When Hurricane Helene swept across western North Carolina, it left a lasting mark on the region’s forests, watersheds, and communities. According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Forest Service, the storm caused moderate to catastrophic damage to more than 187,000 acres across the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, including the loss of vegetation on over 117,000 acres. Forest infrastructure was also hard hit with nearly 900 miles of roads and an estimated 800 miles of trails damaged or blocked by debris. The storm’s ecological toll raised new concerns about wildfire risk, habitat loss, invasive species, and watershed health, factors that will shape the region’s recovery for years to come.

Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) had already begun exploring the potential of biochar through a funding proposal aimed at improving soil and water health in agricultural and stormwater applications. But when the storm struck western North Carolina in late September 2024, the urgency and scale of the effort shifted dramatically, as several events converged to elevate biochar from a promising conservation tool to a critical component of disaster recovery. What began as a local conservation initiative quickly became part of a statewide, partnership-driven approach. Biochar emerged as both a tool for environmental remediation and a potential vehicle for rural economic development.

“Helene changed everything,” said Barbara Bleiweis, President of the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (NCASWCD) and Chair of Mecklenburg SWCD. “Suddenly, biochar wasn’t just about carbon. It was about cleanup, recovery, and building resilience in our communities.”

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that can be produced from organic material such as downed trees and woody debris. It may be used as a soil amendment to promote better drainage, aeration, nutrient and water retention, as well as to improve plant and soil health. For communities impacted by Helene, biochar also offers an environmentally sound alternative to traditional debris disposal methods such as open burning or landfilling.

The initiative is now being coordinated at the state level through the NCASWCD. In collaboration with the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the USDA NRCS, the association identified the need for a long term strategy to manage storm debris and recognized biochar as a promising solution to advance both watershed recovery and rural economic revitalization.

NCASWCD’s strategy includes harvesting storm hardwood debris and working with partners to reestablish regional processing capacity. Local production of biochar is seen as a critical component of the solution, offering a long term outlet for low value timber while supplying material to help remediate contaminated soils and restore storm impacted farmland. NCASWCD also sees strong potential for biochar use in municipal stormwater treatment and agricultural conservation practices, with the goal of aligning it with cost-share and technical assistance programs through NRCS and the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation.

Despite its promise, NCASWCD acknowledges that scaling biochar production faces significant challenges, including high startup costs and limited local manufacturing infrastructure. The nearest large-scale producers are located in Kentucky and Georgia—far from where the need is greatest in western North Carolina. NCASWCD is working with partners to advocate for capital reinvestment to bring mobile production equipment, labor, and support services into the region. It is also helping lead discussions with state and federal agencies to establish biochar as a recognized best management practice for disaster recovery and soil remediation.

NCASWCD also continues to work with state and national partners to address barriers that limit access to recovery programs such as the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program. As currently structured, some of these programs are difficult for landowners to access especially given the scale of Helene’s damage. District leaders are working to elevate the issue and develop solutions to ensure that recovery resources reach the landowners and communities who need them most.

As part of its broader recovery strategy the Association is working with Haywood SWCD to establish a Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) agreement with the Forest Service. GNA enables the Forest Service to collaborate with state and local partners to carry out restoration activities on federally managed lands. While the agreement is still under development, it represents an important opportunity for the district to support forest recovery efforts within its region and continue expanding its role in cross-boundary conservation work.

This approach builds on an existing model, Madison County SWCD previously partnered with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service under a GNA agreement to address invasive species on federally managed lands. That collaboration resulted in shovel-ready projects, formal training for district staff, and ongoing coordination with local federal partners. The example serves as a valuable reference point for other districts expanding their role in forest restoration.

NCASWCD, working in concert with district leadership across the state, is helping define the growing role that conservation districts play in addressing complex, cross jurisdictional resource challenges. As districts throughout North Carolina continue to expand their forestry and recovery efforts, partnerships like these are demonstrating how local conservation leaders can bridge local needs with broader state and federal initiatives.

“Recovery can’t be top down,” said Bleiweis. “It has to be locally led, and that’s what conservation districts do best.”

To learn more about the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts please visit their website. For updates on Mecklenburg SWCD’s ongoing efforts, additional information is available here.

Tags: BIOCHAR, Forestry, Forestry Notes