On Going!

THE RIDGECREST SUB-BASIN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROYECT

Watershed conservation is essential to maintain ecological balance, protect biodiversity, prevent soil erosion, reduce water pollution, prevent floods and droughts, and improve water quality and ecosystem health. Conservation efforts in the Swannanoa River basin have been carried out through the support of several governmental, non-governmental and educational organizations, and have focused mainly on stream restoration projects to stabilize and protect stream banks to improve water quality and aquatic habitat and protect and enhance riparian buffers. Also, stormwater management treating non-point source pollution and engaging in stream restorations (Haw Creek) and conservation easements by landowners who have established conservation easements that provide extended protection of the Swannanoa River. Water quality has been monitored during many years mainly by the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI).

However, the monitoring and conservation efforts have been carried out largely in the stream bank of the Swannanoa River and to date there is no clear or systematic understanding of the effect of residential settlements on the streams or creeks that feed the Swannanoa River. Therefore, Cool Rivers Forever intends, through the Sub-basins Environmental Assessment project, to determine the human impact on these streams, including the presence of wastewater, untreated septic effluent, toxic contaminants, solid waste, and erosion. Although negative environmental effects have been detected in the Swannanoa Riverbank, it is unknown which streams most influence these effects. For this project Cool Rivers Forever will conduct field human impact recognizance and water and soil sampling on the stream bank of the main effluents or creeks that feed the Swannanoa River. This project is expected to take several years to complete the entire Swannanoa River watershed.

In November 2022, Cool Rivers Forever prepared the first map of the Swannanoa River watershed sub-basins at tributaries-level with 26 sub-basin identified (Although it may be necessary to subdivide a couple of sub-basins) This new geographic approach of sub-basin will facilitate the prevention, location, monitoring and remediation of the human impacts with a more comprehensive and systematic methodology.

In November 2023, Cool Rivers Forever and students of the Environmental Policy Studies at Warren Wilson College of Swannanoa, have agreed to carry out together the environmental assessment of the creeks tributaries in the Ridgecrest sub-basin that flow into the Swannanoa River.

If you live in the Ridgecrest area you are invited to complete a questionnaire about preliminary information that will guide our field work using the following link: Swannanoa River Watershed Environmental Assessment Questionnaire for Residents.

You also can register as volunteer to help during the environmental assessment field work at: Cool Rivers Forever - Volunteer Application

Cool Rivers Forever's vision is to truly connect residents’ life with a healthy Swannanoa River by making communities aware of their impact on nearby tributary streams and educating them about good conservation practices and support, adding value to the geographic space trough scientific research and defining investment opportunities for green business as: Habitat restoration, eco-tourism, historical and recreational activities, green roof and living walls, native plants nurseries, data monitoring and analysis, sustainable agriculture, landscaping services, green energy, eco-friendly technologies related with pollution monitoring, waste water management, solid waste and toxic waste management, water purification and others opportunities. At the end the Swannanoa Sub-basins Environmental project pretend to inspire Swannanoa Watershed communities to action stimulating capacities to improve the human well-being, identifying opportunities for citizen science and recreational education based on the nature and the people's capacities at the tributaries level.

The map below, shows the Swannanoa River basin (light purple darkened area) and sub-basins (bounded by a fine yellow line). The red circle shows the Ridgecrest sub-basin where the environmental assessment by Cool Rivers Forever will begin.

The next map located at the bottom is a more detailed satellite view of the Ridgecrest sub-basin. You can find an interactive online version of this same map at the link: Ridgecrest Sub-basin Online Map. Cool Rivers Forever will conduct environmental inspections on each of the streams shown on this map in collaboration with students of Warren Wilson College and relevant authorities. It is intended that this work constitutes a pilot project and provides experiences that allow evaluating the possibility of continuing in the rest of the Swannanoa watershed and leads towards the implementation of actions that ensure the environmental health of the Swannanoa River and its associated biodiversity.