RiverLink voted Best Environmental Group in WNC by Mountain Xpress readers!

RiverLink voted Best Environmental Group in WNC by Mountain Xpress readers!
Mountain Xpress, October 17

RiverLink Acquires Another Missing Link

The RiverLink board of directors is proud to announce that RiverLink, Inc. acquired the former B&H Sheet Metal Buildings at 115 through 119 ½ Riverside Drive, locally known as the “Blue Buildings”.

RiverLink’ mission is the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its watershed as a destination to live, work and play.

Dick Hall, Chairman of the Board at RiverLink said, “This is what people see when they cross the Smoky Park Bridge. It is Asheville’s front door with over 100,000 cars a day crossing the bridge and looking down at the river – the view is about to become much more welcoming. We are anxious to continue our work with area governments and the community at large to reclaim this precious piece of the floodway for the public in perpetuity and continue to implement the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay.”

GO TO WWW.RIVERLINK.ORG TO READ MORE AND PURCHASE A DEED OF SUPPORT

RiverLink Receives Grants for Stream Restoration!

Hominy Creek in West Asheville and Robinson Creek in Arden will soon be taking on a new and improved look.

RiverLink was recently the recipient of two grants from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to restore and improve the water quality and habitat in several area streams. The banks along both streams will stabilized with rocks and logs, strategically placed to protect the stream, look natural, and improve the habitat in the stream.

The water quality in Hominy Creek will be improved by working on two feeder streams in West Asheville. These include Buttermilk Creek in Malvern Hills Park and Rhododendron Creek in West Asheville Park. Buttermilk Creek was recently named as part of RiverLink’s name that stream contest, and is now getting a face lift. Over time the stream banks have become so eroded a safety fence was installed to prevent anyone from falling off the tall steep banks. As the banks are restored there will also be a significant amount of native plants to shade the stream and guarantee stability over time.

Robinson Creek in Arden will receive a heavy dose of river trees and shrubs. This creek was the former site of the Brookwood Golf Course, and is now being developed for residential housing. With the help of this grant, part of this development will include a 20 acre conservation easement and improved water quality and habitat.

RiverLink recently completed the stream restoration on the Swannanoa River at Azalea Park. This prevented tons of pollution from entering the stream each year and provided for a much improved recreation and fishing hole. These projects help RiverLink continue its mission toward the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River as a place to live, work, and play.

For more information visit www.riverlink.org or contact Hartwell Carson at Riverkeeper@riverlink.org or at 828-252-8474 ext. 114.