The Ward Mill Dam in the process of being removed.
Hear from MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper, Andy Hill, and High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator, Hannah Woodburn, about dam removal projects in the High Country and the state of dam removal in the Southeast. We hope you enjoy learning about this conservation topic and it’s connection to improving water quality and habitat for sensitive and rare aquatic species.
Free for Members; $8 General Admission
About the speakers:
Andy Hill
Andy Hill, High Country Regional Director of MountainTrue and Watauga Riverkeeper
Andy has a passion for clean, cold, fishable, drinkable, and swimmable water. As a long-time fly fisherman, educator, and guide, he is intimately familiar with our watershed from the headwaters to the tailwater and is passionate about protecting the places we love.
Andy’s love for the Southern Appalachians brought him to Appalachian State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Experiential Education and his Master’s in College Outdoor Program Administration. Following his passion for outdoor recreation, Andy has led community service trips both locally and around the globe for several adventure travel programs. Also a NOLS graduate, he thrives on using the outdoors as a source of learning and connecting people with our shared wild places.
Andy is active in the community as the founder of Fish Goat Guide Service based in Valle Crucis, and the proud founder of the Fly Fishing Program at Lees-McRae College. He is also an adjunct instructor at Appalachian State University, teaching courses in Natural Resource Management, Paddlesports, and Leadership and Group Dynamics, and serves on the board of the High Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Andy lives on a tributary of the Watauga with his wife, Bettie, and their young children. They can often be found splashing around our watershed.
Hannah Woodburn,
High Country Watershed Outreach Coordinator
Hannah Woodburn
Hannah serves as both a staff scientist and community organizer at MountainTrue. In this role, she is responsible for managing all of the active water quality programs, volunteer coordination, and educational outreach in the High Country. She graduated from Appalachian State University in December 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Science. After serving as an AmeriCorps member with MountainTrue, Hannah became full-time in July 2022. She is currently working to complete her Master’s Degree requirements at App State in General Biology, with a primary focus on the health of freshwater systems in the Southern Blue Ridge. Hannah is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the streams, lakes, and rivers that make the High Country so special.