American Whitewater is again partnering with Riverlink and the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for a river cleanup on the French Broad River.
Each May lovers of rivers and music gather on the banks of the French Broad River to enjoy the French Broad River Festival. The festival gives back to the community by raising funds for the river stewardship work of American Whitewater and various local charities. This year, on Friday April 30th, 2010 (the first day of the festival) we will be doing a river cleanup on the French Broad River.
Participants in the cleanup will be meeting at NOC’s French Broad outpost on Friday, April 30th, at 10:00AM. NOC will be providing a free shuttle service and lunch for those participating in the cleanup. The cleanup is open to the public, with no whitewater experience required. Those who choose to paddle their own craft in the cleanup should be comfortable in Class III-IV whitewater. Paddlers with their own equipment and rafters are encouraged to participate.
A shuttle is available to transport boats to and from cleanup location. For more information on this section of river check out the French Broad Section 9 page on the American Whitewater website. Minimum age for participation in the cleanup is 8 years old, waivers will need to be signed by all participants and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The world’s third oldest river, the French Broad flows through scenic Pisgah National Forest in the mountains of North Carolina. This free-flowing river has moderate Class II and III rapids. Due to its close proximity to Asheville the French Broad River receives a lot of use. The river cleanup will provide paddlers with an opportunity to improve the quality of the river while enjoying all it has to offer. The river cleanup should last several hours and a small reception will be hosted at NOC for the participants at 4:00 as the event wraps up.
To register, please contact AW at info@americanwhitewater.org or 1-866-262-8429 to reserve your spot on this trip. RSVPs must be received before April 23, 2010.
If you want to know more about what the cleanup is like, check out the wrapup article on 2009’s cleanup.