Hurricane Helene Update: Trail Reopening Plans, Restoration Benefits, and Landowner Resources
Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina was a harsh reminder of the increasing severity of extreme weather events. The storm brought significant damage to our forests, trails, and communities, leaving a lasting mark on our region.
Since Hurricane Helene, we’ve been working tirelessly to assess damage and plan for the future. Here’s an update on our progress:
Trail Reopening Plans
We understand the eagerness to get back on the trails. While all trails remain closed for now, we’re working hard to reopen some by Thanksgiving. We’re currently continuing to conduct thorough assessments and have begun preliminary repairs. Extensive damage in areas like the Hickory Nut Gorge will take longer to address. We’ll continue providing updates on reopening schedules.
In the meantime, we kindly request that you respect trail closures for your safety and the safety of others. Communities affected by the storm require space to recover and rebuild without additional traffic from hikers. We have had some issues with people hiking on closed trails, including an incident that resulted in a call to the Gerton Volunteer Fire Department. This is exactly what we are trying to avoid! They have more than enough on their hands without coming out to rescue hikers.
In addition, we are now working with sawyers to deal with the tree damage. If you hike on these trails, you will be in their way. Further, anyone hiking on closed trails is trespassing illegally and could be prosecuted. Obviously, no one wants that, so please be patient. We are working to start reopening the trails for you soon.
The Power of Restoration
Our restoration projects have played a crucial role in mitigating flood damage. Engineer Greg Jennings has calculated that just three natural floodplain restoration sites – Mud Creek, Pleasant Grove, and Kings Bridge – stored at least 3,860 acre-feet of water from Helene. That’s enough to cover 3,860 acres of land with a foot of water, or a staggering 1.25 billion gallons!
This demonstrates the incredible power natural floodplains in protecting communities from flooding. Still, when you have weather that is dropping rain by the trillions of gallons, we need to do more to make our landscape resilient. That includes expanding wetlands and natural floodplains along waterways.
During floods, natural floodplains also give the river room to spread out and slow down so sediment settles on the ground instead of staying in the river as water pollution. After Helene, we found our restoration sites covered in about a half-inch of sediment, showing that they did fulfill this role.
Finally, during floods, the natural floodplain allows fish and other aquatic wildlife to escape from the deadly current and find refuge in slower, calmer water.
Not only do natural floodplains protect us during flood events, they also help during dry periods. During droughts, natural floodplains soak up and hold water, rather than letting it rush off down the winter. Natural floodplains keep water in the local landscape, slowly releasing it to recharges aquifers, sustain rivers, and provide water that supports plants and animals through dry periods.
Although natural floodplains can make us safer during extreme weather, it is still worth emphasizing that we need to do everything we can to limit climate change. The more the climate warms, the more frequently we can expect extreme storms like Helene.
Volunteer Opportunities on the Horizon
We’re incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from volunteers eager to help with trail repairs. Your enthusiasm is inspiring! For those who have shown interest, we’ll have opportunities coming soon for upcoming trail workdays.
Resources for Landowners
Since the storm, landowners are facing unexpected stewardship challenges. They are dealing with damage to farms, landslides that took out swaths of forest, trout streams that used to be shady and are now open to the sun, and many other changes. Our Stewardship Staff has been meeting with those landowners who’ve been heavily affected by the Storm, while still conducting routine monitoring of all our protected private lands. We have contacted every single landowner if anything to check in and share their experiences, and we are feeding that into our evaluation of the storm response. We are continuing to speak with them about the situation on their land and connect them with resources that may help.
We have also been helping to compile and share resources for our conservation landowners, which may be of value to all stewardship-minded landowners in our region. Here is the directory of resources that we have helped put together on the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) website. These resources to aid in the recovery process include:
- Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP): This program provides technical and financial assistance to landowners for emergency watershed restoration projects.
- Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP provides financial assistance when natural disasters cause low crop yields, crop loss, or delayed planting for uninsured crops.
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to landowners for a variety of conservation practices, including streambank stabilization, cover crop planting, and nutrient management.
You can access information about these programs and more by visiting the CFSA website.
Together, We’ll Rebuild
As we navigate the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene, we remain committed to restoring our beloved trails and protecting our natural heritage. With your support, we can build a more resilient future for Western North Carolina.
Thank you for your continued support.
We’re here for Western North Carolina, and we’ll continue to work hard towards recovery and a more resilient future for our lands and communities.
Stay tuned for further updates!