BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene sent floodwaters rushing through western North Carolina, the French Broad River is still carrying the storm’s scars. On Tuesday, a group of volunteers set out in canoes to help restore one of Asheville’s most vital waterways.

About a dozen volunteers with Asheville GreenWorks paddled from Pearson Bridge to Silver-Line Park, hauling out debris that has lingered since last fall. The cleanup was part of the group’s ongoing effort to support recovery in an area where residents continue to feel the impact of Helene.

“The French Broad is an integral part of Asheville. It flows through the heart of Asheville,” said Micah Azalea Lynn, a coordinator with Asheville GreenWorks. “It is a place for recreation. It’s a place for our ecosystem

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