Trails we’ve worked on in the past month:
- Construction of a new trail near the forest entrance
- Finishing touches on last month’s stream restoration and trail bridge construction project at Thrift Cove Creek
- Many preparations for Pisgah Project Day!
Introducing our Ecological Restoration Crew
We’re proud to announce that our Invasive Plant Management Crew has a new name…say hello to our Ecological Restoration Crew!
This name better reflects the full scope of their work and the impact they’re making across the forest.
While managing non-native invasive species will remain an important core focus, the crew is expanding into more holistic, on-the-ground restoration efforts that support the health of entire ecosystems.
Their work now includes:
- Native plantings
- Live staking
- Stream bank stabilization
- Overall watershed stewardship
This evolution is a natural next step, building on the incredible work the crew has led in recent months, especially stabilizing and revegetating landslides following Hurricane Helene.
More recently, they’ve played a key role in developing plans and timelines for stream bank stabilization along Yellowstone Prong, a critical part of our ongoing Graveyard Fields project, and in our recent Thrift Cove Stream Restoration & Bridge Construction project.
At The Pisgah Conservancy, our goal has always been to support the forest in a way that’s flexible, responsive, and impactful. This new name reflects that commitment and the important work still ahead for our organization.
Welcome aboard to our new staff members
It has been an exciting month for us at TPC, as we have begun onboarding new staff members to expand both our Trail Crew and our Ecological Restoration Crew as part of our expanded Helene Recovery work.
Over the past few weeks we have welcomed the following new team members:
- Annabelle Carr, Ecological Restoration Assistant Crew Leader
- Jenah McCall, Ecological Restoration Assistant Crew Leader
- Kyle Stoudt, Ecological Restoration Technician
- Kevin Mathews, Assistant Trail Crew Leader
- Brendan Horan, Trail Crew Member
Kevin has joined our Trail Crew as a seasonal employee in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and we are thrilled to welcome him into this year-round position, as well as to welcome all of these new staff members.
We will welcome one more Trail Crew staff member in May, and two more Ecological Restoration Crew staff members in the coming months.
All great, passionate, and dedicated professionals, these new crew members have allowed us to quickly increase our impact on the ground and will play a crucial role in our continued Helene Recovery work in the years to come.
Expanding our fleet
With the growth of our field crews, we have expanded our vehicle fleet. Thank you to Steve White Motors for their support in helping us find the right truck to support the work of our growing Ecological Restoration Crew at a discounted price for a second time now.
We will purchase an additional truck to support the work of our growing Trail Crew, one well-suited for the heavy hauling required by the work at hand. The purchase of this truck will be funded by a generous grant from the Glass Foundation.
Trail Crew highlights
Our Trail Crew has focused their efforts this month on a new trail construction project at the entrance to the forest, building a stone-paved pathway that will connect the new pedestrian bridge over the Davidson River to an upcoming sidewalk that will be constructed as part of the NCDOT’s roundabout project.
It has been heavy technical work with the crew using equipment to grade, move and stage material, and lay the base layer. With the bed prepped, the crew began setting the large flagstone pavers into a herringbone pattern, cutting stones with a chop saw as necessary. Great progress has been made to date with more work to follow in the coming weeks.
Ecological Restoration Crew highlights
Our Ecological Restoration Crew has continued their invasive plant treatments at Davidson River Campground, making good headway with foliar treatments in the area.
In addition to consistent work at the campground, the crew has been setting the stage for invasive plant treatments to be done during Pisgah Project Day at five different locations.
The crew has also been finalizing the planting plans and sourcing plants for three different native planting projects for the big day, with revegetation projects planned for the Thrift Cove, Black Mountain Trailhead, and Davidson River Campground areas.
With Pisgah Project Day next week, Pisgah River Rangers staff coming on board in May for the program’s 8th season, new field staff, and many great projects to come, the coming months will be busy and impactful.