Steps Forward for Mud Creek

RiverLink is excited and honored to be partnering with the Community Foundation of Henderson County to implement its “Connecting the Community with Mud Creek” project. RiverLink has been promoting the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed as a place to live, work, and play since 1986. This mission is accomplished through remediation of riverside land into paddling access points, parks, and greenways; restoring and protecting streams and wetlands; equipping volunteers to steward local waterways and protected lands; promoting green stormwater infrastructure and riparian buffers; and educating people about the French Broad watershed and their place within it. 

RiverLink has historically focused within Buncombe County and Asheville, however is also a lead partner with the French Broad River Paddle Trail, which covers Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe and Madison counties. We frequently hear from our supporters, stakeholders and partners that Mud Creek is underutilized and underappreciated as a recreational resource for residents and visitors to Henderson County. This project with the Community Foundation addresses that notion.

With funding from the Community Foundation, RiverLink will steward the section of Mud Creek between Hendersonville and the confluence with the French Broad River, removing trash and select woody vegetation to allow and encourage safe travel by paddlers and anglers. RiverLink will also create a master plan for recreational access to the corridor by inventorying logical access areas on municipally-owned parcels, private properties with willing landowners, and public road right-of-ways. These stewardship endeavors and master planning deliverables will be conducted and created in partnership with local municipalities, relevant non-profit organizations, contractors, and private citizens. 

This grant will also support RiverLink in bringing its Name That Creek program to Henderson County. RiverLink staff and partners will work with members of the Green Meadows Community to collect potential names, take a vote, and select a winning name for the unnamed tributary of Mud Creek running through Sullivan Park. RiverLink will then work with the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to make the naming official, place signage at Sullivan Park, and host a community celebration.

RiverLink enthusiastically thanks the Community Foundation for their support of our work, along with that of countless other organizations working to sustain and improve Henderson County. 

Founded in 1982, the Community Foundation of Henderson County’s mission is helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter. One of Community Foundation’s primary purposes is to assist engaged philanthropy in our community. The Foundation accepts gifts from individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create a permanent pool of charitable capital from which grants are awarded. Learn more about Community Foundation of Henderson County at cfhcforever.org, and by calling 828-697-6224.

Based in Asheville’s River Arts District, RiverLink spearheads the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River watershed as a destination where everyone can live, learn, work and play. RiverLink was born in the late 1980’s to address water quality concerns throughout the French Broad River basin; expand public opportunities for access and recreation; and promote the economic revitalization of Asheville’s once-dilapidated riverfront district.