RiverLink Inc.

We recently welcomed a?Habitat for Humanity?team from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This dedicated crew spent their week volunteering throughout Asheville, helping our community recover and rebuild in many different ways. They assisted us in our efforts to maintain and enhance Karen Cragnolin Park. Thank you for choosing to invest your time in our city.

What is your favorite sign of spring? Listen to the different RiverLink staff members describe their favorite seasonal changes!

Spring season in the youth education department is about to begin and soon, students will be back in our local rivers and streams sampling macroinvertebrate life! Macroivertebrates are small, aquatic organisms without a backbone that can be seen with the naked eye, and often studied in freshwater ecosystems to indicate water quality. Our in-school and afterschool programs run in-stream lessons where students sample and identify these creatures, while forming meaningful relationships to the land through exploration of these waterways! https://lnkd.in/ey349bFd

AmeriCorps is a federal agency dedicated to national service and volunteerism. It provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. RiverLink has deep-rooted ties to the AmeriCorps program. Currently, we host two Project Conserve members, Elijah and Madeline, through Conserving Carolina. Additionally, many of RiverLink’s staff—including Salix, Renee, Eli, Justin, and Hannah—were once AmeriCorps members as well! #AmeriCorpsWorks

Get ready for the spring season in our youth education department! This spring, we are thrilled to welcome two new afterschool partners Children First CIS of Buncombe County and A.C. Reynolds Middle School through the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. These groups will explore local rivers and creeks and learn through hands-on experiences about the watershed. Additionally, we are scheduling summer programs! If you are a summer camp, summer school, or nonprofit group looking for free environmental science enrichments this summer, contact our Education and Outreach Specialist at [email protected].

RiverLink is committed to restoring the streambanks that were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm washed away substantial amounts of sediment and uprooted countless trees and shrubs. To revitalize these vital ecosystems, we are fighting erosion by planting native species of trees, grasses, and flowers, which will enhance biodiversity and strengthen the banks. Visit our website to learn what you can do to improve streambanks and find out if your streambank qualifies for our Adopt-A-Stream program. https://lnkd.in/eCuYMEqe

Sending gratitude to Professor Ashley Case and her experiential learning students at University of North Carolina Asheville! We were fortunate to spend three labs with them, tackling invasive species, exploring functional riparian restoration, and performing stream repairs along the Swannanoa River!

Was your home damaged significantly during the flooding events surrounding Hurricane Helene? The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is a FEMA-funded initiative in which Buncombe County residents can receive funding to make their properties more resilient through projects that reduce the long-term risk and impacts of natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and storms. For property owners, HMGP offers funding for various mitigation strategies, including voluntary elevation, property mitigation reconstruction, and acquisition. In Buncombe County so far, officials have approved using federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to buy 23 properties from owners who suffered major damage from floods or landslides during Hurricane Helene. If your home has been significantly damaged from Hurricane Helene, the deadline to apply to the program is Oct 31st, 2025. Click the links below for more information: https://lnkd.in/eygdnaeu https://lnkd.in/eZ4p3zv9

Did you know that RiverLink has a monthly email newsletter? Once a month,?we?dive into everything we’re doing to improve our French Broad Watershed!?We?share what our programs are up to, making sure you’re not left high and dry. We provide some?fun?news you can use that’s sure to make a splash. Plus, we’ll send you the details about?current events. Sign up today and let us float some knowledge your way—you’ll be glad you did! https://lnkd.in/evz5jWHv

The Adopt-a-Storm Drain map is live and on our website! Through our partnership with Asheville City Government, local volunteers "adopt" neighborhood storm drains and keep them clear of litter and debris, so that runoff may flow to its proper waterway, avoiding urban flooding. Learn more by visiting https://lnkd.in/d7yKViCG.