One Day, 25 Projects, 500 Volunteers

On Saturday, April 26, more than 500 volunteers joined The Pisgah Conservancy for the annual Pisgah Project Day event. This year’s event brought together community members from across Western North Carolina and beyond to complete 25 hands-on projects benefiting forest trails, habitats and recreational areas in Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, and Haywood Counties.

Since its inception in 2016 – just one year after The Pisgah Conservancy was founded – Pisgah Project Day has grown into the largest single day of service within the Pisgah Ranger District. This year, volunteers contributed over 2,000 hours of labor.

Thank you to our Lead Sponsor, the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, and to all of our volunteers, sponsors, and partners for an incredible day in the forest.

“Pisgah Project Day is a day of celebration and service to give back to the forest which has given us so much over the years,” said Sandy Willan, a long-time volunteer with The Pisgah Conservancy. 

Here’s a recap of what we accomplished together! 

TRAILS

• Two turnpike construction projects on the Exercise trail led by TPC and the USFS
• Brushing on Grassy Road / Starens Branch trail led by the USFS and the National Forest Foundation 
• Brushing, drainage work, and other improvements on Black Mountain trail led by Pisgah Area SORBA
• Drainage improvements on Bennett Gap trail led by TPC
• Step construction and maintenance on Sunwall trail led the by Carolina Climbers Coalition 
• Improvements on Shining Creek trail led by Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards 
• Improvements on Cat Gap Loop trail and John Rock trail, including the construction of a new trail bridge, led by Carolina Mountain Club 
• Drainage improvements on Cove Creek trail led by Elevated Trail Design 
• Brushing and drainage improvements on the Hardtimes Connector trail and other trails in Bent Creek led by Pisgah Area SORBA

INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL

• Invasive plant removal at North Mills River Campground led by TPC
• Invasive plant removal along Avery Creek Road led by EcoForesters
• Invasive plant removal at Sycamore Flats Picnic Area led by TPC

GARDENING AND PLANTING

• Gardening improvements at the Pisgah Ranger Station / Visitor Center led by Transylvania County Extension Master Gardeners
• Planting of native trees and shrubs at the site of the new NCDOT pedestrian bridge over the Davidson River led by TPC and the USFS  
• Red spruce tree planting at Graveyard Fields led by the USFS, Southern Highlands Reserve, and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission 
• Gardening and trail improvements at the Cradle of Forestry led by FIND Outdoors

TRASH AND DEBRIS REMOVAL

• Trash cleanup along Davidson River Road led by Trout Unlimited 
• Cleanups at multiple dumpsites in the Highway 215 corridor led by Friends of the North Fork of the French Broad River 
• Cleanup at White Pines Group Campground, including the removal of trash and old tent pads and the demolition and removal of a damaged bridge, led by TPC
• Demolition and removal of a damaged bridge, along with trail maintenance, on North Slope trail led by Pisgah Cowboys

FENCE REPAIR

• Rebuilding of damaged split rail fence at Sycamore Flats Picnic Area led by Trout Unlimited
• Rebuilding of damaged split rail fence at Coontree Picnic Area led by the USFS

WILDLIFE OPENING & ACCESS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

• Maintenance at the Courthouse Creek Wildlife Opening and improvements to the access road led by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the NC Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council