Mountaintrue

Healthy Communities Our Healthy Communities Team advocates for patterns of growth that promote vibrant communities and protect the rural character and natural assets of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. We appreciate that the natural and built environments are interconnected. To keep our communities safe from pollution and protect our forests from sprawl, MountainTrue advocates for sustainable development. - The Neighbors for More Neighbors program is hitting its stride. - Implementing Buncombe Countys Comprehensive Plan. - Protecting Madison Countys residential communities and ridgetops. - Protecting water quality and reducing sprawl in Henderson County. . Creation Care Alliance of WNC (CCA) The Creation Care Alliance (CCA) unites people of faith from across the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains to care for Gods creation by fostering a deeper love for our planet and our neighbors. Our program educates and mobilizes congregations throughout the region, providing them with action alerts, lobbying opportunities, and avenues to address climate change.

Water Our water team protects the French Broad, Watauga, New, Green, Broad, Little Tennessee, Savannah, and Hiwassee River basins by tracking and reporting sewer leaks, straight pipes, pollution sources, and negative impacts from agriculture and development. We fix water quality problems through policy advocacy, funding solutions, project-based approaches, and litigation when necessary. -We joined a petition asking the EPA to withdraw state authority over discharge permits. -Administered over $400,000 in funding from NC DHHS to repair 34 residential septic systems for low-income families across WNC. -Followed up on 62 pollution reports, identified 12 sources of pollution, monitored 96 Swim Guide sites, and collected 1,383 E. coli samples. -Secured over $40,000 in funding to establish additional real-time E. coli monitoring sites. -Improved and expanded the French Broad Paddle Trail to provide better recreation opportunities, deepen the publics connection to the outdoors, and foster more environmental advocates. -Continued building a broader coalition of environmental advocates by engaging communities of color in more outdoor activities. With continued support from Made X Mountains Outdoor Equity Fund, we led four no-cost paddling trips on the French Broad River. -Treated 62 hemlock trees in the Green River Gorge. -Conducted monthly water sampling and seasonal biomonitoring with volunteers. -Surveyed farmers about the impacts of climate change and created WNC Farmer Resource Guide. -In partnership with American Rivers and USFWS, the Watauga Riverkeeper led efforts to remove Shulls Mill Dam, restoring 78 miles of aquatic connectivity in the Watauga Basin. - Watauga Riverkeeper and researchers from Appalachian State University relocated 8 Eastern Hellbenders to the site of the Wards Mill Dam which was successfully removed in 2021. - Planted more than 20,000 livestakes. These livestakes will grow into trees and shrubs that prevent sediment and nutrient runoff into local waterways. Planting sites include the Wards Mill Dam Removal site. - Completely controlled a ~150-acre invasive parrot feather infestation in the south end of Lake Chatuge in Towns County, GA. - Expanded our Swim Guide and volunteer microplastics water quality monitoring programs again in the Little Tennessee River Basin. - Opposed plans by Macon County Commissioners to rollback protections in their Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Watershed Protection, and Flood Damage Prevention ordinances. Lobbying, Advocacy & Community Engagement A foundational aspect of our work is to increase civic engagement by conservation- minded people in WNC. To that end, we continue our full-time presence at the General Assembly and engage people through organizing and issue advocacy. - Lobbied the General Assembly during its short session for funding and legislation to benefit WNCs environment. - Generated 9,435 letters to decision-makers through 27 action alerts across our region and collected over 3,312 signatures on petitions. - Continued offering meaningful connections to the outdoors through our Guided Adventures. - Engaged 3,860 people to take action, sign petitions, and contact their representatives as part of our Plastic-Free WNC campaign.