Jessica Ruegg
jjruegg@gmail.com
Yancey County has planned a "Town Hall" meeting to address questions and concerns about heavy-equipment woody debris removal in the South Toe River and its tributaries.
This "Town Hall" meeting has been combined with the USFS's previously announced South Toe Community Meeting.
The combined meeting will take place Wednesday, June 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Burnsville Town Center.
After a brief USFS powerpoint about public safety and ongoing recovery work, South Toe residents, outdoor enthusiasts, and river advocates are invited to circulate among US Forest Service, Yancey County, Southern Disaster Recovery, and NC Wildlife personnel to ask questions and raise concerns.
Please invite your friends and neighbors to attend! Please come out on Wednesday, ask your questions, and speak up for the river and the forests that make the South Toe Valley so special!
We're still looking for volunteers to help protect the river by removing debris by hand, observing heavy equipment operations, and contacting landowners of riverfront property. Sign up here.
Updated South Toe Debris Removal Info here.
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Counties could be required to use the Army Corps of Engineers for waterway woody debris removal by proposed NC legislation.
Last week, the NC House passed HB 1012, Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part II.
This legislation allocates important disaster-relief funding, including millions of dollars for repair of state parks, stream restoration and other priorities. Unfortunately, section III stipulates that state agencies and local governments must use US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) over other contractors to clear woody debris.
News reports have documented USACE subcontractors violating best practices, removing live trees, smashing endangered freshwater mussels and excessively removing woody debris from rivers-- including some only minimally affected by Helene. Wildlife advocates report that Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR), the debris removal contractor currently working with Yancey County, is far more responsive to ecological concerns and emphasize how fortunate Yancey County's rivers are that Yancey County chose to work with SDR.
Residents of Yancey and Mitchell are represented by
NC Senator Ralph Hise, (919) 733-3460, Ralph.Hise@ncleg.gov
If you are concerned about this provision of HB 1012, please call his office today!
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Jared Dubin
Jdubin@thebeaconnetwork.org
201-452-0207
Hello folks, no cleanup this weekend, but stay tuned for the time and location for the following Sunday. We have a full June coming up. Please also continue to let us know about sites that need cleanup or restoration. Thank you!