“As our grid evolves toward renewable energy, transitioning means a cleaner, more efficient environment,” says Sophie Mullinax, chief administrative officer of Let’s Go Electric/Electrify Asheville-Buncombe.
Sustaining community: A healthy lifestyle benefits more than the individual
“If I am healthier, I can help others more often and reduce the load on our first responders and those trying to help us,” says David Thomas, a lifelong recreational cyclist, kayaker, angler and hiker.
Sustaining community: Finding ways to stay motivated amid climate emergencies
To stay positive, UNCA student Olivia Williams says she reminds herself of “all of the intellectual, strong and determined students that surround me in my environmental science classes at school.”
Environmentalists say federal policies put forests at further risk
A crowd of about 150 people attended a forum designed to educate community members about nonprofits that focus on public resources, land and wildlife, especially given recent federal policies that could pose long-term challenges.
Sustaining community: Local student offers simple ways to make a difference
“Buy local groceries when you can and research where your food comes from,” says Kathryn Wolfe co-president of the A.C. Reynolds High School Environmental Club.
From CPP: WNC forest plan under pressure from storm devastation, lawsuit and Trump
The suit is the third connected to one of the two WNC national forests that the Virginia-based nonprofit legal organization has filed since early 2024.
Smart Bets: Roots So Deep
Hickory Nut Gap Farms and UNCA co-host this film screening and discussion on April 9.
EPA freezes money for WNC clean energy projects
Three days after a WNC church secured funding for solar panels, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) froze $20 billion in climate and clean energy grants, putting energy efficiency and resiliency projects in limbo across the country.
Future wildfires will likely be more severe, county warns
Ryan Cole, Buncombe County Emergency Management assistant director, said that while some fallen trees left by Helene are not dried out enough to be considered a fire hazard, the accumulation of debris over the next several years will increase the likelihood of more intense fire seasons.
Nature Center reopens after damage from Helene
Hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene, WNC Nature Center exceeds its own expectations by opening March 17 with a few renovations and expansions too.
WNC trout fishing this summer? Where anglers can go in Hurricane Helene aftermath
Post-Helene debris and waterway changes have made some of the public’s favorite fishing rivers inaccessible for the season, which peaks in spring and fall, though some trout fishing is allowed year-round.
Smart Bets: Paddling Film Festival World Tour
The celebration of World Water Day benefits local environmental nonprofit MountainTrue.
Smart Bets: Historic Home Tour
The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County invites self-paced exploration of four lovingly restored and preserved Chestnut Hill homes Feb. 22-23.
Green roundup: County commissioners support eastern hellbender
“The eastern hellbender is one of only three giant salamanders on the planet,” said District 3 Commissioner Parker Sloan during the Feb. 4 meeting. “They’re down to about 59%, so we’ve lost roughly half of the eastern hellbenders.”
Upcoming forum looks at historic floods to help find future solutions
“Historic Floods and Landslides — What Have We Learned” will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2-4 p.m., at the Bo Thomas Auditorium on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College.
One community’s quest to manage its downed trees, post-Helene
A group of neighbors saw their forest toppled by Tropical Storm Helene’s winds. It’s getting reshaped again, this time by salvage logging.
Year in Review: Drake Fowler on taking over The N.C. Arboretum and leading the organization through a natural disaster
“I did not expect to be faced with over 10,000 trees down on our property within the first 60 days of my tenure. But with the tireless efforts of our staff and with help from outside organizations, we were able to reopen parts of the arboretum to guests,” says Drake Fowler.
The eastern hellbender may soon get federal protection
Before the hellbender can be listed officially as an endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must open a 60-day public comment period, which began Dec. 13.
Nowhere to hide: Microplastics are polluting western North Carolina watersheds
Researchers discovered that roughly 90% of the microplastics were fibers, with three primary types of plastic present: polystyrene, polyamides and polyethylene. These plastics are used to make items such as sportswear and other types of clothing, takeout food containers, foam packaging and water bottles.
Critics say outdated flood maps provide an inaccurate picture of future threats
FEMA says a quarter of all insurance claims for flood damage occur outside the 100-year floodplain — even though homeowners in those areas aren’t required to buy flood insurance and often don’t.
Regulators order CSX to stop dredging rock from Nolichucky River
The Army Corps of Engineers has ordered CSX to stop mining the Nolichucky riverbed for material used in railroad repairs, according to a copy of a letter shared by The Southern Environmental Law Center, which has sued over the issue.