North Carolina Rivers’ Cleanup: Helene’s Fury Leaves Endless Damage!

In WOODFIN, N.C., Clancy Loorham stands firm against the river’s flow, submerging himself waist-deep to retrieve a piece of broken PVC pipe from the French Broad River’s rocky bed. Looking into the pipe, he exclaims.

“There’s a catfish inside this pipe!” he calls out to his team, who are scattered around him on rafts, canoes, and kayaks, all laden with similar remnants of human presence. “I can see it eye to eye!”

A year has passed since the remnants of a storm flushed these pipes from a nearby factory with such violence that fragments were found as far as Douglas Lake in Tennessee, 90 miles away. Now, these pipes are coated with algae, packed with silt, and have become makeshift habitats for aquatic life.

The storm, named Helene, was devastating, claiming over 250 lives from Florida to the Carolinas. In the mountains of North Carolina, it dumped as much as 30 inches of rain, transforming calm streams into destructive torrents that uprooted trees, dislodged boulders, demolished homes, and vehicles, breaking flood records that stood for a century, and even altering the landscape of some areas permanently.

During the urgent rescue and recovery phases, there was a concern that the methods used might have worsened the ecological damage. Contractors engaged in clearing large debris like vehicles and parts of buildings from waterways sometimes harmed the delicate habitats.

“The river was used almost like a road in some cases,” commented Peter Raabe, the Southeast regional director for American Rivers.

Conservationists noted that some contractors removed healthy trees and their root balls, which are crucial for creating fish habitats, slowing water flow, and overall river health. Jon Stamper, who coordinates river cleanups for the North Carolina nonprofit MountainTrue, observed a certain disregard for these critical natural structures.

The Army Corps of Engineers recognizes that debris removal tasks are complex and cover extensive areas. They train their contractors to minimize environmental disturbances and prevent wildlife harm. North Carolina Emergency Management stated that their post-Helene debris removal efforts considered both safety and environmental impacts, complying with Federal Emergency Management Agency standards.

Impact of the Storm and Subsequent Clean-Up

Hannah Woodburn, monitoring the headwaters and tributaries of the New River for MountainTrue, noted significantly murkier waters post-Helene, exacerbated by vegetation loss and the use of heavy machinery during cleanup. This has been particularly detrimental to the hellbender salamander, a species already of special concern in the state, which is among the world’s largest salamanders.

“Post-storm, we received numerous reports and images of deceased hellbenders, some found nearly a mile away from their stream habitats after the waters receded,” Woodburn reported.

More alarming is the plight of the Appalachian elktoe, an endangered mussel native only to the mountains of North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. This species not only suffered from the storm’s effects but also from the direct impacts of human intervention. State biologist Mike Perkins shared distressing observations of mussels crushed by cleanup operations, with some found clinging to life under dire conditions.

Perkins recounted efforts where conservationists had to relocate dozens of Appalachian elktoes to safer habitats to ensure their survival. He described the damage seen during these operations as shocking and unprecedented in his 15-year career.

Andrea Leslie, a mountain habitat conservation coordinator, expressed hope that these experiences would lead to improved practices in future recovery efforts. She acknowledged the complexity and urgency of emergency operations, which prioritize human and infrastructural safety but also highlighted areas where more careful approaches could be integrated.

Recovery Along the Riverbanks

Humans living along the riverbanks are also in a state of recovery. Vickie and Paul Revis, whose home was destroyed by the Swannanoa River during Helene, chose to rebuild on the same spot, despite the loss.

After a year in a temporary camper, they are about to move into a new modular home, set on a raised mound to mitigate future flood risks. This effort was supported by local community and charity donations, symbolizing a resilient response to their loss.

Ongoing Cleanup Challenges

Back at the French Broad, cleanup crews, many of whom are temporarily unemployed rafting guides, continue their laborious task of removing debris. Since receiving a substantial state grant, MountainTrue has extracted over 75 tons of debris from various rivers.

Despite the serene appearance of the river environment, the emotional toll on the local community remains high, with many residents feeling a deep sense of anxiety and betrayal by the natural forces they once trusted.

As cleanup efforts proceed, it’s clear that while some debris creates accidental habitats for wildlife like catfish, the preference would be to restore more natural homes, reflecting a broader goal of recovery and ecological mindfulness.