Hurricane Helene Debris Removal Horror Stories and Heroes
How one Watershed Organization Jumped Into Action

Maria Wise
Mills River Partnership
Mills River, NC

Mills River Partnership (MRP), a small watershed organization in Western NC, had been planning for the big one for years. With a few generations of knowledge about area flooding, they had a healthy logjam removal fund already in place when Helene hit Western NC in September of 2024, leaving behind miles of clogged streams and tons of debris. When many others had no choice but to wait on emergency funds and a slow and untrained cadre of debris contractors, Mills River, NC Wildlife Commission and local restoration contractors launched into action within a month of the storm and removed the largest logjams quickly, saving money and protecting property and endangered species.

About Maria Wise
Maria Wise is an environmental sustainability leader with 15+ years of experience advancing nature-based solutions and watershed restoration. As Executive Director of the Mills River Partnership, she has tripled the organization’s budget, led biodiversity-focused projects, and built lasting partnerships with farmers, agencies, and conservation groups. With a background spanning ecological monitoring, policy, and community engagement, Maria is passionate about protecting rivers and supporting sustainable land management. She holds a Master’s in Sustainability from Lenoir-Rhyne University and a B.S. in Biological Science from NC State.