We Are MountainTrue

In January 2015, three Western North Carolina environmental and conservation nonprofits joined forces to become MountainTrue. The Environmental and Conservation Organization, based in Henderson County and founded in 1987; Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, based in Macon County and founded in 2000; and Western North Carolina Alliance, based in Buncombe County and founded in 1982, merged and adopted three overarching goals:

• to have a stronger influence on policy at all levels of government through increased local presence;
• to build a stronger organization and increase our geographic reach;
• and to strengthen our grassroots engagement and involve a broader spectrum of the population.

To achieve our goals, MountainTrue’s board, volunteers and professional staff focus on a core set of issues across 23 counties of Western North Carolina: sensible land use, restoring public forests, protecting water quality and promoting clean energy – all of which have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of our region.

MountainTrue is the home of the French Broad Riverkeeper, the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed, and the Watauga Riverkeeper, the primary watchdog and spokesperson for the Elk and Watauga Rivers. MountainTrue is also the home of the Broad River Alliance, a collection of concerned citizens and organizations advocating for cleaner water, awareness and education, improved access and broadened recreational opportunities within the Broad River Basin. FOR MORE