N.C. Cooperative Extension hosted two "WNC Landslide and Streambank Repair" workshops on December 4th and 5th in Buncombe and Avery Counties. Community partners, government agencies, local nonprofits, and citizens from Western North Carolina came together to focus on repairing land that was damaged as a result of TS Helene as well as future damage prevention measures.
The workshops were held at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Buncombe County and Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. Over 100 people came together to share knowledge about small landslides (causes, where they happen, why they happen); repair methods for slopes and stream banks; appropriate vegetation to help stabilize steep slopes; using drones for landslide assessment and repair; and mapping data for landslides.
Survey results from the workshops were positive and showed the continued need for support and education related to land repairs as a result of TS Helene in our mountain areas. The planning team will be looking into hosting additional trainings in 2026.
We want to thank YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly and Mayland Community College for allowing us to use their facilities for the workshops.
This event was coordinated by:
N.C. Cooperative Extension Agents in Buncombe, Mitchell, Yancey, Avery, and Caldwell Counties
Rick Wooten - Retired Senior Geologist for Geohazards and Engineering Geology for the North Carolina Geological Survey
Jameson Boone - NCSU Forestry Extension Specialist
Dr. Kurt Smith - Assistant Professor of Forestry at NCSU
Mitch Woodward - Area Specialized Agent for Watershed and Water Quality
Jennifer Bauer - Principal Geologist with Appalachian Landslide Consultants, PLLC
