12/06/2024
Six years ago, five retirees met in Mortimer, NC, to optimistically address the big challenges of cleaning up and better protecting the fifteen miles of Wilson Creek National Wild and Scenic River, from Edgemont to Adako. We inherited the effort from riverkeeper Bruce Gray, of Betsey’s Ole Country Store and Campground. Bruce had lovingly and painstakingly worked to keep the river clean since 2007, but the problems were growing and the task had become overwhelming in scope.
We realized it was going to be a huge challenge, as the issues were complex and every potential solution seemed to present an equal number of roadblocks. However, we remained sure of one thing: many people love Wilson Creek and would be willing to support and help us. By Labor Day 2024, the waterfronts and roadsides were basically clean and beautiful. The future looked exciting: ACWC was part of a partnership with USFS Grandfather District (and other organizations) that had worked with a consulting firm on a months-long study to improve public use and access to Wilson Creek.
After our 2024 Labor Day River Patrol ended, we had documented the removal of 101,423 lbs of trash and debris from the watershed since we began keeping records in early 2019.
We all are too familiar with what occurred next in late September. Once again, as in 1916 and 1940, Mother Nature altered the course of the river’s future, and much of Western North Carolina as well. Since the hurricane, ACWC has worked primarily to assist the communities of Edgemont and Mortimer with recovery. We have visited and assessed all areas of the river where we normally conduct our trash-removal events. Our founding leaders have discussed numerous scenarios of our organization adapting, and possibly continuing, along the pathway of our existing model: hosting river patrols and conservation education efforts and events.
However, we have been presented with some stark realities: the ecological recovery that will be needed to make the river safe for recreational use will be a large-scale task; one that will require years of planning and interventions of equal magnitude. We have always been an organization that has put safety first for our participants, as the watershed had inherent dangers and risks prior to Helene. We have reluctantly concluded that ACWC is simply not well-suited demographically or physically to address the work to be done.
Therefore, we have decided not to proceed as an active conservation nonprofit into 2025. However, we have had the great pleasure of working closely with other conservation nonprofits in the Grandfather Ranger District that are more robust operations, and we intend to put our support and organizational assets behind these successful entities as needed.
Finally, as ACWC phases out operations in December, we acknowledge the incredible support, encouragement and friendships we have experienced over these past six years. You all will remain with us in spirit. And know that our team will continue to have the interests of Wilson Creek and the communities there in our hearts. Our work as individuals in protecting this watershed will continue forward, and (we expect) will evolve in new creative ways in the years ahead.
Upon viewing the river soon after the flood, our founding member Jim Calore looked over the expanse of a completely redesigned riverbed and said, “Rivers change, that’s what they do”. We are and always should be guests on a wild river, and in the wilderness that remains. Hopefully, going forward, we can learn to accept the river and its floodplain as a living organism that cannot and will not be restrained or contained by encroaching structures and boundaries.
Peace to you all, and our sincere thanks for being with us on this six-year ride!
Wes Waugh, Executive Director
A Clean Wilson Creek
