Erosion to Resilience

Every storm leaves a mark, but it also leaves a lesson. Resiliency is at the forefront of everyone's mind as we recover from Helene. How can we rebuild to make our forest even more enduring? That's the question Brady Dodd, Hydrologist for the National Forest in North Carolina, asked himself over 20 years ago after Hurricane Frances and Ivan hit the state.  

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"In 2004, Frances and Ivan tore through North Carolina, and I saw firsthand the damage flooding and landslides can inflict," said Dodd.  "When Helene hit, it felt like déjà vu, but on a much bigger scale." 

The Elk River in Avery County on the Appalachian Ranger District stood out to him. "The riverbanks were crumbling, and it wasn't just dirt washing away. It was habitat, water quality, and safety," recalled Dodd.  

Erosion is a silent killer. As steep vertical banks collapse, sediment fills the river and clouds the water, reducing oxygen levels, and interfering with light penetration for aquatic plants. The river begins to widen, and more sunlight can reach the channel, warming the water. Even slight changes in water temperature can have resounding impacts on sensitive wildlife. Macroinvertebrates that fish rely on for food suffocate under the layers of eroded silt, and trout populations begin to dwindle.  

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"When erosion accelerates, you don't just lose soil, you lose an entire chain of life that depends on clean, stable water," he explained.   

The impacts stretched beyond ecology. The picnic area was being undermined, and the access points had become dangerous.  

"People wanted to fish, swim, and bring their kids here, but the land was literally falling out from under them," said Dodd.  

Taking all this into consideration, Dodd made a plan to stabilize the banks. In 2006 the plan was set into motion after consulting with other agencies and experts, as well as surveying the area for historical and environmental concerns. He reshaped the riverbanks creating a gentle slope on which he planted River birch, Willow, Silky Dogwood, Elderberry, native grasses and other riparian species resistant to flooding. Boulder vein structures were installed to channel rushing water away from the edge of the stream, giving the newly planted vegetation time to grow and take root.  

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"We weren't just repairing damage, we were redesigning the river so it could withstand future storms," he said.  

After Hurricane Helene, the results were clear. "I walked the Elk River afterward, and the banks held firm despite the powerful rushing water that pushed through during the storm. The vegetation was still thriving, the water was running clear, and we even saw a fish burrowing a nest," Dodd said. "Seeing that, I knew the work we did years ago paid off."  

Looking forward, the National Forests in North Carolina sees every restoration project as an investment in resilience.  

“Helene showed us again that we can't wait until after the storm to act,” said Dodd. “The choices we make today are what will protect our forests and communities for the next generation.”