Swannanoa River

Swannanoa River Tributary to French Broad River
Swannanoa River at Asheville, North Carolina
Location of Swannanoa River mouth Swannanoa River (the United States)
Location
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Buncombe
City	Black Mountain Swannanoa Asheville
Physical characteristics
Source	divide between Swannanoa River andCatawba River
• location	about 0.25 miles south of Swannanoa Gap
• coordinates	35°37′11″N082°17′40″W
• elevation	2,790 ft (850 m)
Mouth	French Broad River
• location	Asheville, North Carolina
• coordinates	35°34′05″N082°33′49″W
• elevation	1,968 ft (600 m)
Length	24.83 mi (39.96 km)
Basin size	132.77 square miles (343.9 km2)
Discharge
• location	French Broad River
• average	166.88 cu ft/s (4.726 m3/s) at mouth with French Broad River
Basin features
Progression	French Broad River→Tennessee River→Ohio River→Mississippi River→Gulf of Mexico
River system	French Broad River
Tributaries
• left	Camp Branch Wolfpit Branch Stepp Branch Gashes Creek Christian Branch Sweeten Creek Ram Branch
• right	Flat Creek Tomahawk Branch North Fork Swannanoa River Beetree Creek Bull Creek Grassy Branch Haw Creek Ross Creek
Bridges	Yates Avenue, Old US 70, Broadway Street, S Blue Ridge Road, I-40, US 70, Paton Hill Road, Riverwood Road, Davidson Road, Warren Wilson College Road, Tunnel Road (US 70), E Azalea Road, I-240, S Tunnel Road, Biltmore Avenue, Biltmore Estate Road

TheSwannanoa Riverflows through the Swannanoa Valley of the region ofWestern North Carolina,and is a majortributaryto theFrench Broad River.Itsheadwatersarise inBlack Mountain, North Carolina;however, it also has a major tributary near its headwaters: Flat Creek, which begins on the slopes ofMount Mitchell.The Swannanoa River ends at its confluence with the French Broad, now within the grounds of the 8,000-acreBiltmore EstateinAsheville.

The estate encompasses numerous ancient Native American sites, including an earthworkplatform mound,now known asBiltmore Mound,that is located south of the Swannanoa River. Based on evidence from excavations conducted there in the early 21st century, the mound was started by indigenous people between 400 and 550CE, with the second to last stage of the mound built about 580-600CE. It was built over a Connestee Phase habitation (built during thePisgah phase) in the Middle Woodland period.

The historicCherokee peopleoccupied this area, which is part of their traditional homeland in this region. The mound has been identified as an area of feasting. The Cherokee called this site near the confluenceUntokiasdiyi,meaning "where they race." They used it as a meeting place and area of competitive ritual games.

Under pressure from European-American settlers, the Cherokee ceded their land here in 1819. This site near the Swannanoa River was later abandoned and became overgrown. At one time there was plowing in the area, reducing the height of the mound, but it is distinguished by a much wider, oval-shaped base. The mound was rediscovered in 1984. It was first excavated in a more than two-year project by a team fromAppalachian State University,beginning in 2000.

The river is 22 miles or 35 kilometers long, and it flows entirely within the geographical boundaries ofBuncombe County.It is a valuable resource to the county, providing drinking water to the Asheville metropolitan area, and numerousrecreationalopportunities. In September 2004, extremely heavyrainsfrom the remnants ofHurricane FrancesandHurricane Ivancaused the Swannanoa toflood,causing major damage to theBiltmore Villagesection of Asheville, and to the other communities that it flows through.

Tributaries

(Not necessarily in order.)

• Sweeten Creek
• Ross Creek
• Haw Creek
• Gashes Creek
• Grassy Branch
• Christian Creek
• Bull Creek
• Beetree Creek
• Lower North Fork
• Upper North Fork
• Tomahawk Branch
• Flat Creek
• Camp Branch

Swannanoa River flooding afterHurricane Frances,September 2004

External links

• RiverLink: Swannanoa River Watershed Project