The French Broad Old River, New Current

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Image Credits Below

Issue:

06/2024

Headwaters Outfitters’ Lydia Dann fly casts for wild trout in the headwaters of the French Broad upstream from Rosman.

Paddle the river’s bucolic reaches and see the river as ancestors of the Cherokee knew it 2000 years ago.

Built in 1881 to provide riverboat service from Horseshoe to Newport, TN, the Mountain Lily never steamed more than a few miles before being washed aground.

Even the most experienced whitewater paddlers are challenged by class III and IV rapids of the French Broad Paddle Trail. The Southern Sampler section, below, flows from Redmon Dam to US 25/70.

Terri Wells, Buncombe County Commissioner, and husband Glen, have placed their farm in Sandy Mush under conservation easement to ensure it will always be a farm.

RiverLink and the historically marginalized Southside community are working together to control stormwater pollution into the French Broad.

Visionary community leaders transformed Asheville’s derelict industrial district along the French Broad into the vibrant River Arts District.

Once a junkyard where autos were crushed, RiverLink’s Karen Cragnolin Park completes 3.1 miles of the French Broad Greenway.

Featuring a permanent whitewater wave, expanded riverfront park facilities, and five miles of walking/biking trail up Beaver Dam Creek, project leader Marc Hunt envisions that the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway will add new riverside recreational opportunities as well as boosting the town’s economy.

Beaver Dam Creek, project leader Marc Hunt.

A map of the planned new amenities at Woodfin's Riverside Park.

Woodfin’s Riverside Park will offer a few hours respite along the river for anyone looking to make a splash.

At Redmon Dam downstream from Marshall, MountainTrue is adding new areas for parking, picnicking, and river access.AmericanRivers is working with the Metropolitan Sewerage District to remove Craggy Dam.

AmericanRivers is working with the Metropolitan Sewerage District to remove Craggy Dam.

MountainTrue’s Jack Henderson pulls debris from the river.

Jessica Whitmire, second generation owner of Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman, continues stewardship of the upper French Broad started by her parents.

Headwaters Outfitters has continued stewardship of the upper French Broad.

The Paddle Trail at Mud Creek is a launch point for boating.

Ungainly as it looks, MountainTrue has placed several “Trash trouts” to collect waste floating down tributaries to the river.

Through art and poetry, RiverLink’s “Voices of the River” youngsters express their feelings about the river. And they learn about its aquatic life as RiverLink “RiverRats”

The Feminine French Broad By Layla Palombi, 6th grader You can’t contain her The flowing water, never stationary, never silent The ruthless rapids that rock your canoe The river is a song, and everything a melody It moves with vigor, unrefined, uncontrollable The feminine French Broad, she belongs to no one

RESOURCES:

Photographs by Andy Lukacs-0rmond; panorama) courtesy of Pack Memorial Library; (French Broad River Park) by Joe Bolado; (Woodfin) by Marc Hunt; (Marshall) by Annelise Ferry; (RAD) by Rachel Wyatt; (Hot Springs) by Jennifer Stanford; (rapids) courtesy of Jack Henderson; (farm) courtesy of Terri Wells; (southside) courtesy of Renee Fortner; (park) courtesy of Lisa Raleigh; (waves) by Equinox Design; Redmon) by John E. Ross; (Henderson) courtesy of Explore Brevard; (tubing) courtesy of Headwaters Outfitters; (trash trout) courtesy of Nancy Diaz; (kids) courtesy of Justin Young; (The Falls) by Maria Bottom

ISSUE DATE:

Summer 2024

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The French Broad Old River, New Current

The French Broad Old River, New Current

The French Broad Old River, New Current