Asheville’s River Arts District Unites for Eco-Friendly Recovery Efforts

Asheville’s River Arts District Rallies for Recovery

Asheville is buzzing with a spirit of community and resilience as it’s still feeling the effects of the recent natural disaster that left its mark, especially in the vibrant River Arts District. Last week, a local nonprofit called MountainTrue rolled up their sleeves and got to work in a big way, filling an impressive 650 trash bags with debris and waste along the scenic greenway. This clean-up effort drew around 75 eager volunteers on Thursday, October 24th, all keen to restore the area’s natural beauty.

The Heart and Soul Behind the Cleanup

Leading the initiative is Carson, who serves as MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper. He’s been instrumental not just in cleaning up the riverbanks but also in actively monitoring the health of the water. With over 100 watershed tests already completed, Carson shared some encouraging news: “We’re finding some contamination, but not as bad as we thought it might be.”

In addition to looking for pollution, Carson’s team is conducting chemical tests on the water and sediment. They’ve examined about 135 different pollutants in their recent samples and found only two. “Only one of them is particularly problematic for human health and the levels weren’t that high,” he said optimistically. More results are expected to roll in next week, but in the meantime, they are focusing on cleanup.

A Community Coming Together

As the volunteers rallied together, Dan Koester, a North Asheville resident, expressed his motivation to help. “Every little bit helps with the recovery,” he said, donning his mask and gloves. Witnessing the difference they were making with their efforts kept spirits high. The scene was filled with laughter and camaraderie as everyone worked side by side to clear out the mess.

Joining in on the efforts was Stuart Johnson, who took the day off just to lend a hand. “I’m part of a couple of running groups, and we run along the greenway almost every week. To see the destruction down here and all the trash, it’s definitely heartbreaking,” he mentioned. “I wanted to come down and help out.”

Voices from the Community

Many of the volunteers, including Linda McGowen, shared the same sentiment. The sense of duty to restore their beloved community and protect the environment was palpable. “Seeing the beauty of our area covered in trash is such a sad sight. It’s inspiring to see so many people coming together for a good cause,” she remarked as she helped fill her trash bag with debris.

Looking Ahead

As Asheville faces the aftermath of the storm, the collaborative efforts of MountainTrue and its volunteers shine a light of hope in what might feel like a daunting situation. While the road to recovery may still be long, events like these show that when a community comes together, they can achieve remarkable things. The River Arts District is slowly being brought back to life, one trash bag at a time, proving the strength of community and the importance of caring for our natural resources.

As the cleanup mission continues, Asheville residents remain hopeful, adapting to the changes, and forging ahead with renewed spirit and determination.