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Water Quality testing at Bacoate Branch, one of the focus streams of the study.

Water Quality

In August 2019 RiverLink, in conjunction with the City of Asheville, embarked on a year-long study of water quality issues in the Central Asheville area.

Working closely with a group of consultants led by Blue Earth Planning, Engineering & Design (with staff from Wildlands Engineering, Penrose Environmental, Ecosystem Services, Headwater Environmental, Sitework Studios, and FrontWater geo Planning + Design) the team worked to investigate and find solutions to water quality issues in three streams that flow through Asheville.

Now that the Central Asheville Watershed Restoration Plan is complete, RiverLink is ready to present the findings with a free webinar that will explore the issues facing the Central Asheville Watershed community and present measures that can ensure cleaner water in all three streams.

Click the button below to sign up now!

Land Conservation

It''s time to renew our accreditation as a Land Trust, and we need your input!

The accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant's policies and programs. Our organization became accredited in 2015 and we have worked hard to uphold the standards of the nationally accredited land trust community.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how RiverLink, Inc. complies with national quality standards that address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards click here. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

Creature of the Month

Our creature of the month is the muskrat!

Muskrats are members of the rodent family and they are quite common here in western North Carolina. Their name comes from the "musky" smell that males emit to mark their territory, and their furless rat-like tail, which they use as a rudder while swimming.

They have thick waterproof coats and webbed feet, and they can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes! Muskrat homes are called "lodges"and are made out of grasses and twigs and have several tunnels leading out and in. Homes are usually made in riverbanks or lake sides.

Fun Fact: A group of muskrats is called a "colony" or "horde".

RiverLink in the News

Thanks to Capital at Play for their great coverage of our Karen Cragnolin Park project in their July issue. You can read the article by clicking here.

Also thanks to WLOS for their coverage of the Anything that Floats Parade 2020 event. Check out that story here.

Jean Webb and husband Chic

We are nearing the end of our Spring Campaign and we want to thank all the people who have donated. Many of you shared inspiring stories or quotes about powerful women in your life, and we wanted to share this quote about environmental visionary Jean Webb with you.

"My donation is in honor of my mother, a trailblazer who quietly but tenaciously advocated for clean water and enjoyment of one of Asheville''s fabulous resources, the French Broad River..  Her leadership made a tremendous difference to our community." - Laura Webb

Dr. Wangari Maathai was an educator, powerful voice for women's rights, activist and environmentalist who greatly influenced her home country of Kenya''s community and environment. Dr. Maathai was the first African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, which she was awarded in 2004 for her contributions to "sustainable development, democracy and peace." Click here to learn more about Dr. Maathai.

Water Quality

This year, in order to comply with social distancing, we are hosting a virtual rain barrel workshop. When you purchase your 55 gallon rain barrel kit we will send you a how-to video that will walk you through the setup process. Rain barrels are a great way to save water in your garden, and reduce the amount of stormwater runoff going into the French Broad River. By installing a rain barrel, you're also supporting RiverLink's mission to promote the ecological vitality of the French Broad River. Click the button below to learn more and to register!

Land Conservation

We wanted to share this photo of what we think is chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sp.), a desirable and delicious shelf fungus that is often found growing on downed logs in wooded areas. This massive fungus was found at one of RiverLink''s easement properties in the Arden area, on a tributary to Cane Creek. While we were thrilled to find this, we do not advise eating mushrooms in the wild unless you are positive about the identification!

Volunteer of the Month

Anna Miller, RiverLink''s Education Coordinator, is our volunteer of the month! She holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Clemson University and an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. Since graduating, Anna has taught environmental and wildlife education in both Georgia and South Carolina, and she is thrilled to continue educating students by serving as the Education Coordinator at RiverLink. Anna hopes to expand her own knowledge about the Western North Carolina area and the French Broad River while nurturing a sense of wonder and place for the students she will teach throughout the year.

Creature of the Month

Our creature of the month is the beautiful ruby throated hummingbird. With an average length of just 3-4 inches, these small birds can fly backwards and upside down, and beat their wings 53 times per second! Males have the easily recognized red throat, while females do not. An important pollinator species, these birds live in wooded areas but often frequent fields and gardens where nectar is plentiful.

Water Quality

We''re excited to announce that we are the recipient of two grants that will help fund our water quality initiatives in the coming year!

• A Pigeon River Fund grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina will help us develop an Adopt-A-Storm Drain program that will tackle pollution from stormwater runoff. The City of Asheville is a partner, and the project will be piloted in the Central Asheville Watershed.
• The North Carolina Land and Water Fund (formerly the Clean Water Management Trust Fund) has awarded RiverLink an innovative stormwater grant to design stormwater control measures for steep slope areas. Blue Earth Engineering and Lenoir-Rhyne University will be partners with us on this project.

Both projects will be well underway in spring 2021. Stay tuned for more details!

Land Conservation

This past Saturday was our first workday in Karen Cragnolin Park with our new volunteer group: the KC Krew! The group focused on removing invasive vines, like porcelain berry and Japanese honeysuckle, that were growing on native trees. We'll be hosting these workdays twice a month for the foreseeable future. If you're interested in joining the KC Krew email sarah@riverlink.org for more information.

Creature of the Month

Recent water testing conducted by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission along the Swannanoa River indicated the presence of DNA for mudpuppies and hellbenders. Both of these giant salamanders were once common through most of the mid-eastern US, but populations have been in steep decline due to impaired water quality. Mudpuppies are usually grey or dark brown, with spots and blotches along their back and undersides. They also have red, feathery gills on the sides of their heads. These awesome creatures can grow over a foot in length! Hellbenders are generally brown or orange, and average a foot in length, though some have been recorded up to two feet long!

Share Your Voice

The City of Asheville is updating the City's Greenway (G), Accessibility (A), and Pedestrian (P) Plans. The combined plan, known as "Close the GAP", will be the City's plan to update and expand the network of accessible sidewalks and greenways in our community.  Please take the general Close the GAP survey and ADA Transition Plan survey (if you have a disability) and be a part of this exciting planning effort!

There''s Still Time!

If you haven''t donated to our End of Year Appeal yet there is still time! Remember, your gift does so much! From providing interactive stream lessons to local kids to removing pollutants and sediment from our waterways to protecting critical riverside land, you can be assured that your generosity is directly impacting our watershed.

Water Quality

We''re back in the field! RiverLink staff and AmeriCorps members have resumed field work after an eight-week hiatus due to COVID-19. We have implemented social distancing protocols for field work to ensure everyone''s safety. Spring is our busiest season for invasive plant removal along streams and performing maintenance on stormwater control measures to ensure they are functioning properly. Everyone agrees that it feels good to be back outside working to restore critical habitat and keep our waterways healthy and clean.

Land Conservation

Today would have been Wilma Dykeman's 100th birthday and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate her than with the announcement that a voluntary conservation easement has been placed on her historic homestead. The easement ensures protection of the rich natural habitat that makes up the homestead, as well as minimizes the impacts of residential development along the stretch of Beaverdam Creek that crosses the property. Click the link below to learn more about the easement and Wilma Dykeman''s contributions to river renewal and revitalization.

Board Member Highlight

Anne Keller joined the RiverLink Board in October 2017. She spent her career of 30 years working for state and federal agencies on water quality, aquatic toxicology, and community sustainability. Throughout her career, she enjoyed the changing roles she played and the opportunity to contribute to protection of nature and the environment. Anne is passionate about RiverLink's mission, contributing to the improvement of the river and its watershed, and continuing to learn about our region. She loves birding, working out, walking her dog, and traveling. Thanks for all you do Anne!

Volunteer of the Month

Philip Blocklyn (far left) is our volunteer of the month! Philip enjoys volunteering for several environmental conservation organizations, hiking in all seasons, and studying the historical development of libraries in the Asheville area. He currently serves on the board of the Friends of the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library. He is a longtime volunteer at RiverLink, and we are always thankful for his dedication to the environment, his hard work and positive attitude!

Plant of the Month

Our plant of the month is Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), a beautiful, native shrub that can reach 6-9 feet in height. Sweetshrub is also known as Spicebush and Carolina Allspice, due to its fragrant leaves, twigs and flowers. This beautiful shrub is a good choice for planting along stream banks that are prone to erosion. The roots help keep soil in place and the characteristics of the plant make it well suited to most soil types, as well as partial shade to full sun. Sweetshrub is in bloom right now in our area, so keep your eyes out for these stunning, sweet smelling flowers!

Need some holiday gift ideas that are easy on the environment and support a good cause? Try a rain barrel! Your rain barrel purchase includes an installation video made by members of our staff, and an easy to use installation kit. All proceeds go back into supporting our residential and stormwater control water quality programs. Click the button below to learn more.

Mark Your Calendars- Giving Tuesday is right around the corner! Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that harnesses the power of people and communities to change our world for the better. On Tuesday December 1 join millions of people across the globe in supporting the causes you hold dear. Want to go ahead and donate now? It''s as easy as clicking the button below!

Dear Friends, 

I hope you are staying safe and healthy out there! As we all continue to face the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 situation I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of RiverLink''s mission to promote the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and watershed from Rosman to Hot Springs. 

We are working remotely and adapting to the changing circumstances, and our programs continue to be strong and robust. Please read on for more updates. Although the challenges we face as a community, nation and world are sobering, I find hope in the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff, and the caring and supportive community that we are so thankful to be a part of.  Please stay healthy, and I look forward to seeing you in person again soon!

Sincerely,
Garrett Artz

Water Quality

The completion of the Central Asheville Watershed Restoration Plan is an important milestone for our Watershed Resources program! The year-long study examined water quality issues in three urban streams (Town Branch, Bacoate Branch and Haith Branch) that flow through Asheville and empty into the French Broad River. The result of the study is a comprehensive watershed restoration plan that RiverLink and partners can use to guide their work of improving water quality in the French Broad River and its tributaries.

The two-square mile watershed is a priority area due to its complex environmental, economic, and social equity issues. All three streams are severely impaired, with the most polluted one flowing through the backyards of many homes in the traditionally underserved Southside community. The streams in the Central Asheville Watershed also flow into a section of the French Broad River that is a popular recreation destination for local residents and out of town visitors. With E-coli levels in this area of the River frequently exceeding the EPA's recommended limit for safe swimming, it is imperative that we take action now to make our waterways healthy for all.

Environmental Education

Last week RiverLink staff were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather and get out of the river for a clean up.

Over the course of a 2 hour float they removed over 12 bags of trash, half a shopping cart, one tire, and numerous plastic bottles and beer cans from the banks of the river.

This experience was a reminder of how important it is to keep taking care of this vital river we all love!

We Need Your Help!

The French Broad River Partnership, in conjunction with Western Carolina University, is assessing the environmental value and economic benefits of the French Broad River watershed in western North Carolina, and we need your help. Please click on the survey link below to participate. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Steve Ha at Western Carolina University by email at iha@wcu.edu.

RiverLink in the News

Thanks to the Asheville Citizen Times for their great article on the Central Asheville Watershed and the benefits it will bring to our watershed community. You can read the article by clicking here.

Also, in case you missed it, click here for an article by the Asheville Citizen Times covering updates on the Woodfin Whitewater Wave & Greenway Blueway project slated to be built along the French Broad River in Woodfin.