Instagram Story Save

We always enjoy getting together with our friends at @wickedweedbrewpub - especially if it involves taking care of our rivers! 💦

Not only did we remove over 800 pounds of debris from the Swannanoa River, but we were treated with dancing Saffron Shiners spawning over a River Chub nest!

Thanks to the support of community members like Wicked Weed, our local waterways are looking better each day! 😍

If you would like to join in on a volunteer cleanup 🥾🧤🪏🗑 with MountainTrue just click the link in our bio!

I ❤️ Public Lands merch is available in the MountainTrue shop! Grab yours today @ mountaintrue.org/shop (link in bio)

I ❤️ Public Lands merch is available in the MountainTrue shop! Grab yours today @ mountaintrue.org/shop (link in bio)

I ❤️ Public Lands merch is available in the MountainTrue shop! Grab yours today @ mountaintrue.org/shop (link in bio)

Update on the Middle Fork New River Fish Kill. Fish kill was caused by unintentional release of chlorine.
Investigation by NCDEQ concluded that The town of Blowing Rock was cleaning out their clearwell (where they store treated drinking water before it’s distributed) and attempting to transfer to the wastewater treatment plant for disposal. There was some issue with a valve so it went to a stormdrain instead and ultimately discharged to the river. The chlorine residual of drinking water is such that it can easily and quickly kill fish unfortunately. Thankfully the chlorine evaporates quickly. The follow up is that there is a plan to dye test all drains at the site to avoid this unpleasant result in the future. We are grateful to NCDEQ and the NCWRC for their swift and thoughtful action. Stay tuned for updates. We will continue to monitor the impacts. On a positive note I did observe several healthy fish in this section today exhibiting normal healthy behavior.
Remember friends, rivers are resilient. There is still much to be grateful for on this lovely stretch of water. Downstream waters remain safe for fishing and recreation.

Check out MountainTrue's Susan Bean in the Citizen Times. Her OpEd, linked in our bio, details why Asheville's housing crisis must be met with the construction of more housing options within our city.

Check out MountainTrue's Susan Bean in the Citizen Times. Her OpEd, linked in our bio, details why Asheville's housing crisis must be met with the construction of more housing options within our city.

Strive Not to Drive week ends this Friday - it's not too late to start participating! Sign the Pledge @ strivebeyond.org/strive (link in bio) to commit to doing your best to drive less this month, and check out the county-specific event listings for other ways to participate in this fun week of events and prizes!

Strive Not to Drive week ends this Friday - it's not too late to start participating! Sign the Pledge @ strivebeyond.org/strive (link in bio) to commit to doing your best to drive less this month, and check out the county-specific event listings for other ways to participate in this fun week of events and prizes!

Strive Not to Drive week ends this Friday - it's not too late to start participating! Sign the Pledge @ strivebeyond.org/strive (link in bio) to commit to doing your best to drive less this month, and check out the county-specific event listings for other ways to participate in this fun week of events and prizes!

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY. MULTI SPECIES FISH KILL MIDDLE FORK NEW RIVER. A concerned angler reported a fish kill impacting the Middle Fork New River. From approximately the Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over 321 to Sterling Park/Tweetsie area numerous dead fish and a noxious odor. Anglers and recreation enthusiasts are advised to avoid this area and contact with the water. Staff from North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality have responded and are conducting their investigations. Stay safe out there River fam. We will continue to collect samples and monitor the impacts.

Our debris crews have been working relentlessly for almost 18 months picking up millions of feet of IPEX plastic pipe. For that same amount of time we have been asking IPEX to step and do more for the cleanup, but just as important is to keep this from happening again.

Despite our hard work to cleanup their mess, despite our patience and persistence to meet with @ipexbyaliaxis to discuss this, they have refused.

We want a commitment that this won’t happen again in the next flood. Our crews have spent countless hours digging pipes out of the sand, cutting pipe that was entangled in trees and hauling pipes in their boats and on their back, and yet IPEX still refuses to even discuss how to store their material in a way that won’t allow this to all happen again in the next flood.

We had a great crowd with great ideas in Woodfin @RiversideRhapsody, and now we're headed to Madison County. Come out for a beer, hear more about the extent of the problem and help us pare down this pipe problem! #cleanup #plasticpollution

🚣 Wednesday, May 20 - MARSHALL: Mad Co Brew House, 5:30-6:30
💧 Wednesday, May 27 - HOT SPRINGS: Big Pillow Brewery, 5:30-6:30

Register at the link in our bio.

Lake Lure is back! 🎉

It has been nearly 20 months since Hurricane Helene swept through the Hickory Nut Gorge. Hickory and Reedy Creeks rose, combined with the Rocky Broad River and rushed down through Chimney Rock Village and into Lake Lure, taking riverside communities with them.

Trees, vehicles, boulders, and pieces of roadway, homes and businesses crashed into – and piled up – at the bridge between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. The weight of the debris caused the iconic Flowering Bridge to collapse on one side, rendering it damaged beyond repair. Consequently, the lake ended up being the final resting place for the majority of the Gorge’s debris and had to be dredged and refilled before the town could welcome residents and visitors back.

This month officially marks a major milestone in Helene recovery for WNC. Lake Lure is finally back to “full pond” status and is just as sparkling in the sunlight as it has always been in the past. The town of Lake Lure is excited to welcome residents and visitors back to the Lake, and will be hosting a public celebration (with fireworks! 🎆🎇) on May 23rd.

Since September of 2025, MountainTrue has been hosting monthly river cleanup events from Bat Cave through Chimney Rock. Last Friday, we were finally able to officially celebrate our efforts by paddling from the Rocky Broad River under the Memorial Highway Bridge and into Lake Lure for the first time since the storm.

What an incredible accomplishment! The milestone is a true testament of the hard work, dedication, and resiliency of the folks who have worked so hard to clean up and rebuild throughout the Gorge.

We are thrilled to be able to officially welcome folks back to our WNC rivers and lakes! We can’t wait to wave at you from across the water!

We are so grateful to Paul and Cara Brock of Lured Market & Grill for allowing us to use their properties for paddling access last week. Many thanks to ROC for joining us on the paddle, and providing shuttle access.

It takes a village, and we are so honored to be part of this Rocky Broad Village community.

There’s lots of activity happening in the studios and on the island. Check out some of the upcoming events planned for May and June.
.
Of particular note is the 2nd community input session at 5:30 on Tuesday, June 2nd, offered by @mtntrue and their Appalachian Design Center. This is a follow-up from a well attended gathering on 4/19. This volunteer group of design professionals will be sharing ideas for the future of the Island green space, as well as Skyway Park, based on the responses that were gathered in the first session.

After Hurricane Helene, we have a pipe problem in the French Broad River. Come out to @riversiderhapsody tomorrow night to hear how MountainTrue has been cleaning up thousands and thousands of pipes across 70 river miles from Woodfin to Douglas Lake.

For the last year and a half, we’ve been the ones cleaning up IPEX's inventory—pulling pipe out of the river by the thousands. Still, tons of pipe remain in and around the river. Meanwhile, we’ve tried everything to get IPEX’s attention about it—direct outreach, working with local officials, even bringing in the media. They have have remained silent.

We remain committed to getting all of their pipes out of the river, but we need IPEX to ensure that this doesn't happen again. We’re hosting 3 information sessions in the next few weeks, starting Tuesday, May 12 in Woodfin. Come join us to learn what all MountainTrue has done to clean up the pipe in the last 18 months, and how we can put pressure on IPEX to do better. Signup at the link in our bio.

🛶 Tuesday, May 12 WOODFIN: @riversiderhapsody Brew House, 5:30-6:30

After Hurricane Helene, we have a pipe problem in the French Broad River. Come out to @riversiderhapsody tomorrow night to hear how MountainTrue has been cleaning up thousands and thousands of pipes across 70 river miles from Woodfin to Douglas Lake.

For the last year and a half, we’ve been the ones cleaning up IPEX's inventory—pulling pipe out of the river by the thousands. Still, tons of pipe remain in and around the river. Meanwhile, we’ve tried everything to get IPEX’s attention about it—direct outreach, working with local officials, even bringing in the media. They have have remained silent.

We remain committed to getting all of their pipes out of the river, but we need IPEX to ensure that this doesn't happen again. We’re hosting 3 information sessions in the next few weeks, starting Tuesday, May 12 in Woodfin. Come join us to learn what all MountainTrue has done to clean up the pipe in the last 18 months, and how we can put pressure on IPEX to do better. Signup at the link in our bio.

🛶 Tuesday, May 12 WOODFIN: @riversiderhapsody Brew House, 5:30-6:30

After Hurricane Helene, we have a pipe problem in the French Broad River. Come out to @riversiderhapsody tomorrow night to hear how MountainTrue has been cleaning up thousands and thousands of pipes across 70 river miles from Woodfin to Douglas Lake.

For the last year and a half, we’ve been the ones cleaning up IPEX's inventory—pulling pipe out of the river by the thousands. Still, tons of pipe remain in and around the river. Meanwhile, we’ve tried everything to get IPEX’s attention about it—direct outreach, working with local officials, even bringing in the media. They have have remained silent.

We remain committed to getting all of their pipes out of the river, but we need IPEX to ensure that this doesn't happen again. We’re hosting 3 information sessions in the next few weeks, starting Tuesday, May 12 in Woodfin. Come join us to learn what all MountainTrue has done to clean up the pipe in the last 18 months, and how we can put pressure on IPEX to do better. Signup at the link in our bio.

🛶 Tuesday, May 12 WOODFIN: @riversiderhapsody Brew House, 5:30-6:30

After Hurricane Helene, we have a pipe problem in the French Broad River. Come out to @riversiderhapsody tomorrow night to hear how MountainTrue has been cleaning up thousands and thousands of pipes across 70 river miles from Woodfin to Douglas Lake.

For the last year and a half, we’ve been the ones cleaning up IPEX's inventory—pulling pipe out of the river by the thousands. Still, tons of pipe remain in and around the river. Meanwhile, we’ve tried everything to get IPEX’s attention about it—direct outreach, working with local officials, even bringing in the media. They have have remained silent.

We remain committed to getting all of their pipes out of the river, but we need IPEX to ensure that this doesn't happen again. We’re hosting 3 information sessions in the next few weeks, starting Tuesday, May 12 in Woodfin. Come join us to learn what all MountainTrue has done to clean up the pipe in the last 18 months, and how we can put pressure on IPEX to do better. Signup at the link in our bio.

🛶 Tuesday, May 12 WOODFIN: @riversiderhapsody Brew House, 5:30-6:30

🎣 The 2026 Fly Fishing Film Tour is coming to Trailside Brewing on June 11!

Celebrate 20 years of unforgettable fly fishing stories with an all-new lineup of films featuring wild places, conservation stories, and adrenaline-filled moments on the water.

🎬 Film Starts: 7PM
🚪 Doors Open: 6:15PM

🍻 Food & drinks available for purchase
🎟 Tickets available now — click the link in our bio

Sponsored by @mastgeneralstore
Co-hosted by @hendersonvilleoutfitters + @mountaintrue

Grab your fishing crew and join us! 🎣

•
•
#wncflyfishing @flyfishingfilmtour #wncmountains #westernnorthcarolina #pisgahnationalforest #westernnc

We love our volunteers! Thank you so much to the fine folks at Modera Wealth Management for cleaning up Sweeten Creek and the Swannanoa River with us yesterday! Y’all were amazing!! 🤩 Come on back anytime!