Haywood Waterways creates jobs to clean up Helene litter

Outdoors Latest

Haywood Waterways creates jobs to clean up Helene litter

Crews will conduct cleanups across private and public land, along and within the waterways, using boats and barges during the warm weather months. Donated photo

After Tropical Storm Fred moved through Western North Carolina in 2021, litter cleanup throughout the East Fork and downstream along the Pigeon River was an unfunded effort, leaving local responsibility on the backs of property owners, volunteers and programs like Adopt-a-Stream.

Larger woody debris and hazardous material removal was led by Haywood County Soil & Water Conservation District, with the program nearing completion just as Helene arrived.

As was the case post-Fred, no immediate funding was available to conduct litter cleanups after Helene moved through the region. Haywood Waterways Association pitched the need to several partners and found an opportunity with Southwestern Commission and the Haywood County NCWorks Career center.

A program was developed to hire individuals impacted by Helene (reduced income, lost jobs, etc.) to conduct litter cleanups and streambank plantings across the county for the next 12 to 24 months, at $25 per hour, part or full time. As of mid-December HWA has hired eight individuals and is working with towns, the county and various agencies to grow the program over the next few months.

The crews will conduct cleanups across private and public land, along and within the waterways, using boats and barges during the warm weather months.

This is an ongoing effort, as is the hiring process. Anyone interested in working picking up litter for $25 per hour (paid weekly) can call the NCWorks Career Center in Waynesville at 828.456.6061 and ask about the Haywood Waterways job opportunity. Equipment will be provided.

Related Items

Anyone interested in having the HWA Cleanup Crew clean up their property can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., subject line “Cleanup” and they will send someone to scout the property, followed by a scheduled cleanup.

More information about the organization can be found at haywoodwaterways.org or by contacting them at 828.476.4667 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tags:

The Joyful Botanist: Bogged down in winter

I’ve been getting bogged down a lot this year. I...

Up Moses Creek: Thinking Like an Empty

I was at Lazy Hiker brewpub in Sylva enjoying...

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around...

Notes from a plant nerd: What a Lark

I wear a few different hats in my world. A big str...

SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM

Contribute >

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: Persimmons

Did you know that there are 2 different types of persimmons?

There are astringent and non-astringent persimmons.

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: On Vitamin/Mineral/Herbal Supplements

Have you been advised by your MD or PCP to take a vitamin or mineral or herbal supplement?

“Dietary supplements are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they reach the market.

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: Cross-contact or Cross-contamination – What’s the Difference?

Cross-contamination is the term used when pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) that may result in food borne illnesses (food poisoning) are transferred from:

1. a surface to another surface - e.g. using the same cutting board to prepare raw meat and cooked meat

Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Partner content: Sensationalism and Seed Oils

These days there’s a lot of negativity about “seed oils”. According to some of the social media “influencers”, seed oils are ones made from: canola, corn, cottonseed, soybeans, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, flaxseed, and sesame seeds.