As part of its ongoing series of eco-tours, ECO turns its attention to the French Broad River this month to explore the history of the world's second-oldest river and the problems it faces. Our French Broad re-exploration will begin with a presentation at the Henderson County Library 7 tonight, followed by an eco-tour canoe trip down the Henderson County section of the French Broad on Sunday. The French Broad will become an increasingly important resource for recreation as our area grows. With plans to tap the river for Hendersonville's drinking water, improving the river's water quality makes sense.

In the early 1970s, the idea of drawing drinking water...