French Broad River Basin Drains Land in Both North Carolina and Tennessee

Home , Appalachian elktoe, DuPont State Forest, French Broad River, Pisgah National Forest, South Toe River

RIVER FRENCH BROAD BASIN he Cherokee Indians already had countless names for the French Broad River by T the time white huntsmen first approached this mountain region. Their river was “Long Man” and its tributaries “Chattering Children.” Tn profile: Va The settlers were more literal in their naming of the Total miles of river. They had already encountered wide streams streams and rivers: or “broads” that flowed away from the ocean they 4,136 or their parents had crossed. But this river ran north- Municipalities west into what was then French territory and eventually within basin: 25

joined the mighty Mississippi. To the newcomers, it was plainly the French Broad. Counties within basin: 8

The headwaters of the French Broad River spill from a 50-foot waterfall in Transylvania County. Size: 2,830 Known as Court House Falls, the waterfall rushes into a creek that feeds the North Fork, which square miles

joins the West Fork near Rosman and eventually the Middle and East forks to form the French Population: Broad. About half the land surrounding these headwater streams is forested, with much of the 392,906 (2000) basin within the Pisgah National Forest or Pisgah Game Lands. Steep slopes limit the land area (in North Carolina) suitable for building and farming. In fact, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River rises from this basin—Mount Mitchell stretches 6,684 feet skyward.

The French Broad River Basin drains land in both North Carolina and Tennessee. Besides the The French Broad originates French Broad River, the basin includes two other major watersheds in North Carolina: the Pigeon from a tiny waterfall (left); and Nolichucky rivers—tributaries that join the French Broad in Tennessee. The Mills, Davidson, the basin's Mount Mitchell BEN T. WALTERS and Swannanoa rivers are major tributaries of is the tallest peak in the the French Broad River in North Carolina. East (below).

BILL LEA USFWS

fast FACTS: Pink Beds A large, flat valley within the Pisgah National Forest’s Cradle of For- estry area contains the most extensive system of “upland valley” bogs and marshes in the BILL LEA Southern Appalachians, Trout are abundant in the upper reaches of the basin, and many waters A bobcat makes a rare according to the N.C. have such good quality that the state classifies them as High Quality or daytime appearance, Natural Heritage Pro- Outstanding Resource Waters. Outstanding Resource Waters in the framed in fall foliage. gram. These wetlands basin include most of the South Fork Mills River, the South Toe River are home to North (a Nolichucky River tributary), and Cataloochee Creek and its tributaries (Pigeon River trib- Carolina’s largest pop- utaries). Such waters receive extra protection due to excellent water quality and exceptional ulation of the swamp pink, a plant in the lily ecological or recreational significance. family that is federally listed as a threatened Unique plants and animals also distinguish the French Broad River Basin. It’s the only river species (pictured basin in North Carolina where you’ll find the 9-inch aquatic salamander called the common above). The entire mudpuppy or the distinctive turtle known as the Eastern spiny softshell. The Cane River, which area is nicknamed the feeds into the Nolichucky, contains several rare fish, notably almost the entire state population “Pink Beds” and got its of sharphead darters, striped shiners, stonecats and olive darters. name from the resident pink-blooming flowers WAYNE VAN DEVENDER WAYNE VAN DEVENDER that also include wild phlox and mountain laurels.

Hellbender (right); eastern spiny softshell (far right) ASHEVILLE IS THE BASIN’S LARGEST CITY.

CHARLES BRASWELL JR. The most ecologically significant aquatic area in the basin is the lower section of the French Broad River from the town of Marshall to the Tennessee state line. Numerous fish species found in no CHARLES BRASWELL JR. other rivers of the state appear here, including the freshwater drum, banded sculpin and mooneye.

Two rare aquatic species live in all three watersheds of the French Broad: the hellbender, a large, uncommon aquatic salamander; and the Appalachian elktoe, a freshwater mussel that is federally listed as endangered. Recreation, including fishing and rafting, also makes the French Broad River an outstanding resource. Besides the basin’s ample trout fishing opportunities, the entire French Broad River supports a celebrated muskie fishery. Below Asheville, the river falls and tumbles, creating enough excitement to make “whitewatering” the main economy of Madison fast FACTS: County. There are nine rapids on the 8-mile section of river between Barnard and Hot Springs.

Rock Window GEORGE HUMPHRIES The Pigeon River below Canton has been a The faulted and folded hot spot for decades as wastewater discharges rocks of the Hot Springs area form an extraordi- from a paper plant caused serious pollution of nary geologic “window” the river. In spite of improvements made at the where one can see sed- plant in the ‘70s and ‘80s, dioxin (a byproduct imentary rock buried of the bleaching process and a significant con- under older metamor- taminant) still entered the river. The paper com- phic rock. Other nearby pany, now known as Blue Ridge Paper Prod- earthly attractions ucts, replaced chlorine as a bleaching agent in include Paint Rock and Lover’s Leap. 1993. Employees bought the company in 1999, pledging to cooperate with state agencies and environmentalists to improve the condition of the river. A decade ago, an observer might see a solid raft of foam on the Pigeon River from the company’s wastewater. Today the view is of a progressively cleaner river that supports Pigeon River rafting, paddling and fishing. Water quality is generally good in the basin, but several areas still cause concern. The greatest impacts on water quality occur along the middle and lower French Broad River and some smaller tributaries. Apple FRENCH BROAD orchards and croplands for corn, tomatoes and burley tobacco, along RIVER BASIN with dairy operations and urban development, contribute significant amounts of nonpoint source pollution. Those pollutants include pes- You may notice “French ticides, fertilizer, oil, heavy metals, animal wastes and eroded sediment Broad River Basin” signs that are washed from land or paved surfaces when it rains. Individuals posted along highways Nature lovers pause along also contribute to this type of pollution through everyday activities throughout the basin. the Appalachian Trail in the like maintaining their lawns and gardens, washing and servicing their The signs are part of a Pisgah National Forest. vehicles, and leaving behind pet waste when walking their dogs. statewide educational program to raise public awareness that we all live in a river basin and that our individual

actions affect the quality of its waters. Signs in all 17 river basins of the state are made possible by a partnership between the N.C. Department of Environment and Nat- ural Resources and the N.C. Department of Transportation, along with funds from the Federal Transportation Enhancement Program.

BILL LEA KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC

N.C. DIVISION OF TOURISM, FILM AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Looking Glass Falls, Transylvania County (left); a whitewater kayaker finds thrills, not spills (above). JODY DUGGINS, NCWRC The Little River flows In the future, urban growth may surpass agricul- through the 10,400-acre ture as the major cause of nonpoint source pol- DuPont State Forest. lution in the basin. Between 1982 and 1992, cultivated and uncultivated cropland decreased by about 67 percent, while urban and devel- oped lands grew by about 42 percent. Hender- sonville and Black Mountain are among the fastest growing cities in the basin. As popula- Triple Falls, Dupont tion and development increase, so will the chal- State Forest lenges for protecting the basin’s water resources.

KEN TAYLOR, NCWRC Major revitalization efforts are under way in View from Looking Asheville, the basin’s largest city, to protect Glass Rock and promote the French Broad River as a recreational resource. Civic groups, local governments and researchers have joined hands to revitalize the river. The resulting organization, RiverLink, stages events every year to raise money for conservation efforts. RiverLink also runs the Volunteer Water Information Network, one of the state’s largest water quality monitoring efforts conducted by volunteers. Other groups in the basin also are working to protect streams and rivers in the basin.

JODY DUGGINS, NCWRC

State of North Carolina: Governor Michael F. Easley • North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Secretary William G. Ross Jr. • Office of Environmental Education: Director Anne Taylor • This publication was funded through the Clean Water Act’s Section 319 Grant Program: Project Manager Lisa Tolley • Editor Carla Burgess • Designer Kimberly Schott, Red Gate Design • Special Thanks North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission • Date: 2002 • No state funds were used to print this public document. Printed on recycled paper WHERE What makes the French Broad River Basin special? See for yourself. Visit these SHOULD Environmental Education Centers to discover more about your ecological address: I GO? BackCountry Outdoor Education Center Mountain Trail Outdoor School Blue Ridge Parkway Purchase Knob: Appalachian Highlands Bullington Horticultural Environmental Science Learning Center Education Center The North Carolina Arboretum Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum North Carolina Outward Bound School Eagle’s Nest Foundation North Fork Water Treatment Facility Flat Rock Nature Center and Education Center Forest Discovery Center, Cradle of Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education Forestry in America Swannanoa 4-H Educational Center Holmes Educational State Forest Western North Carolina Nature Center Long Branch Environmental Education Center YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly

NCWRC Mount Mitchell State Park Environmental Education Center Mountain Horticultural Crops YMCA Camp Greenville Research Station For more information about Environmental Education Centers in North Carolina, call the Office of Environmental Education at (919) 733-0711, or check out the Web site at http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us

WHAT Do your part to positively influence water quality in the French Broad River Basin. CAN Get involved in basinwide planning or a local organization interested in rivers and I DO? streams in the river basin. Take the time to learn about the environmental consequences of your actions. WHO The following contacts can provide information: SHOULD North Carolina Office of Environmental Education, Department of Environ- I CONTACT? ment and Natural Resources, (800) 482-8724 or (919) 733-0711, Web site: http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us Stream Watch Program, Division of Water Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, (919) 733-4064, Web site http://www.ncwater.org Land of Sky Regional Council, (828) 251-6622, Web site http://www.landofsky.org Pigeon River Fund, (828) 254-4960, Web site http://www.pigeonriverfund.org/ RiverLink/French Broad Riverkeeper, (828) 252- 8474, Web site http://www.riverlink.org Volunteer Water Information Network (VWIN), University of North Carolina at Asheville, (828) 251-6823 Haywood Waterways Association, (828) 452-9077, Web site http://www.haywoodwaterways.org Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Depart- ment of Environment and Natural Resources. Go to http://www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC/ files/dos.htm for a listing of all county offices, call (919) 733-2302 or check your local phone book in the county government blue pages. To find out more about water quality in the French Broad River Basin, contact the Division of Water Quality’s Basinwide Planning Program, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, at (919) 733-5083, Web site http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/.