E. coli in French Broad River nearly 8 times EPA swimming safety standard, report shows

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Asheville’s multi-million-dollar outdoor recreation industry depends on the French Broad River to attract locals and tourists looking for a river to float on or kayak down. But a new report shows the river continues showing high levels of E. coli.

A new "State of the River" report from environmental nonprofit organization MountainTrue shows the French Broad around Asheville continues to suffer the impacts of high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli), bacteria that can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections and other possible illnesses. This comes from both cattle and human waste from sewage overflow during storms. The report states additional polluting agents include sediment runoff around the Asheville area.

Hartwell Carson, who works for MountainTrue serves, in the role of the French Broad Riverkeeper. His job is to raise awareness but also provide context of the river’s state of pollution.

“If you’re coming from the 70s, the river’s dramatically cleaner than it used to be,” said Carson. “But if you’re coming from five or 10 years ago, this report shows, in some instances, it’s getting worse.”

The report details averages of safe swimming data that shows a map with red dots from Asheville, down south to Hendersonville along the river. The report shows where the river doesn’t meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safe swimming standards. It also details how testers analyzed 1,167 samples from 90 locations for the swim report, which states the river is generally unsafe for swimming and other primary recreation.

“Our data is reliable,” said Carson. “We’re using EPA approved plans.”

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The report is a compilation of data sets taken of different samplings for pollutants. Carson said DNA was collected, for example, at four sites including near Pearson Bridge and Cane Creek in Fletcher along the river.

The report incorporates weekly data of E. coli testing from 2020 to 2022, data from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and from another nonprofit called the Environmental Quality Institute.

“Pollution is coming from cattle, it’s coming from septic,” said Carson. “But it also is definitely coming from stormwater from the City of Asheville.”

Carson expressed frustration that city staff were presented recommendations from a Storm Water Task Force created several years ago. He said city staff didn’t move forward with any of the Task Force’s suggestions.

“I’m frustrated that we’re not all recognizing the significance of the moment," he said. "We have a river that’s never been more popular, but we have the city of Asheville being one example where folks aren’t willing to give it 100% to take care of their piece of the puzzle.”

City staff responded to accusations of a lack of proactive measures when it comes to the river:

“The City has undertaken many projects that will help reduce debris and other runoff that could impact our waterways,” a statement from Amy Deyton, assistant director of public works, read in an email to News 13. “One such project going on right now is the Carter Street, Ann Street and Patton Avenue Stormwater improvement project. Projects of this nature replace aging infrastructure that could potentially allow sediment to enter our streams.“

Kim Miller, a communications specialist for the city of Asheville, released the following statements to News 13 in an email:

The City of Asheville Public Works/ Stormwater division is continuously working to ensure we respect and protect the waterways of our community. We welcome input from community-formed interest groups like the Stormwater Task Force. We have exchanged ideas and recommendations, implementing some, or looking at ways to bolster programs already in place.

The Stormwater Utility Program Assessment and Fee Study is also currently underway. The recommendations from the Stormwater Task Force will be assessed as part of the study. The study includes an evaluation of Asheville’s Stormwater program in its current state and future needs, as well as the development of recommendations on how services may be improved for our customers. Community members are encouraged to fill out a survey and have their voices directly represented.

Community members can also visit our website to report a stormwater violation, apply for a stormwater permit, or even report a damaged or clogged storm drain.

Carson said the problems in the French Broad will take a collective effort of many individuals and business owners contributing to stopping pollution and sediment runoff. He said the Task Force suggested the city start citing developers violating statutes already on the books for sediment runoff. He added that the group provided city staff constructive ideas.

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“A lot of them were simple and cheap and free.”

One example, he said, was the recommending the city start proactive measures to cite developers violating sediment runoff restrictions. The report also urged state leaders to provide funding so cattle farm operators upstream could install better fencing to mitigate runoff.

Carson said he knows reports about the pollution don’t go over well with local outfitters.

News 13 contacted several for a response but all declined to comment on the report’s results.

“We do encourage folks to use the river,” said Carson. “It’s a great river. It is clean a lot of time, but not all the time.”