$6,500 to go!

Your support in any amount will be matched dollar for dollar. Tuesday, June 30 is our challenge for your gift or your pledge.

You can make your donation on our secure website. www.riverlink.org

You can call it in. (828) 252-8474 ext. 110 for Karen Cragnolin, Executive Director or ext. 115 for Carrie Allen, Operations Manager

Call us & we will come pick it up. (828) 252-8474 ext. 110 for Karen Cragnolin, Executive Director or ext. 115 for Carrie Allen, Operations Manager

You can walk it in. 170 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28806. http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=35.591156,-82.560539&sspn=0.059118,0.078449&q=170+lyman&ie=UTF8&ll=35.584351,-82.565904&spn=0.014781,0.019612&om=1

Contributed by Hartwell Carson, RiverLink’s French Broad RiverKeeper

Three fishing poles and just over three fish were taken and given by the Nolichucky. Another great day of paddling ended at Davy Crockett Park. Hanging with Davy Crockett, a.k.a. Steve Ricker was great fun! I just wish I was dressed as cool as he was.

Riverfest at Davy Crockett Park was a success. About 650 people showed up, including U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-1st, of Johnson City. I am now looking forward to the Rankin Bottoms bird tour Saturday, June 6. It is one of the best birding areas in the state. Hope to see you there!

Blog contributed by Hartwell Carson, RiverLink's RiverKeeper

Paddling down the Nolichucky with Davy Crocket is pretty cool. Davy and I paddled around the bend and the shot of his musket signaled the start of the RiverFest 2009. Davy was a pretty good paddler, but that is not surprising, since he is the king of the wild frontier. The RiverFest was at Davy Crocket Birthplace State Park, so Davy was on hand for the day.

Soon the guys from the TN Wildlife Resources Commission were pulling huge fish out the river. They caught more fish in 2 minutes than we had caught all week. They did have the help of an electro shocker. There boat has a devise that runs electricity into the water and stuns the fish. They are momentarily paralyzed and scooped into the boat. This allow them to take fish surveys along the river, but today it was used to educate everyone about the 40-50 species of fish in the Nolichucky River. The kids had a ball touching the fish and throwing them back in the water and watching them swim away. We also built rain barrels, learned about rain gardens, and ate some delicious BBQ.
Tuesday, June 2 we will be in Greenville, TN leading a rain barrel construction workshop, where you can build you own rain barrel. For $60 you will get instruction and take your own barrel home. The workshop is at Ace Hardware in Greenville and if you want to come contact Carrie Allen at carrie@riverlink.org or call 828-252-8474.

Blog contributed by Hartwell Carson, RiverLink's RiverKeeper

I awoke this morning to the sound of the rain, but before I could even get up the morning sun began to beat down on all my wet gear. Wet gear has been a theme throughout the trip, but all the rain has afforded some really good water in the river. After departing from the group this morning I set off downstream by myself. There was one big rapid between me and my campsite and I was slightly concerned to paddle this alone. The thought of all my gear floating downstream while I swam to shore, had me a bit worried. I did not see a soul all day, until about 100 yards before the top of the rapid. Another boater came out of now where and I followed him safely down the class III rapid. A few fish were finally dumb enough to bite my hook and I made sure to capture this on film, since I had been making up stories all weekend about all the big fish I caught "while no one was looking."

A varied group of folks were meeting at the Nantahala Outdoor Center on the Nolichucky River for a great day of rafting. The sun was up and the rain had provided ideal water levels. NOC was generous enough to donate several trip so a group from the Nolichucky Watershed Partnership group, could see the Nolichucky Gorge firsthand. This partnership has formed, with the help of Altamont Environmental, to help cleanup the Nolichucky River.

We got a very close first hand look at the water quality as splashed through continuous class III-IV rapids. After acting like hard core paddler, in a raft, we setup to view some films about real hardcore paddlers. The films were part of a series of films from Rapid Transit Video, that showcased some extreme local kayaking. The feature length movie showcased a beautiful, but very challenging run down the Linville Gorge.

Saturday the RiverFest is taking place at Davey Crockett State Park, near Greenville, TN. Come join the fun. Monday we will be back on the water for more fun.