Asheville-based environmental nonprofit, MountainTrue, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality are working together to launch a new River Debris Cleanup Program, using $10 million of state funding to tackle the lingering damage from Tropical Storm Helene — one of the largest river cleanup efforts WNC has ever seen.

While FEMA and US Army Corps of Engineers programs have removed large debris and focused on major rivers, this collaborative new cleanup effort will turn an eye toward the smaller streams and tributaries still littered with debris, trash, and bits of broken infrastructure. For the next 18 months, MountainTrue will clean up waste and stabilize stream banks across 150 miles of river in WNC.

MountainTrue will steer the program at each stage, from cleanup site selection to volunteer coordination to donor engagement.

In the program's pilot phase alone, staff and volunteers were able to remove 3 million pounds of debris from waterways. "With support from NCDEQ and the State of North Carolina, we’re scaling that success across the region to protect water quality, support outdoor recreation, and help WNC bounce back stronger than before,” said MountainTrue's Clean Waters Director, Hartwell Carson.

How you can get involved

The nonprofit will rely partially on volunteers, whether attending special events or organizing cleanup days for local groups. Of course, donations are always accepted if you can't offer your time.

But the program also aims to provide work to people who have lost jobs to the storm, particularly those with experience in hospitality, outdoor recreation, and hands-on labor. Part-time and full-time positions are available through December 2026 — applications are available now.

If you're a landowner needing help cleaning a riverfront property, MountainTrue may be able to help (for free) — send an email to schedule a walk-through.