Two Western North Carolina rivers have been placed on a yearly list of America’s most endangered historic places, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene’s devastating effects.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has been publishing its “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” lists since 1988. As of the 38th iteration, only “a handful” of the more than 350 historic places named on the lists have been lost over the years according to the historic preservation trust.
“Across the United States, compelling, meaningful historic sites are at risk, whether from natural disasters, underutilization, neglect, or lack of awareness,” NTHP President and CEO Carol Quillen said in a May 6 news release.
“Each site on this year’s list has inspired passionate supporters from their surrounding communities to work together to save these cherished landmarks and repurpose them for the public, now and into the future.”
The French Broad and Swannanoa rivers made the 2025 more than six months after Helene caused historic flooding of the rivers in late September 2024. This flooding, along with ravaging WNC communities, causing some $60 billion in damage and killing more than 100 people, also wreaked havoc on river health. The Citizen Times previously reported the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to place the river-dwelling Eastern hellbender on the endangered species list.
More: Asheville seeks design team to help rebuild Helene-damaged French Broad riverfront parks
Swannanoa, French Broad rivers among America’s most 11 endangered historic places
Following Helene, organizations such as MountainTrue, Riverlink and other environmental nonprofits have worked to repair the damage caused by the storm. These organizations and other river health groups have deployed volunteers to assist in removing massive amounts of debris from waterways, rebuilt river banks and advocated for more sustainable practices to protect ecosystems from future damage.
Despite the destruction, there was plenty of early good news surrounding the health of the two rivers. In November 2024, MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson described the reasons that he was “very encouraged with the pollution levels found so far in our waterways and river sediment” to The News-Record & Sentinel.
Still, it will take years for the rivers to completely recover from the extensive storm damage. Donations can be made to MountainTrue at mountaintrue.org/mountainstrong, and to Riverlink at riverlink.org/donate.
Endangered species in WNC rivers
“The French Broad River basin once had one of the most diverse assemblies of aquatic fauna in the state; now it is one of the most heavily altered basins in western North Carolina,” reads a report from the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
The same report adds that, despite major changes, the basin remains home to a number of aquatic and wetland communities that support diverse species with national or state significance.
Within the French Broad River basin, the NC Natural Heritage Program listed:
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Endangered species of plants and animals (USFWS list): 8
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Threatened species (USFWS list): 3
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Species of Concern (USFWS list): 43
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Endangered species (state of NC list): 27
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Threatened species (state of NC list): 17
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Significantly Rare species (state of NC list): 49
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Species of Concern (state of NC list): 38
The 11 most endangered historic places of 2025
More information about all 11 endangered places can be found at SavingPlaces.org/11Most. The full list from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in alphabetical order included:
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Cedar Key, Florida
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French Broad and Swannanoa River Corridors, Western North Carolina
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Hotel Casa Blanca, Idlewild, Michigan
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May Hicks Curtis House, Flagstaff, Arizona
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Mystery Castle, Phoenix, Arizona
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Oregon Caves Chateau, Caves Junction, Oregon
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Pamunkey Indian Reservation, King William County, Virginia
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San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Texas
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Terminal Island Japanese American Tuna Street Buildings, Los Angeles, California
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The Turtle, Niagara Falls, New York
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The Wellington, Pine Hill, New York
More: Dredged up by Helene, ‘magical’ eastern hellbender now proposed for endangered species status
More: Helene swept away WNC trout and anglers. Restoring fishing industry ‘will be challenging’
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Western NC rivers among 11 most endangered historic places of 2025
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