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Voices of the River Contest | Gallery Exhibition

This year’s Voices of the River contest brought together young artists and writers from across the French Broad River watershed to reflect on this year’s theme, Rhythms of the River | How does water shape your community? We were inspired by the creativity, honesty, and care students poured into their submissions. From joyful moments spent playing in creeks to thoughtful reflections on flooding, wildlife, and the importance of clean water, these pieces offer a powerful glimpse into how young people experience and understand our local waterways.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the students who shared their voices, as well as the teachers, parents, and program leaders who encouraged and supported their participation. Your time, creativity, and enthusiasm made this year’s contest truly special.

All submissions will be on display at the Voices of the River Gallery Exhibition on May 9 from 10 AM–2 PM at the RiverLink office (170 Lyman Street, Asheville). Light refreshments will be available, and families, friends, and community members are invited to stop by anytime during the event. Located in the River Arts District, the gallery provides a great opportunity to view student artwork and poetry while also exploring the surrounding artist studios and galleries that will be open that day.

Outside Southside | Community Cleanups

Looking for a way to plug in and show up for sunshine, community, and shared outdoor spaces? Help us spring clean the Southside Community Stormwater Wetland!

The Southside Community Stormwater Project is a collaborative effort to address stormwater and flooding issues in a local neighborhood through green stormwater infrastructure and the creation of a functional wetland that can sustain wildlife.

Wetlands collect and filter pollutants that would otherwise find their way into the nearest stream and the French Broad River. This created wetland is stewarded by RiverLink staff and volunteers to make sure it stays healthy.

Monthly volunteer events for this public green space are held on the third Saturday of every month from 10am-12pm. Click below to sign up and view other volunteer opportunities this spring!

Envisioning a Resilient RAD | Returning to our Roots

We are thrilled to see friends and neighbors returning to the River Arts District – especially the zone below the railroad tracks, which was devastated by Helene. Grounded in shared values of environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and artistic creativity, RiverLink and the Unified RAD coalition are working together to shape a connected, forward-looking vision for our River Arts District—one that celebrates its creative spirit while building long-term resilience.

With support from a generous grant from Etsy, we engaged the world-renowned design firm Sasaki to lead a community-driven RAD Visioning + Planning process. Together, we envision the River Arts District as a leading example of a creative community with resilient design—where green infrastructure, activated floodplains, and thoughtful preparedness come together to support a vibrant, adaptable district connected to the river. Check out the links below to learn more about the process and outcomes.

Restoring the Rivers of Rajasthan | A Special Film Premiere

In the driest region of India, Dr. Rajendra Singh was up against enormous challenges. The farmland in this region had turned to desert, water sources had gone dry, and young people had migrated to the cities for work. Join us for an inspiring evening Thursday, May 7 at The Mule, exploring the remarkable story of river restoration in Rajasthan—and what it can teach us here in WNC.

Through powerful film footage and storytelling, you’ll witness how local communities revived river systems using simple, time-tested water practices. Over four decades, Dr. Singh—known as the ‘Waterman of India’—and his organization Tarun Bharat Sangh have restored 13 rivers, built more than 14,000 water harvesting structures, recharged an estimated 250,000 wells, and improved water security for over a million people.

Attendees can enjoy delicious Rajasthani cuisine from Mehfil on Wheels, connect with others who care about our region’s water future, and support the vital work of RiverLink. The evening will feature a chai service and live music by Dr. Aditi Sethi, a beloved local performer who serves the community through her work with Emberlight. Come get inspired, learn, and join the movement to restore natural water cycles and strengthen communities, hosted by our friends at Blue Earth Engineering.

Honoring RiverLink’s 40th | When Losing = Winning

In the early 1970s, the U.S. government passed landmark legislation with standards to limit pollution and ensure clean water and air. At the same time, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was closing in on their proposal to create a series of 14 dams on the French Broad and tributaries to control flooding and generate hydroelectric power. The dams would have flooded some 18,000 acres, including valuable farmland and trout streams in Transylvania, Henderson, and Buncombe counties. Almost overnight, a group of citizens banded together, calling themselves the Upper French Broad River Defense Association, and began a legal battle to keep the French Broad in her natural state. Thankfully, they won, and these reservoir dams were not built.

In losing the battle to dam the French Broad, TVA catalyzed local conservation efforts to protect the river from overzealous development. The French Broad River Foundation (FBRF) emerged to keep local attention focused on the neglected river; their aim was to create more river access points for recreation while keeping the public thinking about the value of clean water. In 1986 the FBRF was incorporated as a non-profit to champion the French Broad throughout its 8-county watershed; the organization soon changed its name to RiverLink. Asheville native and longtime citizen activist, Jean Webb, was the FBRF’s first chairperson; she soon hired RiverLink’s first Executive Director, Karen Cragnolin.

Fast forward 40 years, and many conservation successes later, there is a river park named for each of these visionary women along the ancient river. There is also interest in removing the 120+ year-old Craggy and Capitola dams, thus freeing 3,200 miles of streams in the French Broad watershed. We stand on the shoulders of strong women championing the rivers we love – on which a $3.8 billion regional economy depends.

Other News & Events

• Huge gratitude to Hazy River Earthworks who stepped in on short notice to clear Helene debris remaining in a wetland feature near the French Broad at Craven St. After we identified seven large bales of cardboard lodged in the wetland, Hazy River removed the bales that had been missed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Without their generous assistance (and heavy equipment), this oversized debris would surely have remained in the wetland for many moons, hindering plant growth and natural regeneration at this site.

• RiverLink is honored to be awarded a Resilient Futures Co-Lab microgrant. Their support will help advance propagation of native river cane, providing plant material for restoration as a key element of a more resilient and thriving French Broad region. Resilient Futures Co-Lab seeks to strengthen local economies by bringing capital, relationships, and long-term support into alignment around real needs on the ground. More information at resilientfuturescolab.org.

Thanks for being part of our French Broad River community!

RiverLink promotes the environmental and economic vitality
of the French Broad River and its watershed. Please join us with a gift today!