Project Description

“When you get to know your local river, you get to realize that it’s everyone’s river and it’s everyone’s responsibility to take care of it.”

Community identity is often informed by the landscapes that make up a region, and it’s no different for the people of Ashe County. As one of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River built Ashe County. Whether bringing families together through recreation or providing opportunities for economic development through outdoor and adventure companies, the river’s presence is constant. But how do you ensure this community cornerstone endures for generations to come? Meet Chelsea Blount and Jeff Parrish, two of the stewards working to protect the New River.

Reeds stretch over a river
A woman sits in the dark silhouetted against a window
A sign saying "Leave no trace, not your trash!" sits in front of a river where people are tubing
A woman looks down as sunlight bounces off her place
A dog shakes water off itself as it stands in a river
A man with a large mustache looks into the distance.
A man's feet stands next to a beef feed bag picking up trash with a grabber
A shirtless young man holds out his hand to his young daughter as they stand in a river

More Stories

  • Hands on a piece of pottery on a wheel
  • Woman cooking in a food cart reaching over to food
  • Man with white hair and beard looking upwards
  • A shirtless man holds out a stone to a little girl in the water
  • Paint supplies scattered on a table
  • Woman kissing her daughter on the cheek as they embrace
  • Man with a graying beard sits at a kitchen counter
  • Rows of tubs of cheese sitting on a counter
  • Man casting a fishing line in a river
  • A painting of a girl hunched over in a green jacket sits in the branches of a tree
  • A man's hands tie fabric together
  • Two women talk in a grocery store filled with food and trinkets
  • Control panel at a radio station
  • Girl strums a guitar