EcoForesters Restoration Crew
The forest restoration crew comprises a good chunk of the staff of EcoForesters. They are responsible for field operations such as invasive species removal, forest stand improvement, trail building, and, after Helene, trail and land clearing and erosion control. Over the past ten years, the restoration crew has evolved significantly–from a small crew with a small scope of operations, to a large crew operating out of three trucks and a new UTV for hauling gear and delivering herbicide to large problem areas.
Helene introduced many opportunities for restoration: bare soil was exposed, and trees were downed and tossed in front of trails. As any local can attest, it was a mess, and habitats needed help.
At a property that EcoForesters has worked on for years in Yancey County, a debris flow was measured at 4,900 feet long, leaving a long scar down the mountain–rocks tossed aside, the bedrock exposed. There was much work to be done, but the landowner, Russ Oates, was organized, up for the challenge, and had a plan. Thankfully, his house and his tree planting project were left intact from the wicked rain event.
Hundreds of trees in the path of the debris flow, however, were tossed aside on the steep property, widening the shaded mountain stream into a light brown canyon. The light was let in, creating an opportunity for regrowth, but it was important to act quickly before undesirable species moved in.
This spring, EcoForesters crews implemented a plan to plant different species of rye grass on the exposed dirt, controlling erosion and getting a base layer of vegetation down. All of the soil was covered in seed, all the way to the steep, rocky top of the flow. This winter, hundreds of oaks and hickories will be planted, replacing the trees lost and hopefully restoring the habitat.
In Fairview, a similar situation unfolded at a rich cove forest property. EcoForesters’ crews had been treating the steep property for years and had made great headway, with hardly any invasives remaining. But Helene caused several moderate debris flows that exposed the dirt.
After an assessment and mapping of the problem areas, the strategy decided upon was to cover the debris flows in eco-friendly Coir matting, an erosion control solution that is made from coconut husks. The mats resemble cargo nets and are staked into the earth, where they are covered in seeds and biodegrade over the years. Installing the matting turned the bare earth patches, susceptible to more erosion and invasive infestation, into a stakehold of desirable plants that will re-stabilize the slope.
One year after the devastation of Helene, the challenges are still unfolding, and the aftermath is still being studied. EcoForesters is committed to evolving and facing these challenges.