Could reservoir watersheds be used for recreational purposes? Why does Richmond Hill Park remain closed? Reduced hours at some Buncombe libraries? • Asheville Watchdog
Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies, and the real answers:
Question: Now that many of us have newfound expertise regarding Asheville’s water supply, I’d like to pivot slightly and ask: What prevents the watersheds owned by the city of Asheville from being opened to limited recreation? Other city-owned watersheds and reservoirs, e.g. Canton and Greensboro, are available for limited use, so our closure seems not to be a requirement foisted by Raleigh. And the risk of contamination from day use, non-motorized recreation can’t be much higher than what’s already emitted by existing wildlife.
My answer: Well, we humans do have a history of treading ever so lightly on our recreational lands. It’s like you can’t even tell we were there, other than the bike tracks, portable toilets, throngs of tourists approaching wildlife with cell phone cameras, discarded dog poop bags, and a few hundred mountain bike ruts.
Real answer: I suspect it would take less than a week for some idiot to accidentally, or intentionally, start a fire in the watershed, and that is one of the considerations. More about that in a second.
Asheville Water Resources Department spokesperson Clay Chandler put the kibosh on this one pretty quickly. He said both the North Fork and Bee Tree treatment plants, in Black Mountain and Swannanoa, respectively, are both designated as “Water Supply-I.”
“That designation carries a lengthy list of regulations, but it essentially prohibits any kind of commercial development to protect the quality of the water flowing into our reservoirs,” Chandler said. “Asheville is unique in that the city owns the actual watersheds, so we’re able to implement a few regulations ourselves.”
Chandler said the reader is “probably correct” in that light use for recreation would not have any more impact than wildlife does.
“Our primary concern lies with fire risk,” Chandler said. “In its current condition, the amount of fuel on the forest floor from downed timber and other dead vegetation would allow even a small fire to spread quickly.”
A fire in the watershed would increase sediment runoff, could alter soil properties “due to things like ash clogging soil pores, and generally increase flood risk and decrease erosion control,” Chandler said. “That would obviously have an adverse effect on water quality.”
He cited the 2020 Cameron Peak fire in Colorado, which severely damaged the watershed.
That fire had a 32-mile long perimeter, burned more than 41,700 acres of wilderness and 32 miles of wild and scenic river corridor, and affected three watersheds. It also destroyed 492 structures.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality notes that the state has five water supply classifications — Water Supply-I to Water Supply-V — “that are defined according to the land use characteristics of the watershed.”
“The Water Supply-I classification carries the greatest protection for water supplies,” DEQ states. “No development is allowed in these watersheds. Generally, WS-I lands arepublicly owned.”
By contrast, Water Supply-V watersheds “have the least amount of protection and do not require development restrictions. These are either former water supply sources or sources used by Industry.”
Question: We have been hiking at Richmond Hill Park for years. After Helene, someone or some group came out and cleared trees along all the paths so you could continue to hike. Now the park has been closed and the entrance is blocked. We are wondering what the issues are, and what is the outlook for reopening? Also, we’re wondering whether this is happening at other parks that are not along the river and really devastated.
My answer: I’d like to find this “someone or some group” to help with branch and debris cleanup in my yard. Please hook me up!
Real answer: City of Asheville spokesperson Kim Miller directed me to the city’s Parks & Recreation webpage, which in part states that if a park is listed as being closed, “PLEASE stay away.”
“Though some spaces look safe, there may be broken equipment, sinkholes, or other ‘unseen’ dangers following unprecedented damage from storms in September,” Parks & Rec states. “Disaster relief agencies continue to assess damage that may be eligible for grants and other recovery resources; unauthorized ‘help’ may make some parks ineligible for this vital funding.”
Richmond Hill Park is one of several that remain closed following Tropical Storm Helene. // Credit: City of Asheville
The city asks if you’re interested in volunteering to send an email to parks@ashevillenc.gov.
As of Monday, the city listed these parks as still closed: Azalea (including the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex), Carrier, French Broad River, Jean Webb (including Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area), Recreation, Richmond Hill, Riverside Cemetery and the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.
The city notes that the cemetery is open to those attending services.
In addition, “Memorial Stadium and Mountainside Park are closed for community improvement projects unrelated to storm damage and should reopen soon,” the city states.
The city also noted that riverfront parks were the hardest hit, “with massive destruction left by this unprecedented event and are closed indefinitely.”
“While these spaces look devastated, they also represent the prospect of reimagining and rebuilding smarter, stronger, and in ways that make our city more resilient in the face of natural disasters such as floods,” the webpage states.
As far as organizing volunteer teams to help with the cleanup, the city notes that this gets more complicated than you might think, in part because, “disposal of storm debris is subject to strict federal and state regulations.”
Question: I was recently told that the Buncombe County commissioners are proposing to revise the library hours at certain facilities. Is this true? I really hope not, as I can say I know the manager of one of the branches being proposed for shortened hours, and they go in when the library is closed to process returns and holds because it is so busy when they reopen for the week.
My answer: I stopped working off the clock a while back, just as a matter of principle. OK, it was about 30 years ago. Seriously, you just shouldn’t do that.
Real answer: Unfortunately, some cuts in hours are on the horizon for the library system.
Buncombe County spokesperson Lillian Govus told me via email that the county has an anticipated revenue shortfall that could reach $20 million this fiscal year, which runs through June 30. As with most bad news these days, the shortfall comes from impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, Govus said.
The county already has implemented a hiring freeze on all positions, with the exception of those in 911 services.
“We are reopening Swannanoa Library for the first time since the storm on Jan. 25, which is great news,” Govus said. “However, we also have 14 vacancies in our libraries, so in order to keep all of our branches open, we’ve worked with library staff to develop a schedule that meets library demand but unfortunately, does reduce some hours in some locations.”
For full schedules of your library, go to the county’s news page on the issue.
“This is not a move that is intended to be permanent, and we’ll continue monitoring our regular recurring revenue projections,” Govus said, noting that the Board of Commissioners will hold a full-day budget meeting Thursday, available at www.facebook.com/buncombegov.
Govus noted that the decision is “a county operational adjustment, not anything that commissioners will vote on.”
Additionally, Library Services Director Jason Hyatt will join the community briefing at 11 a.m. Wednesday to share more information on this, Govus said.
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Got a question? Send it to John Boyle at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org or 828-337-0941. His Answer Man columns appear each Tuesday and Friday. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-09-05 09:01:00
State Sen. Bobby Hanig announced his Republican primary candidacy for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, aiming to challenge Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and incumbent Democrat Rep. Don Davis. Hanig filed with the Federal Elections Commission, while Roberson plans to run. Hanig emphasizes conservative leadership aligned with the America First agenda. The district, covering 22 northeastern counties, was highly competitive in 2024, with Davis narrowly winning. Hanig, an Army veteran and former state representative, chairs key legislative committees and runs two Outer Banks businesses. He supports tax cuts, border control, pro-life policies, and Second Amendment rights, aligning with former President Trump’s agenda.
(The Center Square) – State Sen. Bobby Hanig will enter the Republican primary for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, hoping to defeat Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and eventually second-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Don Davis.
Rep. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck
Michael Lewis via NCLeg.gov
Filing with the State Board of Elections is in December. Hanig has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission. Roberson said he would run in April.
“I’m running because northeastern North Carolina deserves true conservative leadership that will fight for our community and the America first agenda,” he said in a release.
The seat was the most competitive between Democrats and Republicans in 2024 and figures to again be so in the 2026 midterms. Davis outlasted Republican Laurie Buckhout 49.52%-47.84%, winning by 6,307 votes of more than 376,000 cast.
Twenty-two counties are touched in the northeastern part of the state.
Hanig, R-Currituck, is a veteran of the Army. He has served the Board of Commissioners in Currituck County, and was in the state House of Representatives for two terms. By trade, he began as “the pool guy” and operates two businesses serving nearly 400 properties across the Outer Banks.
He’s chairman of the State and Local Government Committee, and serves as chairman within the Committee on Appropriations for General Government and Information Technology. He’s vice chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government.
Four other assignments are Agriculture, Energy and Environment; Education/Higher Education; Regulatory Reform; and Transportation.
“I believe in President Trump’s America First Agenda and my record in the Legislature backs it up,” Hanig said. “I’ve cut taxes for North Carolina families, toughened border control in the state, stood up for life, and defended our Second Amendment rights.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article largely reports factual information about the candidates entering the North Carolina 1st Congressional District race, including their backgrounds, election filing status, and statements of political positions. It mainly quotes Sen. Bobby Hanig’s own words and campaign messaging, especially his alignment with “America First” and conservative values. The coverage uses neutral language without editorializing or explicitly endorsing any viewpoint. However, the focus on Hanig’s quoted statements about tax cuts, border control, pro-life stance, and Second Amendment rights, along with an absence of equivalent direct quotes from the Democratic incumbent or the other Republican candidate, subtly frames the narrative from a conservative perspective. This leads to a slight center-right tilt, as the piece highlights Hanig’s positions without presenting counterpoints or Democratic viewpoints in comparable detail. Overall, it functions as informational content about the race rather than overt advocacy, but the emphasis on conservative policy references indicates a modest center-right leaning.
SUMMARY: Laura Leslie, a veteran North Carolina political reporter with 21 years of experience, will become the new editor of NC Newsline on September 29. Leslie, currently WRAL’s capitol bureau chief, led the innovative NCCapitol project covering state politics across multiple platforms. Previously, she was capitol bureau chief at WUNC public radio and authored the award-winning blog “Isaac Hunter’s Tavern.” An Emmy winner recognized nationally, Leslie replaces Rob Schofield, who retired in August. She expressed gratitude to WRAL and enthusiasm for joining NC Newsline, part of the expanding States Newsroom nonprofit network. Leslie’s last day at WRAL is September 5.
North Carolina’s 2025 crop season shows promise with healthy corn, soybeans, cotton, and apples, a major improvement from 2024’s drought and storm damage. However, challenges remain: Tropical Depression Chantal caused flooding, wet conditions hurt tobacco, and relief payments from last year’s disasters are delayed. Farmers face financial stress due to low crop prices, rising input costs, trade tariffs impacting exports, and labor shortages exacerbated by strict immigration policies and higher wages. The USDA relocating operations to Raleigh raises hopes for better local support. Despite struggles, a bountiful harvest is expected, supporting the state’s agricultural resilience and fall agritourism.
by Jane Winik Sartwell, Carolina Public Press September 4, 2025
The news about crops out of North Carolina farms is good this year: the corn is tall, the soybeans leafy, the cotton fluffy and the apples ripe.
Compared to last year’s disastrous summer, when it seemed flooding was the only relief from extreme drought, this summer has left farmers feeling hopeful. In Wayne County, extension agent Daryl Anderson says this is the best corn crop the county has seen in 50 years.
That’s a major turnaround from last year, when dry conditions decimated cornfields from the coast to the mountains.
Still, no year in the fields is free of struggle. Rainy weather, delayed relief payments, market conditions and dramatic federal policy shifts have kept farmers on their toes.
Crops lie ruined in fields in Person County after Tropical Depression Chantal, which passed through the area on July 6, 2025. Provided / Person County Cooperative Extension
It’s been a wet year — at times, too wet. Tropical Depression Chantal flooded fields in Central North Carolina in early July. Unusually wet conditions all summer hurt the tobacco crop across the state.
Plus, state relief money for the tribulations of 2024 is coming slow. The legislature just approved an additional $124 million to address last year’s agricultural disasters, but farmers still haven’t received the money originally allocated to the Ag Disaster Crop Loss Program in March.
For Henderson County extension director Terry Kelley, the money is an urgent matter. In Kelley’s neck of the woods, apple farmers are still recovering from the devastation Helene wrought on their orchards. Finances are starting to spiral out of control for many.
“Our farmers are really anxious to get that money,” Kelley told Carolina Public Press.
Rains and flooding from Tropical Storm Helene create a massive washout in a Mills River tomato field in Henderson County in 2024. Provided / Terry Kelley / Henderson County Extension
“They’ve got bills due from last year. They’ve used their credit up to their limit and beyond. We need that money. It’s been a long summer of waiting.”
Though Helene upped the ante in the West, Kelley’s anxieties are felt across North Carolina. In Bladen County, where many 2024 crops were devastated by Tropical Storm Debbie, extension agent Matthew Strickland says there’s been a dearth of information about how the program works.
“We are not sure when those payments will be issued and exactly how they will be calculated,” Strickland said. “We were told they’d go out mid-summer. There’s been no update. Who knows when they’ll go out? Nobody really knows.”
The financial pressure extends beyond those delayed relief payments. North Carolina farmers find themselves at the whim of unexpected shifts in both the market and federal policies.
Though both quality and yield are high for field crops this year, the price of those crops at market is low. Meanwhile, input costs continue to rise. This makes for an unsettling financial equation for farmers.
Plus, President Donald Trump’s tariffs have made American crops less desirable overseas, according to Strickland. Before recent tariff hikes, lots of North Carolina corn, soybeans and tobacco made its way to China. Now, not as much.
“With the political trade wars, we’re really worried when it comes to our soybeans and tobacco,” Surry County extension agent Ryan Coe told CPP. “A lot of farmers are still waiting to see what’s going to happen. We don’t have a crystal ball.”
The tariffs haven’t been all bad, though. While some crops suffer, others have found opportunities. Kelley says the lack of Mexican tomatoes on the market has created a higher demand for local Henderson County tomatoes, for example.
Labor, too, is giving farmers pause. Many rely on legal migrant workers, but the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have tightened the market.
“It’s more difficult now to get labor, even with legal workers,” Kelley said. “It’s not available as it once was, and it’s terribly expensive.”
That’s because wages for migrant workers on legal H-2A visas continue to rise. In North Carolina, farmers must now pay migrant workers $16.16 per hour. This number is called an Adverse Effect Wage Rate, and it’s designed to ensure that wages for American workers don’t fall.
A cornfield at Trask Family Farms outside Wilmington on Aug. 29. Jane Winik Sartwell / Carolina Public Press
There’s a chance, however, that going forward, North Carolina farmers may have a bigger say in American agricultural policies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving major operations to Raleigh, in an effort to bring the department closer to the nation’s farming hubs. Some North Carolina farmers are excited about it.
“Having the USDA in this area will be good for all farmers in North Carolina,” said Mikayla Berryhill, an extension agent in Person County, where farms were flooded by Chantal’s heavy rains. “We will be able to show them what specific problems we have here in North Carolina and get help with those.”
In the meantime, it looks like it will be a bountiful harvest of crops here in North Carolina. This fall’s agritourism attractions, from corn mazes and county fairs to hay rides and apple markets, should reflect that agricultural resilience.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content presents a balanced and factual overview of agricultural conditions in North Carolina, highlighting both challenges and positive developments without evident partisan framing. It discusses impacts of federal policies, including tariffs and immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, in a straightforward manner without overt criticism or praise. The article focuses on practical issues affecting farmers, such as weather, market conditions, and government relief efforts, maintaining a neutral tone throughout.
