MountainTrue

What it reported doing in 2024

Water Our water team protects the French Broad, Watauga, New, Green, Broad, Little Tennessee, Savannah, and Hiwassee River basins by tracking and reporting sewer leaks, straight pipes, pollution sources, and negative impacts from agriculture and development. We fix water quality problems through policy advocacy, funding solutions, project-based approaches, and litigation when necessary. -We joined a petition asking the EPA to withdraw state authority over discharge permits. -Administered over $400,000 in funding from NC DHHS to repair 34 residential septic systems for low-income families across WNC. -Followed up on 62 pollution reports, identified 12 sources of pollution, monitored 96 Swim Guide sites, and collected 1,383 E. coli samples. -Secured over $40,000 in funding to establish additional real-time E. coli monitoring sites. -Improved and expanded the French Broad Paddle Trail to provide better recreation opportunities, deepen the publics connection to the outdoors, and foster more environmental advocates. -Continued building a broader coalition of environmental advocates by engaging communities of color in more outdoor activities. With continued support from Made X Mountains Outdoor Equity Fund, we led four no-cost paddling trips on the French Broad River. -Treated 62 hemlock trees in the Green River Gorge. -Conducted monthly water sampling and seasonal biomonitoring with volunteers. -Surveyed farmers about the impacts of climate change and created WNC Farmer Resource Guide. -In partnership with American Rivers and USFWS, the Watauga Riverkeeper led efforts to remove Shulls Mill Dam, restoring 78 miles of aquatic connectivity in the Watauga Basin. - Watauga Riverkeeper and researchers from Appalachian State University relocated 8 Eastern Hellbenders to the site of the Wards Mill Dam which was successfully removed in 2021. - Planted more than 20,000 livestakes. These livestakes will grow into trees and shrubs that prevent sediment and nutrient runoff into local waterways. Planting sites include the Wards Mill Dam Removal site. - Completely controlled a ~150-acre invasive parrot feather infestation in the south end of Lake Chatuge in Towns County, GA. - Expanded our Swim Guide and volunteer microplastics water quality monitoring programs again in the Little Tennessee River Basin. - Opposed plans by Macon County Commissioners to rollback protections in their Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Watershed Protection, and Flood Damage Prevention ordinances. Lobbying, Advocacy & Community Engagement A foundational aspect of our work is to increase civic engagement by conservation- minded people in WNC. To that end, we continue our full-time presence at the General Assembly and engage people through organizing and issue advocacy. - Lobbied the General Assembly during its short session for funding and legislation to benefit WNCs environment. - Generated 9,435 letters to decision-makers through 27 action alerts across our region and collected over 3,312 signatures on petitions. - Continued offering meaningful connections to the outdoors through our Guided Adventures. - Engaged 3,860 people to take action, sign petitions, and contact their representatives as part of our Plastic-Free WNC campaign.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 61.2%; rating input score 61
• Program expense ratio: 86.5%; rating input score 87
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.72 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 29.7%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.95; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 2.6%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 12.9% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12.8% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings