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Put Rain to Work in Your Yard

What if the next rainstorm could do more for your yard, your local streams, and your community?

Rain gardens are one of the most effective ways to reduce stormwater runoff while creating beautiful habitat for pollinators and native plants. These shallow, landscaped depressions capture rainwater from roofs, driveways, and sidewalks, allowing it to soak into the ground rather than rushing into storm drains and nearby waterways.

RiverLink recently partnered with the Town of Woodfin and NC State Cooperative Extension to host a hands-on rain garden workshop at Geneva Maney Park. Participants learned the basics of rain garden design, installation, and maintenance before helping construct and plant a new demonstration garden using native species.

Not ready to install a rain garden? Rethinking your roof downspouts is another simple way to reduce runoff. Many downspouts direct water into driveways, storm drains, or underground pipes that carry untreated runoff directly to local streams. Redirecting that water to a vegetated area allows it to infiltrate naturally, helping recharge groundwater and improve surface water quality.

Whether you're ready for a rain garden or looking for a smaller first step, our WaterRICH resources page offers practical guidance for managing stormwater at home and protecting the waterways that connect us all.

Make a Splash with Summer Reading

Summer is a time for exploration, but it can also be a time when students lose reading momentum. Research shows that children may lose up to two months of reading proficiency over the summer, and these setbacks often have the greatest impact on families with fewer opportunities to access books, programs, and other educational resources outside of school.

To help families stay engaged this summer, RiverLink and Buncombe County Public Libraries (BCPL) have curated a water-themed reading list inspired by Creek Week. Featuring books for a range of ages and reading levels, the list celebrates rivers, wildlife, and our connection to the natural world while encouraging young readers to keep learning throughout the summer months.

The reading list is available online, and printed copies are available at the North Asheville Library, where you'll find a special Creek Week display featuring many of the recommended titles. Books can be placed on hold through any Buncombe County Library branch, though some titles may need to be requested from libraries outside Buncombe County.

Families can also participate in Buncombe Libraries' 2026 Summer Reading Program. Kids and their adults can pick up an activity sheet at any branch, complete ten activities by August 31, and receive a free book plus a bookmark redeemable for a kiddie scoop of ice cream at The Hop!

Building Flood Resilience in Swannanoa  

The destruction was shocking, and is still visible in many places. Entire communities were forever changed by Helene, few more severely than Swannanoa. A key opportunity for restoration presented itself last month, as RiverLink received a major grant from N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to purchase and restore a 5-acre tract along the river that was once owned by the fraternal order, Woodmen of the World.

"The importance of this property to this community can’t be overstated,” says Carol Groben, resident and member of the grassroots organization, Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa. “The water storage strategies RiverLink will add to this property will be building improved safety for our community during future flood events. This property also offers opportunities for community connection. Its location near two historic residential communities on opposite sides of the river make it a critical link in any future plans for pedestrian pathways here. Securing this property is a major win for our community."

To improve flood resilience, a series of green infrastructure features will be added to retain stormwater, reducing the impact of routine flood events. Our partnership with Wildlands Engineering will create a “flood bench” or terrace allowing the dynamic river to slow down and spread out during major storms. Together, these features will model how property owners can boost the flood resilience of at-risk lands all along the Swannanoa. Click through to learn more about this transformative project.

Forty Years for The Place Where They Race

Long before Asheville existed, the Cherokee knew this stretch of the French Broad River as Tahkeeostee—often translated as “The Place Where They Race”—a reference to the canoe races native people once held along these waters. Later, early colonists called it the French Broad because the wide, shallow waterway flowed into French territory further west, making it an important trade route. Our river holds the story of the American river in microcosm, with people of diverse heritage contributing to a shared history, culture, and community centered around this vital natural resource.

Forty years on, we recall the 1980s and ‘90s when residents and visitors to Asheville had little cue to visit the river, and no clear path to arrive from downtown. Its banks hosted empty factories and warehouses, piles of trash, a muddy stockyard and an animal rendering plant that piped its effluent directly into the French Broad. It took RiverLink’s founding mothers—Karen Cragnolin, Jean Webb, and Wilma Dykeman—aided by public events like RiverLink's RiverFest and Anything That Floats—to help us look past the damage wrought by short-sighted industry, and see revitalization built around a river that’s one of our most valuable community assets.

If you are reading this, you are part of an essential community of volunteers, supporters, advocates, and partners working to center the river through recreation, restoration, and stewardship—with nature as our guide to a more resilient future. If you have given already this year, we thank you. If you have yet to contribute to our efforts, we invite you to join us now. We are excited for the next forty years!

Blooms Abound at Karen Cragnolin Park

If you've had the privilege of walking through Karen Cragnolin Park recently, you know that the pollinator meadow is in full bloom. We're thrilled to see so much native biodiversity on this property that was once a contaminated junkyard. Birds chase the countless pollinators buzzing around the park, and all have their part to play in increasing the resilience of the land and water. We hope you enjoy these photos by Jim Clark and Grace Levert—may they inspire you to explore the meadow at KC Park for yourself!

Other News & Events

• With warm weather bringing rapid plant growth, now is a great time to get outside and learn the basics of invasive plant identification and management. Join us at one of our upcoming volunteer events to gain hands-on experience and support the ongoing stewardship of our parks and projects.

• Help us welcome our two summer interns, Shannon Rouse & Tyler Smith. Gratitude to the State Employees Credit Union and UNC-Asheville Summer Internship programs for making these paid internships possible. 

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!