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A year ago, Rutherford County and nearly all of Western North Carolina felt the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Broad River roared, flood waters raised to unimaginable heights, and years worth of damages were caused in a matter of days. September 27 marks a year after the historic event, and it serves as a marker to look back on how far Rutherford County has come.
One outstanding way the community came together has been in the process of cleaning up and restoring the Broad River. The Broad River is a beloved waterway in Rutherford County, with the paddle trail stretching 42 miles below Lake Lure. The scenic river has historically been a place of healing and enjoyment, and is now in need of healing itself.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Rutherford Outdoor Coalition (ROC) a local outdoor recreation non-profit, and Broad Riverkeeper, an affiliate of the regional non-profit MountainTrue, teamed up to gather water samples at key locations around the river. While ROC and Broad Riverkeeper have teamed up in the past, it was vital to join forces and accomplish as much as possible. The team sampled for dangerous bacteria in the water, such as E. Coli, which can be hazardous for humans to swim in or come in contact with. The initial results showed extreme amounts of dangerous bacteria, and the team shared this with the public along with warnings about avoiding contact with the river. The team kept a weekly tab on the river and communicated the results to the public as the water quality gradually improved and stabilized.
ROC and Broad Riverkeeper then teamed up to scout as much of the river as possible to document large debris, blockages, and other hazards. The crew also carried chainsaws and handtools, clearing as many blockages as possible in an effort to make the river accessible again. The findings from the scouts were shared to the public at two meetings hosted at Rumbling Bald in Lake Lure, and an up-to-date version on the state of each section of the river is available on Rutherford Outdoor Coalition's Broad River Paddle Trail page (located at www.rutherfordoutdoor.org/trails/broad-river-paddle-trail).
The team then moved on to hosting riverside cleanups, starting off with three in partnership with MountainTrue's Cleanup Coordinator, Jon Stamper. Stamper has led the charge on river cleanups across Western North Carolina, and ROC was able to learn from his expertise while cleaning up thousands of pounds of debris. The ROC team then went on to host two day-long riverside cleanups at River Creek Campground, a beloved river access point. The site was successfully cleaned up with huge thanks to teams of volunteers from YouthWorks. With an army of volunteers, thousands of pounds of debris were hauled out of the creek and riverbanks including grills, gas tanks, generators, and more. A final riverside cleanup was held at the bridge under Poor's Ford Road. The crew cleaned up hundreds of pounds of litter from the river banks, even hauling out a boat from the 1900s!
It was then time to start back up on-the-river sweeps, which ROC has historically held bi-annually. While the organization typically hosts annual Spring and Fall River Sweeps, there was a need for increased river cleanup. The team has hosted four river sweeps so far, covering five sections and 21 miles of river, one being in partnership with Broad Riverkeeper on the new 221 to 221A section. The sweeps have resulted in hundreds of pounds of debris being pulled out of the river to date. The final sweep comes on September 27th, once again revisiting Gray's to Coxe Road.
The Broad River is mainly navigable due to extensive clearing work, but difficulties and unknown hazards remain in the waters. Daphne Homen, an AmeriCorps Disaster Relief Member with ROC, joined the team back in February of this year to assist with hurricane recovery work. Homen says, "Unpredictable blockages are the new normal. There are often new fallen trees, likely coming down at a faster rate due to root ball failure in the aftermath of the hurricane. Damage to soil and riverbank erosion are a few of the contributing factors causing trees to weaken. Be on alert, and keep an eye out for potential hazards in the water as well."
Any blockages or issues on the river can be reported to ROC by contacting info@rutherfordoutdoor.org, calling 828-289-3260, or submitting a report through rutherfordoutdoor.org/contact.
And now, Rutherford Outdoor Coalition invites the public to reconnect with the Broad River. Whether it's through the final on-the-river sweep of the year on September 27, or through the celebratory Fall Fun Float on October 9. The public is encouraged to champion more ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, join in on an upcoming Chains for Charity event benefiting ROC at Wolfman Woods Disc Golf Course on September 26 or an evening of live music, tasty food, and throwing discs for a purpose!
Find more information on these events at rutherfordoutdoor.org/events.
