$290M Deal to Restore North Carolina's Hurricane-Hit Forests

The U.S. Forest Service and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission just made history with a $290 million agreement to bring western North Carolina's forests back to life after Hurricane Helene.

It's the largest deal of its kind the Forest Service has ever signed. Over the next 10 years, crews will work across the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests to clear storm debris, repair roads and trails, restore damaged watersheds, and rebuild wildlife habitats.

Hurricane Helene tore through the region more than a year ago, leaving tens of thousands of acres scarred. The storm toppled massive trees, destroyed infrastructure, and left behind dangerous wildfire fuel from downed vegetation.

But the response came quickly. Forest Supervisor James Melonas remembers the days right after the storm when he and his team were still in shock. Wildlife Commission leaders reached out immediately, offering to help however they could.

That offer turned into the largest Good Neighbor Agreement in Forest Service history. The authority allows federal land managers to partner with state agencies and other groups for forest management work that benefits everyone.

The Ripple Effect

These aren't just trees being restored. North Carolina's national forests pour billions of dollars into local communities through outdoor recreation. Fishing, hiking, camping, and hunting sustain jobs and livelihoods across western North Carolina.

Every repaired trail and reopened campground means families can return to the spots where they've made memories for generations. It means guides can take clients back into the wilderness. It means local businesses that depend on forest visitors can thrive again.

The work also protects the wildlife that call these forests home. Hurricane Helene devastated both land and water habitats, disrupting entire ecosystems that took decades to develop.

Most of both national forests have already reopened, but significant repair work remains. The commission will tackle invasive species that threaten to take over damaged areas and manage the complex job of watershed restoration.

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz put it simply: restoring access means restoring both livelihoods and the family moments that make these forests so meaningful. For the next decade, that restoration work continues with the largest investment the Forest Service has ever made in partnership recovery.