Ama Earthworks is a hydrological design studio based in Western North Carolina—repairing streams, rehydrating landscapes, and stewarding living water systems in our local watersheds. Our work combines ecological design, engineering, and careful analysis to restore the natural movement of water through land. We assess each site as a living system, mapping water flow, soil, and ecological patterns to create beautiful, living designs. We then implement targeted interventions: stream bank repair, water retention systems, and landscape shaping that slows, spreads, and sinks water into the womb of the earth. The two main people behind it are Dan Casciato and Apollo Saldana. Dan has a background in systems engineering, regenerative ag, and land stewardship. Apollo has been a core member of the Water Stories team for over 6 years, and brings a decade of field expertise and experience working with water all over the planet.
Project story
Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina's waterways. Thousands of miles of streams and rivers now face eroded banks, severed floodplains, and degraded water quality—threatening both ecosystems and community resilience.
But this crisis didn't start with the storm. Our region inherited channelized streams from outdated farming practices, the legacy of colonialism, and the scars of unchecked development. The flood was inevitable. And it won't be the last.
When Apollo and Dan met in India studying water under Rajendra Singh, they discovered a shared home in Asheville and a shared mission. Ama Earthworks was born.
We're a hydrological design+build studio restoring impaired waterways through regenerative projects. More importantly, we're advocates for landowners who lack resources or expertise to act alone. While regional organizations do vital work, significant gaps remain. These gaps are where we can offer the most impact: providing technical assistance, matching funds, training, and project coordination directly to private landowners.
Our vision is ambitious: empower every deed holder living near a stream to become a watershed steward, regardless of income. Most of our watershed is privately owned… and many deed holders lack the resources and/or knowledge to care for their sections of stream. This is just the beginning of our longer journey. We hope to raise 30K - and give it right back to the land. We will use the funds from this round to gift restoration work, utilizing the capital to activate machines, procure and plant native wetland and riparian systems, and bring the water work to the people.
Site repair can range from 25-200$ per linear foot, depending on conditions/needs. Our region has thousands of feet of need! We plant with native food and medicine plants, and leave a place better than we found it. If we are chosen, our crowdfunding campaign will invite neighbors to nominate sites, streams and people who need help repairing our shared waterways that connect to their parcels. We will then gift out repairs, stretching the capital as far as we can. Our efforts will be documented and shared to raise awareness.
Ama Earthworks is already building momentum here is our local community. We’ve repaired hundreds of feet of stream bank, and have thousands more ahead of us. Apollo and Dan recently hosted a benefit for another watershed advocacy group: Riverlink, where they shared ancient practices of India with the water community of Western North Carolina. For this funding round, they are supported by the FRIENDS OF THE LAND OF SKY REGIONAL COUNCIL INC, a registered non-profit for public society benefit, focusing on various community and environmental initiatives.
We believe healthy water systems heal communities, while also tending to the current climate situation. Restoring our relationship to water opens the door to restoring relationship with our fellow humans, ancestors, decedents, and the greater web of life.
As Rajendra Singh says: Water is Climate. Climate is Water.
Project updates
Team
Restoring Western North Carolina's post-Helene streams
Ama Earthworks is a hydrological design studio based in Western North Carolina—repairing streams, rehydrating landscapes, and stewarding living water systems in our local watersheds. Our work combines ecological design, engineering, and careful analysis to restore the natural movement of water through land. We assess each site as a living system, mapping water flow, soil, and ecological patterns to create beautiful, living designs. We then implement targeted interventions: stream bank repair, water retention systems, and landscape shaping that slows, spreads, and sinks water into the womb of the earth. The two main people behind it are Dan Casciato and Apollo Saldana. Dan has a background in systems engineering, regenerative ag, and land stewardship. Apollo has been a core member of the Water Stories team for over 6 years, and brings a decade of field expertise and experience working with water all over the planet.
Project story
Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina's waterways. Thousands of miles of streams and rivers now face eroded banks, severed floodplains, and degraded water quality—threatening both ecosystems and community resilience.
But this crisis didn't start with the storm. Our region inherited channelized streams from outdated farming practices, the legacy of colonialism, and the scars of unchecked development. The flood was inevitable. And it won't be the last.
When Apollo and Dan met in India studying water under Rajendra Singh, they discovered a shared home in Asheville and a shared mission. Ama Earthworks was born.
We're a hydrological design+build studio restoring impaired waterways through regenerative projects. More importantly, we're advocates for landowners who lack resources or expertise to act alone. While regional organizations do vital work, significant gaps remain. These gaps are where we can offer the most impact: providing technical assistance, matching funds, training, and project coordination directly to private landowners.
Our vision is ambitious: empower every deed holder living near a stream to become a watershed steward, regardless of income. Most of our watershed is privately owned… and many deed holders lack the resources and/or knowledge to care for their sections of stream. This is just the beginning of our longer journey. We hope to raise 30K - and give it right back to the land. We will use the funds from this round to gift restoration work, utilizing the capital to activate machines, procure and plant native wetland and riparian systems, and bring the water work to the people.
Site repair can range from 25-200$ per linear foot, depending on conditions/needs. Our region has thousands of feet of need! We plant with native food and medicine plants, and leave a place better than we found it. If we are chosen, our crowdfunding campaign will invite neighbors to nominate sites, streams and people who need help repairing our shared waterways that connect to their parcels. We will then gift out repairs, stretching the capital as far as we can. Our efforts will be documented and shared to raise awareness.
Ama Earthworks is already building momentum here is our local community. We’ve repaired hundreds of feet of stream bank, and have thousands more ahead of us. Apollo and Dan recently hosted a benefit for another watershed advocacy group: Riverlink, where they shared ancient practices of India with the water community of Western North Carolina. For this funding round, they are supported by the FRIENDS OF THE LAND OF SKY REGIONAL COUNCIL INC, a registered non-profit for public society benefit, focusing on various community and environmental initiatives.
We believe healthy water systems heal communities, while also tending to the current climate situation. Restoring our relationship to water opens the door to restoring relationship with our fellow humans, ancestors, decedents, and the greater web of life.
As Rajendra Singh says: Water is Climate. Climate is Water.
Project updates
Team
Location
United States
Round 3
Jul 1-21, 2026
Supporting community-led nature projects around the world.
Matching funds provided by
