Originally Posted March 23, 2017

That's right, folks, my countdown is officially over! Spring has sprung!

To welcome in the season Jacob and I hit our favorite stretch of water, proudly sporting t-shirts, and tossing the flannels away. The water was cold and clear, and bugs of all shapes and sizes flew all around us. It was truly a perfect spring day. 
And, best of all, the curse of the rainbow has also ended! 
Bring on the Browns!!

This river trip, as all river trips, was much needed.  I've spent a considerable amount of time emailing and calling my state representatives. I work from home, so in a sense, it's consumed my days and honestly caused me to become a bit slack in my duties. 
Full disclosure, this is probably not healthy. 

Spending my time on the water was healing, as always, but especially more so yesterday. 

As always, the river showed me what I needed to see.
While the majority of the country is arguing about "Russia" and "wiretapping," I've been concerned with my rivers. Overturning the Stream Protection Rule and rescinding the Clean Water Rule are harmful acts, ultimately resulting in devastation. Damage, which will happen rapidly and take far longer to repair.

We've had problems with companies in North Carolina dumping chemicals into our water systems even when it was illegal; it scares me to think what's going to happen when the regulations are lifted. 
Will the French Broad still house smallmouth for me to catch in the summer?
How many miles of trout water will become extinct? 
Will I still have clean water to drink? 
Does the next generation even have a shot at living a life like I do?

We have a curious little creature here in Western North Carolina that is said to determine the "healthiness" of a river system, the hellbender.