Mountain Valleys RC&D Workforce Development Crew

The Mountain Valleys RC&D Team has been hard at work across the region, taking on the challenging but vital task of long-term storm clean-up and recovery.

These dedicated individuals were hired through a Disaster Relief Grant written and managed by Melissa Wright, Workforce Operations Director, and run by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, with Land of Sky Regional Council serving as the funding hub. Together, this partnership has created a boots-on-the-ground workforce that is restoring both landscapes and community spaces that were devastated by flooding and storm damage.

Hands-On Recovery in Action

Over the past several months, the Mountain Valleys team has been tackling natural resource recovery in Madison, Buncombe, and Henderson Counties. Much of their work has involved manual removal of debris along riverbanks, tributary creeks, and even high up in the branches of overhanging trees where floodwaters surged. Their efforts have uncovered and removed a staggering array of items: household appliances, tires, clothing, cinder blocks, shattered window frames, carpets, fencing, tin roofing and shingles, insulation, rebar, and countless plastic bags.

Their work goes far beyond debris removal. The team has:

• Re-masoned stone walkways damaged by rushing water

• Trenched and replaced broken or clogged drainage pipes

• Shoveled crawl spaces packed with mud and sediment

• Weed-whacked and mowed overgrown yards to restore safe access

• Replanted and mulched garden spaces that were washed out

• Supported landowners in stabilizing eroded stream and riverbanks

These efforts add up to a tremendous impact. In just the last few months, the RC&D Team has removed an incredible 17,500 pounds of trash—picked up piece by piece and hauled to the landfill for proper disposal.

Reviving Blannahassett Island

One of the team’s most visible projects has been at Blannahassett Island, a beloved community space that was hit especially hard by flooding. Mountain Valleys' recovery efforts began in fall of 2024 and were led by John Henry Nelson of Stone and Spade, a small, local stream restoration company. Since the spring, the recovery crew has coordinated volunteer groups, cleared debris, manually removed non-native invasive plants, and worked diligently to re-seed, straw, and plant native grasses in the riparian zone to help stabilize the shoreline and reduce erosion. Their efforts are bringing life back to the Island, ensuring it can once again be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

A Lasting Difference

The Mountain Valleys RC&D team’s work shows how disaster recovery is more than just clearing away debris—it’s about restoring places where people live, play, and connect with nature. By combining hands-on skills, community partnerships, and a commitment to long-term recovery, this team is not only repairing damage from the past but also helping build resilience for the future.

The results speak for themselves: thousands of pounds of waste removed, homes and yards made livable again, and community spaces restored. Thanks to the Disaster Relief Grant, Mountain Area Workforce Development Board, Land of Sky Regional Council, and of course the hardworking RC&D Team, the region is moving forward—one shovel, one wheelbarrow, and one seedling at a time.

Members of the Mountain Valleys Recovery Crew, alongside members of the Teens of Madison County, collaborate on Blannahassett Island to restore native vegetation and keep invasive plants at bay.

Blannahassett Island suffered catastrophic damage during Helene.

Blannahassett Island in August 2025: New life springs as native vegetation has been reestablished through tremendous work and collaboration between the Recovery Crew, Stone and Spade, and many other partners and volunteers.