Macon to address floodplain, Lake Emory Dam in new year
After almost a year of work, discussion and often tense disagreement on the issue, Macon County is set to continue…
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Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust conserves 54.45 acres of forested land
The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) announced the permanent conservation of 54.45 acres of forested land just two miles from downtown…
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Rehab efforts begin on popular Smokies trail
The National Park Service (NPS) will begin a major rehabilitation on Laurel Falls Trail, one of the most popular trails…
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Burning permit requirement reinstated in WNC
The N.C. Forest Service has reinstated the requirement for open burning permits in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell,…
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Drought conditions lessen in WNC
After several weeks of increasingly dry conditions, Western North Carolina has finally seen some much-needed rain, taking the whole region…
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HCC hosts spring hunter safety courses
Haywood Community College’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will offer two opportunities for…
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Design studies on tap for Foothills Parkway
The National Park Service will conduct additional design work and technical studies for Foothills Parkway Section 8D. This decision was…
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Haywood Waterways creates jobs to clean up Helene litter
After Tropical Storm Fred moved through Western North Carolina in 2021, litter cleanup throughout the East Fork and downstream along…
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Sylva to host Cycle NC Moutain Ride
North Carolina Amateur Sports announced that the Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is headed to Jackson County Aug. 1-3, 2025. …
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Public comment sought on proposal to list hellbender as endangered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an endangered species throughout its…
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State sees widespread moderate drought
Most of North Carolina continues to experience moderate drought, according to the latest advisory from the North Carolina Drought Management…
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Troxler encourages watershed protection applications
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to apply for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program,…
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House passes bill providing millions to dams, flood mitigation in WNC
A bill approved by Congress last week will provide money for improvements to the nation’s ports and harbors; inland waterway navigation;…
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Word from the Smokies: Park and partners work to expand environmental education outreach
Anne Thomas-Abbott had a “profound” experience this October as she observed students taking part in a National Park Service curriculum…
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Christmas Bird Count marks 125 years
Since its origin in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count has become a holiday fixture for ever-expanding numbers of birders across the…
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HCLT to conserve 100 acre tract of pristine land in Cashiers
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) is under contract on 100 acres of raw and pristine land in Cashiers. Fully surrounded by…
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NCWRC votes to advance Red Wolf recovery
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission today voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to advance Red Wolf recovery in…
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Sign up for night skiing at Cataloochee
Jackson County Recreation is offering four, five and six-week programs that will allow skiers to enjoy lessons under the night…
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North Carolina announces drinking water awards
The North Carolina Division of Water Resources has honored 79 water treatment plants for surpassing federal and state drinking water…
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Most of WNC now in moderate drought
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has again classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry with a…
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Jackson County hosts youth spring soccer
Youth soccer is coming to Jackson County next month. Registration for spring soccer begins Jan. 1 and runs through Jan.…
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WNC skier shares love of sport with family, community
On the weekdays, Alex Masciarelli proudly works as principal of Junaluska Elementary School in Waynesville. But, on the weekends during…
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Jackson County recreation offers Cataloochee skiing lessons
Registration is now open for another season of Cataloochee programming through Jackson County’s recreation department. Lessons are tailored to skier…
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Smokies to rehabilitate Cosby Entrance Road
On Dec. 9, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin a rehabilitation of the 2.3-mile-long Cosby Entrance Road from Tennessee…
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North Carolina gets dryer
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has again classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry with a…
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NCDEQ provides funding to reduce flood risks
North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint is providing funding to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer…
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WATR hosts celebration and fundraiser party
Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River (WATR) is holding a celebration and fundraising event. The event, which a release noted…
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Haywood County hosts wilderness navigation course
Haywood County Recreation is offering a wilderness navigation course that will equip hikers with the basics of modern navigation required…
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Volunteers needed for Richland Creek cleanup
Haywood Waterways is hosting a cleanup session for Waynesville’s Richland Creek. The cleanup will be held from 10 a.m. to…
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Canton paper mill environmental report released: Findings offer few surprises
Almost a year after its internal publication, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has made public a report detailing…
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Three-year restoration of Ramsey Cascades Trail completed
In collaboration with Friends of the Smokies, the National Park Service (NPS) has a completed a three-year restoration of the Ramsey…
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Cataloochee ski area opens for the season
Following a cold snap and a couple of inches of fresh snow, the Cataloochee Ski Area in Haywood County opened…
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Drought creeps into WNC
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has classified parts of Western North Carolina as being in a moderate drought.
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Nominations open for Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards
North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) announced that nominations are now open for the 60th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards. This…
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Master Gardeners host wreath-making workshop
The North Carolina State Extension Master Gardeners are hosting a wreath-making workshop Dec. 7. The extension will provide a selection of…
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Permit-free firewood collection begins on reopened areas of the Pisgah National Forest
The U.S. Forest Service invites the public to gather firewood for personal use without a permit on reopened sections of…
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Winners announced in George Masa Youth Conservation Photography Prize
The George Masa Foundation proudly announces the winners of the inaugural George Masa Youth Conservation Photography Prize, a competition designed…
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Word from the Smokies: New CEO takes the reins at Smokies Life
When 2024 dawned in Chattanooga, Tennessee, job hunting was the furthest thing from Jacqueline “Jacki” Harp’s mind. As regional director…
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Winter Lights display at The NC Arboretum
The 11th annual Winter Lights returned to The North Carolina Arboretum on Friday Nov. 15, with the show running nightly through…
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Flood damage prevention ordinance, dam removal still on the table
Despite a lack of quorum at the November planning board meeting, both the flood damage prevention ordinance and now the…
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CMC seeks volunteers for trail restoration workday
Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) is gearing up for another significant trail restoration event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,…
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Military, veterans discounts on tree seedlings
Beginning Nov. 11, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably…
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North Carolina gets dryer
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council has classified the whole state as at least abnormally dry and a moderate…
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‘Pickin’ for Pisgah’ Benefit Raises $15,000 for FIND Outdoors and Helene Recovery
FIND Outdoors announced the success of the “Pickin’ for Pisgah” benefit concert, an inspiring evening of music, community, and love…
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DEQ provides funding for projects to reduce flood risks in North Carolina communities
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Flood Resiliency Blueprint is working with the North Carolina Land and Water…
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Word from the Smokies: Rematore departs Smokies Life with strong record of accomplishment
When Laurel Rematore announced she was moving to the Great Smoky Mountains, Denise Matsuoka was shocked. Matsuoka, Rematore’s close friend…
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Haywood Waterways assists EPA to perform Hazard Assessment Surveys
The day after Helene moved through the region, Haywood Waterways Association (HWA) was on the phone calling partners or visiting…
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Submit soil samples by Nov. 26 to avoid peak-season fees
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab is about to hit its busy season and growers…
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Friends of Panthertown volunteer appreciation party
Friends of Panthertown invites Panthertown volunteers, board members, partners, hike leaders, conservationists and friends to join us for an afternoon…
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Word from the Smokies: I-40 rebuild offers rare opportunity for wildlife conservation
When the Safe Passage coalition started working in 2017 to make Interstate 40 a safer place for people and wildlife…
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