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U.S. Forest Service outlines extensive 'Helen' recovery work, cites heavy damage across Mitchell County
Summary
The U.S. Forest Service told Mitchell County commissioners that Hurricane Helen severely damaged regional forests — an estimated 48% of Mitchell County forestland was hardest hit — and detailed fuel-removal, salvage sales and restoration plans, including boat-launch and trail repairs.
Jen Barnhart, district ranger for the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, told Mitchell County commissioners that the forest service is focused on recovery from Hurricane Helen and on reducing wildfire risk where national forest lands intermix with private property in Mitchell County.
"Tens of thousands of trees came down," Barnhart said, and she cited regional estimates that about 850,000 acres of forestland were damaged and that roughly 25% of that damage occurred on national forest lands. "For Mitchell County, the southern research station estimated about 48% of your forest lands were severely impacted," she said, adding that the agency has removed about 60,000 tons of fuel-debris so far.
The presentation outlined a mix of removal and restoration approaches. Barnhart said salvage sales and stewardship contracts are already active in multiple units in Mitchell County (Iron Mountain, Bear Wallow, Bowling Green, Rooster and others) and that the agency plans about 14 stewardship contracts in the county, using both ground-based equipment and helicopter logging where access is limited. "We're planning stewardship contracts which means we're going to pay contractors to come take that wood out," she said, noting helicopter use is sometimes required when ground access is unavailable.
Barnhart described several recreation- and infrastructure-focused projects, including work at the Roan Highlands and Cloudland Trail, where the agency is seeking bids for trail contractors and has prioritized fuels removal ahead of restoration. She also described an approximately $1 million project funded through the Great American Outdoors Act that upgraded campground water lines, restrooms and related infrastructure.
On river and boating access, the ranger said the Poplar boat-launch reconstruction is moving from design into construction with a contract expected to begin soon through a partner organization; phase one could be usable by late spring with full site reconstruction targeted by late summer, weather permitting. Barnhart also said the Forest Service and partners are discussing placement of a river gauge in coordination with USGS and CSX to improve early warning and river monitoring.
Barnhart urged community participation in recovery and outreach events, noting a hands-on public information and partner event planned on Saturday for residents to learn about wildfire mitigation, debris removal and forest restoration. She said partners include the National Forest Foundation, Wild South, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and local conservation groups.
The presentation included photos and modeling comparing pre- and post-Helen fuel loading and flame-length estimates in affected units. Barnhart said restoration will rely in part on natural regeneration but that active planting (notably spruce planting on high-use ridges) and erosion control will be used where necessary. "We're trying to think as much prevention as we can," she said.
The board thanked Barnhart for the update and for coordinating with county staff and local partners; no formal board action was required on the forest service report.
