French Broad River Clean-Up

Thanks to everyone who participated in NOC's first-ever Watershed Week! Our staff cleaned up highways, rivers and trails, trying to make sure the beautiful places where we recreate stay beautiful.

Honestly, I'm a little anxious about posting this video of the French Broad clean-up because I don't want people to think the "FB" was gross beforehand. I figure you can watch the French Broad rafting video from Tuesday (posted on the rafting blog on Thursday April 30th) and see for yourself how beautiful the river was before the cleanup.

Most of this trash was back in the woods and concentrated in one or two spots that were obviously dumping grounds. Hopefully our cleanup will help discourage this practice along with the efforts of organizations like RiverLink (the French Broad's local Watershed Alliance member organization). Thanks to RiverLink and American Whitewater for helping to keep one of Western North Carolina's most popular whitewater rivers clean.

French Broad Outpost Spring Update

NOC’s French Broad river guides had their first day on the water Monday, when they led a group of 50 down the river, and another 18 guests on Wednesday. Both groups were treated to unseasonably warm weather, and plenty of whitewater. Today, our second session of Raft Guide School Students are testing their mettle on the free-flowing French Broad River.

Outpost manager Eli Helbert says that the outpost is continuing preparations for a big season in 2009. “We're doing some spring cleaning,” said Helbert. "We're also excited to be updating our fleet of rafts with 12 bright yellow boats."

The NOC Hot Springs outpost (takeout) will be the location for the Headwaters Institute interpretive presentation on April 30. Area specialists will talk about the natural history, flora and fauna of the river basin. The following day, NOC’s French Broad guides will lead a river clean-up to proceed the French Broad River Festival.

We hope you'll join us at the French Broad this year!