RiverLink’s work for the French Broad River (and her urban streams) focuses on three major programs: Youth Education, Water Resources and Land Management. With partners and activities throughout the watershed, these programs are back online for our ongoing projects, and simultaneously adapting to the emerging needs in Helene’s aftermath.
Youth Education | Rebuilding Relationships to the River
In the weeks leading up to Hurricane Helene, RiverLink’s education team was in the classroom with students, running flood simulations and discussing ways our community can build additional resilience. At the time, we had no idea how tragically relevant those lessons would soon become. Simulations became reality for some of those students and our hearts go out to all of the kids, families, and teachers who have been affected by this event.
Following the storm, we discovered that our flood simulation materials were lost to the very disaster they were designed to help us prepare for. Luckily, some of our most essential educational resources were spared, and with them, we are able to continue our mission of fostering understanding and connection to the river and resilience within our community.
As we look toward recovery, RiverLink’s education team is focusing on youth programs that will help students rebuild their relationship with the river—a vital part of our environment that, for many, has become a source of fear after the storm. As schools come back in session we’re planning to host activities such as water chemistry testing, investigating aquatic life forms, and nature-based art projects. Testing the water’s chemistry will help students understand the river’s health and resilience, while exploring aquatic life will reveal the tenacity of nature, even in the face of disaster. Nature-based art projects will give students space to express their grief, their hope, and their evolving relationship with the environment in a creative and healing way.
These activities go beyond basic education; they are part of the recovery process. The river, once a source of joy, has created scars, but it still holds the potential to heal—just as we do. Through these programs, we hope to guide students not only in learning how ecosystems work but also in seeing how these natural spaces can support our emotional and mental recovery. By rediscovering the river’s role in our lives, we can begin to move forward together, with respect for what was lost and hope for what can still be restored.
Water Resources | A Clear Need for Nature-Based Solutions
RiverLink’s Watershed Resources program is on the heels of a year-long campaign to educate and equip residents with the tools to reduce rain runoff. While no common installations could have held back the record-breaking amount of rain we received from the back-to-back storms that crippled our region, it is more important than ever that we pursue equitable, nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
This week, our team is distributing rain barrels that were purchased before the storm to provide for outdoor watering needs. Folks are discovering that rainwater can supply non-potable water for flushing toilets and much more during water outages. But did you know: potable rainwater harvesting systems are often less costly than digging a well. In the coming months, we will scale up these efforts to build resiliency in our communities with an emphasis on our most vulnerable populations.
There is also a monumental need for streambank repair and ecological restoration along regional waterways. After a major flood event, property owners may be able to take key steps to stabilize stream banks and remove built-up sediment without a permit. Here’s a helpful resource on post-disaster permitting from the Army Corps of Engineers. Know that we are available to share expertise, resources, and help residents navigate these processes. As always, our work will be accomplished in partnership with communities, local governments, businesses, and non-profit partners. With each collaborative effort, we move forward on a path toward greater sustainability and resilience, ensuring that our communities can thrive, come what may.
Land Management | Securing the Future for Parks and Riverfront Preservation
In the wake of devastation following Hurricane Helene, our work as an accredited land trust is as critical as ever. For communities everywhere, protecting land provides benefits for water quality, preserving wildlife habitat, increasing climate resilience, and creating public greenspaces for all to enjoy. As we survey RiverLink’s properties and projects post-Helene, we have been encouraged by small wins—for example, in the heavily impacted Amboy Road corridor, Karen Cragnolin Park sustained only minor damage—but we are all struck by the widespread destruction evident across our community. Unfortunately, many riverside parks suffered significant damage and are currently covered in a layer of debris and dust. In other places, community lakes have returned to their origins as a stream.
RiverLink’s Land Resources team has been coordinating with partners, friends, and neighbors throughout the community to begin the first tangible steps to returning our riverside parks and communities to their former glory – beginning with cleanups. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped remove the litter and debris left by the floodwaters, and we look forward to continued progress we’ll achieve together.
As park lovers, we recognize and have a profound appreciation for the countless benefits parks provide, both for people and the environment, especially in challenging times. As we begin restoring these spaces, we hope they will provide a much-needed respite during our recovery and inspire a renewed connection to both our extraordinary environment and our amazing human community. We look forward to creating Gateway Park in the not-too-distant future, and collaborating with our partners to repair the many greenspaces that enrich our lives and increase their resilience for the future.