivy Creek Watershed

Funded by CWMTF and 319 to Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District

Fecal coliform, nutrients, and sediment from non-point sources including straight pipes and numerous small animal operations impair the Little Ivy Creek watershed, located in the southeast corner of Madison County. While the County is addressing the elimination of straight pipes with assistance from a CWMTF grant and the WADE program, the local Soil and Water Conservation District has received assistance from the CWMTF and the State’s 319 program to address fecal coliform from animal operations. Secured funding will be used to establish a series controlled grazing demonstrations, accompanied with an educational program. Controlled grazing allows alternative watering systems and better distribution of livestock away from streams. Vegetative areas will be installed or improved and will include such practices as establishment of riparian buffers, easements, livestock exclusion, cropland conversion, critical area stabilization, tree planting, livestock watering facilities, livestock heavy use areas, and spring development. For more information call Madison County SWCD at 649-9909.

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Newfound Creek Watershed

Funded by CWMTF, 319, Pigeon River Fund to Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District

Sediment and fecal coliform from various non-point sources including non-urban development and agriculture impair the Newfound Creek watershed. The Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District has received funding from the CWMTF, the State 319 program as well as the Pigeon River Fund to develop a management strategy for these sources. The watershed has been integrated into a GIS system and, with assistance from TVA, infrared aerial photography is currently being digitized to identify non-point sources. Other activities within the watershed include the installation of best management practices at 10 sites (9 via the NC Ag Cost Share Program and 1 via EQIP) as well as the installation of watershed boundary signs by the NC Department of Transportation for public awareness.

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Pigeon River Fund

The Pigeon River Fund is a public-private partnership, established in 1994 by the State of North Carolina and Carolina Power & Light, dedicated to improving water quality across Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties. Funds are disbursed for eligible projects, which generally fall into 1 of 4 categories: creation of buffers and increased access, pollution control, education of water quality issues, and strengthening of organizations. The Fund has awarded 56 grants since spring of 1996 to carry out its mission of improving water quality in the 3-county Carolina Power & Light service area. To obtain more information about the Pigeon River Fund and water quality projects, call 828/254-4960.

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Haywood Waterways Association

The Haywood Waterways Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and conserving the Pigeon River and its tributaries within Haywood County primarily by promoting water quality awareness among civic groups, public schools, businesses and landowners. Haywood Waterways Association has sponsored several water quality initiatives including greenways information and work sessions, erosion control workshops and educational materials, and assistance with development of public school water quality curriculum and videos. Haywood Waterways Association is currently funded and partnered with TVA to conduct an extensive non-point source inventory of Haywood County as described below. For more information about Haywood Waterways Association, contact Ron Moser at 828/456-5195.

Haywood County Non-point Source Inventory Project

Haywood Waterways Association, funded by a Pigeon River Fund grant, is partnered with TVA to conduct a non-point source inventory of Haywood County using low elevation infrared photography and interpretation. TVA is digitizing multiple layers of GIS information obtained from photo interpretation. Non-point sources such as failing septic systems, eroding roads and stream banks, animal access to streams, and others can be identified using aerial photography. Once this information is digitized and ground truth, TVA will apply a nutrient-loading model to calculate a nutrient budget for the Haywood County portion of the Pigeon River watershed. The Haywood Waterways Association will use this information and the Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and implement strategies for water quality improvements within this watershed. A watershed action plan will detail the inventory results and strategies. For more information call Haywood Waterways Association at 828/456-5195.

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Environmental and Conservation Organization (ECO)

ECO is a non-profit organization devoted to the conservation and preservation of Henderson County and its natural heritage. ECO addresses environmental community concerns through educational program development, recreational programs that encourage citizen environmental involvement, environmental service projects for the community, and encouragement of civic responsibility in economic and democratic processes that have environmental considerations. ECO has several ongoing water quality projects within Henderson County. Noteworthy is ECO’s coordination of the Henderson County portion of the VWIN monitoring program as well as coordination of the Henderson County Adopt-a-Stream Program and Henderson County’s annual Big Sweep. For more information about ECO, call 828/692-0385.

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Volunteer Water Information Network Program (VWIN)

Participants-- RiverLink, ECO, Haywood Community College, Sierra Club, UNCA-EQI,

The VWIN program is a water quality monitoring program initiated in 1990 with 27 sites in Buncombe County. Water samples are collected by volunteers and analyzed at the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Environmental Quality Institute. Since 1990, the program has expanded to include 137 sites in the French Broad River basin, 12 of which are on the French Broad River proper. In Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, and Madison counties, all major tributaries and many minor tributaries are monitored, with most major tributaries having multiple monitoring sites. In Haywood County, there are 2 sites on the Pigeon River, with 16 sites on tributaries. VWIN has collected at least 3 years of continuous data for most sites and over 6 years of continuous data for many sites. Parameters monitored include major nutrients, turbidity, suspended solids, pH, alkalinity, conductivity and heavy metals such as zinc, copper, and lead. Funding for the program includes multiple sources such as the Pigeon River Fund, Buncombe and Henderson Counties, the Cross Creek Foundation, and various other water quality projects. RiverLink and ECO administer the VWIN program in Buncombe and Henderson Counties, respectively, while Haywood Community College administers the program in Haywood County and the Sierra Club administers the program in Transylvania County. Each county with monitoring stations has a coordinator who organizes and trains volunteers and who then ensures that all stations are monitored monthly. For more information about the VWIN program, call UNCA-EQI at 828/251-6823.

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North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund :
For more information call 252/830-3222.

NC Wetland Restoration Program :
For more information call Laura Jones at 919/733-5311.

WADE Program :
For more information call Terrell Jones at 828/251-6784.

NC Wildlife Resources Commission and DOT mitigation Project :
NC WRC administering stream mitigation in Madison County from DOT I-26 construction for more information call Mickey Clemmons at 828/452-0422.

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