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Suite 610 29 N Market Street Asheville NC 28801 AccentIssue 89 Volume XXX Number 4 ● WINTER 2010-2011 Phone: (828) 258-8737 Fax: (828) 258-9141 ●CHAPTER MEETINGS● www.wnca.org Buncombe County Chapter Getting the Poop Out of the Swannanoa River Third Tuesday of each month Western Office: 16 Stewart Street 6:30 pm at the main office Even as Western North Carolinians continue to battle winter, it won’t be long before the ground thaws Franklin NC 28734 Contact (828) 231-1926; and many of us will once again be making our way to local rivers to swim, boat, fish and otherwise enjoy Phone: (828) 524-3899 [email protected] the scenic beauty of our mountain streams. As we wade into them, however, we’ll confront the harsh Fax: (828) 349-1549 reality that some of our favorite swimming holes and waterways are overrun with bacteria, such as E. coli Haywood Community Alliance and fecal coliform. Contact (828) 258-8737; [email protected] Bacterial pollution is prevalent throughout the watershed, but it’s largely unmonitored Macon County Chapter and therefore unresolved. This poses significant health concerns, because while nothing makes people Contact (828) 524-2280; happier than a nice refreshing dip in the river on a hot day, bacteria can make people sick, causing STAFF [email protected] vomiting and fever. They can also rob the stream of critical amounts of oxygen, killing fish and other Julie Mayfield, Executive Director Save the Date! Save Madison Chapter aquatic life. Bob Gale, Ecologist Contact (828) 778-1286; Erica Palmer, Community Outreach Manager March 24 [email protected] For this reason, the Western Alliance and the French Broad Riverkeeper have launched the "Get the Poop Out" campaign. This comprehensive effort aims to reduce bacterial pollution in our Hartwell Carson, French Broad Riverkeeper Waste Water Treatment Facility Tour Conservation Partners streams via a three-pronged approach: conducting water-quality monitoring, identifying and trying to Lori Wilkins, AmeriCorps Project Conserve (Avery, Ashe, and Watauga Counties) eliminate any pollution sources we find, and working with the state on improving stream classification to Outings and Education Coordinator April 16 Contact (828) 264-3061; better protect human health. Aklea Althoff, Outreach Volunteer Earth Day Fair [email protected] The first step involves volunteers taking samples from streams that are frequently used for swimming; we April 17 Tusquittee Chapter (Cherokee, Clay, then analyze them to determine the amount of bacterial pollution. The goal isn’t simply pinpointing STEERING COMMITTEE Join us for environmental discussions and Graham Counties) pollution hot spots but actually cleaning them up. It is clearly illegal to discharge sewage at levels that Hike with a FunGuy! Contact (828) 835-8473; Linda Tatsapaugh, Chair every Wednesday at 6:30; Posana Cafe will contaminate a stream, and we intend to identify the sources of the problems we find and then work [email protected] Tim Malone, First Vice-Chair May 5 with all parties concerned to eliminate the pollution. Tuckaseegee Community Alliance Edward Pritchett, Second Vice-Chair Tell us what you want to do! Take Intro to Birding (Jackson County) The first three rounds of sampling occurred on the Swannanoa River and its tributaries in December and Greg Kidd, Secretary our survey on www.wnca.org! Matt Raker, Treasurer June 11-19 Contact (828) 506-9163; January, when several volunteers braved Teresa Buckwalter, Watauga River Conservation Partners Save the French Broad Paddle Trip [email protected] the cold to take more than 100 samples For more information, contact between Black Mountain and the French Bill Crawford, Macon County Chapter A Swain County Chapter is forming! [email protected] or (828) 258-8737 Broad River. Most of these samples Norma Ivey, Macon County At-Large Contact (828) 777-4683; were free of E. coli, but several showed Julie Lehman, Buncombe County At-Large [email protected] if you are Join WNCA Now! low levels and a few had very high Tom Lowe, Haywood Community Alliance Membership levels: interested in joining! Callie Moore, Clay County At-Large MAJOR DONOR: I’d like to give levels. ___$30 Individual Stan Schnitzer, Buncombe County At-Large ___$250 through: ●TASK FORCES● ___$50 Household ___$500 ☐ Gift of Stock Meanwhile, we’re also working with the Robin Smith, Yancey County At-Large ___$60 Supporting/Business ___$1000 ☐ Vehicle Donation Forest Task Force Division of Water Quality to improve Julie White, Forest Task Force ___$100 Sponsoring $_____Other Amount ☐ Scheduled giving Last Tuesday of every month stream classification. Many streams Eric Zentino, Buncombe County At-Large via credit card NAME:______4:00 pm at the main office used for swimming and other Contact Bob (828) 258-8737; recreational purposes aren’t currently (IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD, PLEASE GIVE THE NAME AS WRITTEN ON THE CARD) [email protected] managed for those types of activity. 2011 MAJOR SUPPORTERS ADDRESS: ______CITY/ST/ZIP:______This project will work to upgrade the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Public Parks Task Force EMAIL:______Contact Bob at (828) 258-8737; state’s classification system to truly [email protected] meet the Clean Water Act’s stated goal: (USING EMAIL SAVES TREES AND IS OUR MAIN COMMUNICATION TOOL PLEASE INCLUDE IT!) Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson, Community Member Tim Malone, to have all waters fishable and and a volunteer take water samples of the Swannanoa River. PHONE:______COUNTY:______●COMMITTEE MEETINGS● swimmable. ☐VISA ☐ MASTERCARD ______Steering Committee 3rd Tuesday of every other month But it all starts with our dedicated volunteers, and we invite you to help us achieve this key objective! EXPIRATION DATE:___/____ SIGNATURE ______Contact Julie at (828) 258-8737; The next round of sampling is slated for Monday, March 7 and Wednesdays, April 6 and 20. To help us Printed on 100% recycled paper Clip and mail to: WNCA, Suite 610, 29 N. Market St, Asheville, NC 28801 [email protected] get the poop out, RSVP to the French Broad Riverkeeper ([email protected] or 828-258-8737).● www.wnca.org WNCA ● 2 Protecting ’s mountains, rivers, and forests WNCA ● 3 Protecting Western North Carolina’s mountains, rivers, and forests 2011 Save the French From the Executive Director Globe Old Growth Chapter News Broad Paddle Trip By Julie Mayfield Protected From Logging Save Madison Chapter By Hartwell Carson By Bob Gale Happy Spring everyone! As we welcome the warm breezes, wildflowers, and bright green • Met with officials from French Broad Electric Management Cooperative about their plans This year, the paddle will growth on trees, let me also extend a warm welcome to WNCA’s newest staffer, Erica Palmer. WNCA Forest Task Force members have reached an agreement over the Globe Timber project in the Grandfather Ranger District of , six years after the project was first announced. for renewable energy, and gained information start at the confluence of Erica is our new community outreach manager and is in charge of chapters, communications, about power usage and management. the North and West Forks of the French and our membership database. Erica is a WNC native, has a master’s degree in political science Major issues were that the logging would be visible from the and the town of Broad River and wind through farmland from Appalachian State, and comes to us with environmental organizing and political campaign Blowing Rock; it would result in the cutting of 300 year-old trees; and several miles of permanent and Macon Chapter fundraising experience. Please join me in welcoming Erica to your community! temporary logging roads would be cut through the forest. • The Transition Town Group has been meeting under a canopy of trees before widening since December and completed its final study to reveal the stunning views of the Over 1800 comments were received from citizens, the vast majority in opposition to the project, and session February 14. Study groups are planned . The river cuts Welcome also to our new steering committee members. From the far west, we welcome for Highlands and Scaly Mountain. through the Biltmore Estate, and Callie Moore, Executive Director of the Hiawassee River Watershed Coalition, and Norma Ivey, the issue spawned an effort to push for National Scenic Area designation for the area, due to its Watauga River Conservation Partners paddlers will catch a unique view of the WNCA’s longtime organizer both in Asheville and Franklin. From the middle of our region, we proximity to Grandfather Mountain, Moses Cone Park, and Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. • Recently received $247,000 in EPA §319 funds majestic house. welcome Julie Lehman, a fundraiser with Warren Wilson College; Robin Smith with the North The old growth trees were originally to prepare a management plan and implement Carolina League of Conservation Voters; and Eric Zenteno with Apex Construction. And from best management practices in a sub watershed We also hope to have an afternoon to the north, we welcome Teresa Buckwalter, representing the Watauga River Conservation delineated in the WNCA Old Growth study of the Watauga River. explore the Biltmore Estate grounds. Just Partners. Welcome also to our new chair, Linda Tatsapaugh, and many thanks to outgoing chair, for the Nantahala and Pisgah National past the Biltmore Estate, the river flows Phillip Gibson. Forests. Whenever a proposed timber sale Tuckasegee Community Alliance through the city of Asheville before has involved areas identified in the study, • In the wake of the recent election, TCA is beginning a slow tumble into its WNCA’s Forest Task Force has gone to the working with local groups to develop a This promises to be an exciting year at WNCA, as we are undertaking several important stategy to keep in place the county’s whitewater section. Mountains and cliffs initiatives. First, we are doing an in-depth analysis of our chapter structure to identify how we mat to protect them, and we did so here, as progressive land use regulations. rise straight from the water’s edge as the can strengthen that all-important aspect of our grassroots work. Next, we are investing in both well. WNCA coordinated data gathering on river dissects Pisgah National Forest. fundraising and communications expertise to help us make a big jump to the next level of the site using CVS (Carolina Vegetation Tusquitee Chapter Finally, a series of class II, III, and IV outreach and effectiveness. Finally, we are putting some resources into professionalizing our Survey) protocols. This intensive method was • The long fight over the Clay Shooting Range rapids rumble their way into Hot Springs, office spaces to better serve our staff, volunteers, and programs. Stay tuned to Accent and e- developed by scientists at major universities has resulted in the decision being retracted and sent back to the drawing board. just a few miles from the border of Accent for more information on these projects. WNCA ecologist Bob Gale and Executive Director of the from the Carolinas and lent scientific Tennessee. Asheville Design Center Chris Joyell stand among old growth credibility to our old growth field data. Forest Task Force Finally, a word about the new North Carolina General Assembly. Though the session is young, trees of the Globe Timber project. Survey funding was provided by the Southern • Participated in a collaborative partnership with Camping has been arranged for each we are already seeing evidence that many of those in the majority party are not favorably Environmental Law Center and Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, and FTF members conducted the the Grandfather Ranger District, Nature night of the trip, providing a rare Conservancy, WildLaw and others, to pursue inclined toward environmental regulations aimed at protecting human health and environmental field work. opportunity to canoe down and sleep funding for ecological restoration in the next to the entire French Broad River in quality. We must be vigilant to maintain the protections we have in place, and I urge you to The Task Force’s inventory and its perseverance through numerous meetings with the Forest Service District, including invasive plant control in the North Carolina. There will also be bookmark our legislative page and go there for weekly updates and action opportunities. Join finally paid off, even though the project is going forward. The old growth community will be protected Wilson Creek National Wild and Scenic Corridor multiple evening events with Sweetwater us in raising our collective voices to protect the natural environmental treasures of this region. ● from timbering, modifications were made to reduce visibility of the project, no new permanent roads Brewery, you can catch your fill of small will be built, and only a half mile of temporary roads will now be constructed. Thanks are due to all Public Parks Task Force mouth bass, and you will enjoy the WNCA members and forest watch allies who have worked to bring this agreement about and to the • Working with to company of other paddlers on the river Business Member Profile Forest Service officials who ultimately listened to public concerns. ● inventory invasive plants. and around the fire. ● By Elle Henderson We would like to recognize and thank the New Morning Gallery Muddy Water Watch Training in Biltmore Village for being a long time supporter of WNCA. By Hartwell Carson New Morning Gallery owner John Cram says that preserving the The Muddy Water Watch program is designed to monitor and reduce sediment pollution in natural beauty of Western North Carolina is important, and area waterways. The program has trained over 700 volunteers around the state to focus taking that extra step to help out local environmental nonprofits primarily on sediment pollution from construction sites on private lands, but we are now is one way he contributes to that effort. working with the Forest Service in targeted areas to train volunteers, and to monitor and New Morning Gallery Owner John Cram document problem areas associated with eroding roads, culverts, all terrain vehicle (ATV) The gallery, which displays various types of American crafts and areas, and logging operations. functional wear, also goes the extra mile to recycle waste. The 7 Boston Way gallery is located within a business district that does not pick up Asheville, NC 28803-2681 With its trained volunteers, Muddy Water Watch will greatly expand the ability of the Forest recycling, but at the urging of the gallery employees, now all (828) 274-2831 Service to identify erosion control concerns, document those concerns, and address areas Sign up today for our Muddy Water Watch training to Register now at recyclables are taken to a nearby recycling center. Thanks John in need of improvements. help monitor and document sediment-filled www.savethefrenchbroad.com and the New Morning Gallery for 16 years of support for WNCA WNCA Member since 1995 Volunteer trainings will happen this spring, so contact the French Broad Riverkeeper waterways in your community! Space will fill up fast! ● and the natural environment of Western North Carolina! ([email protected]; 828-258-8737) for more information. ● www.wnca.org www.wnca.org