What Could Have Been, What Could Be

The North Fork of the French Broad is North Carolina's newest eligible Wild and Scenic River. It was almost lost under a lake. Twice.

The River

Nestled in a deep gorge in Pisgah National Forest is the North Fork of the French Broad River. Located in the homeland of the Cherokee Nation in western North Carolina, it is one of the headwaters of the French Broad River and a popular spot for whitewater paddlers and anglers.

Wild & Scenic River Designation

In early 2023, a 3.2-mile section of the North Fork of the French Broad was identified by the Forest Service as eligible for National Wild and Scenic River designation due to its "outstanding remarkable values" related to whitewater paddling. This outstandingly remarkable river, though, was almost lost more than once.

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The Dams

The North Fork of the French Broad has come under threat from dams twice since the 1960s. Both times, local residents organized and opposed the projects and successfully prevented their construction.

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1960s - 1970s

In 1966, the Tennessee Valley Authority released a proposal to dam 14 rivers, including the North Fork of the French Broad, as a way to control flooding and allegedly improve downstream water quality. Local citizens organized to form the Upper French Broad Defense Association and successfully fought back against an entity that was, until this point, known for always getting its way. The TVA canceled the project in 1972.

View a slideshow using the arrow on the right to see where the proposed dam would have flooded as well as articles, photos, and more from the fight.

A mailer from the Upper French Broad Defense Association opposing the 1966 dam.

During a public hearing, opponents of the project wore yellow "UFBDA" scarves to make it clear to the media that the majority of the attendees were against the TVA and the dams.

An Article from the Asheville Citizen announces the cancellation of the project.

News of the TVA's cancellation of the 1966 proposal made it into the New York Times.

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1980s - 1990s

In 1988, the USDA Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) and Transylvania Soil and Water Conservation District proposed a series of six dams for flood control, again targeting the North Fork of the French Broad. Again, local residents organized, this time to form the French Broad Headwaters Coalition, and successfully fought back against the proposal.

View a slideshow using the arrow on the right to see where the proposed dam would have flooded as well as articles, photos, and more from the fight.

The French Broad Headwaters Coalition distributed pamphlets to boost awareness to the proposed dam projects.

"You go messing with mother nature, things go awry." - Eugene King, cattle rancher and opponent of the dams.

"Farmer Opposed to Dams on Rivers" article, continued.

A solicitation for readers to write letters in opposition of the dams in a paddling magazine.

This was the first time in NC history that alternative flood control measures would be used rather than building dams.

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Why Support Designation?

Wild and Scenic River designation would forever protect the North Fork of the French Broad from development projects like dams.

Designation is a celebration of the French Broad River and an honor bestowed on the river by all those that live downstream and support its health and water quality.

The French Broad River and its headwaters are central to Western North Carolina's vast outdoor recreation and nature-based economy. Designation and protection of the North Fork would be an investment into local communities, from outfitters to breweries and everything in between.

Designation celebrates this region's way of life: residents and recreationists would never again have to worry about this local treasure being lost under a lake.

Not only would this honor the legacy of the river's human residents, it would also protect the habitat of the more-than-human beings that call the river home.

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About the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act

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It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

-Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 1968

What does the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act Do?

Permanently protects designated rivers from hydroelectric dams
Protects designated rivers from other water resource projects that would have a direct and negative impact on the river's free-flowing nature or outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs)
The area around the river (called the corridor) is also managed to protect the river's free-flowing nature and ORVs

As of 2019 there were:

13,413 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers*
226 Wild and Scenic Rivers
41 states (and Puerto Rico) that had at least one Wild and Scenic River

This amounts to less than 0.05% of the nation's rivers protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

*It is possible and common for only segments of rivers to receive Wild and Scenic River designation

North Carolina Wild and Scenic Rivers

North Carolina has 144.5 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers across 5 rivers. This is less than 0.4% of the state's rivers.

The state's Wild and Scenic Rivers are:

Chattooga River
Horsepasture river
Lumber River
New River
Wilson Creek

Benefits of Wild & Scenic Rivers:

Preservation of local habitat, ecology, and hydrology
Supports downstream water quality
Protected opportunities for outdoor recreation
Economic benefits to users and the local community

What the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act does NOT do:

Affect private property: Wild and Scenic Rivers do not affect or restrict private property in any way, even when the river is directly adjacent to private property (the eligible segment of the North Fork of the French Broad is entirely on Forest Service Land)

Restrict access to the river, unless a specific activity harms the river's ORV(s)

Automatically prevent water resource projects upstream or downstream of the designated section of river: Unless a water resource project will have a negative impact on the river's ORVs, it can still move forward.

Regulate Water Quality: The authority to control and regulate water quality standards rests with the states. In fact, almost half of the nation's Wild and Scenic Rivers have unfortunately been found to have "impaired" water quality.

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Project Timeline

Stay up to date on the North Fork French Broad's journey and progress towards National Wild and Scenic River status!

September, 2013

The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests announce they will begin the process to revise their Forest Plans, their first major revision since 1987.

January, 2022

Pisgah/Nantahala NFs release their preliminary Forest Plan revision, which does not identify the North Fork of the French Broad as eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation. This new plan is opened for public comment/objection.

March, 2022

American Whitewater files an official objection, advocating that the North Fork of the French Broad (and several other rivers) should be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation.

January, 2023

The Forest Service responds to objections and releases their final Forest Plan, which now includes the North Fork of the French Broad as eligible for WSR designation!

April 20, 2023

The Transylvania County Natural Resource Council hosts a community information meeting at the Transylvania County Library in Brevard about the North Fork of the French Broad.

August 21 & 23, 2023

A two-part series covering the North Fork of the French Broad is published in the Carolina Public Press. Read Part 1 Read Part 2

September 8, 2023

The Transylvania Natural Resources Council votes to support the North Fork of the French Broad's designation as a Wild & Scenic River and recommends that county, state, and federal elected officials follow suit.

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Get Involved

Use the form below to sign your name in support of the North Fork of the French Broad's designation as a Wild and Scenic River!