 From the exec's desk
Dear RiverLovers,
Welcome September! We have a great newsletter for you again this month. And two new faces with our two new AmeriCorps members Nikki and Worth.
We had a visit from a three-member team from Brazil that was arranged by the State Department. They came to learn how we engage the public on the issues surrounding water. They loved our outdoor classroom at Carrier Park in the constructed wetland. They were just blown away by all the stream restorations we have completed on the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers and they grilled Dave about how to engage volunteers. We learned plenty from them too, like the setback on rivers in Brazil is determined by the width of the river! Brilliant!
We hope to work with our legislative delegation in the next session to obtain a RiverLink license plate. Laura Barry, our former AmeriCorps member, gathered all the required signatures and a preliminary design and Bob Boeberitz was coaxed into designing three variations of a license plate by volunteer Ken Fulmer. Click here to vote which one you like best!
Click here to see a crop circle that appeared on our Cotton Mill property. Talented photographer Ken Abbott tried out a new photography technique and and look how he captured our labyrinth. By the way we are having an entire group from around the country coming in October to use a similar technique to help us map the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay. We will be training volunteers so we can use this photography on our conservation easements and the whole river corridor.
The RiverLink board voted unanimously to request that the city of Asheville remove the fences on their properties from in back of 12 Bones all the way to the Smith Bridge. Our board also offered to help create a walking path in this same area so that visitors to our area and business owners will have a safer passage when trying to navigate the increasingly busy Riverside Drive. The board also voted to change the names of Swannanoa River Road, Meadow, Lyman and Riverside Drive (they might have many names but no one really knows where one street starts or ends because it is one continuous road) to the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay. Let's make it easier for everyone to find their way around the river.
Part of the RiverLink team, me and our former AmeriCorps Member and Education Coordinator Hayley Smith, are on our way to Bozeman, Montana for the Project Wet Blue Planet Conference, to show off a scale model. We told the Blue Planet conference planning committee a small fib. We said that we had built a model of the urban water cycle -- river, water treatment plant, water tower, human uses, sewerage treatment plant, river. Truth is, we were thinking about building a scale model. When they said they would love to see the model, well ... There is nothing like a deadline to start a project!! We have been talking for decades about Wilma Dykeman's observation that once people stopped going to the stream or river with a bucket to get their daily water supply and just had to turn on the faucet, they stopped thinking about where their water comes from and how and what happens to it before it gets into the tap and after you drain the bathtub. Like I said, there is nothing like a deadline. Hayley has led a dedicated team of volunteers that has included electricians, engineers, plumbers, machinist, ceramicist, other staff members, metal workers and more to build an urban water cycle model that works. Board member Esther Cartwright, who works for AvL Technologies, offered to have a shipping case made to house and ship it, so the model (click here for a pic) and the RiverLink team go to Bozeman! We envision using the model as part of our education programs in the schools this coming year. We thought it was just kids who would be interested, but every adult who has come into the office has had a lot of fun flipping the switches and making it work!
The River Management Society Conference is coming fast and furious. We are working on getting continuing education credits for teachers, engineers, landscape architects and architects so that lots of our local professionals will join us.
This month my article in the Laurel of Asheville is about the OM Sanctuary/ Richmond Hill Inn and multi-generational dialogues that lead to wonderful conservation projects.
Thanks for all you do. See you on the River!
Karen Cragolin,
Executive Director,
RiverLink |
Please support these folks who have included RiverLink in their fundraising events
Asheville Cinema Society, Sept. 23 The Asheville Cinema Society (ACS) kicks off its second season with "The River Why," the story of 20-year-old fly fisherman Gus Orviston, who leaves his big city home to live in a secluded cabin on the banks of a wild river and do nothing but fish. Instead of finding fishing bliss, his desolation drives him on a reluctant quest for self-discovery. The event will be a fundraiser for RiverLink and a membership drive for ACS, taking place at the Diana Wortham Theater in Downtown Asheville on Friday, Sept. 23. The Asheville Cinema Society (ACS) will be giving 20 percent of the ticket price of $25 to help RiverLink protect North Carolina's rivers and streams. In addition, ACS is extending a discounted membership offer of $250 per person (a $50 savings) and $400 per couple (a $100 savings) for its 2011-2012 Season (September 2011 - April 2012). The Asheville Cinema Society was founded in 2010 to bring highly entertaining independent feature films, foreign films and documentaries to WNC. ACS is showing 15 films this year; two Tuesday nights per month at the Biltmore Regal in Biltmore Park. Following the screening, the filmmaker or someone associated with the film or an expert versed in the subject matter of the film will participate in a Q&A. 
ACS also hosts the Asheville Film Festival, taking place Nov. 3 -- 6. Click here for more details. Memberships for the 2011-2012 season have already begun the renewal process. The deadline to join at the discounted rate is Sept. 10. Please click on the link http://www.ashevillecinemasociety.com to learn more. Good Yoga, Oct. 22 Good Yoga is hosting its 10th Anniversary Celebration Brunch and Benefit on Saturday, October 22, with over 100 students gathering to acknowledge the thriving business and its commitment to the good of the vital resources in our greater community. We are pleased to announce that a portion of the proceeds will go to the Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan, thanks to Professional Kripalu Yoga Instructor and Integrative Yoga Therapist Kelly McKibben. Ms. McKibben works with individuals and groups of a diverse age range and fitness level. Her commitment to physical, emotional and mental well-being has been inspired by an almost 20-year practice of hatha yoga, creative self-expression, wilderness hiking, and ongoing personal & spiritual growth. To learn more, contact Ms. McKibben: Good Yoga 19 Olney Rd. Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 281-1566 goodyoga@charter.net |
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We had a huge response to the launch of the WaterRICH Program
The acronym WaterRICH stand for Water Recycling, Infiltration, and Conservation for the Home. RiverLink has developed WaterRICH to assist homeowners in understanding rainwater management and conservation techniques that will help recycle and infiltrate water on their property. WaterRICH is a sister program to our LinkingWATERS project at Michelle Smith  house.
After our initial two meetings at the RiverLink office on August 25, we have over 45 residences and two planned communities interested in participating.
There are numerous resources available via the web to learn how to manage the water on your property, yet many of them require special expensive expertise to understand the process. WaterRICH is a unique RiverLink initiative to assist homeowners understand rainwater management and runoff. Through our new program, RiverLink will provide an on-line resource designed specifically for smaller sites and private individuals, a Guide to Stormwater Management for Residential Homes. This program focuses on residential means of dealing with water issues, thanks to a grant from the Pigeon River Fund.
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We are looking for homeowners to help us kick-start the program. RiverLink will provide resources designed specifically for smaller sites and private individuals. Along with developing the online guidebook, RiverLink is developing a certification program available for homeowners. We will assist the first 75 residential property owners who sign up, through the process either with training or review, and/or as funds are available, assist homeowners to implement stormwater features at their homes with some help from our over 600 volunteers.
Ultimately we would like WaterRICH to evolve into something similar to the Healthy Built Home certification program. We will be also be working with the Realtors, green builders and associated groups to identify and certify a minimum of 75 homes in the first year of the program and help spread the word about this new program.
Would you like to be one of the first in your neighborhood to be WaterRICH certified? Call RiverLink's Watershed Resources Manager, Nancy Hodges. She is a Registered Landscape Architect who can be reached at 252-8474, ext. 14 or by email at nancy@riverlink.org.
Schedule
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. 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, September 24th at 8:30- 11:00 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.
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It's bus tour season again -- come join us!
Come tour the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers with RiverLink and witness their magic firsthand. 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.
The bus will meet you at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Avenue) at 11:45 and return you there at 2.
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 ext. 11 or click here to make your reservation online. Dates for the 2011-12 bus tours are: Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 15, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 15, April 19 and May 17.  |
Presenting our first "Love the French Broad" raffle winner of 2011 
David Weiss of Asheville won the August "Love the French Broad" raffle package with a ticket he bought at RiverFest. He took home an ENO hammock, women's underwear and a man's shirt from Ex Officio, two Moody Cove Tours from Navitat, a "Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway" book, some RiverLink loot including a copy of "The French Broad" by Wilma Dykeman, two day passes to Chimney Rock Park and a two-night stay at Hampton Inn-Brevard. The "Love the French Broad River Raffle" is an opportunity to win outdoor gear and prizes while helping RiverLink achieve its mission to revitalize the French Broad River and watershed as a place to live, work and play. Sponsored by Asheville Adventure Guide, the raffle offers five more chances to win, as tickets remain in the pot until the grand prize drawing. The next drawings will be in September, October, November, March 2012, and culminating with the grand prize drawing on April 1, 2012. Remember -- one ticket gives you a chance in each drawing! The September prize package offers an ENO hammock, a RiverLink prize package, two NOC rafting passes on any river, two day passes to Chimney Rock Park, a $25 gift card to Mast General Store, two tickets for LaZoom Tours, a "Kayak Journal" DVD from Diamond Brand, and more. Buy three tickets for $10 or one ticket for $5. To purchase tickets, stop by the RiverLink offices at 170 Lyman Street or visit online at https://co.clickandpledge.com/advanced/default.aspx?wid=35190. |
New feature: Name that Transylvania Waterfall!
Transylvania County bills itself as "The Land of Waterfalls." And well it should -- there are over 250 falls in Transylvania's 381 square miles. Think you know them? How well? Let's find out. We have a series of waterfall pics, courtesy of the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library, in a new monthly newsletter challenge. Take a look at the pic below and be the first to name the waterfall and the stream, and you win one of our water-resistant River Access Guides. E-mail your answer to RiverLink's Dave Russell at dave@riverlink.org, and good luck.  Want to see some Transylvania waterfalls up close and in person? Check out this interactive map. |
Meet RiverLink's new AmeriCorps staffers
J. Worth McAlister IV is a brand new addition to the RiverLink team, acting as assistant volunteer and outreach coordinator through AmeriCorps Project Conserve. Worth was born and raised in Charlotte, and has spent his entire 26 years living in the various regions of this great state. Throughout this time
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he has developed strong connections to the Pee Dee, Dan, New, and French Broad Rivers. His passion for moving water, and the quality of life within and around these places, was manifested through a childhood filled with canoeing, swimming, and fishing along these magical waters.
Worth moved to Asheville in 2008 to pursue an Associates of Applied Science in Fish and Wildlife Management Technology from Haywood Community College. His love and knowledge for our region's natural ecosystems, and the flora and fauna within, blossomed while in school here. He is extremely excited to be working with RiverLink and all of the wonderful volunteers associated with the organization. His background and passion for freshwater ecology and stream dynamics will surely make him a positive addition to our RiverLink community.
Nikki Bauman comes to RiverLink as the Education Coordinator for the 2011-2012 term with a degree in Environment and Natural Resources, emphasizing in Conservation Biology, from Clemson University. Growing up in Concord, North Carolina, Nikki has enjoyed access to both the mountains and the coast and has developed a passion for animals and the environment. As her professional career unfolds, Nikki has established a trend targeting job opportunities pertaining to the outdoors and the water.
 | Nikki Bauman
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Upon her graduation from Clemson, Nikki spent a year in the Florida Keys teaching marine biology and this past summer has been devoted to environmental education in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Thrilled to finally be back in her home state, Nikki is looking forward to teaching WNC's youth how to become stewards of the environment.
Nikki loves any outdoor adventure from scuba diving to snowboarding, and plans to explore the WNC culture to its fullest potential.
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And now, a musical interlude ...
THAT OLD FRENCH BROAD By Jasper Reese Her head is in Carolina, but her feet are in Tennessee, As she grinds through the gorge on her journey to the sea. She's rough and rowdy in places, in others calm as can be, In olden times a paddle swath, swan road of the Cherokee. It's a mighty rough fall from Transylvania to Buncombe's Swannanoa, Then to the Deep Water gorge where many fear to go. She's very fast and dangerous as she cuts the granite to the core, As the falls and the rapids sing the songs of long ago. She's a thing of wonder and a sight to be awed, and a very feisty lady, That OLD French Broad!! But she can lose her temper when things crowd her shores. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and rain it did pour! It was a time of feat and sorrow, death and destruction set the scene! Almost 100 years ago, in the year of '16. She's a thing of wonder and a sight to be awed, and a very feisty lady, That OLD French Broad!! Then she cooled her temper, and finally settled down As she warmed her body while flowing through Hot Springs town She is nearing Tennessee and yet a long way to go Her final destination is the Gulf of Mexico. She can be a charmer, and sometimes very naughty, As she was in '16 and again in 1940. She will give you great adventure and a call of the wild So watcher her very carefully, and treat her with a smile. She's a thing of wonder and a sight to be awed, a very feisty lady, That OLD French Broad!! Jasper Reese an 82-year-old fan of the French Broad River. He grew up near Spring Creek in Madison County, became a teacher and retired from Caldwell County Schools, and now lives in Lenoir. He is an avid trout fisherman who has been on many float trips. |
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the RiverLink offices -- Volunteer orientation sessions. Contact Dave Russell at 252-8474, ext. 11 and become involved in the evolution of the river and learn more about RiverLink.
Saturday, September 24th at 8:30- 11:00 am at the RiverLink Offices -- WaterRICH Series 1.0 - Site Inventory, Analysis and Stormwater Calculations
Monday, Sept. 26 at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices - WaterRICH Series 1.1 - Site Inventory and Analysis
Wednesday, September 28th at 5:30pm at the RiverLink Offices -- WaterRICH Series 1.2 - Stormwater Calculations
Thursday, September 29, 4 -- 7 p.m. at Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's Community Room -- Wilma Dykeman Riverway River Arts District Transportation Project Public Mtg # 2. The meeting is planned as an open house for the public to comment. See article below for more information.
Saturday, Oct. 1 -- 9a.m. -- 1p.m. starting at the Asheville Outdoor Center (521 Amboy Road, Asheville) -- Big Sweep. Come join us for a statewide cleanup of our rivers and streams.
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River Arts District Transportation Project Meeting
The second public meeting for the Wilma Dykeman Riverway River Arts District Transportation Project will take place Thursday, September 29, from 4 - 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity's Conference Room (located in the administrative building on Meadow Road near AB Tech and Biltmore Village, just west of the Asheville Habitat ReStore).
The meeting will be a highly interactive, open-house style community meeting. The consultant team and city staff will present the study process to date and will be available to discuss and gather feedback from members of the public on the potential alternatives.
Project Description
The River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP) aims to improve the transportation infrastructure on a 2.2 mile stretch of roadway which includes Lyman Street and a portion of Riverside Drive. The project is currently funded for preliminary engineering, environmental study, and preliminary design. By completing these required steps in the process, the city is positioning itself to be eligible for additional funding for construction. The current studies are funded through an appropriation from the Federal Highway Administration.
The final project will improve the transportation infrastructure by upgrading and possibly re-aligning the road, adding measures to control stormwater, constructing greenways (multi-use trails), adding sidewalks, constructing turn lanes at intersections (as needed), and possibly adding other amenities such as on-street parking, transit stops, and landscaping.
The project is a 2.2 mile section of the larger Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, a 17-mile corridor along the French Broad River and Swannanoa River. This project focuses on improvements to the public infrastructure in which would support implementation of a portion of the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Master Plan, a plan spearheaded by RiverLink.
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Japanese Honeysuckle Scientific Name: Lonicera japonica
Japanese honeysuckle is a common weed in the southeastern United States. This perennial vine climbs by twining around host trees and shrubs and is capable of girdling trees. It is not uncommon for this plant to produce seed but, because the seed tends to be of low viability, Japanese honeysuckle reproduces vegetatively (stem and root sprout) more commonly. Infestations can be controlled by both hand pulling and herbicide application. Control is most successful when these methods are used in combination. Herbicide application will be most effective in spring during active growth. Hand pulling can be conducted at any time, but if it is only practical to pull by hand once per year, do it when the plant is in flower. During flowering, hand pulling weakens the root system significantly and at the same time eliminates reproduction. Repeated mowing has a similar effect to pulling. Mow plants during flowering, let plants re-grow then mow again, repeating until root system is exhausted. Application of systemic herbicide to the re-growth after mowing is an effective option. To remove from trees, cut the vines away from the base of the host tree. Due to the twining nature of Japanese honeysuckle, you may not be able to easily pull vines out of the canopy without the use of ladders or climbing equipment. Care should be taken when disposing of plant parts. Bagging plants to be taken off-site is recommended as it is difficult to kill roots and stems through drying because of their woody nature.
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Volunteer Spotlight
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Joanne at RiverFest, where she was an invaluable help.
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Joanne E. Caulfield comes to us after a long career in the health care field, most recently as a Research Support Associate for the Department of Public Health Sciences of Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Joanne has worn many hats as a volunteer, including a stint as the treasurer of the Harrisburg Area Road Runners Club, Coordinator of volunteers and race director for the Harrisburg Marathon, and tour guide/front desk reception for the Harrisburg Area YMCA. Among other degrees, she holds an MS from Cornell University in Nutrition/Biochemistry.
In her time with RiverLink, Joanne has helped with numerous office projects, such as scanning historical photos and documents and mass mailings, and was invaluable at RiverFest. Joanne came at 7:30 and acted as event secretary until 2 p.m.
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Trivia Quiz
Hurricane season is here, and this month's trivia is all about it. Test your hurricane knowledge in this week's trivia quiz. Good luck!
1. What is the difference between hurricanes and typhoons?
a) Direction of spin
b) None of these
c) Wind speed
d) Location
2. A named tropical system in the Atlantic region retains its name if it crosses Mexico or Central America.
a) True
b) False
3. At what wind speed does a tropical storm system reach hurricane strength?
a) 70 mph (113 k/ph)
b) 76 mph (122 k/ph)
c) 74 mph (119 k/ph)
d) 72 mph (116 k/ph)
4. In 2004, what rare hurricane-related weather phenomenon occured?
a) A hurricane in the Southern Atlantic
b) No tropical systems in the Eastern Pacific
c) No hurricanes with U.S. landfall
d) A hurricane off the coast of California
5. How many name lists are used for the Altantic Hurricane season?
a) Six
b) Seven
c) Five
d) It's different every year
6. At one time, tropical storm systems were given exclusively female names. In what year did male names start appearing on the lists?
a) 1980
b) 1978
c) 1979
d) 1981
7. When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
a) June 1 - November 30
b) May 15 - December 15
c) May 1 - October 31
d) July 1 - October 31
8. When a tropical depression forms, it is closely monitored for any further development. When the sustained wind speeds reach a certain point, the system is then elevated to Tropical Storm status and it is given a name. At which wind speed does this occur?
a) 42 mph (68 k/ph)
b) 35 mph (56 k/ph)
c) 39 mph (63 k/ph)
d) 45 mph (72 k/ph)
9. Which of the following pairs of Atlantic hurricane names are the first ones to be retired?
a) Carol and Hazel
b) Audrey and Janet
c) Betsy and Cleo
d) Agnes and Elena
10. In what year were names first officially assigned to Atlantic tropical systems?
a) 1959
b) 1964
c) 1945
d) 1953
Correct Answers:
1: d, 2: b, 3: c, 4: a, 5: a, 6: b, 7: a, 8: c, 9: a, 10: d
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