(May 2026) The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) awarded seven grants totaling $188,430 to environmental groups working to improve surface water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, expand public use and access to waterways, and increase water quality awareness in Buncombe, Haywood, and Madison counties. With these grants and since 1996, the Pigeon River Fund has distributed $10,432,621 in grants.
The most recent grant recipients are:
$35,000 to Asheville GreenWorks to research propagation methods for native river cane that could be used to support long-term riparian restoration across Western North Carolina.
$9,750 to Haywood Waterways Association toward implementation of the third phase in the Town of Clyde's Flood Resiliency Project.
$35,000 to Lake Junaluska Assembly to repair 300 linear feet of eastern lakeshore, which eroded due to winter waves and ongoing currents.
$5,000 to Laurel Community Center Organization to construct a new creek access point, to continue creekbank restoration, and to manage and control invasive species.
$35,000 to Mountain Valleys RC&D Council to develop a Spring Creek Restoration and Resilience Plan.
$33,680 to MountainTrue to continue monitoring the water quality of French Broad River Basin waterways.
$35,000 to RiverLink toward staff costs for field activities and public education programs.
"River cane used to be common along streambanks and in floodplains throughout the Southeast, but over time it’s largely disappeared because of land clearing, development, and changes to natural water flow,” said Eric Bradford, Director of Operations for Asheville GreenWorks. “True river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo species, and it plays an important role in stabilizing streambanks, filtering runoff, and providing habitat for wildlife. It also holds great cultural significance to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and other indigenous peoples of the Southeast. Because true river cane isn’t available through commercial nurseries and can be difficult to grow, this pilot program gives us the opportunity to test propagation and cultivation methods while laying the groundwork for restoring native vegetation that improves water quality, strengthens streambanks, and supports healthier habitats."
The next application deadline for qualifying nonprofits in Buncombe, Haywood, and Madison counties is September 15, 2026.
The Pigeon River Fund was established through an agreement between Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy) and the State of North Carolina. CFWNC administers the grant program. For information about the Pigeon River Fund, contact Program Officer Jeremy Lett at 828-785-4743.