MountainTrue, the leading environmental and advocacy organization serving western North Carolina, has secured $10M in funding to launch a major River Debris Cleanup Program to address the long-term impacts of Hurricane Helene. Using state disaster recovery funds from The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), the program will restore rivers, put local residents to work and support communities still recovering from the storm.
Beginning immediately and continuing through December 31, 2026, MountainTrue will hire and deploy paid cleanup crews across the region, with work focused in 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians territory. These crews will work alongside MountainTrue’s network of volunteers and Riverkeepers to remove debris from rivers and streams, restore habitat and reconnect communities with clean, safe waterways.
“The impacts of Hurricane Helene will be felt forever by the people in this region. The financial toll of what people lost, the emotional anguish of losing loved ones, the loss of precious wildlife and the devastation to local businesses was immediate. The River Debris Cleanup Program will allow people who have been struggling to get back on their feet with good jobs while being a part of the solution to rebuild their communities,” said Jon Stamper, river cleanup program manager at MountainTrue.
“We’re committed to helping western North Carolina recover and rebuild, and this investment will help clean up debris still left in our rivers,” said Reid Wilson, Secretary of the NC Department of Environmental Quality. “This initiative represents a critical opportunity to restore our waterways, protect our communities and support local economies dependent on outdoor recreation and tourism.”
While Federal recovery efforts by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initially removed large debris posing an immediate public health or safety risk, many rivers and tributaries are still choked with smaller debris. Nearly a year after the disaster, these neglected waterways pose real threats to surrounding communities and the region’s vital tourism and outdoor recreation economy. The cleanup efforts will target creeks, streams and rivers that are in especially hard-to-reach areas and beyond what federal programs can access.
“Clean rivers mean healthy fish and wildlife, a thriving recreational industry, a restored environment and revitalized communities,” said Hartwell Carson, clean waters director with MountainTrue. “Our teams are led by skilled river raft guides whose experience allows us to do this unique type of work in harsh environments that are otherwise unreachable to the public.”
Work has begun along the French Broad River, Green River, Toe River, Watauga River, New River, Pigeon River and the Swannanoa River. Future efforts may be mobilized depending on need for the South Green, Broad and Rocky Broad Rivers.
MountainTrue is still actively recruiting workers in the Burnsville, Spruce Pine and Old Fort areas. For more information and to apply for a job or as a volunteer, visit https://cleanupwncrivers.com/.
Earlier this year, MountainTrue launched a pilot program, which has since removed more than 3 million pounds of trash and debris from local rivers. The success of that program makes MountainTrue the perfect organization to lead this cleanup effort.
“MountainTrue has been working successfully for months to clean up rivers and streams in WNC, so it made total sense to us to build this partnership so that they could dramatically expand their work,” Secretary Wilson said at a recent cleanup with MountainTrue and volunteers from City Year and Truist in Swannanoa.
From removing dangerous and derelict dams blocking waterways to fighting plastic pollution to advocating for Hurricane recovery legislation, MountainTrue is the leading environmental organization for Western North Carolina.
About MountainTrue
MountainTrue champions resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities. We are committed to keeping our mountain region a beautiful place to live, work, and play. Our members protect our forests, clean up our rivers, plan vibrant and livable communities, and advocate for a sound and sustainable future for all. MountainTrue is active in the Broad, French Broad, Green, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, New, and Watauga watersheds and is home to the Broad Riverkeeper, French Broad Riverkeeper, Green Riverkeeper, and Watauga Riverkeeper. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, MountainTrue is committed to leading the recovery of our region with a vision to rebuild stronger, safer, and better prepared for the impacts of climate change. mountaintrue.org
