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New Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail Launches This SpringRALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, in collaboration with partners, announced the premiere of the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail, a unique wildlife recreation opportunity located in Western North Carolina that connects people to the fascinating underwater world through a series of publicly accessible river snorkel sites.
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Snorkeling the mountains: New Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail will show off WNC’s vibrant streamsWRITTEN BY HOLLY KAYS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023 For most people, the word “snorkeling” conjures images of blue Caribbean waters, pink coral reefs and a rainbow of tropical fish. But witnessing a world of aquatic beauty doesn’t require a flight to the Florida Keys. |
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Asheville Protects Land at Mills River Water PlantDaniel Walton
MountainXpress News The bulk of Asheville’s water comes from the North Fork watershed, an undeveloped 22,000-acre forest in Black Mountain. But about 15% comes from another plant on the Mills River in Henderson County, a source that the city’s website describes as “less pristine.” |
Macroinvertebrate WorkshoP
May 6th, 2022
Mills River Partnership hosted their first macroinvertebrate workshop and despite the bad weather we had a very productive day. Participants learned about the history of stream ecology and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and then we headed out into the field. In the field, we learned about sampling techniques and caught some insects to bring back to the lab to identify. A big thank you to Penrose Environmental for coming out and sharing their knowledge with our class!
Mills River Partnership hosted their first macroinvertebrate workshop and despite the bad weather we had a very productive day. Participants learned about the history of stream ecology and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and then we headed out into the field. In the field, we learned about sampling techniques and caught some insects to bring back to the lab to identify. A big thank you to Penrose Environmental for coming out and sharing their knowledge with our class!
Earth Day River Clean-up with Oklawaha Brewery
April 23rd, 2022
Mills River Partnership partnered with Oklawaha Brewery to clean up the South Stem and Main Stem of the Mills River. Our amazing group of volunteers were able to remove a whole truck load of trash from the river. Mills River Partnership is committed to keeping our watershed clean. Keeping trash out of the river will prevent microplastic build up in our water ways, protect wildlife from entanglement, and keep dangerous toxins out of our watershed that can build up from degrading plastics.
We would like to give a big thank you to Oklawaha Brewery for hosting the river clean-up with us and making Mills River Partnership their non-profit of the month for April. We also could not have had the clean-up without Big Adventures Kayaks. We borrowed 5 of their sit on top kayaks, so we could load up lots of trash!
Mills River Partnership partnered with Oklawaha Brewery to clean up the South Stem and Main Stem of the Mills River. Our amazing group of volunteers were able to remove a whole truck load of trash from the river. Mills River Partnership is committed to keeping our watershed clean. Keeping trash out of the river will prevent microplastic build up in our water ways, protect wildlife from entanglement, and keep dangerous toxins out of our watershed that can build up from degrading plastics.
We would like to give a big thank you to Oklawaha Brewery for hosting the river clean-up with us and making Mills River Partnership their non-profit of the month for April. We also could not have had the clean-up without Big Adventures Kayaks. We borrowed 5 of their sit on top kayaks, so we could load up lots of trash!
Mills River Partnership
April 21st, 2022
Mills River Partnership hosted a Bird Walk in the Mills River watershed with the Asheville Audubon chapter. We saw 34 different species!
Mills River Partnership hosted a Bird Walk in the Mills River watershed with the Asheville Audubon chapter. We saw 34 different species!
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Restoration work at Mills River Park expected to close area
Derek Lacey
Hendersonville Times-News Stabilization work along the river at Mills River Park is set to revitalize an area of the river choked by invasive species and battered by erosion that took a hit from Tropical Storm Fred, improving habitat and access at the popular recreations spot.
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Foster Creek Live Staking
January 25th, 2022
Foster Creek Project is a stream restoration project that Mills River Partnership started back in 2020 with Living Web Farms. Last winter over 6,000 plants and live stakes were installed along the newly restored section of Foster Creek and 75 percent of them sprouted and flourished in the spring! There were a few gaps in the vegetation that MRP volunteers filled in with 600 more live stakes. We are very thankful for the volunteers that came out from Pisgah Trout Unlimited, Land O' Sky Trout Unlimited, MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, and Jennings Environmental!
Foster Creek Project is a stream restoration project that Mills River Partnership started back in 2020 with Living Web Farms. Last winter over 6,000 plants and live stakes were installed along the newly restored section of Foster Creek and 75 percent of them sprouted and flourished in the spring! There were a few gaps in the vegetation that MRP volunteers filled in with 600 more live stakes. We are very thankful for the volunteers that came out from Pisgah Trout Unlimited, Land O' Sky Trout Unlimited, MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, and Jennings Environmental!
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Stream Bank Repair Certification Workshop with NC State
Mills River Partnership is partnering with NC State and NC Cooperative Extension to host a Stream Bank Repair Certification Workshop on February 11th. Attendees will learn how to protect and improve the natural environment of streams by stabilizing the stream bank and other eroding areas. NC State University and other local experts will provide practical, cost-effective solutions using natural materials and native plants to create a healthy streamside. Attendees will participate in hands-on stream protection practices including harvesting live-staked native plants and/or installing live stakes on a stream. A certification exam will be provided electronically after the workshop. Those who receive a passing grade of 80% or above will be recognized as Certified in Stream Bank Repair by NC State University Extension. To learn more about more upcoming workshops and conferences please follow the link below:
https://web.cvent.com/event/5ee14f48-3c37-4823-ae75-19d0a7a0f97e/summar
https://web.cvent.com/event/5ee14f48-3c37-4823-ae75-19d0a7a0f97e/summar
Mills River Park Restoration
Starts January 17th
The Mills River is a vital resource for the town and for the greater Hendersonville and Asheville areas and must be protected to ensure safe drinking water
Mills River Partnership, the Town of Mills River, and its partners are working to improve and enhance the section of Mills River which flows through the park and make improvements to other park features to benefit the river and visitor experiences.
The Mills River enhancement project will remove as many invasive plant species as possible, allowing native plants to thrive and animal habitats to recover. Using natural channel design, this project will stabilize the riverbank, preventing erosion and sediment from entering the river. Sediment is one of the biggest pollutants in our mountain waters, choking out fish, mussels, and other aquatic species.
Extensive grading of the riverbank will occur during construction and large equipment will be in use. Parts of the park will be closed to visitors during this phase of the project. Thousands of native plants will be replanted on the riverbank and near the walking path and in a few months, the park will be lush with new plant growth. Enjoy watching the transformation that will benefit the water and its inhabitants!
Mills River Partnership, the Town of Mills River, and its partners are working to improve and enhance the section of Mills River which flows through the park and make improvements to other park features to benefit the river and visitor experiences.
The Mills River enhancement project will remove as many invasive plant species as possible, allowing native plants to thrive and animal habitats to recover. Using natural channel design, this project will stabilize the riverbank, preventing erosion and sediment from entering the river. Sediment is one of the biggest pollutants in our mountain waters, choking out fish, mussels, and other aquatic species.
Extensive grading of the riverbank will occur during construction and large equipment will be in use. Parts of the park will be closed to visitors during this phase of the project. Thousands of native plants will be replanted on the riverbank and near the walking path and in a few months, the park will be lush with new plant growth. Enjoy watching the transformation that will benefit the water and its inhabitants!
December Live Staking at Lugo Farm
December 8th, 2021
We finished out 2021 with a successful live staking event. Volunteers from Pisgah Trout Unlimited and Land O' Sky Trout Unlimited helped us install 1000 live stakes in the stream bank! The live stakes will start putting on roots and buds in the spring; this new growth will help prevent erosion and sediment runoff and will also provide native habitat for wildlife.
We finished out 2021 with a successful live staking event. Volunteers from Pisgah Trout Unlimited and Land O' Sky Trout Unlimited helped us install 1000 live stakes in the stream bank! The live stakes will start putting on roots and buds in the spring; this new growth will help prevent erosion and sediment runoff and will also provide native habitat for wildlife.
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fall River Clean-up
October 15th, 2021
We had 16 awesome volunteers come out to help clean up a section of the Mills River. The river is now free of 10 bags of trash, 1 porta-potty door, a crowbar, and a lot of agricultural trash washed down the river by Fred. Stay tuned to volunteer with us for our Spring river clean-up.
We had 16 awesome volunteers come out to help clean up a section of the Mills River. The river is now free of 10 bags of trash, 1 porta-potty door, a crowbar, and a lot of agricultural trash washed down the river by Fred. Stay tuned to volunteer with us for our Spring river clean-up.
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Rugby 8th Grade Farm Tour
October 14th, 2021
Mills River Partnership partnered with the NC Cooperative Extension and North River Farms to host an 8th Grade Farm Tour. Students from Rugby Middle School came out and learned about different elements that go into sustainable farming, like soil, water quality, and crop production. MRP taught students how to find and identify aquatic insects and use them to determine the health of the river.
Mills River Partnership partnered with the NC Cooperative Extension and North River Farms to host an 8th Grade Farm Tour. Students from Rugby Middle School came out and learned about different elements that go into sustainable farming, like soil, water quality, and crop production. MRP taught students how to find and identify aquatic insects and use them to determine the health of the river.
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French Broad River Cleanup with Riverfest
September 30, 2021
Did you know that the Mills River flows into the French Broad? If we want one to be clean we have to take care of the other! MRP partnered with Natahala Outdoors and Riverfest to clean up the French Broad. We collected 8 tires, 4 bags of trash and a a whole fishing rod!
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Dupont Forest Festival
September 25, 2021
Mills River Partnership had a great time educating the community and the next generation about Mills River Watershed. Kids of all ages had fun exploring our "mini-watershed". They were able to look for real macroinvertebrates or "fish" for fake ones! After they found an invertebrate they identified their critter and assessed the water quality.
A big thanks to Dupont State Forest for hosting an amazing festival!
A big thanks to Dupont State Forest for hosting an amazing festival!
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Upper French Broad Riverfest 2021
by Chandler Adams
June 20, 2021 We had a great time educating the community about what Mills River Partnership does and why we do it at the Upper French Broad Riverfest. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate. If you didn't make it to the festival this year, be sure to join us next year!
We would like to especially thank our board member, John (Jay) Hawthorne, for manning our booth! Thank you, Jay! |
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USING FARM BILL PROGRAMS TO DEPLOY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO SOURCE WATER PROTECTION
Discussion Panel featuring Maria Wise, Director of Mills River Partnership
Join us in a virtual discussion panel about using Farm Bill programs to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars into source water protection. Maria Wise, director of Mills River Partnership will be featured in the disussion panel.
June 14th, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Sign up for the conference here:
https://www.awwa.org/ace/
Join us in a virtual discussion panel about using Farm Bill programs to deploy hundreds of millions of dollars into source water protection. Maria Wise, director of Mills River Partnership will be featured in the disussion panel.
June 14th, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST
Sign up for the conference here:
https://www.awwa.org/ace/
Overview of the program:
The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill prioritized source water protection for the first time, bringing together the water sector with agricultural producers to help protect drinking water at the source while benefiting the nation’s farmer’s ranchers, and non-industrial forest landowners. This panel discussion will bring together a panel discussion of project proponents from two Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects, one medium and one large, as well as a speaker, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to discuss how utilities can help direct how hundreds of millions of dollars of conservation spending are being used each year to help protect sources of drinking water.
Check out this article featuring Mills River Partnership, among many other partners, helping to keep the Mills River pristine.
https://thelaurelofasheville.com/outdoors/partnerships-help-keep-mills-river-pristine/
"Mills River Partnership (MRP) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are two outstanding organizations that work with local businesses to promote agricultural sustainability, outdoor conservation and natural resources management."
"Mills River Partnership (MRP) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are two outstanding organizations that work with local businesses to promote agricultural sustainability, outdoor conservation and natural resources management."
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45TH ANNUAL CLEAN STREAMS DAYMay 20th, 2021
This year's cleanup is dedicated to Wilma Dykman to honor her 101st birthday. Grab your friends and family for a self-guided river cleanup on the Mills River. Recently we've seen an increase in black plastic that has been washed away from agriculture fields. If you encounter any black plastic during your cleanup, try your best to remove it from the river. |
AmeriCorps Project Conserve is hiring!AmeriCorps Project Conserve seeks dedicated individuals to fill 30 full-time positions serving critical conservation needs in western North Carolina. Each full-time member will serve 1700 hours from September 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022. Members serve with host site organizations working to protect the unique natural resources of the southern Blue Ridge Mountain region.
Interested in serving with Mills River Partnership!? Apply now! https://conservingcarolina.org/americorps/projectconserve |
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Trash Pick Up Along 280Chandler Adams
April 14th, 2021 Mills River Partnership teamed up with Norafin to clean up trash along 280 near Ingles in Mills River! Everyone filled a bag and the roadside looks much better! Thank you to all of our Norafin volunteers! |
Another succssful volunteer day with Trout Unlimited!
February 25th, 2021
Chandler Adams Members from the Land O' Sky and Pisgah chapters of Trout Unlimited helped install 2,500 live stakes along the newly restored section of Foster Creek at Living Web Farms. This was the second live staking day we had with both Trout Unlimited chapters and we look forward to working with them in the future. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to a cleaner watershed.
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MILLS RIVER STEWARD SIGNS
February 22th
Chandler Adams
We would like to thank Living Web Farms
for being a Mills River Steward. You can find our Mills River Steward signs at various project locations throughout the watershed. We are proud to have another sign up at Living Web Farms at the newly restored section of Foster Creek!
Chandler Adams
We would like to thank Living Web Farms
for being a Mills River Steward. You can find our Mills River Steward signs at various project locations throughout the watershed. We are proud to have another sign up at Living Web Farms at the newly restored section of Foster Creek!
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Trout Unlimited volunteers live stake 2,000 native riparian plants at a newly restored section of Foster Creek
January 11th, 2021
Chandler Adams
Members from the Land O' Sky and Pisgah chapters of Trout Unlimited helped install 2,000 live stakes along the newly restored section of Foster Creek at Living Web Farms.
These live stakes are dormant cuttings from a variety of riparian plants including dogwood, elderberry, ninebark and more. The live stakes are inserted into the soil and will grow roots into the bank. These water-loving plants will help stabalize the stream bank to prevent erosion.
Thank you to Trout Unlimited chapters Land O' Sky and Pisgah for all your help!
Chandler Adams
Members from the Land O' Sky and Pisgah chapters of Trout Unlimited helped install 2,000 live stakes along the newly restored section of Foster Creek at Living Web Farms.
These live stakes are dormant cuttings from a variety of riparian plants including dogwood, elderberry, ninebark and more. The live stakes are inserted into the soil and will grow roots into the bank. These water-loving plants will help stabalize the stream bank to prevent erosion.
Thank you to Trout Unlimited chapters Land O' Sky and Pisgah for all your help!
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Log Jams Removed from the Mills River
December 30, 2020
Two log jams cleared this week! We worked with the Town of Mills River to remove a jam at the park. We also cleared one downstream of the Hendersonville water intake. If you suspect a log jam in the Mills River Watershed, please report it here.
Two log jams cleared this week! We worked with the Town of Mills River to remove a jam at the park. We also cleared one downstream of the Hendersonville water intake. If you suspect a log jam in the Mills River Watershed, please report it here.
Foster Creek Stream Bank Restoration Update
December 9th, 2020
The Foster Creek stream restoration is moving along nicely at Living Web Farms and the Bryson properties. The old stream has been moved away from the road and planting has already begun along the new stream bank.
We would like to thank our volunteers and AmeriCorps Project Conserve members for helping plant native riparian plants along the new stream bank. Over 5,000 plants will be planted back along the stream. We couldn't do it without our amazing volunteers! If you'd like to get involved, contact us through our website and let us know!
Read about the Foster Creek stream restoration here:
https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/lifestyle/2020/11/29/volunteers-restoring-foster-creek-in-mills-river/43204203/
http://my40.tv/news/local/work-begins-to-stabilize-banks-of-foster-creek
The Foster Creek stream restoration is moving along nicely at Living Web Farms and the Bryson properties. The old stream has been moved away from the road and planting has already begun along the new stream bank.
We would like to thank our volunteers and AmeriCorps Project Conserve members for helping plant native riparian plants along the new stream bank. Over 5,000 plants will be planted back along the stream. We couldn't do it without our amazing volunteers! If you'd like to get involved, contact us through our website and let us know!
Read about the Foster Creek stream restoration here:
https://www.blueridgenow.com/story/lifestyle/2020/11/29/volunteers-restoring-foster-creek-in-mills-river/43204203/
http://my40.tv/news/local/work-begins-to-stabilize-banks-of-foster-creek
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Foster Creek Stream Restoration
Don’t be surprised to see some major earth moving along North Mills River Road in the coming weeks. The large equipment and clearing of some trees on the banks of Foster Creek is part of a stream restoration to repair damage to the stream that has occurred over the years from road building, etc.
Foster Creek is located on the Living Web Farm and Bryson properties, an area where the stream banks are very steep and high, causing tons of sediment to fall into the stream each year.
This project will help the farmland at Living Web Farm and the Bryson property by stabilizing their streambanks so they don’t continue to lose land. The plants, trees and shrubs that will be planted to stabilize the banks will also serve a purpose. Watch this project develop as nut trees and other food crops grow in the area next to the stream over the next few years.
This project is supported by the farm bill and NRCS funding. Partners of the project include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NC Department of Environmental Quality, NC Wildlife Commission, and the Army Corp of Engineers.
Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!
Foster Creek is located on the Living Web Farm and Bryson properties, an area where the stream banks are very steep and high, causing tons of sediment to fall into the stream each year.
This project will help the farmland at Living Web Farm and the Bryson property by stabilizing their streambanks so they don’t continue to lose land. The plants, trees and shrubs that will be planted to stabilize the banks will also serve a purpose. Watch this project develop as nut trees and other food crops grow in the area next to the stream over the next few years.
This project is supported by the farm bill and NRCS funding. Partners of the project include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, NC Department of Environmental Quality, NC Wildlife Commission, and the Army Corp of Engineers.
Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!
Upper French Broad RiverFest 2020This year the Upper French Broad RiverFest was virtual - with segments from many organizations
Check out our video that was featured in the Virtual Upper French Broad RiverFest Video! Learn more about Mills River Partnership and all the great work we do in the community to protect water quality. |
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Thanks to everyone who joined the virtual WNC Big Sweep 2020!The staff at Mills River Partnership did a small trash cleanup in the Mills River Watershed area of the Pisgah National Forest.
We look forward to next year's cleanup! |
Clean Streams Day 2020
Asheville GreenWorks has hosted "Clean Streams Day" since 1976 where volunteers choose a river or stream to pick up trash.
This year's "Clean Stream Day" will be held virtually with partners RiverLink and MountainTrue.
They will be sharing educational videos and activities, action steps and petitions, as well as hands-on service opportunities from May 21 - May 30.
Give their pages a follow and like on Facebook and Instagram to see some of the great information they will be sharing!
This year's "Clean Stream Day" will be held virtually with partners RiverLink and MountainTrue.
They will be sharing educational videos and activities, action steps and petitions, as well as hands-on service opportunities from May 21 - May 30.
Give their pages a follow and like on Facebook and Instagram to see some of the great information they will be sharing!
Earth Day 2020
April 22
Happy Earth Day! One of the most essential things on Earth is water! Check out the City of Hendersonville's Annual Water Quality Report that was just released for 2023.
https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/city-hendersonville-releases-water-quality-report
All of the water that comes through the Hendersonville Water Treatment Facility comes from within the Mills River Watershed. The City of Hendersonville "is continuing to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Standards."
Mills River Partnership and The City of Hendersonville works hard to keep our water clean!
Happy Earth Day! One of the most essential things on Earth is water! Check out the City of Hendersonville's Annual Water Quality Report that was just released for 2023.
https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/city-hendersonville-releases-water-quality-report
All of the water that comes through the Hendersonville Water Treatment Facility comes from within the Mills River Watershed. The City of Hendersonville "is continuing to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Standards."
Mills River Partnership and The City of Hendersonville works hard to keep our water clean!
COVID-19 Update
Due to COVID-19, currently all of our upcoming events have been postponed or cancelled.
Mills River Day 2020 has been cancelled and will not be postponed for this year. Mills River Day will take place next year on Saturday, May 15th, 2021. We will be updating more as the situation progresses. Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities once we are cleared to resume as normal.
Thank you and stay safe!
-Mills River Partnership
Mills River Day 2020 has been cancelled and will not be postponed for this year. Mills River Day will take place next year on Saturday, May 15th, 2021. We will be updating more as the situation progresses. Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities once we are cleared to resume as normal.
Thank you and stay safe!
-Mills River Partnership
Hidden Rivers Film Screening was a huge success!Thank you to everyone who came out to Bold Rock Hard Cider to support Mills River Partnership in the screening of the film Hidden Rivers!
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Mussel Tagging with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
by Chandler Adams
November 27th, 2019
We had such a great time helping the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission tag mussels that will be released into the French Broad River.
We got to take a tour of the facility and we learned a lot about endemic freshwater mussels! These mussels play a vital role in filtering our waters and keeping our rivers and streams clean. Conserving these precious mussels is a must!
November 27th, 2019
We had such a great time helping the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission tag mussels that will be released into the French Broad River.
We got to take a tour of the facility and we learned a lot about endemic freshwater mussels! These mussels play a vital role in filtering our waters and keeping our rivers and streams clean. Conserving these precious mussels is a must!
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Mills River Partnership assists the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout Unlimited stock the North Mills RiverChandler Adams
November 19th, 2019 Mills River Partnership had a great time helping the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Trout Unlimited stock the North Mills River with rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Delayed Harvest is a program that runs from October to June with strict regulations regarding trout fishing that supports anglers. Delayed Harvest waters are stocked with trout to increase anglers’ likelihood of catching fish. Anglers must fish with an artificial lure and a single hook and may not keep any trout they catch. Happy fishing!! |
South Mills River Upper Corridor Heritage Tour
October 31st, 2019 by Chandler Adams
On Sunday, October 27th, Mills River Partnership hosted a walking tour of the Upper South Mills River Corridor guided by Mills River native and "river-keeper" Jere Brittain. The tour featured commentaries on the Sitton iron forge, Gillespie rifle works, historic homes, churches, cemetaries, past and present farming activities, and much more. Thank you to Jere Brittain for his dedication to the Mills River Partnership and for spreading his knowledge about the history of Mills River.
On Sunday, October 27th, Mills River Partnership hosted a walking tour of the Upper South Mills River Corridor guided by Mills River native and "river-keeper" Jere Brittain. The tour featured commentaries on the Sitton iron forge, Gillespie rifle works, historic homes, churches, cemetaries, past and present farming activities, and much more. Thank you to Jere Brittain for his dedication to the Mills River Partnership and for spreading his knowledge about the history of Mills River.
Sitton-Gillespie CemetaryThe oldest grave in this cemetary dates back to 1841. There are about 36 graves located in this cemetary mainly comprised of the Sitton and Gillespie families.
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Mills River Baptist ChurchThe Mills River Baptist church was constituted in 1835.
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Red-bellied WoodpeckerMany birds can be seen along the river in the riparian zone
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Rain Garden Installation with Trout UnlimitedOctober 24, 2019 by Chandler Adams
On October 23rd, Mills River Partnership helped Trout Unlimited install a rain garden at North Mills River Campground. The rain garden will catch any runoff from the parking lot and will filter and absorb any pollutants! This was the final installation of 6 rain gardens spread throughout the Pisgah National Forest. |
The Log Jam is now CLEARED
October 24th 2019 by Chandler Adams
A large log jam on the Mills River near the confluence of the French Broad River has impeded boaters for over a year. This massive jam was not only a boating hazard but was also causing severe erosion to adjacent riverbanks. Through the cooperative efforts of the City of Asheville water department and the Mills River Partnership, the log jam is now clear. Please continue to use caution on the river, as water levels changes rapidly, and submerged hazards are often difficult to see. Happy Boating!
A large log jam on the Mills River near the confluence of the French Broad River has impeded boaters for over a year. This massive jam was not only a boating hazard but was also causing severe erosion to adjacent riverbanks. Through the cooperative efforts of the City of Asheville water department and the Mills River Partnership, the log jam is now clear. Please continue to use caution on the river, as water levels changes rapidly, and submerged hazards are often difficult to see. Happy Boating!
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Mills River Park Track Trail Grand OpeningJoin us this Sunday, October 20th for the grand opening of the Kids in the Park Track Trail at Mills River Park! Follow the track where you’ll find free, fun and healthy activities in nature! This is a free event and will be fun for the whole family!
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THE CANTRELL CREEK PROJECT IS COMPLETED!October 16, 2019
The Cantrell Creek Project is officially completed! The project was initiated by The Pisgah Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the U.S. Forest Service after identifying excessive sediment deposition into Cantrell Creek from trail use and lack of riparian vegetation. The hellbender, native trout and other important species require clean, well-oxygenated water. This stream restoration project and trail relocation benefits each and every user of the Pisgah Forest, including native species that rely on pristine habitat. Along with many other donors, Mills River Partnership contributed funds to the Cantrell Creek Project and we are so excited to see the completed work! |
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FARM CITY DAY 2019On October 5th, 2019, Mills River Partnership had a booth at Jackson Park where we had a great time educating the community about who we are and what we do as an organization. We would like to give a special thanks to our board member Jay Hawthorne for manning our booth for part of the day! We can't wait wait for next year...
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THE BOLD ROCK HALF MARATHON & 5K WAS A SUCCESS
Thank you so much to our volunteers who dedicated their time to help assist with the Bold Rock Half Marathon & 5K. We appreciate you all so much. With the money that was donated to us, we will now be able to purchase our own kayak. This is vital to our organization as we will use this kayak for river inspections, litter clean-ups and much more! BIG THANKS to Bold Rock Half Marathon & 5K volunteers, runners and organizers!
DUPONT FOREST FESTIVAL
We are excited to celebrate National Public Lands Day (9/28/19) in DuPont Forest with Friends of DuPont Forest. Mills River Partnership will be there doing activities in the water at Hooker falls and explaining the importance of water on public lands!
Get outside and come celebrate with us!
Get outside and come celebrate with us!
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BOLD ROCK MARATHON & 5KOn October 5th, 2019, the Bold Rock Marathon & 5K will take place at Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard, NC. Join us this fall to support the Mills River community by volunteering. We need volunteers to help with parking, aid stations as well as volunteers who would like to be course marshals. If interested, navigate to the volunteer tab to send us your information, or send an email to: [email protected]
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WNC BIG SWEEP 2019Join us on September 21st at 10am for the WNC Big Sweep - the largest river and land cleanup in Western North Carolina! Mills River Partnership will be working to clean the lower Mills River and a section of the French Broad River. If you're interested in volunteering, navigate to the volunteer tab where you can send us your information, or send an email to: [email protected]
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Live Staking Volunteer Opportunity, Jan. 31stHello Friends of Mills River Partnership! We are excited to announce another great volunteer opportunity coming later this month. We will be hosting another live-staking river event on Thursday Janurary 31st, 2019 at Mills River Park.
Please contact us at: [email protected] to sign up for this event! |
Mills River Heritage Tour 201
By Garret Dufty, Oct. 29, 2019.
We had such a great time on our annual Heritage Tour, with Mills River Keeper, Jere Brittain. We did a 2-mile walk along the banks for the Mills River and Mr. Jere showed us historic sites, such as churches and gunsmiths.
We got to enjoy the wonderful fall colors with the mountain backdrop, while learning about the history of the Mils River Community. It was certainly an event to remember!
We had such a great time on our annual Heritage Tour, with Mills River Keeper, Jere Brittain. We did a 2-mile walk along the banks for the Mills River and Mr. Jere showed us historic sites, such as churches and gunsmiths.
We got to enjoy the wonderful fall colors with the mountain backdrop, while learning about the history of the Mils River Community. It was certainly an event to remember!
DuPont Forest Festival 2018 "SCIENCE IN THE WATER"
Garret Dufty
09/23/2018
Saturday, September 23 we were at the first annual DuPont Forest Festival! Our activity was “Science in the Water” and was a hit with both kids and adults. We did various activities to explain the importance of river and stream qualities. We studied the aquatic macro invertebrates, crustaceans, and amphibians we found in the stream and explained the importance of biodiversity in our waterways and how it is integral to stream quality.
Thanks to Friends of DuPont Forest for putting on this amazing event!
09/23/2018
Saturday, September 23 we were at the first annual DuPont Forest Festival! Our activity was “Science in the Water” and was a hit with both kids and adults. We did various activities to explain the importance of river and stream qualities. We studied the aquatic macro invertebrates, crustaceans, and amphibians we found in the stream and explained the importance of biodiversity in our waterways and how it is integral to stream quality.
Thanks to Friends of DuPont Forest for putting on this amazing event!
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Big River Sweep 2018
Garret Dufty
09/08/201
Saturday, September 8th our team of 15 volunteers joined Asheville Greenworks in their annual French Broad Big River Sweep. Our team started down the Mills River and worked our way into the French Broad, picking up items like plastic and styrofoam to tires and even a car bumper! In total, there was more than 120 volunteers who filled an entire dumpster worth of trash! What a great turnout for such an important event to keep our watershed clean.
09/08/201
Saturday, September 8th our team of 15 volunteers joined Asheville Greenworks in their annual French Broad Big River Sweep. Our team started down the Mills River and worked our way into the French Broad, picking up items like plastic and styrofoam to tires and even a car bumper! In total, there was more than 120 volunteers who filled an entire dumpster worth of trash! What a great turnout for such an important event to keep our watershed clean.
